18 - 99mins - Comedy/Drama - 11th April 1997
Welcome back to my blog for those returning and just welcome to those who are new to it. Today I've gone off the beaten track slightly and opted for a Welsh movie (don't worry they are speaking English for those non-natives of the Welsh language). As mentioned in my last post where I reviewed Limitless, this is to celebrate my return to Wales for a short visit to the lovely Cardiff. Now before the review just a quick disclaimer: as far as I am aware no sheep were shagged in the making of this film but one might have been molested!
Twin Town follows the Lewis brothers also known as the the twins (Jeremy and Julian) played by Rhys Ifans and Llyr Ifans- also brothers in real life although only the former has gone on to forge a successful career in the movies (Notting Hill, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, The Amazing Spider-Man [2012]). Put simply they are delinquent layabouts who are renowned locally for their compulsion to steal cars, get into mischief and take as many tokes as they can from all manner of homemade bongs- utilizing everything from shower heads to golf clubs. They live on a caravan site overshadowed by the Swansea industrial works with their parents, sister and dog Cantona (named so after a Welsh football player).
The plot revolves around a series of confrontations that start as frivolous but soon escalate to serious between the twins and the local big crook as the twins feel their father, Fatty, has been wronged. Throw in bent copper Terry with delusions of grandeur played well by Dougray Scott, a karaoke king, some cocaine and a poodle and you've got yourselves the making of an intriguing movie.
The movie unsurprisingly is riddled with Welsh references that some people may be unfamiliar with and understanding the lingo might take a couple of minutes if you have never heard a Welshman before but hang in there as your patience will be rewarded. What I particularly like about this movie is that its rough around the edges and very realistic as you can imagine these types of people existing in the real world.
It's also well known for containing its high usage of the word fuck summed up brilliantly with the first line of the movie- "Fucking dead, fucking dead as fuck". It is to Twin Town what alcohol is to Withnail And I. As you can therefore imagine the script is not elegant and may not be to everyone's liking but there is some good dialogue thrown in to get you laughing and the development of the plot is well thought out occasionally throwing you in the wrong direction and leading to a well concluded climax.
Twin Town is a unique dark comedy that's passed too many people by and this needs to be rectified as it's a very good movie that has just the right amount of comedy, violence and in the Lewis brothers a couple of cracking, if not slightly disturbing, characters that you end up getting behind and really connecting with.
On a slightly sadder note Elizabeth Taylor (aged 79) passed away yesterday, one of the last Hollywood greats (if you get nominated for the Oscar of best actress in a leading role 4 years running you must be doing something right) with perhaps her best role as the voice of Maggie Simpson amongst others, no I'm not making that up! Hats off to her.
Next time I will be serving up Let Me In [2010] [my review] which is a bit of an alternative vampire movie starring the up and coming Chloe Mortez (of Kick-Ass fame). So until then as the Welsh would say 'nos da'.
Farm
Are you fanatical about film? Then follow this site on Twitter @ FAbFilms
The plot revolves around a series of confrontations that start as frivolous but soon escalate to serious between the twins and the local big crook as the twins feel their father, Fatty, has been wronged. Throw in bent copper Terry with delusions of grandeur played well by Dougray Scott, a karaoke king, some cocaine and a poodle and you've got yourselves the making of an intriguing movie.
The movie unsurprisingly is riddled with Welsh references that some people may be unfamiliar with and understanding the lingo might take a couple of minutes if you have never heard a Welshman before but hang in there as your patience will be rewarded. What I particularly like about this movie is that its rough around the edges and very realistic as you can imagine these types of people existing in the real world.
It's also well known for containing its high usage of the word fuck summed up brilliantly with the first line of the movie- "Fucking dead, fucking dead as fuck". It is to Twin Town what alcohol is to Withnail And I. As you can therefore imagine the script is not elegant and may not be to everyone's liking but there is some good dialogue thrown in to get you laughing and the development of the plot is well thought out occasionally throwing you in the wrong direction and leading to a well concluded climax.
Twin Town is a unique dark comedy that's passed too many people by and this needs to be rectified as it's a very good movie that has just the right amount of comedy, violence and in the Lewis brothers a couple of cracking, if not slightly disturbing, characters that you end up getting behind and really connecting with.
Rating: B+
On a slightly sadder note Elizabeth Taylor (aged 79) passed away yesterday, one of the last Hollywood greats (if you get nominated for the Oscar of best actress in a leading role 4 years running you must be doing something right) with perhaps her best role as the voice of Maggie Simpson amongst others, no I'm not making that up! Hats off to her.
Next time I will be serving up Let Me In [2010] [my review] which is a bit of an alternative vampire movie starring the up and coming Chloe Mortez (of Kick-Ass fame). So until then as the Welsh would say 'nos da'.
Farm
Are you fanatical about film? Then follow this site on Twitter @ FAbFilms
