Considering that it's October, we have two horror movies, along with something noir. But if you want to smile, there's a Lubitsch in here, too. B+ The Stranger (1946)Orson Welles' third film is a conventional anti-Nazi noir (no deep focus photography), but a very good one. Edward G. Robinson plays the hero for a change, as … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Stranger, The Wicker Man, Angel, & Dementia 13
Category: Recently Seen
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Marshall, The Love Parade, Bombshell, Critical Thinking
Four more movies I've seen for the first time - and nobody asked me to review them. There's not much range in quality this time; the movies go from B+ to B. Three of the films are based on actual events. The fourth couldn't possibly happen in the real world. B+ Marshall (2017) The late … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Marshall, The Love Parade, Bombshell, Critical Thinking
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: 5,000 Fingers, Uncut Gems, Certified Copy, School Daze, & A Pickle
An evil music teacher, precious stones, a complicated relationship, and life in college. Here are five films I've seen recently. A The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953) It's been decades since I revisited the strangest children's fantasy movie made by a major Hollywood studio. But Fingers is more than that. It's hilarious, bizarre, crazy, … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: 5,000 Fingers, Uncut Gems, Certified Copy, School Daze, & A Pickle
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Star Trek, Yes God Yes, Rocketman, & Niki and Flo
When I started these Movies I've Recently Seen articles, I listed how I saw each movie. The idea is that watching a movie at the Castro was very different from watching it on TV by yourself. But with all the theaters closed, it doesn't really matter if I saw it on Vudu or the Criterion … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Star Trek, Yes God Yes, Rocketman, & Niki and Flo
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Frozen, Spite Marriage, & Rancho Notorious
Did you sign up for Disney+ to watch Hamilton? I did and I loved it. I'd seen the play live a few months ago, but I liked it much better on the screen, where I could watch the facial expressions and read the closed captions. The question is: Will I continue with Disney+. Anyway, here … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Frozen, Spite Marriage, & Rancho Notorious
Movies I’ve recently seen: Billy Liar, Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid, & Blithe Spirit
Here are three films, all comedies (to a certain extent), that didn't play in a recent film festival, nor are they coming up soon. None of them are new and their distributors didn't ask me to review them. I just watched them for my own enjoyment. A Billy Liar (1963), Kanopy This is how a … Continue reading Movies I’ve recently seen: Billy Liar, Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid, & Blithe Spirit
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Secrets and Lies, Da 5 Bloods, & The Nutty Professor
A Secrets and Lies (1996), Criterion Channel Mike Leigh's unique way of working with actors brings out the best in everyone in this small story of a family in multiple crises. Maurice is doing well as a photographer; he knows how to bring out a smile among his customers. But he's having trouble with his … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Secrets and Lies, Da 5 Bloods, & The Nutty Professor
Movies I’ve recently seen: Her Smell, Star Trek VI, The Boy with Green Hair, The Big Knife, & The Tuscan Sun
Four films I'd never seen before and one I hadn't seen in years. None of them are great, but none of them were horrible, either. B+ Her Smell (2018), Kanopy There's a point about half way through this rock and roll drama when I almost gave up. Elisabeth Moss' performance as a rundown punk star, … Continue reading Movies I’ve recently seen: Her Smell, Star Trek VI, The Boy with Green Hair, The Big Knife, & The Tuscan Sun
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Stunt Man, The Wind, American Trial, & Snow Trail
Five more films, all worth watching…but not all of them great. A- The Stunt Man (1980), My own DVD, which I hadn't watched in ages One of my favorite cult movies. Strange, audacious, funny, suspenseful, and totally weird. A Vietnam vet on the run from police accidentally kills a stunt man, and the vet takes … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Stunt Man, The Wind, American Trial, & Snow Trail
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Matewan, Crescendo, Paper Moon, Sophie Tucker, & the Bounty
Once again, a collection of films I've recently seen, either in the first time or the first in a long time, that didn't belong in any other article I've written. From best to worst: A Matewan (1987), recently-bought Blu-ray Outside of John Sayles' oral history trilogy, this story of union organizing and union busting circa … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Matewan, Crescendo, Paper Moon, Sophie Tucker, & the Bounty
