Spider

His hold on reality was equivalent to my interest in the story, both loosened the longer the movie went on. I guess when the guy who makes movies about chest vaginas casts the guy who walks around without a nose in Harry Potter, I expected either more or less body parts.

Not your typical Cronenberg. Decent little story about a man traumatized by a childhood tragedy that could have benefitted from some trimming here and there. The whole thing about Fiennes actually solving a puzzle, as he's trying to piece together his fragmented mind was a bit on the nose maybe. Miranda Richardson impressed me, so versatile. And I also liked the supporting turn by Neville.

Small, dark and mean. Cronenbergs low key approach is as surprising as it is admirable. I would hardly make any enemies stating that this is a Fiennes Tour de Force, but in all honesty, having re-watched this three times, I am still not convinced that it's Miranda Richardson playing both parts.

Nobody rocks 4 button-up shirts simultaneously like my man Ralph. It's wild to remember that this was in theaters at the same time as Spider-Man. I'd like to think some parents brought their kids to see Spider instead by mistake

There's certainly plenty of psychological meatiness for Cronenberg to sink his sharp teeth into, but there's a general lack of zest to the work. It's solid, but it also feels a little like the director marking time, waiting for real inspiration to strike. Fiennes is the master of internalized emotion, but he takes that skill perhaps too far. His character becomes a shambling cipher. Richardson, however, is blazingly sensational in a performance that essentially encompasses multiple roles.