Genres

Visitors Review

zoozi 2012-05-20 15:12:04

What a disturbing movie, and i just loved that!!

Jeremy irons in his best role i ever saw as 2 brothers that share women,till 1 of the brothers falls in love and refuse to share. this storyguidelines only has a great potential for further story.Irons work here is so good, that after a short while you forget its 1personthat act as 2 characters in the movie. its so amazing to see the love of 2brothers acted by 1 person.i even managed to tell the difference between the brothers even when theytried that no one will tell the difference.Dead Ringers is under mainstream disguise, but don't be wrong, its notmainstream, but its also not horror, or sci-fi. i would say undefinedgenre.just love that Cronenberg. a genius.Enjoy...

2012-05-19 22:15:40

Cronenberg's best

This is one of the few films that ever made me cry in my adult life. Jeremy Irons plays identical twin gynaecologists Beverly and Elliot Mantle. Bev and Elli share everything: they run a fertility clinic together; they live in the same apartment; and, most importantly, they share women. This has been a lifelong habit for them, one which has carried over into their adulthood. Bev will make the woman (usually a patient) in question feel at ease, taking her to dinner and what-not, then letting Elli come in and take over... and the woman is never the wiser. Things are just fine, until they try their usual tricks on Claire Niveau (Genevieve Bujold), an actress in Toronto doing a miniseries. Claire senses right away that something is amiss (she is unaware from the start that Bev has a twin). When she finds out about their scheme, she is rightly disgusted and leaves Bev. But Bev can't stay away from her, and he quickly finds himself falling in love with this woman. Elli warns him not to get involved; he is right (to a degree): before long the pill-popping Claire has Bev indulging the same habit and making out the prescriptions. After an unsuccessful intervention, Elli begins to realize that this is the beginning of the end for him and his brother, unless they can somehow seperate themselves... Director David Cronenberg is at his best here, fashioning a film that is completely unique , but, conceptually speaking, perfectly in harmony with his own body of work as well. Irons is utterly amazing; that he took on the role to begin with is commendable, but to pull it off so brilliantly is one hell of an accomplishment. Bujold is equally mesmerizing in her performance; her Claire is vulnerable, smart, and classy. The film is aided to no end by Howard Shore's sweeping score (still waiting for the CD soundtrack), which perfectly complements Cronenberg's cool eye for composition and Peter Suschitzky's clean, neutral cinematography. If you are in the mood for something that is thematically challenging as well as classically tragic, check out DEAD RINGERS, my second-favorite movie (Roman Polanski's THE TENANT being the first). Although not for the squeamish, there is little actual gore in the film; but the film's unrelenting portrayal of the desolate hell of drug abuse and the effects it has on the mind and body make it seem grislier than it actually is. Along with VIDEODROME and NAKED LUNCH, this film is Cronenberg's favorite, which makes me proud because those are the three I'd pick myself if I had to.

Krug Stillo 2012-05-12 17:02:16

Rings Disturbingly for Long Afterwards

Possible Spoilers...Not a horror film but one of the most disturbing and unsettling films fromCanadian genius, David Cronenberg, Dead Ringers lingers in your mind longafter viewing. For me it is still one of the most saddening and distressingfilms of the eighties.The film opens with a red canvas displaying gynaecological instruments welater learn are for performing internal surgery on ‘mutant women'. Then weare introduced to the prepubescent Mantle twins and already they areinterested in sexuality and female anatomy; they ask a young girl to havesex with them in their bath to prove results for an experiment. Then, yearslater, we see them receiving the Nobel Prize for the creation of agynaecological instrument. They begin their own business and soon become thebest gynaecologists in Canada. Success seems to be going very well forElliot and Beverly Mantle (Jeremy Irons in a brilliant double role) whoshare everything, home, glory, emotions, experiences and women, until anactress client, Claire (Genevieve Bujold) sleeps with Elliot. Unaware thereare twins she is oblivious to also having a relationship with Beverly, thetimid twin. Unfortunately Beverly falls madly in love with Claire and whenshe discovers the deceit, she ousts Beverly leaving him a shivering,emotional wreck. After more turmoil in the trios' relationship, Beverlyfalls into a world of drugs and insanity, but as the twins share everything,Elliot slowly collapses into an identical state until it becomes difficultto distinguish them apart. The nightmarish and depressing conclusion hasthem trying to ‘separate' via self-surgery.With some of the most underrated special effects ever, it is literallyimpossible to notice that there are effects when they twins share the frametogather. A film not for all tastes, but a must for fans of Cronenberg andthe macabre, Dead Ringers is a supremely unnerving psychologicaldrama.

