David Cronenberg Double Feature: THE FLY (1986) & DEAD RINGERS (1988)
Event Date: November 22, 2011 - 6:30pm
Location: The James Bridges Theater, Melnitz Hall 1409, UCLA
From the Melnitz Movies Director, Samuel B. Prime:
In anticipation of David Cronenberg's upcoming release, A Dangerous Method, on Nov. 23rd, Melnitz Movies presents a classic Cronenberg double feature. A 25th anniversary screening of The Fly, followed by the equally haunting double-dose of Jeremy Irons, Dead Ringers. Join us for an evening of manmade mutation from the duly acknowledged virtuoso of venereal horror himself, Canada's national treasure and Torontonian David Cronenberg.
*BONUS*
Pre-show raffle for promo A Dangerous Method merchandise!
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THE FLY:
Seth Brundle (played by Jeff Goldblum) is a brilliant but eccentric research scientist who has made a revolutionary breakthrough: successful teleportation. However, when Brundle thinks he has ironed out the last problem with the process and chooses to teleport himself, he runs into a problem. Unbeknownst to him, his DNA becomes fused with that of a house fly that is accidently teleported with him. Suddenly, he finds himself transforming into a terrifying mutant creature and fighting a fierce battle to stop his mutant genes before the mutant creature is all that remains.
“The Fly is that rare species of movie – a remake that far surpasses the original and, quite frankly, all expectations” –Michael Blowen, The Boston Globe
“A gross-your-eyes-out horror movie that is also the year's most poignant romance.” –Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine
“David Cronenberg's The Fly is that absolute rarity of the '80s: a film that is at once a pure, personal expression and a superbly successful commercial enterprise.” –Dave Kehr, The Chicago Tribune
DIRECTOR: David Cronenberg
SCREENPLAY: Charles Edward Pogue and David Cronenberg
STARRING: Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, and John Getz
35mm, 96 min.
20th Century Fox
Print provided by the UCLA Film & Television Archive
DEAD RINGERS:
The Mantle brothers (played by Jeremy Irons, in a dual role) are both doctors and identical twins. Mentally, however, one of them is more confident than the other, and always manages to seduce the women he meets. When he’s tired of his current partner, he passes her on to his brother – without her knowing. Everything runs smoothly, until an actress (played by Geneviève Bujold) visits their clinic, and the shy brother is the first to fall in love. Will they be able to share her?
“Mr. Cronenberg has shaped a startling tale of physical and psychic disintegration, pivoting on the twins’ hopeless interdependence and playing havoc with the viewer's grip on reality. It’s a mesmerizing achievement, as well as a terrifically unnerving one.” –Janet Maslin, The New York Times
“An astonishing tour de force--especially for Irons, whose sense of nuance is so refined that one can tell in a matter of seconds which twin he is playing in a particular scene.” –Jonathan Rosenbaum, The Chicago Reader
“This is arguably David Cronenberg's masterpiece…Irons’ performance is definitely one of the great achievements in cinematic acting, not just because of the astonishing, in-camera ‘twinning’ effects, but because Irons perfectly explores the inner torment of each brother and makes them distinct.” –Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
DIRECTOR: David Cronenberg
SCREENPLAY: David Cronenberg and Norman Snider
STARRING: Jeremy Irons and Geneviève Bujold
35mm, 116 min.
20th Century Fox
Print provided by the UCLA Film & Television Archive
Screening provided courtesy of Morgan Creek Productions, Inc
Please note the early start time for this screening, which begins at 6:30PM.
