They Cloned Tyrone
Introduction
It is a Thursday and while a quiet little weekend awaits us in terms of the new releases, I finished watching the new English film They Cloned Tyrone which is now streaming on Netflix. The film was out on the Barbenheimer weekend and with two of the biggest films of the year Oppenheimer and Barbie creating Box Office history, there were little to no takers for They Cloned Tyrone, a film that slipped under the radar!
Over the years, we have seen films addressing the prevalent racism that exists in the US. High concept films like Get Out have tactfully addressed the issue by weaving an interesting story around it. It is almost like the social commentary plays out in the second layer in such films that enhances the overall impact of the drama. And by the looks of it, They Cloned Tyrone did address a similar issue although I had no idea on what the film was on, and what it had to offer. So then does They Cloned Tyrone manage to impress, lets find out.
Story & Screenplay
They Cloned Tyrone follows the story of a trio who in a strange turn of events investigate on the ‘cloned’ version of one of them. What is the mystery? The story here is almost baffling to a point wherein you wonder on what this absurdist drama is getting to. But once the picture starts getting clearer, you will end up marvelling at the concepts and issues that it touches upon. The screenplay standing at a shade above 2 hours that cater to a niche but it was an indulging watch particular in the first hour, wherein the absurd turn of events would keep you interested. But later on when the cat is out of the bag, the film ascends into a surprisingly high concept drama.
The drama opens with the introduction of the protagonist, a drug dealer who has a fixed routine day in and day out. He does mourn the death of his brother while only interacting with his mother from the door(wherein he doesn’t get to see her). He has a couple of folks for company – a pimp and a s*x worker, the former also does own him money. One night, he is fatally shot, only to have no memory of the event and turn up at the door of his friend in almost the same turn of events leading to him being shot. It is at this point that your mind begins to run in multiple directions on what the mystery could be. Is it a time loop or something more dangerous? Each event from there on contributes in unravelling the mystery as the trio search the futuristic retro town for clues.
The proceedings are extremely engrossing and make for a tense watch with some nicely penned characters and their dynamics with each other. But the writers do well in infusing the drama with bouts of humour which would make you chuckle every now and then. If Get Out was a horror-issue kind of a film, this is a comedy-thriller-issue kind of a drama. And I did like how the writers weren’t giving out easy answers about the mystery but instead they allowed it to linger on for a while.
The drama has a high concept affiliated to it especially when the mystery begins to unravel. It does provide a subtle commentary on the prevalent issue of racism in the States while also being reflective of the lives of the people who are often targeted. This, while the writers do not shy away from targeting the Authorities in a very smartly penned drama which is masked as fiction. I do enjoy dramas that do not shy away from asking burning questions while packaging them well in a story, and that is exactly what you are served in They Cloned Tyrone.
The final act is where all hell breaks loose but along the way further unravels a mystery which is very personal to the protagonist. That twist for me was important to balance things out, almost also providing a commentary on it being easy to blame the other side while not quite looking within for a change or an improvement. That part did make things clear that while the larger perspective was indeed worrying, certain changes could begin from us. And a clever lityle outro was the cherry on top. Overall, the screenplay is impactful and poignant but also thoroughly entertaining and baffling in equal measures.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are quirky and often make you chuckle while keeping the vibe of the drama intact. The BGM is vivacious and it adds value to the drama at several instances. The cinematography has to be one of the unsung heroes of the film. The frames give a neo-noir kind of a vibe which is in contrast to the retro futuristic place. The shades of pink in so many scenes compliment the frames beautifully. Even the combat sequences are lavishly shot and make for a wonderful watch. This would have accentuated the impact by ten fold on the big screen. The editing is sharp and crisp. Director Juel Taylor had a solid concept on his hands and that was half the battle won already. But, the other half needed to be executed well in order to create a lasting impact. And he manages to deliver in a rather stunning manner, tactfully keeping the mystery alive which did help in the viewers investing in the drama, before allowing them to be in awe of the twisted nefarious conspiracy to follow. The direction was magnificent.
Performances
The performances are outstanding and I shall be keeping the character names under wraps to avoid any spoilers. Kiefer Sutherland is menacing and has his moments to shine. Teyonah Parris is outstanding and her comic timing was absolutely on point. It was refreshing to watch Jamie Foxx in this peculiar role wherein he was excellent to the core. John Boyega in his multiple shades was supremely impressive and he did work on the character traits extremely well. His body language and mannerism were brilliant to the core.
Conclusion
They Cloned Tyrone is a baffling high concept drama with solid political and social undertones that makes for an excellent watch. Sadly, this film had slipped under the radar amidst the Barbenheimer wave! Available on Netflix and Highly Recommended!