2012-05-12 04:45:59

what a waste!

This movie begins with the interesting idea of psychological Siamese twins but quickly descends to a trashy story of sexual deviation and drug addiction. What a waste of talent all around! For a different kind of movie about Siamese twins, I recommend "Twin Falls, Idaho." Better still, why doesn't someone film the story of Chang and Eng Bunker, the original Siamese twins?

christopher-underwood 2012-05-09 20:31:03

Irons in his two best screen performances!

A very fine film that challenges and rewards just about equally andsomehow has a downbeat ending that manages to be uplifting. I supposewe have been through a lot by the end and although there is an horrificsadness there is an awful inevitability and we like the twin brotherscan finally see no other way out. Bujold plays a starlet who comesbetween two identical twins (Irons in his two best screenperformances!) and whilst the tale begins playfully enough we are givenenough signals to suggest all will not be well, although we like allthree leads do hope so. We see ourselves in the three and if at firstwe are confounded to discover we are confused by who is who, just whenwe have got the two under some control, like Bujold indeed, it all goeswrong and the brothers switch personalities before our very eyes. Thisis all disturbing enough without the gynaecological instruments oftorture and the playing with pain and pleasure leading us to somedarkened room.

NightOfTheLivingDon 2012-05-09 17:28:01

All you really need to know about Dead Ringers.

There isn't much more to be said about "Dead Ringers" that hasn'talready been said on this comment board. All I really want to add is anexpurgated version of what others have said:If you're looking for a Cronenberg creature fest, you haven't found it.Though if you like Cronenberg's movies and enjoy his take on the bodypolitic than you will like this movie. The transition from "The Fly" to"Dead Ringers" is a very interesting one. Good conversation starterwith anyone who is really into horror films or film students (the oneswho aren't stuck up buttholes). Though the movie does contain some humor, this is not a movie for thelight-hearted. This is one of Cronenberg's most disturbing and darkfilms."Dead Ringers" is the direct opposite of a fast paced thriller. It'salso not the best date movie ever filmed either. If you are even a little bit of a fan of Jeremy Irons, you are going towant to watch this film. Top of his game here. That's about it. I would recommend this movie, but not to anyone. Thisisn't exactly an Everyman movie. I suggest that you see one of hisother films before watching "Dead Ringers" to get a feel forCronenberg's style. I think, had I seen "DR" first, I wouldn't haveunderstood it as much. I say get "The Brood" and/or "Videodrome" underyour belt first. I really liked the movie, but I think that it doestend to drag and the theme begins to really beat you over the head.However, that's just one man's opinion. That's one of the great thingsabout Cronenberg movies; everyone has their own take on it. Being socharacter driven everyone relates and reacts to certain aspectsdifferently.

ed-237 2012-05-03 11:13:14

Not fun to watch, but brilliant nonetheless

This is an outstanding, but very weird movie. Jeremy Irons perfectlyplays the part(s) of twin gynecologists who own a gynecology practice,share lovers, and ultimately realize that they are inextricably connected.The movie is quite depressing, as it spends a great deal of timefocusing on the brothers' descent into barbituate use and their mentaldeterioration. However, many scenes in the film (particularly the "siamesetwin" dream sequence) are quite interesting and make "Dead Ringers" worthseeing.Even if you're not a fan of strange films like this, all movie fanscanappreciate Jeremy Irons' brilliant performance. You can always tell whichtwin you're seeing on screen, even though they look exactly alike and areplayed by the same person, because Irons does a great job of creatingdifferent personalities for them. However, if you're really bothered bydisturbing images, you might want to stay away from thisfilm.

