Double Feature Award Series
Two long-standing studio empires — Fox and MGM — have combined to roll out the red carpet for some Oscar favorites packaged in pairs. (Fox/MGM)
‘The Abyss’/’Alien’
These special effects winners tell their stories in the deep sea and deep space. James Cameron (”Titanic”) directs Ed Harris (”Appaloosa”) who portrays a diver that confronts a mysterious force that can alter the world in “The Abyss.” Sigourney Weaver leads the charge against the galaxy’s ultimate creature in “Alien.”
‘Coming Home’/’Norma Rae’
Jon Voight and Jane Fonda won Oscars about the shattering aftermath of the Vietnam War in “Coming Home.” Sally Field cops Best Actress as a Southern millworker who becomes a labor force to be reckoned with in “Norma Rae.”
‘Moonstruck’/’My Cousin Vinny’
Cher wins an Oscar as a widowed Brooklyn book-keeper torn between her fiancé and his brother in “Moonstruck.” The Deep South legal system gets exposed to leather-clad Marisa Tomei representing her cousin (Joe Pesci) in an Alabama court in “My Cousin Vinny.”
‘Wall Street’/’The Last King of Scotland’
Michael Douglas stars in a landmark role as ruthless financier Gordon Gekko in “Wall Street.” In another classic performance, Forest Whitaker plays Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in “The Last King of Scotland.”
‘Leaving Las Vegas’/’Raging Bull’
Nicolas Cage, a career alcoholic, hooks up with hooker Elisabeth Shue and their connection changes them forever in “Leaving Las Vegas.” Martin Scorsese (”The Aviator”) directs Robert DeNiro in this unflinching portrait of troubled boxer Jake LaMotta in “Raging Bull.”
‘Little Miss Sunshine’/’Sideways’
From an Oscar-winning screenplay by Michael Arndt, Greg Kinnear leads a dysfunctional family in a story revolving around a youth beauty contest for the seven year-old daughter in “Little Miss Sunshine.” A wine-tasting road trip amongst the vineyards of California is the backdrop of this tale featuring Paul Giamatti in “Sideways.”
‘Fargo’/’Thelma and Louise’
The Coen brothers are behind this darkly amusing thriller that features William Macy, Frances McDormand and Steve Buscemi in “Fargo.” Ridley Scott (”Gladiator”) directs from Callie Khouri’s Oscar-winning screenplay this unique female road movie starring Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis in “Thelma and Louise.”
‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’/’Moulin Rouge’
Brilliant visuals and innovative design are at the core of these two pictures.
‘City Slickers’/’A Fish Called Wanda’
Billy Crystal and Jack Palance star in this comedy about cowboys, careers and mid-life crisis in “City Slickers.” Jamie Curtis is Wanda in a comedy about jewel thieves and bungling adults including Kevin Kline, John Cleese and Michael Palin in “A Fish Called Wanda.”
TCM Greatest Classic Films Series
When the world’s largest movie partnership (Turner Classic Movies and Warner Bros.) combine their strengths, it can only benefit serious film buffs as well as a new generation of movie lovers. This is the case here as they group together by theme, in four-title sets, the greatest American films over the last eight decades. What a collection and an easy way to build a personal library of classic films (with more to come). These debut sets have received more than two dozen Academy Awards collectively and feature such stars as: Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Katharine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart and Marlon Brando.
Randy Williams can be reached at writtenbyrw@yahoo.com
