The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up, 9/2/12

Welcome to this week's edition of  the Double Feature Weekly Wrap-up! Really difficult pairings with some lackluster films this week - these were some difficult pairings Here are my self-imposed rules taken from my first edition:

1. No pairing of sequels. Obviously Watching Iron Man 2 with Iron Man would  be a good double feature, but that's so obvious I don't think it should count. Same with pairing it with another film in the Avengers series.
2. No pairing remakes with originals. Yes, it's tempting to pair the new Arthur with the original, but again that's too obvious.
3. No pairings with the same director or lead actor unless a REALLY persuasive case can be made.

So, without further ado, here are my double-feature pairings for the week:

• Dane Cook: ISolated INcident - In a word, this was just bad. Dane Cook may be a decent actor but a good comic he is not. Plus, it struck me he was just liberally stealing material from a number of other comics, including Russell Brand. For that reason, I suggest Russell Brand In New York City as a good pairing - see how it's really done as opposed to this weak-sauce version. Bah.
• In My Sleep - This thriller had a semi-decent plot but just ghastly acting. I wish it had tried to either be more twisty with its plot devices or to just use a bit more subterfuge in execuating them. IT reminded me in tone of Gothika, better thriller with much better acting that got a little closer to the desired effect.
• Jesus Henry Christ - This dramedy had a lot going for it - great cast, solid plot, and good direction. I couldn't tell you why I just didn't connect with it as much as I should have - I think if it had taken it's subject a bit more seriously it would have helped. The perfect pairing for this is Jodie Foster's Little Man Tate, a movie that deals with a very similar plot in a more serious and infectious light.
• Proof - Another film this week where I feel the jury is still out. I'll remember it for Hugo Weaving and Russell Crowe, but the plot was clumsy and got in its own way far too often. I think the director was shooting for a darker, more sinister vibe which she just didn't achieve. I kept being reminded of Stephen Frears' earlier work, in particular Dirty Pretty Things. Frears' noir drama hits the notes to which Proof was aiming and hits them to perfection. I think the pair would make a great double feature night.
• Half Broken Things - This British low-key drama/thriller was creepy and odd but failed to deliver the suspenseful punch that was intended. Better direction and much better acting would have done it I think. I thought for a while about what to pair this with. I feel like there was a tonal quality missing that would have brought out the best in this script. South Korea's The Housemaid has that missing quality - haunting direction and ephemeral characters that leave you captivated and questioning. However, the plot of The Housemaid isn't nearly as solid or intriguing as that of Half Broken Things. I think watching these two as a double feature would highlight what each is missing and provide a more complete viewing experience.
• The Art of Getting By - Once again this week a movie just fails to deliver for me. This drama had a decent plot but Freddie Highmore just didn't have the impact for the lead role. I felt like he was doing a bad Anton Yelchin impression for most of the film, leading me to suggest Like Crazy as my double feature pairing. Yelchin and Jones are just magnificent in Like Crazy and it hit every note to perfection.

Happy movie watching!

The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up, 8/19/12

Welcome to this week's edition of  the Double Feature Weekly Wrap-up! This is coming in late this week so I'm going to have to make this shorter than usual. More really superb movies this week - I hope I do them justice with my double feature picks. Here are my self-imposed rules taken from my first edition:

1. No pairing of sequels. Obviously Watching Iron Man 2 with Iron Man would  be a good double feature, but that's so obvious I don't think it should count. Same with pairing it with another film in the Avengers series.
2. No pairing remakes with originals. Yes, it's tempting to pair the new Arthur with the original, but again that's too obvious.
3. No pairings with the same director or lead actor unless a REALLY persuasive case can be made.

