Faux-semblants

I am a big Cronenberg fan, and I am very familiar with the original Dead Ringers. I will not compare them since this is a reimagining- but I will say they really are extremely dissimilar.

This show looks great, and Rachel plays the parts extremely well. The practical effects are SOLID- lot's of blood but I can imagine how it would be too much for some with all the graphic birth depiction. That being said- the show can be very hard to follow. It's all over the place, jumping from place to place sometimes from time to time with no indication. They are also introducing new characters all the way up to episode 5 (there are only 6). I think it could be a bit more cohesive. Yes, I do understand that is the point- it's supposed to be disorienting and the twins are supposed to sometimes be indistinguishable, so maybe you'll see it differently than I did.

The film, Dead Ringers, is based on a true story, of two (male) doctors, from New York city.

It only goes to further the fact that Hollywood's DEAD.

Ok, maybe not 'dead', just yet, but, they're on serious life support.

There's barely ANY film, which are original (and I'm NOT talking about ANYthing based on comic books, or video games).

The studios have done this destruction to themselves - they've gotten to the point that each film 'MUST' cost more. And more, and on,. And on....

Up 'til the 90s, or so, there were films for ADULTS.

There were family films. Comedies. Love stories, and many small quirky films. In fact, I remember when Robert Rodriguez just burst out with his first 'big' film, the major stories talked about how HE FINANCED THE FILM...on his credit cards.

Could you imagine someone tryi g to do that today, ' I see here a charge of 80 million, for costumes, and 95 million for basic budget, and 200 mill...')

You get the picture.

Recycling mold films is just a way of saving money.

It's pointless.

If the studios don't want to continue their accelerating ride to extinction,they best move fast, and think about stopping this idiocy, and making new films, based on NEW material.

Upon conclusion of watching all six episodes I read a number of the reviews and felt like I wished that I had seen the original. Perhaps there is some redeeming value in it. I found nothing in this awful story that was edifying.

To be fair the first two episodes were somewhat interesting. Kind of provocative, made me a little patient to see what might unfold. But, by half way through the fourth I had to force myself to continue.

You certainly have every right to question my state of mind that I continued to punish myself and watch the whole twisted meaningless confusing and wasted effort!

Many other reviews pointed to some of the specific failings of this gross production. They were correct. I'll finish by saying you're better off just watching the news.

After reading 90% of the reviews I wonder what the hell, everyone else is watching that I'm not. The biggest complaint on here, is it's not the same as Cronenberg's. I'll be the 1st to admit that Cronenberg is God and everything he makes is a masterpiece. This shouldn't be compared to that. It's a REMAKE. As in, similar story beats from a different perspective. This was wonderful and I DO agree that Rachel Weisz deserves every accolade for her performance. I gained a lot of respect for her after this series that I never had before. I mean, I knew she was good, but WOW! The little nuances in body language and facial contortions that define the twins is astonishing! Great series! Don't listen to the ghost of Ebert who trashes all genre films and series. 100% worth your time!

This is obviously not going to be everyone's cup of tea but you can admire the tea for its craftsmanship, its body, shape, texture, colour. You can wonder at the tea ceremony and beauty of hostess without caring for the taste of the tea itself.

Dead Ringers is a film that shines light on dark places. Uncomfortable places. Places that we either prefer not to know about or that we push to furthest recesses of our brains, in our attempts to maintain the dissonance of our modern world in our minds.

Rachel Weisz is extraordinary as light and shade, identical twins so physically similar and yet so disparate in nature as to like the Angels Michael and Lucifer. Certainly one of them has designs on playing God.

No one plays a dud role in the film. Poppy Liu plays her typically kooky character. Jennifer Ehle is fabulous as the big bad guy... I would venture to say this is a Meryl Streepesque performance.

I'm not going to pretend I get it all. Some pieces either don't fit together, or I need to (gladly) rewatch for clarity.

From a piece of pure art, the work is terrific. Throw in two Rachel Weisz', a story that is important and a clarion call for the the not very distant future, and the superb dialogue between Eliot and Agnus on the roof top and I gave Dead Ringers 8+