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Dead Ringers - Criterion Collection

Dead Ringers - Criterion Collection

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: long time buff of weird cinema
Review: This movie deserves no stars (ok, maybe one because it wasn't produced on super 8). I saw it the week it was originally released in the theaters. If it had even somewhat lived up to the hype in the trailer, it would have been a good watch. As another reviewer said, it truly is boring and forgettable. Unless I've been smoking something funny, the movie has not been re-shot and re-edited in the last decade and a half. Don't waste your loot on this one - it's not entertaining from any perspective.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Boring and forgettable
Review: Disturbing? Not one bit. Haunting? Yeah right. Slow? Absolutely. Cronenberg usually impresses me, but with Dead Ringers, he bored the hell outta me. Even Irons' great performance(s) can't save it. The only memorable things about this movie would be those bizarre instruments and the "Still Of the Night" scene. The score was quite vivid too.

Dead Ringers... so much potential, such a heaving let-down.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Dark Masterpiece
Review: I just seen this film and am very impressed with dark and perverted look it has. As someone else once said about the film's plot that Croneneberg is sort of fooling with the viewer making them think they are watching a horror but instead just a straight but wierd drama. There is the stomach eating scene and the scene in the end which I will not mention but that is it in the blood and guts area. The one scene that fooled me for days was the ending. If you ever get to watch this film you will truly be guessing at the end result. Again, the result of the trick that Cronenberg gives to the viewer. I found out what happens though but since it is the ending I cannot mention it at all. One more thing to mention is the acting of Jeremy Irons. After I watched this film I truly respect the man for he has opened my eyes to something I really never see much of and that is really, really, really good acting. If your looking for a dark movie with a perverted Cronenberg style and a absolutely amazing acting performance(s) than this is a DEFINITE and ESSENTIAL view for you!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Hmm... interesting
Review: I've read alot about this movie. In fact, I believe I read in Entertainment Weekly that it was one of the 10 scariest movies of all time. Plus, I'm a Cronenberg fan, so I decided to rent it and see what all the hype is about. Well, I'm still not sure what all the hype is about. #1)It's most certainly not a horror movie. #2)It makes NO sense at all. #3)It's not scary even in the slightest. I guess if I hadn't expected so much of it, I may have enjoyed it a bit better, but as it is, I can't say I'm too impressed.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: TRULY BIZARRE!!!
Review: This Criterion release is out of print, but you may find a copy in a local video store, like I did. It is a truly disturbing film, with a really depressing ending. Jeremy Irons is outstanding in both roles as Bev and Elliott, twin gynecologists who share the same apartment, and the same women. Their personal and professional lives take a downward spin when Bev, the quiet reserved of the two, falls in love with a patient of theirs, and both brothers develop a dependency on drugs. This is supposedly based on an actual story. Chilling! Nice picture quality, adequate sound.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Cronenberg's best
Review: D.Cronenberg achieved a level of thematic perfection with "Dead Ringers" that he has come close to since...see "Existenz" and to a lesser degree "Crash". Aside from "Videodrome" this remains my favorite Cronenberg story. A major step forward in the marriage of human body psychology and medical terror. Not only women, but men also will find the movie disturbing but for a different reason. Women will probably focus on the gynecological aspect of the movie ( an assumption,but may be not accurate) while the men will focus on what we consider more horrifying; the idea that we can work and work to acheive great financial and professional success, and that it can all be undermined by the basic human need for connection...now that is terrifying stuff!
Cronenberg has never made a bolder and richer statement than in "Dead Ringers" and my only dissatisfaction comes from the fact that all the major players were ignored come recognition time.
Surely this is the greatest performance ever by an actor in dual roles, but without the contrivance of opposite twins..both Bev and Elliot are entirely believable in their own right thanks to a brilliant Jeremy Irons.
Aside from Ellen Burstyn in "The Exorcist", when has there been a more accurate portrayal of the self-absorbed actress that feeds on those around her taking their most prized possession...their ability to function as they were?
"Dead Ringers" belongs in the category of most perfectly realized theme and ensemble...Just listen to the solemn and somewhat hopeful score by Howard Shore, the ahead of its time art direction and lighting, and of course flawless direction.
I was lucky enough to see "Dead Ringers" on the big screen where the impact of the final reel was so overwhelmingly sad to the point I wanted to jump into the screen to save them...now that is a movie!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: An Terrific Cronenberg's film that is a Masterpiece.
Review: Two successful twin gynecologits (Both Played by Jeremy Irons) have all the fame, fortune, drugs and the woman. When the sensitive one starts to fall in love with a once-famous actress (Genevieve Bujold), then the relationship of the twin starts to fall apart and descent into madness, where the twins cannot handle thier acclaim.

Directed by David Cronenberg (Shivers, Videodrome, The Fly) made a chilling, disturbing drama-which is actually based on a true story. Irons is perfectly effectively cast as the lead. This is Cronenberg most unique film. Cronenberg won Best Director and Irons won Best Actor for the Genie Awards, which is the Canadian Oscar. Also winner of Best Achievement in Art Direction/Production Design:Carol Spier. Best Achievement in Cinematography:Peter Suschitzsky. Best Achievement in Editing:Ronald Sanders. Best Achievement in Sound:Don White, Andy Wilson & Bryan Day. Best Achievement in Sound Editing:Terry Burke, Richard Cadger, Dean Giammarco, Wayne Griffin & David Evens. Best Adapted Screenplay by Cronenberg & Norman Snider. Best Motion Picture by Cronenberg and Marc Boyman. Best Original Song by Andy Nelson. Best Original Score by Howard Shore. Genie Nominations for also Best Achievement in Costume Design:Denise Cronenberg and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role:Bujold. DVD's has an clean non-anamorphic Widescreen (1.66:1) transfer and an fine Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Sound. DVD has an commentary track by the filmmakers and cast, Behind the Scenes featurette, trailers and more. This is a stunning unsetting chiller. Grade:A+.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Yes, this is a Criterion release...
Review: ...but you should not take that to mean that the sound quality of this disc is even acceptable. I'd earlier bought Anchor Bay's version of the disc, had found it unacceptable, and hoped, rather felt sure, that Criterion's would be better. Well, the Anchor Bay logo appears onscreen at the start of Criterion's disc! Does this mean that Criterion didn't bother to remaster the film?

The loss of sound fidelity is especially noticable in Howard Shore's gorgeous score. The disc extras are interesting but are no substitute for competently mastered picture and sound, the meat and potatoes of any disc. "Boooo!" to Criterion on this one!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: OH, DOCTOR! AM I IN TROUBLE?
Review: 'House Calls' were never quite like this.

David Cronenberg takes us deep into the ever-festering and drug-distorted world of Identical Twin Insanity - this time based on fact! JEREMY IRONS provides the disturbing double-trouble with appropriate brilliance as Doctors Beverly and Elliot Mantle - the dead-ringer gynecologists. [You know the story - # 1 would start the exam, leave - # 2 would enter, continue the exam - and the patient? Totally oblivious of the switch! Nasty, very nasty ...]

GENEVIEVE BUJOLD as the Caustic Star, provides the catalist. A superb performance as the woman who eventually unhinges the twins.

It's a cool, disturbing movie, especially considering the trust one has to place in physicians, as They say "We practise medicine". "Practise???"

Nasty moment? Those 'specially designed' instruments - for 'the mutated'. It's close to Kafka - leaving metamorphosis to the imagination.

A superlative performance by Mr. Irons - who went on to "Reversal Of Fortune" [Award Winnner], another chill!

More 'punishment'? Try "Requiem for a Dream"

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Cronenberg's Finest.
Review: 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.


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