So, without further ado, here's my double-feature pairings for the week:

• Man on the Train - Johnny Hallyday came to my attention in the spectacular film Vengenace, which was about as close to a perfect movie as one can hope for. In Man on the Train, Hallyday captured the weary, reluctant criminal better than nearly anyone - he's a wonderful actor. It reminded me very much of Leon: The Professional, where Jean Reno delivered a similarly toned performance in another wonderful film.
• African Cats - This nature documentary was a distilled version of the show Big Cat Diary, of which I am a huge fan. I believe it was even shot in the same place. It's a must see for nature documentary lover, as is Planet Earth: The Complete Series , the double feature series with which I would pair this film.
• Pariah - This coming-of-age sexual identity film was good but not great - it felt rather surface-level to me. It's a shame as I was really interested in the subject matter and thought the acting was quite good. Pair this with Latter Days, a similar film also dealing with sexual identity in the face of a religious family.
• Puncture - Chris Evans was just wonderful in this legal thriller based on actual events. This film was taut and really well paced and written - wuite good. Pair it with Travolta's A Civil Action  , another legal drama based on real events of the same tenor and feel.
• A Girl Walks Into a Bar - I really wanted to like this a lot as I'm a big fan of Guitterez's previous films. They all have a very particular feel to them that I've not felt with any other filmmaker. This was good, but Guitterez' previous film Women in Trouble is much better and will give you a true impression of this style.
  Kimjongilia - This is a powerful and unflinching look at North Korea - it's almost painful to watch. This absolutely must be paired with A State of Mind, another strong documentary about the strange culture of this country.

Happy movie watching!

The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up, 8/12/12

Welcome to this week's edition of  the Double Feature Weekly Wrap-up! I had some great movies this week - I hope I do them justice with my double feature picks. Here are my self-imposed rules taken from my first edition:

1. No pairing of sequels. Obviously Watching Iron Man 2 with Iron Man would  be a good double feature, but that's so obvious I don't think it should count. Same with pairing it with another film in the Avengers series.
2. No pairing remakes with originals. Yes, it's tempting to pair the new Arthur with the original, but again that's too obvious.
3. No pairings with the same director or lead actor unless a REALLY persuasive case can be made.

So, without further ado, here's my double-feature pairings for the week:

• Purple Noon - This original French adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley left me quite cold. I found it choppy, uneven, and full of holes. For a better thriller with a similar tone try the much better Perfume: The Story of a Murderer which is resplendent with wonderful acting and a sumptuous story. Trust me, you'll like it better.
• Interview - Buscemi and Miller really nailed this dramedy - the writing in ia was so smart and quick and their chemistry was spot on. It reminded me of a much better version My Dinner With Andre, a cult classic that I just didn't get but many really love. If you liked Andre you'll love Interview I think.
• Bel Ami - Oh, Pattison is just so unbelievably amazing in this I simply don't have words. No, seriously... this kid can act. Although I know this character was meant to evoke Valmont I instead would recommend Vanity Fair with Reece Witherspoon as a better double feature. The stories are much more similar and the main character story arcs relate so nicely.
• Being Flynn - What a marvelous film this was on every level! Paul Dano gave the performance of his life and De Niro was better than he's been in years. Everything about this was amazing - I've no complaints. For a good double feature pair this with It's Kind of a Funny Story, a raw, believable, and powerful story with the best acting you'll probably ever see from Zach Galifianakis.
• Fantastic Mr. Fox - I've kind of been done with Wes Anderson for a while but this animated film reminded me why I was a fan in the first place. Really marvelous all around. I'm slightly at a loss for a double feature pick as I don't' watch many animated films. The best idea I can come up with is Ratatouille , a joyful film that strikes the same notes.
• Take Me Home Tonight - I didn't expect to like this nearly as much as I did. The acting was spot on, the writing witty and the plot engaging. It reminded me very much of The Wedding Singer which remains my favorite 80's period comedy ever.
• The Man with the Movie Camera - This 1929 silent film is honestly one of the finest and most astonishing films I've ever seen, bar none. I am simploy stunned at how many films found there origins here int his brave, revolutionary work. I can't think of a single double feature recommendation for this because nothing can honestly compare. Watch this one on it's own - it deserves nothing less.

There you go, my recommendations for the week. Happy movie watching!

