More than 75 movies will disappear from the Criterion Channel at the end of the month. Here are some that I recommend you watch before February. One brilliant filmmaker, Bill Plympton, stands out on this list. A Idiots and Angels (2008) A man so rotten he pushes a tear of empathy back into his eye … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion when January ends
Author: Lincoln Spector
Lincoln Spector writes about cinema, technology, and cinema technology. From 1986 through 2008, he wrote Gigglebytes, the first technology-oriented humor column. From 1977 through 2016, he wrote PC World's Answer Line column and blog.
Sex & animation combine in Romantic Chorus
B Animated documentary Directed by Jeff M. Giordano This strange, unusual documentary studies human sexuality. But don't get too excited. It isn't exceptionally erotic, and I don't think it was intended to be so. For 84 minutes, people talk about their sex lives, their desires, and their experiences. But since this is a movie and … Continue reading Sex & animation combine in Romantic Chorus
What’s Screening: January 15 – 21
Alamo On Demand, the virtual cinema offering for the New Mission, has a new section called Alamo X Criterion. You can rent several classics for only $3 each. Besides that, you can get into a discussion on Kubrick's most controversial work, or watch another sexy film from Wong Kar Wai. Speaking of sex, there's Louise … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 15 – 21
Sundance with the Roxie
The Sundance Film Festival has given San Francisco's Roxie Theater a rare honor. The festival Robert Redford created, which turned into one of the most important film fests in America, has given the Roxie the honor to be a Sundance satellite screen. Sundance this year runs January 28 through February 3. Not that you're going to be … Continue reading Sundance with the Roxie
Rolling Thunder Revue on Blu-ray
With a title like Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese, you know this movie isn't going to be entirely serious. Yes, it's a documentary by one of our most brilliant and generally serious auteurs. But it's also a rockumentary. And since it's tongue-in-cheek and isn't totally real, it's also a mockumentary. … Continue reading Rolling Thunder Revue on Blu-ray
What’s Screening: January 8 – 14
This week in virtual cinema: Film historian Joseph McBride talks about writing biographies, Live Master Pancake talks about sexy killer bee women, other films streaming for theaters, and the close of 2021's first film festival. Festivals The San Francisco Latino Film Festival closes Sunday Special online events Writing Directors' Lives: A Conversation with Joseph McBride, … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 8 – 14
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Elephant Man | Death to 2020 | The Incredible Shrinking Man | Sylvie’s Love | Ocean’s Eleven
I was lucky with the movies I chose to watch over the last couple of weeks. For the most part, they were exceptional. A The Elephant Man (1980) David Lynch makes full use of his first Hollywood-sized budget. Shot in beautiful black and white scope, the sounds and images take you into Victorian London with … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Elephant Man | Death to 2020 | The Incredible Shrinking Man | Sylvie’s Love | Ocean’s Eleven
My best top 10 films of 2020
I usually start the year with a survey of my best movie-going experiences - considering projection, sound, audience enthusiasm, and, of course, the quality of the movie. But I had very few chances to go to the movies in 2020. So, this year I'm offering the best new movies I've seen while sitting in front … Continue reading My best top 10 films of 2020
What’s Screening: January 1 – 7
Aren't you glad that 2020 is over? We can start the year with Wonder Woman and a real wonder woman. You can also discover that computers can be racist, how the pandemic started, and how Alzheimer effects the family. Well, let's hope we'll have a better 2021. Festivals The S.F. Latino Film Festival continues through … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 1 – 7
2 overlooked Shanghai comedies
In June of 2019, I wrote an article about the excellent comedies that came out at the turn of the current century - funny movies from 1998 to 2000. Strangely, I forgot to include one of my favorites, Shanghai Noon (2000). I liked it so much that, after seeing it in a theater, I bought … Continue reading 2 overlooked Shanghai comedies
