By Chris Golding.
What’s it about?
Rare is the opportunity to watch an authentic portrayal of masculine emotional expression. Twinless is a standout for such a feat. James Sweeney weaves a tightly contained story,following the (not quite) coincidental friendship between Dennis (Sweeney) and Roman (Dylan O’Brien) when they meet at a support group for twinless twins, following the untimely death of Roman’s brother, Rocky. Sweeney’s Dennis pursues connection, projecting the intimacy of his brief relationship with Rocky onto the unsuspecting Roman. Roman unconsciously seizes upon this attention as a salve for his grief not only for the loss of his brother, but also his identity.
Dennis’s unfocused plan is eventually deduced by Aisling Francoisi’s Marcie, the bubbly-yet-insightful foil for Dennis and Roman’s eventual love interest. The climax of the tale is perfectly reflective of the unexplored nuance of masculine friendship.
What did we think?
The tight cast and comedic timing keep the audience engrossed in the emotional lives of Roman and Dennis throughout the runtime. Roman’s grief is palpable and the skill of Sweeney’s direction comes to the fore in the sudden triggering of Roman’s grief in the entirely relatable and yet always unexpected onset of its presence. Dylan O’Brien makes Roman each of us in his presence on screen. His hotel monologue, despite the persistent mumbling, is a beautiful portrayal of our inner lives.
This expression of the grief and turmoil of losing his best friend, brother and half his identity is a commentary in-itself on the inner lives of young men. It is far too relatable to watch, in your own time.
Flipping the coin, Sweeney’s Dennis cannot but be sympathised with in his initially nefarious, yet engagingly sympathetic turn seeking connection in an otherwise drifting existence. Sweeney is able to capture the dichotomy of Dennis’s loneliness and narcotic confidence fuelled by his friendship with Roman.
Outside the two leads, Franciosi plays the almost mythically intuitive woman of this friendship group exquisitely, balancing Dennis’s expectations of ditzy friendliness with the overlooked strength of social connection the two leads are oblivious to.
Twinless is a darkly delightful mirror to male relationships and worth the (re)watch.