The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up, 8/5/12

Welcome to this week's edition of  the Double Feature Weekly Wrap-up! Tough ones this week - none of these were easy to pair up but I'm happy with my final selections. Here are my self-imposed rules taken from my first edition:

1. No pairing of sequels. Obviously Watching Iron Man 2 with Iron Man would  be a good double feature, but that's so obvious I don't think it should count. Same with pairing it with another film in the Avengers series.
2. No pairing remakes with originals. Yes, it's tempting to pair the new Arthur with the original, but again that's too obvious.
3. No pairings with the same director or lead actor unless a REALLY persuasive case can be made.

So, without further ado, here's my double-feature pairings for the week:

• The Daytrippers - I realize this is a cult comedy hit. I realize it has a big following of fans. I realize that it makes lists of the best indie comedies around. I didn't see it at all. I found it rather insipid, if I'm being honest, and I really don't get what the fuss was about. What The Daytrippers wants to do  City Island actually does by tightly weaving a comedy script around a group of likeable characters in an witty way.
• Detention - Oh dear god this was truly awful. I mean terribly, horribly awful in a way that cannot be redeemed in any way, shape or form. It wanted to be the next Scream and failed on every level. You want to know my double feature recommendation for this. NOTHING. Because to be a double feature you'd have to watch Detention and I wouldn't wish that upon any of you. Ugh.
• Toast - This film is just charming - it's the best word I can think of to describe it. It's fablesque and fabulously acted across the board. It reminded me very much of Billy Elliot in tone and form - I think they'd make a lovely pairing.
• 49 Up - This was my last UP film for a while, at least until 56 Up hits DVD so I'm slightly in mourning about not having anymore to see. I truly loved every moment of this series and I can't wait to see where our heroes are when next we meet. I'm running out of ideas for pairings for these lovely documentaries so I'm going to go with Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure for this pick. It's a wild story that spans decades and examines human behavior from different angles. It's an interesting film that I think would pair well with this series.
• The Grey - I fully realize that action thrillers like this usually don't make the bet of sense but this Liam Neeson thriller destroyed any idea of logic very early on and just got worse and worse. Yes, the action was good but I must have rolled my eyes a dozen times - not a good sign. Instead of this watch Adrian Brody in Wrecked, a wonderfully taut, well-written and marvelously acted thriller that will keep you both guessing and at the edge of your seat the whole film.
• I Saw The Devil - I'm a huge fan of Korean revenge thrillers and this one was no exception. While it was on the whole much more graphically violent than most others in this genre it was just gorgeously shot - it was like watching a painting. Strange to find such beauty in the midst of such horror - one of the reasons I love these films. This would pair perfectly with The Man from Nowhere , another Korean revenge thriller with an similar tone and feel. Both are truly excellent - if you like these types of films you'll love both of these.

There you have it, my double feature recommendations for the week. I hope you enjoy them and happy movie watching!

The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up, 7/29/12

Welcome to this week's edition of  the Double Feature Weekly Wrap-up!
Here are my self-imposed rules taken from my first edition:

1. No pairing of sequels. Obviously Watching Iron Man 2 with Iron Man would  be a good double feature, but that's so obvious I don't think it should count. Same with pairing it with another film in the Avengers series.
2. No pairing remakes with originals. Yes, it's tempting to pair the new Arthur with the original, but again that's too obvious.
3. No pairings with the same director or lead actor unless a REALLY persuasive case can be made.

So, without further ado, here's my double-feature pairings for the week:

