I don't know why everyone thinks this is such a good movie. I thought it was over cast, and the characters were cliché. The ending was a complete disconnect, going from a dark comedy to some kind of a thriller - leftovers from American Beauty.
I thought Meryl Streep was completely inappropriate for this role, and I never could identify with her in the slightest. The attempt at sexual playfulness was inept and I felt whe was generally uncomfortable throughout the film. Camera angles can only cover up so much.
Chris Cooper's character was unexciting and uninteresting. I thought the only reason he got any recognition for this role is because he probably deserved the award for American Beauty, but got bushwhacked by Michael Caine.
Nicolas Cage portrays his characters too differently. The brothers seemed to have absolutely nothing in common and therefore made identical twins seem impossible. It was like two different movies. Of course, twins can be very different personalities, but not totally different. The key to understanding twins is to realize that there is this quirky sameness despite the differences. Cage doesn't seem to be able to master that nuance of the role, and that nuance is the key to this movie.
That is why the film fails, although we can at least get a gleam of what the film would be if Cage had been able to do his part properly. Sorry, it just doesn't work. I can't recommend this film. Perhaps they should have just made the documentary.
I thought Meryl Streep was completely inappropriate for this role, and I never could identify with her in the slightest. The attempt at sexual playfulness was inept and I felt whe was generally uncomfortable throughout the film. Camera angles can only cover up so much.
Chris Cooper's character was unexciting and uninteresting. I thought the only reason he got any recognition for this role is because he probably deserved the award for American Beauty, but got bushwhacked by Michael Caine.
Nicolas Cage portrays his characters too differently. The brothers seemed to have absolutely nothing in common and therefore made identical twins seem impossible. It was like two different movies. Of course, twins can be very different personalities, but not totally different. The key to understanding twins is to realize that there is this quirky sameness despite the differences. Cage doesn't seem to be able to master that nuance of the role, and that nuance is the key to this movie.
That is why the film fails, although we can at least get a gleam of what the film would be if Cage had been able to do his part properly. Sorry, it just doesn't work. I can't recommend this film. Perhaps they should have just made the documentary.