I saw this movie when I was a younger man. It is a parable of the dangers of codependency. It is high art.
A woman friend of mine who saw movie said that either one would love the movie, or be disgusted.
I think many of us make relationship compromises because protracted loneliness can be depressing and eventually undermines a person self confidence. IMHO, it would be hard for some to appreciate the movie's psycho-drama without having experienced the existential emptiness of loneliness.
Both Elliot and Beverly were in reality extremely lonely, and had a need to connect to something real to make themselves feel human. A woman does not fully understand what it is like to be a mother until she is given responsibility for raising a child, a man the same. The twins discovered too late the Sisyphean hell of trying to cope with the fact that we are all prisoners of our humanity. They were genius's but had no clue that the first step to a constructive relationship is honesty.
I don't know how the movie has held up. Some movies when I was younger that I watched in which I thought were great were 10 years later were terrible. I loved Donnie Darko when I watched it, but 10 years later it repulsed me for some reason. As such I have stayed away from rewatching Dead Ringers. Instead, I have followed Cronenberg's career.
The other reason I have not rewatched the movie is that speaking candidly, it seems like I don't experience life with the same intensity as I once did when I was in my 20's. Some truths are only self-evident when one is experiencing something similar. I evolved as a person when it comes with dealing with loneliness. When I was young, I learnt that my brother was psychopath and that time was perhaps was a luxury for me so when I saw Dead Ringers my mind was already on fire. I suspect something similar happens for some people who read the New Testament and find a pathway for their need for redemption and spiritual salvation. In other words, like all great works of art, the movie had many levels...it was a horror movie, it was a parable, it was a commercial vehicle for profit etc...I should blast...I love Criterion movies. I have to find out how to subscribe to the service...it is used to be part of my cable subscription a long time ago.
I saw this movie when I was a younger man. It is a parable of the dangers of codependency. It is high art.
A woman friend of mine who saw movie said that either one would love the movie, or be disgusted.
I think many of us make relationship compromises because protracted loneliness can be depressing and eventually undermines a person self confidence. IMHO, it would be hard for some to appreciate the movie's psycho-drama without having experienced the existential emptiness of loneliness.
Both Elliot and Beverly were in reality extremely lonely, and had a need to connect to something real to make themselves feel human. A woman does not fully understand what it is like to be a mother until she is given responsibility for raising a child, a man the same. The twins discovered too late the Sisyphean hell of trying to cope with the fact that we are all prisoners of our humanity. They were genius's but had no clue that the first step to a constructive relationship is honesty.
I don't know how the movie has held up. Some movies when I was younger that I watched in which I thought were great were 10 years later were terrible. I loved Donnie Darko when I watched it, but 10 years later it repulsed me for some reason. As such I have stayed away from rewatching Dead Ringers. Instead, I have followed Cronenberg's career.
The other reason I have not rewatched the movie is that speaking candidly, it seems like I don't experience life with the same intensity as I once did when I was in my 20's. Some truths are only self-evident when one is experiencing something similar. I evolved as a person when it comes with dealing with loneliness. When I was young, I learnt that my brother was psychopath and that time was perhaps was a luxury for me so when I saw Dead Ringers my mind was already on fire. I suspect something similar happens for some people who read the New Testament and find a pathway for their need for redemption and spiritual salvation. In other words, like all great works of art, the movie had many levels...it was a horror movie, it was a parable, it was a commercial vehicle for profit etc...I should blast...I love Criterion movies. I have to find out how to subscribe to the service...it is used to be part of my cable subscription a long time ago.