Michael Coy 2012-05-03 05:30:50

"Separation Can Be A Terrifying Thing"

Identical twin brothers Beverly and Elly Mantle are successfulgynaecologists in Toronto. Their relationship is intense and very close -perhaps too close. The Mantles experiment with sex, drugs and personalidentity, to the detriment of their practice, and ultimately of theirpsychological health.This is a David Cronenberg film, so we are in the familiar realm ofhorror, mind games and perverted science. The director/producer/writerappears in the credits above the title and even ahead of his stars, Ironsand Bujold. Essentially, the 'dead ringers' of the title are the brothers,who regard their mental and emotional oneness as being something more. Theysee themselves as siamese twins, bound by their flesh, and fated to shareevery experience, even unto death.Irons does wonders to play two complex characters in one movie. A newtechnique called 'motion control' allows the actor to appear as two peoplein the same frame, but there is also plenty of the old 'body double' method,filming over a shoulder, then reversing the angle.As teenage boys, the Mantle twins are clearly very bright, and displaya precocious interest in surgery and women's reproductive apparatus. Theyare also creepy geeks. By the late 1980's they are handsomeforty-somethings, and hailed as brilliant gynaecologists by everyone in themedical profession.The screen actress Claire Niveau becomes Elliot's patient, and thebrothers are soon sharing her. They frequently swap places without herknowledge. She has a unique uterus, and as Beverly (or is it Elliot?)explores this feature with his fingers, it is difficult to tell whether heis examining her or masturbating her. Before long, both brothers are doingboth to Claire.Elliot is a few minutes older than Beverly, microscopically taller anda nuance darker in colouring, but by nature he and 'baby brother' areutterly different. While Beverly is shy and diffident, Elliot is a callous,manipulative smoothie. When Claire, still unaware that she is sleeping withtwo men, expresses an interest in mild masochism, Beverly recoils but Ellyenthusiastically obliges. He uses surgical tubes and clamps to tie Clairedown for sex, and as he releases her after orgasm, we sense that for him theexperience has been 'surgical' - almost a dispassionateexperiment.If Beverly is Jeckyll and Elliot is Hyde, we are always conscious thatboth personalities inhabit one awareness. "You haven't had any experienceuntil I've had it too," Elliot tells Beverly, and the twins certainly seemto share everything, treating each other's patients (without telling thepatients, of course) and working in tandem on research papers. The twinshave a twin obsession in common - work and sex. Beverly sums it up with,"We do women - that's our speciality."Identity is at the core of this film, and the dualities and ambiguitiesof personality recur with brain-teasing frequency. The twins are interestedin female genitalia, both professionally and recreationally. Claireattracts them because of her dualities - she is a big personality who adoptsother personas for her work: a strong woman who is turned on by beingsubmissive: a gynaecological 'star' who happens to be infertile: and theFrench Canadian 'twin' to the English Canadian brothers.Elliot sleeps with two call-girls who are twin sisters, and identifies themby getting each to call him either 'Bev' or 'Elly'. The film has layer uponlayer of these dualities. Genevieve Bujold is a French Canadian actressplaying a French Canadian actress. We see her being made up for a movie,but when we see her left side, the make-up is of cuts and bruises. TheMantles prescribe drugs to each other, and each to himself, criss-crossingthe doctor/patient demarcation lines. They take pills to cure theiraddiction to pills. Cary is having a relationship with Elliot, but when shegets both brothers at once, she is deeply aroused. The film, like thebrothers, oscillates between oneness and separation. "I want to see you twotogether," says Claire, confused by their duality. So dowe.