• Nobody Knows - This Japanese drama based on actual events just broke my heart. The slow pacing of this film made it even harder to bear as you could really feel the impact of time throughout the film. I had to think hard to find a film that cold equal the dark tragedy of this and I found it in the Ukraine's Lilya 4-Ever. You know you're watching a seriously tragic film when there are times you wish the protagonists would die not because you dislike them but because death would be a kinder fate than what's happening on screen - Lilya is very much in this camp. Haunting.
•  Bellflower - I really felt this was an awesome movie that just never quite found its way. The story was intriguing but the characters false and plot full of holes. Visually it was a feast for the eyes and I saw what they were trying to do. I Melt With You is the film Bellflower wanted to be - a tortured story of four men dealing with a crucial turning point in their lives. I Melt with You is one of my favorite rentals of late with perhaps my favorite trailer in a LOOONG time.
• Meeting Evil - Again this was a decent idea gone all wrong. The plot was unbelievable from jump and even Sam Jackson flubbed his character in this flimsy thriller. It reminded me of Bill Paxton's Frailty , which suffered from many of the same problems of muddied plot and poorly drawn characters.
• Jiro Dreams of Sushi - I expected this documentary about the king of sushi to be great. I didn't expect to be so well educated by it, nor did I expect the bombshell ending of the story which changed my whole perspective of the story. While lacking the ending twist, Kings of Pastry , a documentary about the ultimate French pastry competition, is a perfect pairing for this. Ah, all the lovely food!
• Attack the Block - I got a huge kick out of this fun and fast action/adventure comedy set in London. The characters were great and the action engaging without sacrificing its edge. Pair this with the similarly toned Tucker & Dale vs. Evil , a hilarious horror/comedy mix starring Alan Tudyk.
• Tinker Tailor Solider Spy - The writing in this spy thriller was magical and the acting superb. Every time I thought I had it all figured out I found out I was mightily wrong which I greatly appreciated.The whole time I was watching this I was reminded of Costner's No Way Out, a spy thriller with a similar edge with an ending that I don't think anyone predicted/
• 42 Up - Apted's series keeps getting better as the characters we now have grown to love keep getting older and wiser. What a wonderful idea for a series so perfectly realized! For a documentary with a similar main idea but completely different approach try Life in a Day , a documentary that tries to capture a feel for the everyday and the extraordinary over the course of one single day in July of 2010.

There you go - my double feature pairings for the week! I hope you enjoy them and happy movie watching! 

The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up, 7/22/12

Welcome to this week's edition of  the Double Feature Weekly Wrap-up!
Here are my self-imposed rules taken from my first edition:

1. No pairing of sequels. Obviously Watching Iron Man 2 with Iron Man would  be a good double feature, but that's so obvious I don't think it should count. Same with pairing it with another film in the Avengers series.
2. No pairing remakes with originals. Yes, it's tempting to pair the new Arthur with the original, but again that's too obvious.
3. No pairings with the same director or lead actor unless a REALLY persuasive case can be made.

So, without further ado, here's my double-feature pairings for the week:

• Nothing Personal - This Polish drama set in Ireland was beautifully daring in that it was comfortable in its own silence. There was no backstory given for the characters and none needed - the female lead never even had a name. A truly poignant film worthy of an equally daring and poignant pairing. I would watch this with Breaking the Waves, Lars Von Trier's gorgeous and daring film that also explores complex relationships without over explaining. Tonally the two match well and I think would compliment each other greatly.
• 28 Up - This continuation of the UP series finds our subjects now at 28. Most of the cast returns for this segment with a few great surprises. The thrust of this installment was opportunities, which is why I would pair it with Nursery University, a documentary that tackles the subject of elite nursery schools in Manhattan and the crazy things some parents will do to secure their child a place.
• Man on a Ledge - I'm still mixed on this film. The action was exceptional and the heist portion really well done. It was the whole man-on-a-ledge part that was hollow to me and very unbelivable. This film really wanted to be The Score, the De Niro/Norton/Brando heist film that had all of it's pieces fit tightly together.
• Griff the Invisible - I had such high hopes for this film having seen so many wonderful variants on this theme as of late. This didn't really deliver for me in the way I had hoped it would - I didn't believe it. Of all the "superhero" films I've seen lately this most reminded me of Special, a similarly themed drama starring Michael Rappaport as a young man who can't quite find the line between reality and fantasy any longer.
• Devil's Playground - This documentary about the Amish rite of Rumspringga was fascinating in theory but light on content. I really had wanted to learn more about both these kids and the culture from which they sprang. Pair this with Jesus Camp, a wonderful documentary about the culture of Evangelical Christians in America that passes no judgments.
• Chalet Girl - I love Felicity Jones but this romcom about a former skateboarder turned snowboarder was very average. It took me three days to remember the name of the movie it reminded me of - Blue Crush, a very similar film substituting surfing for snowboarding.
• 35 Up - This installment of the UP series finds us reunited with a cast member we missed in 28 Up but lacking another. Having tracked these subjects for nearly thirty years it's just amazing to see how much of the person really had been there at age seven. Following Sean is the perfect pairing for this - it tracks down a documentary subject first caught on film at age four thirty years later to see how he, and the filmmaker, have changed.

