On March 4, Amazon Prime Video releasedAmy Poehler’s acclaimed Sundance documentaryLucy and Desi, which documents the entirety ofLucille BallandDesi Arnaz’s marriage and respective careers.Lucy and Desihits streaming only months afterAaron Sorkin’s biopic,Being the Ricardos, was released on the same platform.Being the Ricardosdramatized a critical week within the couple’s career in which Ball revealed her pregnancy and was accused of being a Communist. BothNicole KidmanandJavier Bardemrecently received Academy Award nominations for their roles as Lucy and Desi, respectively.
While they tackle the same subject matter,Lucy and DesiandBeing the Ricardosdon’t tell the same exact story.Being the Ricardosfocuses on a more narrow window of time that gives insights on the societal pressures the pair faced, butLucy and Desicontains more personal accounts from those that knew the real couple. Both films are informative in different ways. They make a great double feature for those that are interested in learning about these icons.
Watching both narrative films and documentaries that cover the same subject can be very instructive. Here are seven more double features of feature films and documentaries you should try.
RELATED:‘Being the Ricardos’: Cast and Character Guide to Aaron Sorkin’s Take on the Iconic Hollywood Couple
Dune (1984) and Jodorowsky’s Dune
Denis Villeneuve’sDunewas one of the biggest hits of last year and recently scored ten Oscar nominations.David Lynch’s 1984 version ofFrank Herbert’s source material wasn’t so well-regarded; it became one of the rare disasters of Lynch’s career and had a notoriously difficult production where Lynch wasn’t given final cut privileges. Lynch’sDuneremains a fascinating anomaly, and the 2013 documentaryJodorowsky’s Duneexplores another auteur director’s failed attempt to bring the material to life. Surrealist writer/directorAlejandro Jodorowskyenvisioned an ambitious adaptation that sadly never saw the light of day. Viewed as a double feature, the two films help explain whyDunehas been such a difficult novel to adapt.
Snowden and Citizenfour
The crew of the Academy Award-winning documentaryCitizenfourwas granted incredible access toEdward Snowden’s asylum in Russia and documented many of the whistleblower’s most significant actions as they occurred. DirectorLaura Poitrashad been researching NSA surveillance and was contacted by Snowden directly.Joseph Gordon-Levittportrayed the titular whistleblower inOliver Stone’s 2016 filmSnowden, which dramatized his service in the U.S. Army Special Forces and his escape to Moscow. WhileCitizenfourcan’t be matched in its authenticity, the real Snowden does appear in the final scene of Stone’s biopic.
A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood and Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?Is one of the rare documentaries that truly became a crossover sensation with general audiences; both fans that grew up watchingFred Rogersand those who’d never discovered him before were amazed by the sensitive depiction of a man who was uncompromisingly kind. No one embodies human goodness quite likeTom Hanks, who received an Academy Award nomination for his depiction of Rogers inMarielle Heller’s film,A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood. Rather than attempt to tell his entire life story,A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhoodfocuses on a cynical journalist (Matthew Rhys) who is touched by Rogers’ kindness.
First Man and Apollo 11
Damien Chazelle’sFirst Manis not a standard biopic by any means; the film shows theApollo 11landing through the eyes of a grieving father coping with unimaginable loss.Ryan Gosling’s sensitive, understated performance humanized one of the most iconic figures in American history. However, the documentaryApollo 11is just as exciting as a narrative film. Unseen 70mm footage was edited together of the takeoff and landing, and the film never breaks from the archival tapes to include interviews or recreations.
I’m Not There and Bob Dylan: Don’t Look Back
While many documentaries have attempted to crack the alluring persona ofBob Dylan, the 1967 filmBob Dylan: Don’t Look Backmanaged to follow the iconic singer during one of his early tours. It’s fun to see Dylan in his element, teasing the documentary crew and piecing together some of his future hits. DirectorTodd Haynesattempted to explore his entire life and shifting personas with his unusual biopic,I’m Not There. Rather than tell a traditional narrative,I’m Not Therededicates different sections to individual periods in Dylan’s life with a revolving cast.Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Cate Blanchette, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere,andBen Whishaweach star as Dylan in different chapters.
Steve Jobs and Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine
Aaron Sorkin has the rare ability to bring larger-than-life figures down to Earth, andSteve Jobsexplored three of the most important moments in the Apple founder’s career in1984, 1986, and 1998. Sorkin’s politics frequently come under fire, but neither he norMichael Fassbenderattempt to lionize Jobs’ combative personality.Alex Gibney’s documentarySteve Jobs: The Man in the Machinewrestles with similar questions. Gibney explores why Jobs was beloved as a public figure and questions what his true legacy really is.
Man on the Moon and Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond
Jim Carreywent notoriously in depth to play comedianAndy Kaufmanin the biopicMan on the Moon, irritating his surrounding cast and crew with his dedication to Kaufman’s eccentricities.Jim & Andy: The Great Beyondis essential viewing for anyone who watches the narrative film; it features behind-the-scenes footage of Carrey throughout the shoot. It’s unclear in many instances whether the chaotic behind-the-scenes drama inJim & Andyis part of an elaborate ruse. It’s an unsettling but poignant insight into the methods behind becoming another person.
