16. M. Butterfly
Cronenberg has employed Jeremy Irons as his star twice: once in the utterly mesmeric Dead Ringers, and once in the fairly dire M. Butterfly. It looks exceptional, of course. Irons' performance is typically grandiose and wonderful. There are some truly stunning set-pieces. But the problem is, M. Butterfly (based on the play by David Henry Hwang) is supposed to be about the difficulties, awkwardness and tensions of the relationship between two people... And the script, cinematography and "chemistry" between the two leads are so stale that things never really get going. The film's revelation, that Irons' female lover is actually a man, is utterly anticlimactic. This film finishes above Shivers based on its visual beauty and Irons' performance, but it's far from a standout film by such an otherwise excellent director.