William Wyler's big-budget, large-format, star-studded epic, The Big Country, just may be the first anti-western. It condemns, rather than celebrates, the macho behavior of the mythical cowboy. The hero only fires a gun once, and he's not aiming at anyone. Gregory Peck plays that hero, a sea captain named James McKay, who's traded in his … Continue reading Critique of Macho: The Big Country on Blu-ray
Category: Home Theater
Louis Malle Noir: My Blu-ray review of Elevator to the Gallows
You don't expect film noir from Louis Malle. But his first narrative feature, Elevator to the Gallows, is as dark, suspenseful, and entertaining as the best crime dramas that ever came out of Hollywood. Criterion released this excellent thriller in February. Made in France in 1957 (it was released in '58), the complex yet tightly-told … Continue reading Louis Malle Noir: My Blu-ray review of Elevator to the Gallows
Blu-ray review: A Trip to the Moon in many colors and musical scores
Why would anyone spend up to $40 (MSRP; you can buy it for less) for a Blu-ray of a movie that runs only 15 minutes? There are several good reasons. George Méliès' A Trip to the Moon is not only a fun and imaginative entertainment; it's also one of the most important motion pictures ever … Continue reading Blu-ray review: A Trip to the Moon in many colors and musical scores
Watching Movies at Home: On the Internet or on shiny discs
Ideally, we should watch movies is in a theater. But this is the real world, and even the most fanatical cinephiles watch a lot of films at home. But the way we watch movies at home has changed considerably in the last few years, going from physical media to Internet streaming. How is that changing … Continue reading Watching Movies at Home: On the Internet or on shiny discs
Coming to FilmStruck in December
The best way to see a movie is in a movie theater. But let's face it; you probably also watch movies at home. Last week, I told you about the classics Coming in December to Bay Area theaters. Now I'll tell you about some films and special offerings coming to FilmStruck's Criterion section during the … Continue reading Coming to FilmStruck in December
The Last Laugh on Blu-ray
In F.W. Murnau's 1924 masterpiece, The Last Laugh, an aging man - proud of his job and the uniform that comes with it - is demoted to a lesser position by a heartless manager. It will break him. Aside from being a powerful story centered around a great star performance, The Last Laugh is one … Continue reading The Last Laugh on Blu-ray
Machismo faces the Holocaust: My Blu-ray review of Seven Beauties
Lina Wertmüller's 1975 masterpiece, Seven Beauties, is a Holocaust film (with no recognizably Jewish characters), an examination of Italian machismo, and a witheringly sad and disturbing drama. And at times, it becomes a very funny slapstick comedy. Giancarlo Giannini stars as Pasqualino, a charming but somewhat dense egomaniac. He lives in Naples with his mother … Continue reading Machismo faces the Holocaust: My Blu-ray review of Seven Beauties
