Twinless is one of the stand-out movies of the year, exploring themes of loneliness, identity, and forgiveness, and another we’ll keep under wraps to avoid spoiling the film.<\/p>\n
Roman and Dennis meet at a twin bereavement support group and form an unlikely bromance as they search for solace and an identity without their twin.<\/p>\n
The film is written and directed by James Sweeney, who also plays Dennis, with Dylan O’Brien starring as Roman.<\/p>\n
So, what does a film critic who also happens to be a twin think of the movie?<\/p>\n
“The first reaction I had was [I was] a bit frustrated,” says Montearo Brown, who blogs under the name Sprite Lee and hosts the Mad Reel World podcast.<\/p>\n
“But as the movie went on, [I experienced] a little bit of laughter, then full enjoyment.”<\/p>\n
But as a twin, Brown is not buying the way twin relationships are portrayed in the film.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Twin brothers Montego Brown (left) and Montearo Brown.\u00a0 (Supplied)<\/p>\n
Lines in the movie like “Roman says you’ve lost a twin, so you know what it’s like to be split,” don’t ring true to Brown.<\/p>\n
Brown says while twins are compared to each other from the moment they can walk and talk, they’re still two separate people.<\/p>\n
“I know I’m my own person,” Brown said.<\/p>\n
“But to the rest of the world, you’re just seen as ‘wow it’s amazing. So, do you guys think the same thing? Do you know what he’s thinking? If I punch you, does he feel it?’<\/p>\n
“These are real things I’ve heard in life.<\/p>\n
“And it’s not Hollywood.<\/p>\n
“We’re real people and it’s a little frustrating.”<\/p>\n
Twins aren’t always inseparable<\/p>\n
He says while the film didn’t lean too heavily on these sorts of tropes, it did portray twins as being inseparable.<\/p>\n
But Brown even moved halfway around the world to Sydney from Birmingham, Alabama, and lives apart from his twin.<\/p>\n
“I was presented with an opportunity to move to Australia, and he could’ve joined me, but he was also presented with an opportunity to go to Germany,” Brown said.<\/p>\n
“This was the time for us to part ways.”<\/p>\n
Brown says while being so far away from his twin isn’t ideal, he didn’t suddenly feel like he was losing himself.<\/p>\n
“To me, it’s not like that,” he said.<\/p>\n
“It’s just never been the case, and I can say the same for my brother as well.”<\/p>\n
Brown says twins often struggle to assert themselves as individuals.<\/p>\n
“They suffer from not having their own personal identity because them and their twin are seen as a buy one, get two package,” Brown said.<\/p>\n
“And I just personally don’t know too many twins that’s like that.”<\/p>\n
He says he’s only ever once come across a pair of twins who did everything together.<\/p>\n
“I’ve only met one set of twins like that in my entire life and I’ve met a lot of twins before,” he said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Lauren Graham plays grieving mother Lisa in Twinless. (Supplied: Sony Pictures Australia)<\/p>\n
Brown says he’d obviously be devastated if something was to happen to his twin brother and he’s sure his twin would feel the same way.<\/p>\n
“Would I be heartbroken? Absolutely. Devastated, completely crushed,” Brown said.<\/p>\n
“But am I not me anymore?<\/p>\n
“I didn’t really feel like anybody else in that [bereavement support] group or the main character at least had any idea who they were without their twin, and I don’t feel that’s the case.”<\/p>\n
Grief interrupted by ‘impeccable comedic timing’<\/p>\n
He’s not holding any of this against the film, however, which he thoroughly enjoyed, especially once it took an unexpected and intriguing turn.<\/p>\n
“The moments that are full of grief are cut short by impeccable comedic timing,” Brown said.<\/p>\n
“I love the film. I think it’s an amazing film.<\/p>\n
“It wasn’t what I was expecting going into it.”<\/p>\n
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