Here are the last films that played at Noir City 2024: Plunder Road is a cheap road movie; but it's a pretty good one. A few men and one woman set out to steal a load of gold from the US government. During the movie, you get to know the robbers, and their hopes. The … Continue reading The end of Noir City 2024
Category: Film Noir
Film Noir
More Darkness: Noir City so far
My wife has become a noir addict. I don't know the cure. Anyway, we're about halfway through Noir City 2024. I'll tell you about the films that I really liked. Victims of Sin was by far the best film I've seen at the festival this year. A beautiful singer/dancer gets pregnant – a major mistake … Continue reading More Darkness: Noir City so far
Darkness Has No Borders at Noir City
Walls, fences, and armed guards. Borders of all kinds keep us in. But on the big screen at The Grand Lake Theater, you can get away, whether you need a heist, a prison break, another language, an illicit affair, or maybe an old-fashioned murder. Once again, Noir City brings crime to Oakland - but in … Continue reading Darkness Has No Borders at Noir City
The last weekend…of this year’s Noir City
I spent most of the weekend at the Grand Lake enjoying the Noir City festival, watching dark crime movies. Here's what I saw: Saturday Matinée B+ Night Has a Thousand Eyes Do you want to know the future? In this dark fantasy, Edward G. Robinson can see the future, and he wishes he couldn't. He … Continue reading The last weekend…of this year’s Noir City
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
In the Heat of the Night in 4K
The Best Picture winner of 1967 is one terrific noir. But it's far more than that. Culturally, it was an important part of the civil rights movement, while still being an effective whodunit. It also used color film in ways that few had been rarely successful before – especially in noir. Kino Lorber is selling … Continue reading In the Heat of the Night in 4K
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
Early Kubrick in 4K Ultra HD: The Killing
Stanley Kubrick started his Hollywood career with this crackerjack noir heist thriller. He did it so well that it's hard to believe that he never tried to do a noir again. Professional criminal Johnny Clay (Sterling Hayden) orchestrates a complex racetrack robbery likely to net two million 1956 dollars. Hayden's rat-a-tat-tat delivery does wonders for … Continue reading Early Kubrick in 4K Ultra HD: The Killing
My Noir City 2022 experience
Sad to say, I've only seen one double bill in this year's Noir City festival - Saturday's matinee. And it looks like I won't be able to attend anything Sunday. So here are the two films I'm able to see this year: The Accused and The Killer That Stalked New York. Hopefully, you may be … Continue reading My Noir City 2022 experience
Touch of Evil in 4K Ultra
Orson Welles' last Hollywood feature was one of the great film noirs. It begins with a brilliant sequence done in one shot without cutting, but with considerable camera movement. Welles has already shown you that a timebomb will soon explode. It's entirely set at and near the American/Mexican border. Come next Tuesday, Kino Lorber will … Continue reading Touch of Evil in 4K Ultra
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