Last week, the BBC issued a list of the greatest comedy films ever made. Or at least the best ones listed by the hive mind of 253 film critics from 52 countries. A lot of cinephiles disapprove of such lists, and I understand why. They're an attempt to create an objective version of the entirely … Continue reading The 100 Best Comedies, according to the BBC
Month: August 2017
The Greatest Western: Stagecoach
Nine determined people face mortal danger, their own demons, and society's built-in prejudices as they journey from one town to another in John Ford's classic western from 1939, Stagecoach. I first saw Stagecoach in a film history class almost 45 years ago. It immediately became my all-time favorite western, and remains so to this day. … Continue reading The Greatest Western: Stagecoach
Brando, Baldwin, Keaton, & The Marx Brothers Coming to Pacific Film Archive
August is nearing its end, so it's about time to tell you about the film series going on at the Pacific Film Archive in September and beyond. Marlon Brando: The Fugitive Kind September 1–October 28 Marlon Brando burst onto screens at the beginning of the 1950s, changed the art of acting, then self-destructed. In between, … Continue reading Brando, Baldwin, Keaton, & The Marx Brothers Coming to Pacific Film Archive
Lawrence of Arabia and the Third Coming of 70mm
I've seen two new blockbusters this summer, and both were projected from 70mm film. Fifty years ago, that wouldn't have been surprising. Thirty years ago, that would have been normal. Ten years ago, it was unthinkable. Today, it's back, five years after theatres were supposed to stop projecting physical film of any size. From Edison's … Continue reading Lawrence of Arabia and the Third Coming of 70mm
What’s Screening: August 25 – 31
Cats, dogs, Humphrey Bogart, stoned teenagers, and cinema's most famous archeologist light up Bay Area movie screens this week. Festivals The New Filipino Cinema 2017 continues through this week New films opening B+ Unleashed, Roxie, opens Friday In this predicable but very funny comedy, a dog and a cat run away from the young woman … Continue reading What’s Screening: August 25 – 31
Gook finds no meaning in Rodney King riots
D+ Inner-city drama Written & directed by Justin Chon Everything about Gook tells you that this is an important film. It deals with racial conflict between Americans of African and Korean decent. It's set in one of those poor, dangerous Los Angeles neighborhoods that white people try to avoid. It's set in 1992, on the … Continue reading Gook finds no meaning in Rodney King riots
After Love: How marriage dies
B- relationship drama Written by Mazarine Pingeot, Fanny Burdino, and Joachim Lafosse Directed by Joachim Lafosse The French divorce drama After Love feels very true to life. It reminded me of actual marriages I've seen fall apart. It captures the arguments, the money problems, and the parenting issues to the letter. But that, in and … Continue reading After Love: How marriage dies
Dog and cat find comedy gold in Unleashed
B+ Fantasy comedy Written and directed by Finn Taylor You're going to figure out, very early on, how Unleashed will end. But that's okay. You don't go to this kind of movie to be surprised by the ending. You go to laugh. After a very bad breakup, Emma (Kate Micucci) moves to San Francisco with her … Continue reading Dog and cat find comedy gold in Unleashed
Jerry Lewis and Me
My love of cinema started with Jerry Lewis. Visit to a Small Planet is the earliest film I remember loving. I don't love it anymore. I tried twice to watch it in recent years, but couldn't get passed the first few minutes. After reading his obituary Sunday, and forced myself to watch Planet all the … Continue reading Jerry Lewis and Me
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Graduate, Samurai Rebellion, Boudu Saved from Drowning, & Knightriders
A few more movies that I've seen recently. A The Graduate (1967), FilmStruck I've seen this classic romantic comedy many times, but this recent viewing brought me new respect for the picture. The revolutionary staging and camerawork wasn't just art for art's sake; it sets the mood and heightens the characters. Consider the opening credits, with … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Graduate, Samurai Rebellion, Boudu Saved from Drowning, & Knightriders
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