Double Features

[barking_iguana]

Back when I used to watch more than a few movies per decade, I used to notice pairs of movies that to some extent were different takes on the same theme and would therefore make interesting double features. I guess I was inspired by the signs for my local drive-in when I was a kid (before I would see such movies) that for a while billed Patton (pro-war) with M*A*S*H (anti-).

I think the best paring I've thought of is that when Priest came out, it should have been seen with the then-10-year-old Mass Appeal. Of course, both films would now seem very different, in wake of the revelations of the extent of priest sexual abuse.

S.O.B. and Network also make a good pair, and you get to see William Holden twice.

Scrooged and Groundhog Day don't make a good pair, because they're the same fucking movie. When the second came out, I figured Murray was starting a franchise and with Christmas and the 2nd of February done, we'd see the same treatment of Thanksgiving and lord knows what else.

1982 was an interesting year in the evolution of acceptance of queer sexualities, with Tootsie and Victor/Victoria. Tootsie was fun. Victor/Victoria was good!

Speaking of stretching the bounds of acceptable sexuality, for two movies that can each be seen as a grotesque parody of the other, try Get Out Your Handkerchiefs and Harold and Maude.

I don't remember my other ideas anymore, so perhaps you'll supply your own.

ETA: Taxi Driver (1976) and Falling Down (1993) highlight the differences in their times and how those times were contemporaneously portrayed, using very similar characters as vehicles.

Comments

[freeko.livejournal.com]

The Thin Red Line and Saving Private Ryan both came out in 1998. The former a classic by Terrance Mallick the latter by Steven Spielberg. Mallick is as scarce as Spielberg is prolific, but great films but The Thin Red Line is far better the best of the two WW II era films.

[bugsybanana.livejournal.com]

agrumer and I spent the last day of 1999 watching All the President's Men and Dick back to back.

[chemoelectric.livejournal.com]

Hoop Dreams and Boyz n the Hood. Except that Hoop Dreams is already practically a double feature and you would want to include the followup piece, as well. So make it a multiday affair.

[rmjwell.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, I'm a movie fan, so let me throw out a couple...

The Guru & Bride & Prejudice. If you are a fan of musicals and would like a taste of Bollywood without needing subtitles these two are a nice set. The Gurustars Jimi Mistry as an Indian come to America to find his dream as an actor ornly to wind up going from porno extra to the Deepak Chopra of sex. A great ensemble cast with Heather Graham, Marisa Tomei and Christine Baranski (always a joy to watch!) that includes spontaneous dance numbers including a Bollywood version of "You're the One that I Want." Bride & Prejudice is a modern re-telling of the Jane Austen classic that stars Aishwarya Rai, Naveen Andrews and Indira Varma. Again, lots of colorful dance pieces that in fine Bollywood tradition materialize for no reason.

Undercover Brother & either of James Coburn's Derek Flint movies, Our Man Flint or In Like Flint. Forget Austin Powers, UB is the much, much funnier send-up of spy flicks; maybe have the new Get Smart! as a chaser.

[tactisle.livejournal.com]

They were three years apart, but one of my favorite "both sides of the story" double features is Dirty Harry and Bullitt.

His Girl Friday and The Philadelphia Story both came out in 1940, both deal with the media's increasing role in private life, and both pair Cary Grant in a love/hate relationship with a fast-talking strong-willed female lead.

[cinema-babe.livejournal.com]

If I'm going highbrow, it'd have to be a triple feature of John Ford's Stagecoach (1939), Akira Kurasowa's The Seven Samurai (1954) and John Sturges' The Magnificent Seven (1960).

Why? Because each was inspired by the previous film. It's wonderfully circular.

If I just want to be creeped out I would pair Harvey with Donnie Darko. Both films about disturbed young men who are seemingly haunted by a giant rabbit. One considers his hallucination(?) a friend and the for the other it's the harbinger of the end of the world.

[doughnutman.livejournal.com]

Armageddon and deep impact. Both about Asteroids. Both came out in the same year. Actually they are basically the same movie only one has some wonderful one liners the other has Morgan Freeman.

Enemy of the State and Live Free or die hard. Both movies are about the evil man can do with computers. Life Free or Die Hard is an unofficial sequel to Enemy of the state.

American Beauty and My life as a house. Both are movies about the pitfalls of living in suburbia and came out about the same time. Actually they aren't a good pair as Life is a house is awful and American Beauty is amazing. Instead of my life as house I'd recommend you'd watch 16 candles first and American Beauty second as both are films about teenagers dealing with growing up.

[rmjwell.livejournal.com]

The American President and Dave both very enjoyable movies about being President. The American President was written by Aaron Sorkin before he went on to create The West Wing.