2012-04-29 23:13:11

Cronenberg's Best Film

These days David Cronenberg is actually respected in the film community. He wasn't always, and it was with Dead Ringers that he escaped B horror movie schlockdom! Everything about Dead Ringers is brilliant. The direction, the original score, and the acting all come together beautifully, especially the peerless performance of Jeremy Irons playing twin brother gynecologists. Each twin brother has a distinct personality, yet Irons makes their differences very subtle! He never hits you over the head with the acting. He even purposefully blurs the lines between the two brothers to deliberately throw you off. You don't always know which brother is occupying the screen. The score by Howard Shore is sumptuous, especially during the endgame of the film. Also, the romantic main theme that plays during the open credits provides the perfect pitch for the action that follows. Cronenberg's directorial touch is perfect! Everything unfolds as it should. No camera pyrotechnics get in the way of the story. Most current directors need to observe the way Cronenberg lets the staged events play out naturally. The supporting cast led by a game Genevieve Bujold and featuring a bevy of unknown actresses playing patients of the Mantle brothers all deliver solid performances. Bujold, playing an actress seeking to have a baby is not too showy. She's a good sexy foil for Irons' twins. I especially liked Stephen Lack (formerly the lead in an older Cronenberg film "Scanners") playing a sculptor in the latter portion of the film. Quite simply, this was the best film that came out in 1988! Jeremy Irons should have won every award under the sun! This DVD edition features a nifty and informative commentary track by Jeremy Irons.

2012-04-29 07:13:54

Excellent transfer of an original film

I am a little surprised at the Widescreen Review's assessment of 3.5 out of 5 for the image on this DVD: I would give it 4.5 at least. It is certainly better than I was expecting for a 13 year old film, and Criterion are to be congratulated on the transfer: the image is vibrant and sharp, with excellent colours. There are no nicks or scars at all.Not quite in the 'Se7en' or 'JFK' class in terms of picture quality, but pretty close.The film itself is compelling, and is a showcase for Jeremy Irons' considerable talents. He is on screen for nigh on 95% of the time as one or other (or both) of the Mantle twins, and carries the entire film. Genevieve Bujold is excellent in the only other role of note.The story itself is moderately disturbing as a psychological drama, but there is a refreshing lack of gore.The extras include an interesting look at how the split screen effects were handled to enable Irons to act with himself in various scenes.Strongly recommended.

2012-04-23 08:51:11

Cronenberg's Finest.

A masterpiece. Dark and bleak. I love it. This is a no frills movie. Cronenberg only includes relevant scenes and images in this film. BUY THIS MOVIE.Criterion did a great job on this one too.

2012-04-22 10:51:12

Jeremy Irons' Best Work

This review is from: Dead Ringers: The Criterion Collection (DVD) Maybe it's the combined effect of having two Jeremy Irons for the price of one, but I believe -and Irons has been quoted to the same effect- that this is the finest work this fine actor has commited to the screen. Much more deserving of the oscar than his recessive Claus Von Bulow in 'Reversal of Fortune.'The way he plays the weak twin off the stronger one, whose influence fades when a woman comes between them, is extraordinary. If you don't mind the pervasive grimness of the story in general, than do yourself a favor (God, starting to sound like that pretentious guy from the Actors Studio on Bravo), and get 'Dead Ringers.'

Rachel Williams 2012-04-21 02:42:29

I loved it the first time...

I remember this movie being fantastic, Jeremy Irons as incredibly sexyand the ending being very well done. I never should have rented thismovie for a second go-round, as it hasn't held up well at all. I wasdisappointed at the predictability of the plot and the lack ofcharacter development throughout the film. What I remembered as aterrifying decent into madness revealed itself as lack of depth in theplot combined with lack of interest on the part of the director inhaving the viewer really care about the characters he is creating onscreen - it seemed to be the easiest way for Cronenberg to end thefilm. If you loved this movie the first time you saw it, I stronglyrecommend refraining from a second viewing, as it will prove to be adisappointment.