That about does it for this week - happy movie watching!

The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-up, 7/15/12

Welcome to this week's edition of  the Double Feature Weekly Wrap-up! A couple of tough ones this week but I think I made good choices in the end. Here are my self-imposed rules - rules I admittedly broke this week, but still....

1. No pairing of sequels. Obviously Watching Iron Man 2 with Iron Man would  be a good double feature, but that's so obvious I don't think it should count. Same with pairing it with another film in the Avengers series.
2. No pairing remakes with originals. Yes, it's tempting to pair the new Arthur with the original, but again that's too obvious.
3. No pairings with the same director or lead actor unless a REALLY persuasive case can be made.

So, without further ado, here's my double-feature pairings for the week:

• Safe House - This Ryan Reynolds/Denzel Washington action thriller has great acting and action but it's terribly predictable. All the reviewers at Netflix compared it to The Bourne trilogy, but watching this made me think of Hanna, an action thriller about another unlikely spy-hero against a seemingly unstoppable force.
• Vertigo - This Hitchcock thriller starring James Stewart is just perfect in pretty much every way. I know I said no matches with the same director or star, but this really needs to be watched with Hitchcock's Rear Window. Can you blame me for this? I think not!
• 71 Fragments of a Chronology of Chance - Haneke's experimental film crafts a brilliant story in a non-linear style with unconventional camerawork. Pair this with Look, another experimental film that solely uses shots from surveillance cameras to tell it's story. You'll thank for for this one - I don't think anyone really saw Look and it's truly brilliant. 
• Seven Up/Seven Plus Seven - Michael Apted began this documentary series in 1964, where he began checking in with his fourteen subjects every seven years. This disc has the first two films shot at ages seven and fourteen. Pair this first installment with Babies, a wonderful documentary that tracks the lives of four babies from vastly different geographical areas for the first four years of their lives.
• 21 Up - This second installment of the UP series checks in with Apted's subjects fourteen years from the first film at age twenty-one. This one would pair nicely with Born Rich, Jamie Johnson's documentary about the children of the extremely wealthy.
• Big Nothing - This squalid comedy tells the story of a reluctant criminal who finds himself committing a crime spree almost against his will. At it's core, this is just a poorly told version of Heathers, the cult hit with a similar plot and tone (except SO much better!).

Well, that's it for this week! Happy movie watching!

The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up, 7/8/12

Welcome to this week's edition of the Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up! Rules for match-ups here - let's get started!  

• Tiny Furniture - Lena Dunham created a lovely indie drama here with smart writing and a bit of bite. It reminded me very much of Slaves of New York in it's tone and humor - a good match for a double feature.
• God Bless America - I'll follow Bobcat Goldthwait almost anywhere, but this black comedy really missed the mark. If you're into this you'd probably love Kevin Smith's Red State which dabbles in a similar area. I didn't like either, but there you have it.
• Dial M for Murder - This Hitchcock classic weaves such a magnificent plot I was mesmerized. For a good film noir night of intrigue pair this with Double Indemnity, a similar noir thriller that will keep you on your toes.
• The Artist - I'm in the minority in that I found this modern silent film gimmicky and a bit stale. My objections mainly lay in that, if you're going to do a "silent talkie" you shouldn't break the illusion you're trying to create, which I felt The Artist did too many times. For reference, pair this with Chaplin's Modern Times, a true silent talkie that does everything right.
• Last Night - This moving drama about infidelity is just heartrendingly honest and beautifully acted. I can't believe more people haven't seen this - it's really wonderful. It would pair beautifully with Blue Valentine, another poignant film that looks at the difficulties in a modern marriage.
• A Thousand Words - This Eddie Murphy film started out with a great idea and just made it cheesier and cheesier throughout the film. You could go two ways with a double feature here. For another film about the power of words go with Ricky Gervais in The Invention of Lying, which I found both hilarious and eerily accurate in it's observations. If you'd rather pair A Thousand Words with a film about a lost man who needs to learn a lesson about life look no further than Groundhog Day.

