Equinox *** (1992, Matthew Modine, Lara Flynn Boyle, Fred Ward, Marisa Tomei, Lori Singer) – Classic Movie Review 11,564

Writer-director Alan Rudolph’s 1992 independent crime drama film Equinox focuses on two identical twin brothers, Henry Petosa and Freddy Ace (both played by Matthew Modine), one a shy garage mechanic, the other a small-time hoodlum working as driver for gangster Mr Paris (Fred Ward).

Mechanic Henry lives in a slum, loves his best friend’s sister Beverly Franks (Lara Flynn Boyle) and baby-sits for his prostitute neighbour Rosie Rivers (Marisa Tomei). Driver Freddy is married to materialistic Sharon (Lori Singer).

The brothers, separated at birth and given up for adoption, are living in the fictional city of Empire, unaware of each other’s existence until a woman, Sonya Kirk (Tyra Ferrell), tracking them down to inform them of an inheritance, draws them together.

Director Rudolph delivers another of his distinctly idiosyncratic meditations on life, here centred on the brothers’ search for identity and roots in a world of confusion.

The film looks ravishing (thanks to Elliot Davis’s cinematography), as is always the case with Rudolph’s oeuvre, with a style that crosses European artiness with American pop culture. But unfortunately the story itself stops and starts so often that boredom does set in. However, there is an impressive cast and the eclectic soundtrack (including Serge Rachmaninov, music by Terje Rypdal) is exhilarating.

Overall, Equinox is definitely worth a look.

Also the cast are Marisa Tomei, Lori Singer, Fred Ward, Kevin J O’Connor, Tyra Ferrell, Tate Donovan, M Emmet Walsh, Gailard Sartain, Tony Genaro, Angel Aviles, Dick Blocker, Debra Dusay, Les Podewell, and Robert Gould.

Twins Jasen and Jereme Kane play the brothers as kids, as well as the twin children in the restaurant at the end of the film.

Equinox was shot in Crescent Junction and Moab, Utah, as well as St Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, with a climax high above the Grand Canyon.

It was nominated for four Independent Spirit Awards.

Films directed by Alan Rudolph: Premonition (1972), Nightmare Circus (1974), Welcome to L A (1976), Remember My Name (1978), Roadie (1980), Endangered Species (1982), Return Engagement (1983), Songwriter (1984), Choose Me (1984), Trouble in Mind (1985), Made in Heaven (1987), The Moderns (1988), Love at Large (1990), Mortal Thoughts (1991), Equinox (1992), Mrs Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994), Afterglow (1997), Breakfast of Champions (1999), Trixie (2000), Investigating Sex (2001), The Secret Lives of Dentists (2002) and Ray Meets Helen (2017).

Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,564

Link to Derek Winnert’s home page for more reviews: http://derekwinnert.com/