Thursday Movie Picks: Double Features
1) 2:37/Elephant
Both of these movies involve tragedies set in high schools. At one time, 2:37 was accused of ripping Elephant off but aside from one tracking shot, I think they're very different looks into how the worse thing imaginable can happen within a school.
2) Black Sheep/Tommy Boy
Nostalgia pick! I used to watch these two films back to back all the time when I was a kid. In fact, sometimes when I think of a specific scene, I struggle to remember which movie it was from.
3) The Big Short/99 Homes
Both of these movies tackle the American housing crisis in 2008, but they look at it from different sides. The Big Short shows us the rich Wall Street workers that pulled it off, and 99 Homes shows us the poor people that suffered.
I almost went with The Big Short/99 Homes myself. I haven't seen the others but 2:37 and Elephant sound interesting.
ReplyDeleteThat would've been funny if we had matched on this. 2:37 and Elephant are both wonderful little indie films. You should check them out.
DeleteFarley double header, classic.
ReplyDeleteAlways!
DeleteTommy Boy and Black Sheep.... YES!!!!!! I like those films. I've seen Elephant but 2:37 is a film I've never heard of as I realized why. I'm intrigued though. The Big Short is a film that I want to see as well as 99 Homes.
ReplyDeleteIt's an Aussie film, I don't think it ever got a proper release here. I had to rent it.
DeleteI need to see your first pair. They both sound very interesting. Not a big fan of Farley, blasphemous I know. I've seen bits and pieces of both Tommy Boy and Black Sheep and I'll pass. The Big Short is excellent. I still need to watch 99 Homes.
ReplyDeleteI actually know quite a few people that aren't fans of Farley. I think I was just the right age for his 90's stuff. I think you'll definitely like 99 Homes if you liked The Big Short, and I hope you get to see the first two!
DeleteNice matchups though I haven't seen them all. 2:37 was a well-acted tragedy that I thought was one of the most depressing things I've ever seen. Haven't seen Elephant but if it's similar to this I think I'll pass.
ReplyDeleteEverything that Dell said about Farley and his films mirror my feelings.
I liked The Big Short quite a lot but haven't heard of 99 Homes. I'll have to look into it.
I tried to go for three different genres with a pair up in each.
Filmmaker Double Feature
Bride of Frankenstein (1931) Scientist Victor Frankenstein having survived the assault of the original film is forced by the evil Dr. Pretorius to assemble a mate for his monster. Using an electrical storm to bring the creature to life (an iconic looking Elsa Lanchester) he starts a chain of events that lead to much tragedy when it turns out the bride isn’t having any of the monster. Quintessential horror film that with the first set a prototype for many years and started a trend that made its studio, Universal a mint churning out pale imitations of other creature features.
Paired with:
Gods and Monsters (1998)-James Whale (Ian McKellan), esteemed director of Frankenstein and many others, is living a wealthy genteel retirement in California tended to by his faithful housekeeper Hanna (Lynn Redgrave). Lonely and unbeknownst to most ill with a condition that causes a slow diminishment of his faculties he strikes up a friendship with his handsome gardener, ex-Marine Clay Boone (Brendan Fraser). As they share stories Whale recalls making The Bride of Frankenstein among other things as his thoughts scattered and re-form. Deliberately paced but with brilliant acting, both McKellan and Redgrave were Oscar nominated.
War Double Feature
So Proudly We Hail (1943)-In December 1941 a group of Army nurses lead by Lt. Janet “Davey” Davidson (Claudette Colbert) and including Lts. Joan O’Doul (Paulette Goddard) and Olivia D’Arcy (Veronica Lake) are headed to Hawaii for their tour of duty but plans change radically when Pearl Harbor is bombed and they are diverted to the battle sieged island of Bataan. Once there they are confronted almost hourly with bombardments, attacks and masses of wounded calling for enormous sacrifice and resolve. Strong drama headed by three great stars with Veronica being a standout as a bitter woman hell-bent on revenge.
Paired with:
Bataan (1943)-Looking at the male side of the same battle. The Japanese have just invaded the Philippines and the US Army in hopes of holding them back assigns a group of 13 under the direction of Sgt. Bill Dane (Robert Taylor) to destroy a key bridge and prevent its rebuilding. Tense and grim with an excellent cast including Thomas Mitchell, Robert Walker and Desi Arnaz.
Drive-In Double Feature
The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)-A group of scientists on an expedition for fossils in the Amazon stumble upon the previously unknown Creature from the Black Lagoon on their journey. Not having the sense to leave well enough alone they capture the mysterious gill man but he breaks free returning later to take the beautiful Kay (Julie Adams) for his own. The surprisingly hunky and scantily clad remaining scientists (Richards Denning & Richard Carlson) take off in pursuit. A mix of suspense and hilarity ensues.
Paired with:
The Thing from Another World (1951)-Stationed in the Arctic a team of scientists along with a crew from the US Air Force find a crashed spacecraft in the ice as well as the frozen body of the presumed pilot. Again not having the sense to leave well enough alone they extract the body from the ice and then pay a heavy price when it thaws out and becomes THE THING!! Though he’s unrecognizable under the makeup the Thing is played by James Arness before his decades long career on TV’s Gunsmoke.
Your Frankenstein paring sounds like it would be right up my alley!
Deleteoh my God I only saw The Big Short :P I love Shannon so I may give 99 Homes a try one day
ReplyDeleteI thought you had seen 99 Homes! You definitely should. Shannon is great in it.
DeleteWhen would I between altering between Logan and trashfires with Hugh? I need to do proper Shannon marathon. Haven't even seen Bug yet.
DeleteYES you do need a Shannon marathon.
DeleteTommy Boy and Black Sheep FTW!!!!! Need to see 99 Homes. The Big Short is genius.
ReplyDelete99 Homes is great, I think you would like it.
DeleteGreat pics with the double features. I haven't seen the first 2 but they sound great. I like this quick scene you show but I was never a fan of Chris Farley. The Big short is a good film and a great pairing with how one huge event is shown but in a different perspective
ReplyDeleteChris Farley is certainly an aquired taste. I get it.
DeleteI have seen Elephant...but haven't even heard of 2:37...going to keep a look out for it.
ReplyDeleteIt's an Australian film, came out in 2006.
DeleteI too had never even heard of 2:37, but I'm very intrigued by it. What a sad subject that is. Thanks for making me aware of that film.
ReplyDeleteI hope you can find it and enjoy it!
Delete