Cinema from cross continet is rarely ever accepten in North America as mainstream, and therefore it's stars and filmmakers typically suffer from lack of recognition in this part of the world. It's always films of history that do happen to do well from across the ocean, but with the recent sucesses both theatrically and critically of Trainspotting and the Full Monty, the urban European film is beginning to become accepted in America's theatres, and more predominent in video stores.
Maybe it's the lack of originality in American cinema that's beginning to drive us to Europe and beyond, or maybe it's just a trend, this something different with strange accents, or maybe it's because they're good films that deserve to be watched.
Twin Town is not the next on the list of must watches from across the pond, but it is an entertaining and interesting film, if not a little muddled at times. Executive produced by Trainspotting's Danny Boyle and Andrew MacDonald, Twin Town brings you much in a similar vein, but this time it's Welsh instead of Scottish. There's the off-kilter characters, the slice of small town life in Whales, and the problems and pleasures that are prevelent in every "civilized" country (ie. drugs, violence, and sex).
The title of the film is named as such because of the Lewis Twins (who, it is explained, are not really twins at all, except that Julian was born and everyone waited three years for the other, Jeremy, to come out) that run pretty much rampant and uncontrolled around town, buying drugs, vandalizing, and stealing cars. And while the twins may be a bit crazy, they're liked by most of the townspeople, as their respect for the law is basically nil. The towns' two officers are more hanchmen for hire to Bryn Cartwright (William Thomas), the town's local richman and provider, than upholders of the peace.
When the Lewis' father has an accidend while working on Cartwright's roof, the twins decide to take it into their own hands to get restitution. When their simply asking doesn't work, they take more extreme measures, from tearing up the Cartwright founded town soccer field to lopping off the head of their poodle and placing it Godfather style on the bed. In retaliation, Cartwright has one of his officers, Terry Walsh (Ever After's Dougray Scott), do something in turn to the Lewis' dog. Walsh decides to trap the dog in its doghouse and set it on fire, which unfortunately is beside the petrol tank, and the Lewis' trailer explodes, killing the twin's father, mother and sister (the dog escapes though).
Since the police are corrupt, and won't do any serious investigating (aside from figuring out how to pin the deaths on someone else), the twins have no alternative but to take retribution themselves on both Cartwright and Walsh.
The film, while focusing on the twins, explores the lives of almost every character. While not all of them are greatly defined, the majority of them are quickly established as to their place in the film and what their motivations are. While there is a bit of comedy, Twin Town is a decidedly different film from Trainspotting and the Full Monty. It's a lot darker and more emotional, even though the twins seem to express no emotion nor call for any compassion.
The only difficulty with the film is sifting through the thick Welsh accents to find the dialogue and to get what is really being said, but it's like entering a dark room from a lighted one, it takes a few minutes to adjust.