Twist (2003)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Jacob Tierney

Writers:

Charles Dickens (novel) and
Jacob Tierney (writer)

Release Date:

28 September 2005 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Boys do what boys must!

Plot:

A queer "Oliver Twist" update set in the hustler district of modern-day Toronto.

Plot Keywords:

Charles Dickens | Gay | Hustler | Drugs | Prostitution

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Nick Stahl	...	Dodge
Joshua Close	...	Oliver
Gary Farmer	...	Fagin
Michèle-Barbara Pelletier	...	Nancy
Tygh Runyan	...	David
Stephen McHattie	...	The Senator
Moti Yona	...	Charley
Brigid Tierney	...	Betsy
Dave Graham	...	Buck
Maxwell McCabe-Lokos	...	Noah
Andre Noble	...	Adam
James Gilpin	...	Aide
Josh Holliday	...	Morris
Mike Lobel	...	Bully
Michael Ripley	...	John

MPAA:

Rated R for disturbing sexual content, drug use, language and some violence.

Runtime:

Canada:97 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | USA:97 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

France:-16 | New Zealand:R16 | Canada:18A (Ontario) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) | USA:R | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Victorious Films

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: In both scenes of Dodge sitting in the coffee shop with David, the reflection of the boom mic is clearly visible bobbing in and out at the top of the screen.

Movie Connections:

Version of "Oliver Twist" (1999)

Soundtrack:

You Strutted and Fretted Across

Tainted Love

What an original title for my comment. It was what I thought of in a pinch. Anyway . . . the film is based on Oliver Twist, using basically, only the name of the characters and their abject living conditions to parlay a story about male hustlers and their life in Toronto.

The atmosphere created is pitch-perfect, and the audience really gets the feel of the weather in Toronto during winter. It's dark, damp and freezing cold, much like the the world the boys live in. And in the hollowed eyes of the hustlers, you can feel their hopelessness and exhaustion.

It is told in the view point of Dodge, rather than Oliver, and focuses on his life. Dodge is played by Nick Stahl, who does a great job of evoking the scared, hungry, cold and insecure young boy, who has seen too much. Joshua Close plays Oliver, who seems a little too one-dimensional for my liking, but is really effective in scenes with Stahl (especially the alley scene), perhaps a testament to Mr. Stahl's talents.

The film is definitely disturbing. There is no sugarcoating, and yet, there is no sex in the film, only mild violence. Most is left to the audience's imaginations, even the face of the Bill character, who plays the "pimp" in the film. His anonymity may have been used to increase the scariness of the character and his intentions, but almost became a shtick in my eyes, especially after his deplorable actions after finding out his "woman" had betrayed him. Bill was almost too bad to be a "real bad guy."

The lines are blurred between affection, power, violence and sexual need, perhaps most effectively in the one scene, it is all mixed up into one degrading act for Dodge. Some might have found it grotesque or perverted or used for shock value. However, I found it necessary to understand Dodge's actions and his character. It also helps to underline the pervasive cycle of abuse.

The ending is dark and bleak, and full of symbolic undertones. There are many questions left unanswered. I found the film to be very engaging, bittersweet and a good portrayal of how love is the most complicated emotion of all.