A lot of really good, new movies in theaters right now, even if I haven't seen many of them. But you can see some good classics on the big screen this week. And as usual around the new year, there are no festivals. Theatrical revivals A+ Fargo (1996), New Parkway, Thursday, 9:00pm I'm not sure … Continue reading What’s Screening: Dec 31 – Jan 6
Month: December 2021
What’s Screening: December 24 – December 30
I'm using a different format for the newsletter this week. Instead of going by sections, I'm listing a few films worth watching in theaters this week. If I don't list dates and times, check the theaters. A+ Die Hard (1988), New Parkway, Saturday, 8:20pm; Sunday, 6:20pm, Wednesday, 8:35pm The original Die Hard is easily one of the … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 24 – December 30
Noir City Oaktown
It was 3:00am. The streets were deserted. The fog was as thick as the plot of a Raymond Chandler novel. I was missing something important. I hadn't attended Noir City since 2019. A bad case of the flu kept me at home that year. At least I thought it was the flu. Within weeks, a … Continue reading Noir City Oaktown
Movies I’ve recently seen: West Side Story ֍ Don’t Look Up ֍ The Power of the Dog ֍ The Last Emperor ֍ & The Edge of the World
I've been trying to see as much Oscar bait as I can lately. That means that I've seen some very good, new movies. And that's why the new films on this list are better than the vintage movies. A West Side Story (2021) I've seen the 1961 version maybe seven times, but I never cried … Continue reading Movies I’ve recently seen: West Side Story ֍ Don’t Look Up ֍ The Power of the Dog ֍ The Last Emperor ֍ & The Edge of the World
What’s leaving Criterion at the end of the year
When the ball drops and 2021 turns into 2022, some very good films will disappear from The Criterion Channel (but not forever; many of them will return after a few months). If you don't subscribe to Criterion, you can start a 14-day free trial. Here are some of the movies that you might want to … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion at the end of the year
What’s Screening: December 17 – 23
With Christmas around the corner, plenty of the vintage movies screening this week have a Yuletide theme. For instance, there's that seasonal movie where our hero climbs into a building to separate the naughty and nice. But don't despair, Die Hard isn't the only holiday movie on the big screen this week. But, as usual … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 17 – 23
Great films selected for the National Film Registry
As happens every December, the National Film Registry adds 25 films to its list of movies that have historical, artistic, or cultural significance. This year, the new honorees include a Star Wars flick, two concert films, and the beginning of The Lord of the Rings. Here's the list in chronological order, from 1902 to 2008. … Continue reading Great films selected for the National Film Registry
The Long Goodbye on Blu-ray
Robert Altman spent much of the 1970s blowing up and taking down Hollywood's favorite genres. He added the horrors of war to the military comedy with M*A*S*H. He then took down the western with McCabe and Mrs. Miller (my favorite Altman movie). He dissected the musical with Nashville. So, you shouldn't be surprised that Altman … Continue reading The Long Goodbye on Blu-ray
What’s Screening: December 10 – 16
We've got two new films - one about I Love Lucy and another about going into debt in Iran. For more action, we have a Jackie Chan double bill. There's also Brian De Palma's idea of Paradise, the Dude and his friends, Harold and his true love, and a really bad Santa. With all that, … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 10 – 16
Lucille Ball and the hard work of comedy
B drama about comedy Written and Directed by Aaron Sorkin You've probably heard the saying "Death is easy; comedy is hard." In Being the Ricardos, writer/director Aaron Sorkin shows you just what that means (but not often enough). Going back to the early days of television, Sorkin shows the sweat in making comedy in the … Continue reading Lucille Ball and the hard work of comedy
Bayflicks 