DVD Reviews

Twin Falls Idaho

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• Starring: Mark Polish
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Conjoined twins Blake (Mark Polish) and Francis (Michael Polish) travel to the big city in search of their birth mother, who gave them up for adoption years earlier. Soon they meet prostitute Penny (Michelle Hicks), who despite initially being freaked out by the boys, learns to see them for who they really are - two separate people who know nothing but each other. By now that plot description has either reeled you in, or you're just not reading anymore. If it's the former, you'll enjoy this quirky little movie that scored big with the art house crowd upon its release in 1999. Co-written by real-life twins and actors Mark and Michael Polish and directed by Michael, Twin Falls Idaho is a flawed, if deeply endearing portrait of the love of two brothers who simply grew up differently. It's the kind of movie that unwittingly draws you in, and despite your best efforts, you really begin to care about these guys. It's a testament to the brother's excellent performances that Twin Falls falters whenever they're not on screen; though a subplot involving Penny and her past doesn't quite come off and merely distracts from the important. There are also plot holes galore, and sometimes the movie's thoughtful message gets muddled in metaphor and symbolism; but it's of little significance when you have characters written and played with such love as Blake and Francis. Not perfect, but character-driven and beautifully crafted.

Review by Mike Sheridan