So there you have it, your double feature recommendations for the week. Happy watching!

The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up, 7/1/12

Welcome to the third edition of the Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up! Boy oh boy were some of these tough to pair up, but I'm proud of the picks I finally made. My self-imposed rules for matching up movies are in my first post here. Let get started with the week's reviews!

• The Tempest - Julie Taymor's adaptation of Shakespeare's final play was luscious if somewhat misguided. I know it seems unfair to pair it with another fusion Shakespeare film, but this is just screaming to be watched alongside Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet, which, in my opinion, is still the best fusion Shakespeare out there.
• Bal - This moody, understated Turkish drama about a father-son relationship is so arresting and gentle in it's approach it was almost diaphanous. After much thought I decided this really needed to be a triple feature as there are two movies that would enhance and draw out the two different sides to this wonderful film. The first is Australia's Romulus, My Father, which is an understated but complex look at a dysfunctional family. The second is Michael Haneke's The Seventh Continent, a visually arresting look at a family gone all sorts of wrong. Watch Romulus first, Bal second, and end with The Seventh Continent as the final shots of Haneke's film will stay with you forever.
• And Everything Is Going Fine - Soderbergh's posthumous tribute to Spalding Gray is composed entirely of older recordings and pieces of Gray's monologues and interviews. Pair this with Howl, a drama about Ginsberg's long poem composes entirely of snippets of the poem and the obscenity trial about it.
• The Puffy Chair - This early Duplass brother's film about a road journey gone sideways was my biggest challenge of the week. I wanted something that had relationship issues, family issues, and a twist to it all wrapped up in an indie package. I got it with Easier With Practice, a fascinating little film about two brothers on the road and a strange but intriguing anonymous phone call. I admit to a small measure of pride for thinking of this match - it wasn't easy!
• Neds - This film about a troubled teen growing up in the violence of 1970's Scotland pairs perfectly with This Is England, a film about a troubled teen who gets pulled into skinhead extremism in England. Make sure you leave the subtitles on for both of these - the ascents are amazingly thick!
• The Vanishing - The original Dutch version of this thriller is infinitely more chilling and frightening than the American remake. Because the original had a grainy, indie feel to it I really wanted to pair it with something of both similar tone and style. I got that with Peacock, a haunting tale about a man devolving into psychosis with Cillain Murphy in the role of his life.
• The Elephant in the Living Room - This documentary about man's desire to tame the wild pairs perfectly with Grizzly Man, Werner Herzog's documentary about one man's quest to live with grizzly bears in the wild.

So there you go, my double feature recommendations for the week. Enjoy and happy movie watching!

The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up, 6/24/12

Welcome to the second edition of The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up at From The Rental Queue! This week's films were definitely more challenging than last weeks but I think I managed alright in the end. My self-imposed rules about matching up films can be found here in last week's post. So, without further ado, this week's double feature recommendations.

• The Myth of the American Sleepover - This coming-of-age drama centered on the last night of summer for a group of teenagers was very sleepy, dreamy, and vapid. I would pair it with Skateland, another dreamy coming-of-age period piece about in a similar vein.
• This Means War - This spy-versus-spy romcom was all show and no substance. It would pair perfectly with Cruise and Diaz's Knight & Day, which I found equally as simple and flashy with a very similar plot and tone.
• St. Trinian's - Okay, this was the toughest of the week. This British cult classic with a star-studded cast combines a farcical collection of characters and evolves into a crazy heist film. There's honestly nothing like it I could put my finger on until I thought of The Maiden Heist - a crazy star-studded farcical film about a crazy heist. Tonally it's very similar and I think they make a quite good match. This was really a tough one though.
• Jeff, Who Lives At Home - Ah, the Duplass brothers really scored with this absolutely lovely evolving tale about finding your purpose. This was another tough one because whatever I picked I wanted it to have the same overall understated, observational feeling. Wes Anderson's Rushmore I think would be marvelous to watch with this - in fact, I may have to do that one night.
• Seeking Justice - This confused revenge thriller missed on nearly all fronts and, since it tried to be so many things it made it really difficult to pair with something. If you want to go straight revenge thriller look no further than Chan-Wook Park's revenge trilogy, of which Oldboy is the best. If you want instead a thriller that focuses on saving a family member you could try Taken or, even better, The Next Three Days. I think though my final call for a double feature here will be The Son of No One, Dito Montiel's odd thriller that combines the two themes far more successfully than Seeking Justice does.
• Rampart - Woody Harrelson gave the performance of his life as a rampaging cop in this beautifully drawn thriller. The logical pairing is Casey Affleck in The Killer Inside Me, an equally provocative (although less nuanced) look at a devolving sociopathic lawman in Texas.

