Freda Cooper with five great female movie partnerships…
After last week’s classic pairing of Laurel and Hardy (aka Steve Coogan and John C Reilly) in Stan & Ollie comes one of the most exciting on-screen double acts for some time. The prospect of Margot Robbie as Elizabeth I and Saoirse Ronan as Mary, Queen Of Scots in the film of the same name is nothing short of mouthwatering – two actresses at the top of their game as the legendary monarchs fighting for the crown of England. Could their partnership become a classic? Only time will tell but we can all quote at least one that falls into that category. Here’s five comparatively recent and truly unforgettable films spearheaded by their two female leads…
Thelma and Louise (1991)
Ridley Scott’s road trip turned Susan Sarandon (Louise) and Geena Davis (Thelma) into the female double act to end all female double acts. A combined re-imagining of buddy and road movie genres, it was a celebration of friendship with the two women riding and dying together, turning them into icons of freedom. For the early 90s it was a ground breaker. Davis and Sarandon both delivered fine performances that went a long way towards positioning the film in the cinematic psyche. A timeless classic, pure and simple.
Mulholland Drive (2001)
David Lynch’s neo-noir took Naomi Watts and Laura Harring on a twisting adventure which blended dreams with reality set underneath the scorching Los Angeles sun. Caught up in a surreal mystery, they also had to double up on their roles as well, so that Watts played bright eyed aspiring actress Betty, then changed into the lonely and depressed Diane Selwyn. Harring, on the other hand, started off as amnesiac Rita and then became successful actress, Camilla Rhodes. In their nightmarish, dreamy world, they meet shady characters, try to solve a mystery and become caught up in erotic passion. This is, after all, a Lynch film. But, for all its mind bending qualities, it was held together by compelling performances from its two leads – whichever role they were playing.
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