The Skeleton Twins

The Skeleton Twins is a 2014 American black comedy-drama film that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was later released by Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions. The film features an ensemble cast, including Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Luke Wilson, and Ty Burrell, and was produced by Stephanie Langhoff, Jennifer Lee, and Jacob Pechenik, in association with Duplass Brothers Productions and Venture Forth. The movie was edited by Jennifer Lee and features a score by Nathan Larson, known for his work on Boys Don't Cry and The Messenger.

Plot

The film tells the story of estranged twins Maggie Dean and Milo Dean, played by Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader, who cheat death on the same day, prompting them to reunite and confront their past, including their mother and their own personal struggles, such as Milo's experiences with Richmond and Los Angeles. As they spend more time together, they must navigate their complicated relationship and confront the secrets and lies that have driven them apart, including Maggie's marriage to Lance, played by Luke Wilson, and Milo's relationships with Richmond and Eric, played by Ty Burrell. The twins' reunion also involves a series of misadventures, including a memorable scene at a Kmart store, and features cameos by Joanna Gleason and Kathleen Turner.

Production

The film was directed by Craig Johnson, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mark Heyman, known for his work on Black Swan and The Wrestler. The movie was produced by Stephanie Langhoff, Jennifer Lee, and Jacob Pechenik, in association with Duplass Brothers Productions and Venture Forth, and features a cast that includes Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Luke Wilson, and Ty Burrell, as well as Joanna Gleason and Kathleen Turner. The film's score was composed by Nathan Larson, who has also worked on Boys Don't Cry and The Messenger, and the cinematography was handled by Reed Morano, known for her work on Frozen River and American Horror Story. The production team also included Jennifer Lee as the editor, who has worked on The Brothers Solomon and Paper Heart, and Susan Mina Eschelbach as the production designer, who has worked on The Good Girl and Eagle vs Shark.

Cast

The film features an ensemble cast, including Bill Hader as Milo Dean, Kristen Wiig as Maggie Dean, Luke Wilson as Lance, and Ty Burrell as Richmond. The cast also includes Joanna Gleason as Judy, Kathleen Turner as Carolyn, and Boyd Holbrook as Billy. The film's cast has been praised for their performances, with Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig receiving particular acclaim for their portrayals of the estranged twins, and has been compared to the work of John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands in A Woman Under the Influence. The cast's performances have also been praised by Roger Ebert and Peter Travers, among others.

Release

The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2014 and was later released by Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions on September 12, 2014, in the United States. The movie was also released in the United Kingdom on October 24, 2014, by Universal Pictures, and in Australia on November 6, 2014, by Roadshow Films. The film's release was accompanied by a marketing campaign that included trailers and TV spots, as well as promotional partnerships with Kmart and Other companies, and has been compared to the releases of Little Miss Sunshine and Juno.

Reception

The film received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising the performances of Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig, as well as the film's black comedy tone and nuanced exploration of themes such as suicide, infidelity, and family dynamics. The movie holds a Rotten Tomatoes score of 86%, based on reviews from Peter Travers, Rolling Stone, A.O. Scott, The New York Times, and other critics, including Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper. The film was also a commercial success, grossing over $5 million at the domestic box office and receiving several awards and nominations, including a Grand Jury Prize nomination at the Sundance Film Festival and a Independent Spirit Award nomination for Bill Hader. The film's success has been compared to that of The Descendants and Little Miss Sunshine, and has been praised by Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino, among others. Category:American black comedy films