2012-04-20 17:19:43

An undiluted masterpiece of psychological filmaking

It would be unfair to react to Dead Ringers' many contrasts with a single response. Like The Dead Zone and The Fly, Cronenberg has given us a meditation on a horrifying idea taken to it's logical conclusion. With Dead Ringers however the idea operates less as science-fiction than as a psychological drama. The story plays-out with such understatement that the context develops frightening significance: gynecology serves as the backdrop against which the characters play, providing a rich source of potential terrors both physically and emotionally. The fragile thread holding together the Mantle twins' complex relationship disintegrates when a famous (though unstable) actress (played with great subtlety by Genevieve Bujold) enters their clinic and their lives. What Jeremy Irons brings to the role of the twins lifts the film out of any genre and above the camera-technology which would traditionally be the novelty. It is an astonishing performance of two very slightly different people struggling to either increase or eliminate that difference. Their attempts lead through sexual and chemical dependency, emotional breakdown and ultimately into madness.Peter Suschitzky's cinematography is rich yet restrained. Howard Shore's haunting score underlines the frail, human quality of characters wrestling with pathological needs to connect and disconnect with others.

2012-04-15 14:22:13

A master piece

A fantastic movie with the, perhaps, best male performance of all times. Thank you Cronenberg and Jeremy Irons.

fred3f 2012-04-15 04:10:56

Not for everyone

There are things to like about this film. The double role that JeremyIrons plays is a tour de force (French for display of strength orskill). The worldly wise yet kittenish performance of Geneviève Bujoldis a high point of the film and the story generates a certain twistedinterest in the viewer. The direction has its moments of excellence andthe script is witty and surprisingly thoughtful. Despite all of this,however, I didn't like this movie.My tastes are fairly wide when it comes to films. I watch anything fromforeign to silents to comedy to drama to documentaries and children'sfilms. I am not put off by gore or sex, as long as it has a point, andI somethimes enjoy the off-beat and somewhat twisted. Yet I didn't likethis film.Clearly, with the 7+ rating that this film currently has, many peopleliked the film. However, I can also see many people disliking it. Ifyou liked it, please do not be offended by my review. I like a worldthat has people who think differently than I do, but I think that thereare many people who will not like this film and I would like to warnthem. So what is not to like? Perhap that despite its wit, the filmpredictable. A tale of an obsessive love that destroys the two peoplewho are involved. Yes, it is novel and different and the twin bond israre in film, but even this novelty could not prevent the film frombecoming tedious as it plods that well worn and predictable track ofobsession leading to senseless destruction.Perhaps another reason is that I and the people with me didn't feltdepressed when the film was over. There was no joy; there was notredemption. There was no sense that they deserved their fate or thatsomething was somehow gained by what happened. There was not even thefeeling of release that comes with a tragedy. Perhaps I am too much ofan optimist, but I don't like coming out of a movie feeling down ordepressed. This is a bleak film. Perhaps another reason is that the ending seemed inconclusive andpointless. If I am going to feel depressed I would at least like areason for it or some kind of point. The ending resolved their fate butwalked away wondering why you needed to know this. You might say that life is sometimes bleak and tedious, that sometimesthere is no hope. Well, that is true, but I get enough of that fromlife without having to pay for it in the theater.I felt mentally an spiritually raped by this film. Obviously there aremany people who didn't feel the same way, or if they did, they didn'tmind. If you don't like movies of this sort, then I hope you arewarned. On the other hand, if you like this type of movie, then this isgood and well acted example of the type, and I hope you enjoy it.

