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I adore almost everything about this film, from its beautiful synthesized soundtrack by Bernard Rose (who created the score for Paperhouse and Candyman), to the warm summer breezes and wide open farmlands of rural Kansas (I thought upon my first viewing that it was Ohio but I stand corrected). It can be somewhat pretentious at times and Crispin Glover's eccentric antics get old very fast, but overall it's a wonderful film and I think its low ratings come from people who simply didn't get it. In all fairness, it's understandable. It was based on a large novel by Mary Robison which explains in detail some of the more confusing parts of the film, such as Maureen's repeated hallucination of Chris flying away in a helicopter and the comparison of the missing mother to Amelia Earhart (it's loosely implied that Maureen and Howdy's mother IS Amelia Earhart and that her mysterious disappearance was merely a story orchestrated to cover up her commitment to a mental hospital. Twister's characters are largely unlikable except for Violet, Lola and Chris. The Clevelands are a family of affluent, ne'er-do-well kidults, a rich but deadbeat soda pop tycoon and his preachy, condescending new girlfriend, among others. They quickly grew on me though, especially as the underlying tragedy of the family began to unravel. It's also implied that Maureen and Howdy, both already neurotic overgrown layabouts, may have inherited the same mental disorders as their mother. Maureen may have some sort of borderline personality disorder and Howdy acts bipolar.
There's some truly stunning and unforgettable cinematography as well, especially the intro scene featuring Violet dragging a vacuum clear around in a deserted field while Rose's very 80's score is played in the background, not to mention the carnage of the twister itself ("aw no, there's the Edgar Burger Man! I hope he's alright...") and plenty of witty jokes, one-liners and slapstick type humor throughout. The acting was remarkable; Suzy Amis, Lindsay Christman, Charlayne Woodard and Dylan McDermott are perfect in their roles, and the character Lola's veiled sarcasm and logic throughout was especially endearing, as well as Violet's innocent though strange behaviors, from roller skating in the heavy wind to being very fond of a Magic Grow foam alligator that moves from scene to scene, mostly in the Cleveland Mansion swimming pool.
There's plenty more that could be brought up, but I don't want to ramble. I'd really recommend giving this film a chance contrary to its reputation, and if you're a fan of crazy, witty and bittersweet stories, you'll fall in love with it forever.
score 8/10
TheBlueHairedLawyer 4 January 2018
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw4022868/ |
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1-12-2019 16:19:07