by Adam Riske and Patrick Bromley
Double Feature 1:
Adam: #1: Bubba Ho-Tep (2002)
Patrick: #2: Heartbreak Hotel (1988)
Patrick: Trailers/Shorts: 3000 Miles to Graceland, Elvis, Honeymoon in Vegas
Patrick: Theme: Fake Elvis
Patrick: I love Bubba Ho-Tep and I’m excited to revisit it but I’m not in the most “horror” place these days so I wanted to pair it with something outside the genre. I’ve never seen Heartbreak Hotel but I know David Keith plays Elvis and I kind of have to see that. Plus, it’s written and directed by Chris Columbus and is one of his only movies I’ve yet to see, so I’m excited to put another finger down on the Two Fists. Have you seen it? You’re more of a CC guy than me but your affection for him has rubbed off on me a lot.
Adam: This is a really cool double. Heartbreak Hotel is one of my unseen Columbus’s, so it’ll be nice to check that one off the list. I’m glad you’re liking him/his movies more these days. Dude’s like a no-brainer for me. Like when you had a teacher you loved growing up. I have such a special place in my heart for Bubba Ho-Tep because it started as a movie I was into and became one I shared with my Mom. We used to watch it together every October along with The Blob (1958) and Last Man on Earth (1964). That was our annual trilogy during Scary Movie Month most years. It'll be really nice to see it in a theater again and dedicate it to her.
Double Feature 2:
Patrick: #1: 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)
Adam: #2: Paparazzi (2004)
Adam: Trailers/Shorts: Dazed and Confused, Higher Learning, Pitch Black
Adam: Theme: A Handful of Hausers
Adam: Cole Hauser is terrifying but that doesn’t prevent me from really enjoying his work and wanting to dedicate a night to his onscreen villainy. I think 2 Fast 2 Furious (which has re-established itself as my second favorite in the franchise after the original) and Paparazzi would play really well together since they both have a schlocky vibe in the best way possible. It’s a very Cinemarink double is what I’m trying to say. P.S. My memory is it gets funnier and funnier in Paparazzi when Dennis Farina keeps going back to Cole Hauser all “We have a lot of dead paparazzi on our hands, know anything about this Cole Hauser?” and Cole Hauser’s like “No” but with a shit eating grin on his face. I dunno, maybe you have to be there and by “be there” I mean at this double feature. #Engine'sGood
Patrick: I’m so excited for this double bill but I’m afraid it’s going to conjure an appearance from Cole Hauser, like saying “Candyman” in the mirror three times. I just rewatched 2 Fast and it’s officially my favorite. It’s so colorful and silly and fun. John Singleton really knew what he was doing on that one. If Cole Hauser doesn’t return as Carter Verona for the last Fast installment, this franchise will have really fucked up. I haven’t seen Paparazzi since E and I saw it with Mike and Christy opening weekend. I feel like I would like it more now by enjoying it as stupid trash, clearly the right way to watch it.
Double Feature 3:
Patrick: #2: Open Range (2003)
Patrick: Trailers/Shorts: Horizon Part 1, Dances With Wolves, Wyatt Earp
Patrick: Theme: Costner Goes West
Patrick: Such an obvious theme but Costner has made so many good westerns that we really need to devote a whole night to them. I like starting with Silverado when he’s young and full of energy and then following that with Open Range when he’s older and grouchier and won’t stop sending Annette Bening away. I love both of these movies, but truth be told we could probably follow Silverado with any of the movies in the trailer lineup and I would be super happy. I thought about programming Horizon Part 2 as a cheat but it just bums me out that we still can’t see it.
Adam: So, what you’re doing is programming a perfect evening. This is incredible. I can’t believe they still haven’t released Horizon Part 2 in some fashion. P.S. One of my favorite celebrity interactions at a con was when Amanda Wyss told me that like 30+ years later, the cast of Silverado had a text chain because they all had so much fun making that movie together. I need to see it again. What better way to do that than at the Cinemarink!?
Double Feature 4:
Patrick: #1: Primary Colors (1998)
Adam: #2: A Civil Action (1998)
Adam: Trailers/Shorts: Pulp Fiction, Get Shorty, Face/Off
Adam: Theme: John Travolta’s Best Performances of the 1990s
Adam: John Travolta has made a lot of questionable career choices, but sometimes when people lean too far into making fun of him, I want to remind them how awesome he has been for extended periods of time. His run from 1994 to 1998 was one of those eras (eras) and I selected five of what I consider to be his best performances during that stretch as a theme. I’m of the opinion he should have gotten another Academy Award nomination for one of his 1998 movies - Primary Colors and A Civil Action. He’s incredible in both movies as charismatic, and somewhat well-intentioned, men whose flaws can’t help but build to the surface. I think both movies are pretty underrated and rewatchable, with a surplus of great actors in supporting roles.
Patrick: Yeah I was just revisiting Primary Colors and was reminded of just how good it is. I feel like something I was watching recently – maybe an old Siskel & Ebert? – made a point of saying that Travolta was miscast in A Civil Action and I totally disagree. That’s the better of the two performances for me, even if I like Primary Colors more as a movie. I’ve been on a Mike Nichols run lately and it’s been pretty great.
Double Feature 5:
Patrick: #2: The Bride! (2026)
Patrick: Trailers/Shorts: Pulp Fiction, She’s All That, Southland Tales, The Mask
Patrick: Theme: Dance Numbers!
Patrick: I had absolutely no idea what to pair with Band of Outsiders because I’m a philistine, but the thing I remember loving most about it was the dance number that the characters do about halfway through the film. I decided to run with that idea and programmed another movie with a left-field dance number because I still think The Bride! Is one of the most underrated movies of this year and the dance number is probably my favorite part of the whole thing. Have you seen it yet? I’m curious what you think. You might hate it.