~PL~ 2012-04-09 21:46:55

Truly unique, disturbing, haunting and great

When I first saw "Dead Ringers", I was about twelve years old. All I can sayabout that first viewing is that it really gave me shivers...years later(five days ago), I got the Criterion DVD by mail, which I ordered from Ebay.I watched it and was really disturbed. Then, I listened to the audiocommentary by the director, David Cronenberg, which also directed prettygreat films such as "Crash", "Naked Lunch", and "eXistenZ". The commentaryitself is worth the DVD's price (even though it can be hard to find becauseit is out of print). It really helps understanding Cronenberg's vision ofevery scene, and believe me, he brings many nuances and psychologicaldetails, even though Jeremy Irons' acting is awesome and really eloquent andmeaningful. The film is about two twins, Elliott and Beverly (both played by thefantastic Jeremy Irons) who are gynecologists and discover that some womensuffer from mutations in their uterus. Besides their work, these two twinsare pretty much the same person...at least, on the outside (they live in thesame apartment, they have the same job, they even share the samewomen!)...on the inside, it's different, and that's what we discover whenthe disturbing mind of Beverly unfolds before our eyes and hearts.Cronenberg is ambitious. Like he said, most of the films that feature twinsare comedies or thrillers in which one of the twins is good and fights hisevil brother. He takes a very different approach and focuses on thecomplexes and psychological flaws that having a twin could create.Personally, if I had a twin and saw this film, it would completely change mylife. This film goes deep. From the introduction where you see them whenthey're just young boys to the heartbreaking and disturbing ending, you seeElliott, the one that gets the honors, the one that had a lot of women inhis life, the one that manipulates people, the one that is strong, brieflysaid. In the other hand, you've got Beverly, the drug addict, the one thatgets his first real relationship, the one that somehow follows his brother,without ever being "number one". Cronenberg exploits this complex troubleand analyzes the competition that can occur between twins, the incrediblyfundamental union between the two brothers. Also, Cronenberg shows usBeverly turning completely insane, and explores the very deep faces of hisderanged mind. Cronenberg is a good director, saying the opposite would be a lie. This filmprobably isn't considered his best, but in my opinion, it is, or at least,it is equal to his best films. His directing is creepy and moody, while notvery slow-paced. He really delivers a disturbing and terrifying film, withsuch a deep exploration of the mind. The acting is exceptional, especially from Jeremy Irons. I mean, these roleswere not easy at all, and he plays two at the same time...in many scenes hehas to talk to himself, and he uses completely different and appropriatefacial expressions and tones for every line one of the twins says, withoutever exaggerating. When I was twelve, I didn't know this actor, and I wouldhave never been able to tell you there was only one actor playing these two.Genevieve Bujold is good, not perfect, but good enough. But Irons is reallya great actor. Many sequences of this film are haunting, especially the dream sequence,which is obviously very symbolic, but also very intense. The whole scenes inwhich Beverly falls into insanity are handled with genius by Cronenberg andIrons. Also, the scene where Elliott dances with his girlfriend and inviteshis brother to dance with them. It shows how influential and "seductive"Elliott is to his twin. The music is haunting too. It is beautiful and scaryand really fits with the atmosphere of the film. Overall, Cronenberg made a beautiful yet extremely disturbing study of thetwins phenomenon and the psychological impact on them. Also, he put inimages the idea he has about the link between them. With Irons as the twins,he made a very good film, that I would describe as touching, disturbing,haunting, beautiful, complex, deep, psychological, and finally, great.9/10

moriphiend 2012-04-09 06:48:15

Awful

This is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Never, I mean never,watch this horrible film. I rented it as it was one of CDNows top 10shocking movies of all time, and I could write a more shocking film. Ithaspoor acting, terrible accents, and is almost unbearable towatch.

2012-04-06 03:56:57

It still didn't fall behind the time...one of the best CRITERION DVDs

This review is from: Dead Ringers: The Criterion Collection (DVD) It still didn't fall behind the time...one of the best CRITERION DVDs, although didn't match the level as GRAND ILLUSION or LA NOTTE DI CABIRIA, but still went far beyond the trash editions like SALO or THE NIGHT PORTER. This becomes into my treasure collection, even shen I've owned the new WARNER DVD.

2012-04-05 23:04:31

Dead Ringers

The film was described to me as "horror." No. That individual failed to understand the complexities of twins-ship. Yes, the surgical instruments for mutant women, downward spiralling drug addiction, co-dependency of twins were superior in the technical (split-screens) and acting categories. But the fact that this was a true story about the Marcus twins is utterly fanastic. Cronenberg, Irons, & Bujold perform exceptionally well in this deeply sad portrayal of brilliant surgical reproductive gynecologists, making Barber's Adagio for Strings apropos for closure. Kafka once said that one should read books that melt the iceburg within us; the same adage applies to film.