It’s a dark and foggy film festival…and it’s only weeks away

Noir City isn't like most Bay Area Film Festivals. For one thing, they don't show new movies. You could probably stream most of these pictures right now in your home. But it's a lot more fun watching the movies at Oakland's Grand Lake Theater. People dress up for the occasion. Every movie is preceded by … Continue reading It’s a dark and foggy film festival…and it’s only weeks away

What’s leaving Criterion at the end of November

At the end of every month, the Criterion Channel removes a lot of movies from their streaming service (although some return surprisingly fast). Here are only a few of the films that will go away when November disappears. Full recommendations A Deep Cover (1992) Here's an extraordinary film noir from the early 1990s. Laurence Fishburne … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion at the end of November

Samuel Fuller Criterion: Pickup on South Street on Blu-ray

Here's one of the best noirs from the dark, grimy, golden age of the genre. Written and directed by the great Samuel Fuller, it doesn't pull its punches, either metaphorically or literally. Richard Widmark (whose cold face cries out for noir) stars as a pickpocket who lifts the wrong wallet on a crowded New York … Continue reading Samuel Fuller Criterion: Pickup on South Street on Blu-ray