WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? 1962
CHICAGO, 2002
DOWN AND OUT IN BEVERLY HILLS, 1986
Away From Her, 2006
Tuesday, 8 p.m., Sundance
Actress Sarah Polley made a name for herself when she directed this poignant tale, based on an Alice Munro short story, about how Alzheimer’s disease forever changes a marriage. Julie Christie received an Oscar nomination for her performance as a middle-aged woman who forgets her husband (Gordon Pinsent) once he moves her into a nursing home and she begins a romance with another man. With Olympia Dukakis.
Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? 1962
Wednesday, 1 p.m., TCM
Bette Davis and Joan Crawford revitalized their careers with this crazy, crazy tale of sibling rivalry between two Hollywood sisters whose lives have been ruined by misunderstanding and a tragic car accident. Campy, grisly and strangely riveting. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen Davis sing “I’ve Written a Letter to Daddy.”
Chicago, 2002
Friday, 8 p.m., Style
Catherine Zeta-Jones won a richly deserved Best Supporting Actress Oscar as Velma Kelly, a dancer doing time for murdering her husband. Rob Marshall directed this screen version of the hit Broadway musical that has run for two million years. Renee Zellweger plays Roxie Hart, the part made famous by Gwen Verdon in the original Bob Fosse production. Everyone’s good here, including Queen Latifah and even Richard Gere, as sleazy attorney Billy Flynn.
Down and Out in Beverly Hills, 1986
Friday, 9:40 p.m., Flix
Richard Dreyfuss and Bette Midler are well cast as Dave and Barbara Whiteman, a tacky, wealthy LA couple whose lives are turned upside down when they “adopt” a charismatic homeless man (Nick Nolte). Paul Mazursky directed this remake of Jean Renoir’s “Boudu Saved from Drowning” with finesse. Little Richard has a hysterical cameo as the Whitemans’ irate neighbor. Best scene: Midler serenades Nolte with the Patti Page hit “You Belong to Me.”