Adam: You’re not a philistine! This is a unique theme and pairing in a good way. I remember seeing Band of Outsiders and zoning in on Anna Karina. And then I remember seeing Vivre sa vie and zoning in on Anna Karina even more while also being blown away by the movie in a way I wasn’t for Band of Outsiders. I’d like to give it another try after really liking Nouvelle Vague last year. I haven’t seen The Bride! but I did check it out from the library a couple of days ago (along with Dracula and Wuthering Heights). I’ll report back. I’m slowly catching up on 2026 movies from earlier this year when I was in a funk and rarely going to the movies. P.S. If Jack Rabbit Slim’s from Pulp Fiction or Coco Bongo from The Mask existed, I would have my birthday parties there.
Double Feature 6:
Patrick: #1: Dune (1984)
Adam: #2: The Last Starfighter (1984)
Adam: Trailers/Shorts: Firestarter, Streets of Fire, Conan the Destroyer, Cloak & Dagger
Adam: Theme: Universal Pictures 1984
Adam: Sometimes you make double features for your friends. I had you in mind for this one, Patrick. I originally was going to make a tribute to the film work of Sting -- a singer I enjoy much more than you, especially his solo work. The problem was I couldn’t find something good to pair with Dune, so I went the obvious route of Universal 1984, which was a good idea since Universal distributed so many similar fantasy/space/pulp type movies that year. I think this will be a really fun and nostalgic night at the movies with an amazing trailer block.
Patrick: You’re such a good friend because this is one of the most me-coded doubles we’ve ever done, even down to the trailers. I might be the internet’s biggest fan of at least three of these movies. If you want, we can play “Fields of Gold” during the intermission and then we both get something out of the night.
Double Feature 7:
Patrick: #2: The Wizard (1989)
Patrick: Trailers/Shorts: Runaway Daughters, Foxfire, “One of the Guys” Music Video
Patrick: Theme: Jenny Lewis Tribute
Patrick: Erika and I saw Rilo Kiley live a couple of weeks ago and I was reminded that Jenny Lewis is and has been a top 5 celebrity crush ever since Troop Beverly Hills so I thought it only right to devote the night to her. She didn’t do a ton of acting so we’re fairly limited in what we can show. I don’t think I’ve seen Troop Beverly Hills since that original VHS viewing but I know there are some people who make it like their whole personality. Are you a Trooper? I know we probably can’t get Jenny Lewis out to the double (restraining order), but do you think Power Glove kid from The Wizard might show up?
Adam: Yeah, that Jenny Lewis crush hit the Chicago suburbs hard. I was a goner once I saw the 1989 one-two punch of Troop Beverly Hills and The Wizard. My Jenny Lewis crush walked so my Emma Stone crush could run. I would consider myself a Trooper since my family saw it TWICE at the dollar theater for some reason. Pretty sure Power Glove kid is our soda distributor, so, yeah, Jackey Vinson will be there, put it on the marquee.
Double Feature 8:
Patrick: #1: Speed Racer (2008)
Adam: #2: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)
Adam: Trailers/Shorts: The Spiderwick Chronicles, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, All of their Happy Meal Commercials
Adam: Theme: 2008 Movies That Had McDonald’s Happy Meal Promotions
Adam: Growing up, there was almost nothing more exciting to me than when McDonalds had a Happy Meal promotion for a movie I was into. I was no longer tapped into Happy Meals in 2008, so looking back it was funny to see that some of these movies even had one. P.S. I’ve tried but just can’t get into Speed Racer. I’m most excited about seeing the Happy Meal commercials on the big screen.
Patrick: Yeah, this might be a rough night for us. I keep trying with Speed Racer, which is why I programmed it this month, but it hasn’t clicked for me yet. Clone Wars is never going to happen for me so maybe we can eat a bunch of McDonald’s in the back of the theater while the people who are going to enjoy that movie are enjoying it.
Double Feature 9:
Patrick: #2: She’s Gotta Have It (1986)
Patrick: Trailers/Shorts: Slacker, Go Fish, Roger & Me
Patrick: Theme: Spike, Mike, Slackers, & Dykes
Patrick: I used to really love John Pierson’s book Spike, Mike, Slackers, & Dykes but mostly for the Kevin Smith stuff. I feel like I’ve grown up since then. I like that almost all the movies even in the trailer block aren’t just first films but also in black and white. It will remind me of the pretentious ‘90s, a period for which I still have a ton of affection because it’s when I became a real movie bro. I feel like I’ve grown up since then.
Adam: I like this double a lot. I’ve only seen She’s Gotta Have It once and didn’t like it, so I feel like I owe it another chance being a Spike Lee guy. I just bought a ticket to see An Evening with Kevin Smith this September, so I feel like I haven’t grown up yet.
Double Feature 10:
Patrick: #1: Please Give (2010)
Adam: #2: The Town (2010)
Adam: Trailers/Shorts: The Prestige, The Gift (2015), Ella McCay
Adam: Theme: Rebecca Hall Shitty Significant Others
Adam: This one’s hyper-specific but I like Rebecca Hall and I always feel bad that in movies she is stuck dating/married to bank robbers, creepy twins, secret bullies, philanderers, and Thomas Ian Nicholas. She deserves better. Plus, theme aside, we get to watch two good movies with great Rebecca Hall performances!
Patrick: This is a really funny theme and I’m so glad you found a way to sneak in the Ella McCay trailer. You are solely responsible for keeping the name of that movie alive. Rebecca Hall is always so good but hasn’t had a really good part in a couple of years. She needs to come back. I feel like the one-two punch of The Night House and that movie where Tim Roth eats her baby positioned her to really break out but instead she’s getting mostly cut out of Ella McCay. What gives?
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