There my list for the week - happy viewing!

The Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up, 6/17/12

Over the last weeks while watching my movie-of-the-day I've often found myself thinking "Wow, this would be a great double feature with _____". This thought was especially brought into focus when I happened to watch The Fog of War back to back with Dr. Strangelove - two films that very eerily went together. I started thinking about starting a double-feature post of the week here to pair up whatever movies I'd seen that week with a second film similar in plot, tone, style or substance to another I'd seen in the past. Think of it as you would the Netflix "if you liked this you might like...." suggestion feature. The idea stuck, and so I present to you the From The Rental Queue Double Feature Weekly Wrap-Up!

Here are my self-imposed rules.

1. No pairing of sequels. Obvious Watching Iron Man 2 with Iron Man would  be a good double feature, but that's so obvious I don't think it should count. Same with pairing it with another film in the Avengers series.
2. No pairing remakes with originals. Yes, it's tempting to pair the new Arthur with the original, but again that's too obvious.
3. No pairings with the same director or lead actor unless a REALLY persuasive case can be made.

So, without further ado, here's my double-feature pairings for the week:

• Martha Marcy May Marlene - MMMM is a story that centers around a young woman who has escaped from a cult and the psychological turmoil that follows it. Oddly the movie that stuck out to me as a good companion feature is Shame , the story of a young man searching for himself. The similarity is tonal rather than thematic - both movies leave you with a feeling of living in a dream, of struggling away from an internal abyss.
  Alternate feature - Winter's Bone
• The Fog of War and Dr. Strangelove - I watched these two movies back to back and they are honestly a perfect double feature. The Fog of War discusses the reality of a nuclear war and Dr. Strangelove is the farcical relief. As a bonus the Dr. Strangelove DVD even had an interview with Robert McNamara - awesome!
• Chronicle - A found-footage film of three teenagers who develop superpowers and the hell those powers wreak on their lives. I think Trollhunter, another found-footage film of three teenagers discovering that trolls really do exist is the perfect companion to this - I love them both. 
• Arthur - The classic story of an alcoholic rich boy forced to choose between love and money retold with Russell Brand. As tempting as it would be to pair it with the original, I'm going to go with Everything Must Go, the story of an alcoholic man forced to reevaluate his life after losing his job and wife in one day. Watch Everything Must Go first - it's better and will put you in a better position to accept the actions of Arthur. 
• Shallow Grave - The darkly comedic story of three young people in Scotland, a lot of money, and a dead body. Pair this with Fargo, a dark comedy of a very similar vein and you can't go wrong. 
• The High Cost of Living - A film about two lives intersecting after a tragic accident wonderful acted by the two leads. The whole time I was watching it I told about Another Earth, a similar story with a sci-fi twist. 
• A Little Bit of Heaven - There are two ways to go with this one. If you want to stick with the main character struggling with a terminal cancer diagnosis, go with 50/50. If you want to go with the romantic drama part about a man watching his significant other struggle with illness, watch Love and Other Drugs. But, since A Little Bit of Heaven kind of stank and both 50/50 and Love and Other Drugs were awesome, I'd just watch those two and forget Heaven - you'll be happier.

So there you go, my double feature recommendations for the week. Let me know if you like these kind of posts and I'll keep them up or think of new things to try. Thanks for reading!