The Stanford was the first Bay Area movie theater to close because of COVID-19. And now, 29 months later, it's opening again. This isn't just any cinema. The Stanford is a grand palace built in 1925. From 1987 on, it only showed old movies, and mostly with double-features. Insisting on being old-fashioned, the Stanford refuses … Continue reading Is COVID over? The Stanford is opening in July
Month: June 2022
What’s Screening: June 24 – 30
One of the Bay Area's most unusual and exciting movie theaters reopen this weekend, after two years and more. All around the Bay, there are films by such well-loved auteurs as Quentin Tarantino, Ridley Scott, Ernst Lubitsch, Sidney Lumet, Mike Nichols, Charlie Chaplin, and the MGM motion picture assembly line. Festivals & Series Frameline closes … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 24 – 30
Movies I’ve recently seen: Men Without Women ֍ Tales From Earthsea ֍ The Clock & The Longest Day
Here's another random selection of films I hadn't seen before. None are particularly brilliant. But then, none is truly awful. Click a film's title to find out how you can stream the movie. B Men Without Women (1930) The film should have been called Men Without Oxygen. John Ford directed this tense, powerful naval thriller, … Continue reading Movies I’ve recently seen: Men Without Women ֍ Tales From Earthsea ֍ The Clock & The Longest Day
Márta Mészáros & John Ford: Two evenings at the BAMPFA
Two evenings. Two movies. Two brilliant auteurs at the BAMPFA. Márta Mészáros Last Saturday night, I discovered Márta Mészáros, a new, brilliant auteur. Well, not really new. she turned 90 last year. But she's new to me. Before the movie, curator Kathy Geritz told us a bit about Mészáros. She made her first film, The … Continue reading Márta Mészáros & John Ford: Two evenings at the BAMPFA
What’s Screening: June 17 – 23
New and old movies are playing in San Francisco theaters; and a lot of them are already streaming. Looking for old-time movie stars on the big screen? This week you've got Clark Gable, Steve McQueen, Henry Fonda, Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, and Daniel Day-Lewis. If that list is a bit too male-centered, there are real … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 17 – 23
What’s leaving Criterion at the end of June
A lot of early John Ford films will disappear from the Criterion Channel at the end of June. There are several other good films that will go away after June 30. Click the film's title to start watching the movie – assuming as if you subscribe to the Channel. Full recommendations A+ The Last Picture … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion at the end of June
Bitterbrush on the open range
A- cinema verite documentary Directed by Emelie Mahdavian Yes, there are real cowgirls - but probably not for long. Hollyn and Colie travel through what's probably the least populated part of the American West - doing temporary work. Mostly, they herd cattle. And judging by Emelie Mahdavian's documentary, these women know what they're doing. As … Continue reading Bitterbrush on the open range
What’s Screening: June 10 – 16
Being that it's Pride Month, several classic gay movies are screening in theaters this week. But Bay Area cinemas are also playing films from such famous straight directors as Charlie Chaplin and Akira Kurosawa. Also, two festivals. Festivals & Series The Castro Theater's 100th Birthday Celebration closes Sunday Frameline opens Thursday New films opening theatrically … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 10 – 16
I’m Charlie Walker, but my movie could have been better
C Historical drama Written & directed by Patrick Gilles Here's an interesting San Francisco story, involving oil slicks, the environment, racism, hippies, prostitutes, and an oil company executive who worries that working with a black man could hurt his company's image. This all takes in 1971, when a black man in the boardroom wasn't rare … Continue reading I’m Charlie Walker, but my movie could have been better
Movies I’ve recently seen: L’Atalante ֍ Eating Raoul ֍ Gentlemen Prefer Blondes ֍ Death on the Nile ֍ The Bitcoin Field Guide
Another random selection of old and new movies, from nearly brilliant to worthless junk. Click a movie's title to find out where you can stream it. A- L'Atalante (1934) It's a common story, but done very well, thanks to director Jean Vigo's poetic realism. A bride tries to adjust to her new family, and they … Continue reading Movies I’ve recently seen: L’Atalante ֍ Eating Raoul ֍ Gentlemen Prefer Blondes ֍ Death on the Nile ֍ The Bitcoin Field Guide
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