Jackson Weaver
Staff Writer
The American dream is to become rich and famous, however some people do it for more than the money.
“The Identical,” directed by Dustin Marcellino, has it’s ups and downs throughout the film. The plot contains twists and turns that keep the audience on their feet, however poor acting and other errors in the movie lead to the film’s downfall.
Twins from birth, Ryan and Drexel Hemsley are separated from one another. Growing up both Ryan and Drexel inhabit a passion for rock and roll music. Drexel lives his dream of becoming an iconic rock star, while his brother is the Reverend’s successor. Even though Ryan wants to please his father, he also wants to become a singer himself.
From scene to scene the plot creates a new emotion for the audience. One instant the audience is content because of their glories, while in the next scene there is tragedy that saddens the spectators leaving tears in their eyes. This fast-moving plot leaves viewers on the edge of their seats.
However, the actors have a major role in the films overall collapse. Through accomplishments and conflicts the actors remain to have this serious, but confused blank face which takes away from interpreting the characters actual feelings. The actors facial expressions show boredom during times of triumph.
At first, the beginning of the film, the life of the Great Depression is shown through black and white coloring signifying the dullness of the time period. When returning to present day, the color in the film appears for the first time. The film does a superb job with its cinematography when transitioning from a dark Great Depression setting to a bright present day setting the tone for the rest of the movie.
As the plot progresses, the film seems like an open book, making it very predictable. It’s very simple to figure out what is happening in each upcoming scene. Even though the plot has some unexpected events throughout, the majority of it is foreseeable.
Evidently, Drexel Hemsley is supposed to be an impersonation of Elvis Presley and Ryan Hemsley is supposed to be Elvis’ twin that died at birth. However the film does not clarify this point well, making it a mystery whether this is a representation of Elvis Presley’s twin that survived.
In conclusion, the film’s outcome turns out to be a let down in its entirety. The film has its pros, which include abrupt change in emotion and its breathtaking cinematography. However, the flaws such as poor acting and a failed attempt to impersonate Elvis Presley, overtake the good in it, making the film a subpar performance.
“The Identical” is rated PG and is playing in theaters nationwide.
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