You may have noticed that I haven't written anything about The Mill Valley Film Festival, yet. I've been busy. So, let's start. Before I get into the movies, let's answer the big question: Do you really want to go to an indoor film festival during a pandemic? I admit I'm a bit squeamish about it … Continue reading The Mill Valley Film Festival is coming!
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What’s leaving Criterion at the end of August
Come September, Charlie Chaplin's best shorts and Georges Méliès' colorful fairy tales will disappear from the Criterion Channel. And along with them, are a lot of very good feature-length films. I don't want to discuss all of these shorts (although, among the Chaplins, the best are The Immigrant, Easy Street, and best of all, The … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion at the end of August
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Gray Flannel Suit | Charming Bourgeoise | The Blue Dahlia | Crossfire
There's a theme going through this list of theoretically random movies - they're all listed at the bottom of my last Criterion article. A- The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (1956) This is much more than an attack on 1950's conformity. Gregory Peck stars as a father, husband, and breadwinner, and doing all that … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Gray Flannel Suit | Charming Bourgeoise | The Blue Dahlia | Crossfire
Movies on the big screen – in Berkeley!
Like almost everyone else, I haven't seen a movie in the theater in more than a year. But come Friday, that will change. Berkeley's Shattuck Cinema opens tomorrow with eleven films from this year and last. I've seen seven of these films, but only at home. And yes, I know that other theaters have been … Continue reading Movies on the big screen – in Berkeley!
Is it a movie or a play…or a word?
When I wrote my Golden Globe nominees article, I hit on something that forced me to think about what is a movie in 2021. When I saw that Hamilton was nominated for Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy, my first thought was: This isn't a movie; it's a filmed stage play. Which isn't a bad … Continue reading Is it a movie or a play…or a word?
In Bay Area Virtual Cinema: September 11 – 17
This week in Bay Area virtual cinema: A celebration of 1962 (and I don't mean American Graffiti), rockin' Jimmy Carter, unions Bangladesh-style, and a return to burning Paradise. Virtual Festivals SF DocFest continues through this week and beyond. Read my preview. Special online events Cinema '62: The Greatest Year At the Movies, Rafael, Thursday, 7:30 … Continue reading In Bay Area Virtual Cinema: September 11 – 17
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Beanpole, What’s Up Doc, Extra Ordinary, and Angels Over Broadway
Two new movies that, if it were not for COVID-19, would be playing in theaters, along with two pictures that were made before films streamed on the Internet. As usual, they're in order from best to last. A- Beanpole (2019), helping the Balboa or Rafael Within minutes after this Russian film starts, the extremely tall title character (Viktoria … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Beanpole, What’s Up Doc, Extra Ordinary, and Angels Over Broadway
Streaming services and the pandemic
As we're stuck at home, streaming television services help keep us sane. Some of these services are making it easier or cheaper to stream during the pandemic. Kanopy If you haven't yet discovered Kanopy, it's about time. Supported by your local library, it's free and contains no advertising. But your library can limit how many … Continue reading Streaming services and the pandemic
Depressing but necessary: Sorry We Missed You
A- Drama Written by Paul Laverty Directed by Ken Loach With a title like Sorry We Missed You, you'd expect a light, romantic comedy. Instead, you get something entirely different. Imagine a food that you absolutely hate, but you eat it anyway because it's good for you. That's like the experience of seeing Ken Loach's … Continue reading Depressing but necessary: Sorry We Missed You
What’s Screening: February 28 – March 5
Robbie Robertson ignores his Band. Kurosawa goes '60s noir. Hitchcock becomes stranger on a train. And a giant mutant predator hits South Korea (and no, it's not Donald Trump). All this, plus three film festivals and more this week in Bay Area arthouse cinemas. Festivals The East Bay International Jewish Film Festival opens Friday and … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 28 – March 5
