When I saw the Coen Brothers' Big Lebowski at the BAMPFA in 2014, I loved the movie but hated the horrible DCP. This exceptional comedy clearly needed a better digital transfer. I'm glad to say it now has one. More on that below. The Big Lebowski is a Raymond Chandler-type film noir story, except that the … Continue reading The Big Lebowski on Blu-ray…and 4K
Month: November 2018
What’s Screening: November 9 – 15
On Bay Area screens this week: Masterpieces by Renoir, Keaton, Bergman, Welles, Laurel, and Hardy, along with three new movies and six film festivals. Festivals The Cinematografo International Film Festival continues through Sunday The Napa Valley Film Festival also continues through Sunday. Read my preview. The San Francisco Transgender Film Festival opens tonight and, yes, … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 9 – 15
Monrovia Indiana: Not much to see here
C documentary Directed by Frederick Wiseman Frederick Wiseman's latest documentary studies life in a small, agricultural town in what we might call Trump country. We see people at work. We see people exercising. We see people joking around and telling funny stories. We see people in church and in town meetings. And when we don't … Continue reading Monrovia Indiana: Not much to see here
A celebration of The Great Buster
B+ Showbiz documentary Directed by Peter Bogdanovich There's no question in my mind that film historian and filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich (The Last Picture Show) considers Buster Keaton to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, physical comedian since the invention of the movies. I agree completely. I'm such a big fan of the … Continue reading A celebration of The Great Buster
Napa Valley Film Festival opens Wednesday
The Napa Valley Film Festival opens tomorrow and runs through Sunday. Here are my opinions of three films running at the festival: A Capernaum Children living in poverty have to do for themselves in this heartbreaking story of love and the lack of love. Twelve-year-old Zain sues his parents for bringing him into a cruel … Continue reading Napa Valley Film Festival opens Wednesday
A Private War made public by a brave reporter
A Biopic Written by Arash Amel, from a Vanity Fair article by Marie Brenner Directed by Matthew Heineman This is the sort of film that makes me proud to be a journalist. On the other hand, it also makes me feel ashamed that I never, in the course of my profession, did anything really important … Continue reading A Private War made public by a brave reporter
Good film/bad film: The Other Side of the Wind & They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead
We waited more than 40 years to see Orson Welles' final film, The Other Side of the Wind. What a disappointment! This just may be the worst film ever by a major auteur. On the other hand, we now have They'll Love Me When I'm Dead, Morgan Neville's excellent documentary on the making of Wind. … Continue reading Good film/bad film: The Other Side of the Wind & They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead
Chaplin Diary, Part 18: Limelight
Charlie Chaplin dug into his family's history in what would be his last American film, Limelight - a drama about a washed-up comedian. I started this Chaplin Diary almost a year ago with films he made in 1914. Now he has made a film set largely in his home town of London in that very … Continue reading Chaplin Diary, Part 18: Limelight
What’s Screening: November 2 – 8
In Bay Area movie theaters this week: Elephants, a Hal Ashby triple bill, Bergman’s right arm, Gene Kelly, and the Bay Area premiere of Orson Welles’ last film. Also, four film festivals. Festivals The Berlin & Beyond Autumn Showcase continues through Saturday Doc Stories continues through Sunday The 3rd i South Asian Film Festival also … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 2 – 8
Horror, Silents, and Italy: The (probably) last film festivals of 2018
The fall deluge of Bay Area film festivals begins to slow down around Thanksgiving. By mid-December, they usually stop completely. I can't say for sure, but these three festivals just may be the last ones of 2018. I'm listing them in order of opening dates. Another Hole in the Head Film Festival New People Cinema, … Continue reading Horror, Silents, and Italy: The (probably) last film festivals of 2018
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