Last week, I discovered that the Orinda Theatre did more than just show current movies. It screens vintage ones and even hosts its own festivals. In 1942, The Orinda opened as a full picture palace. I've added the theater to this blog. Inside The Orinda Somehow, most of the pictures screening this week are light … Continue reading What’s Screening: Nov 18 – 24
What’s Screening: Nov 11 – 17
This week in Bay Area cinema, you can see the new Black Panther. You can also see the new Black Panther. And, of course, you can see…the new Black Panther. But there are some other films screening, as well. Festivals & Series The American Indian Film Festival goes through the week and beyond The Arab … Continue reading What’s Screening: Nov 11 – 17
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
Movies I’ve recently seen: Deep Cover ֍ Arabesque ֍ Weird: The Al Yankovic Story ֍ Schizopolis
Drug smuggling, espionage, music parodies, and…um…well, whatever it is. Here are four films I've watchaed recently, from the best to the worst. Click the film's title to see how you can watch it. A Deep Cover (1992) Here's an extraordinary film noir from the early 1990s. Laurence Fishburne stars as a police officer who goes … Continue reading Movies I’ve recently seen: Deep Cover ֍ Arabesque ֍ Weird: The Al Yankovic Story ֍ Schizopolis
What’s Screening: Nov 4 – 10
Here's what's happening in Bay Area movie theaters this week: Quentin Tarantino is coming to the Castro. A terrific documentary about George Washington and a controversial mural. Two very different space movies. Masterpieces starring Humphrey Bogart and Bruce Willis (no, not in the same movie). The film that made Schwarzenegger famous. And the New Mission … Continue reading What’s Screening: Nov 4 – 10
What’s Screening: Oct. 28 – Nov. 3
If you're getting tired of horror movies, don't despair; Halloween will soon be over. This week, Bay Area theaters will show non-scary gems from Peter Bogdanovich, Mira Nair, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Hayao Miyazaki, and Vincente Minnelli. But if you're still looking for a fright, there are works from Jordan Peele, Alfred Hitchcock, Roman Polanski, Victor … Continue reading What’s Screening: Oct. 28 – Nov. 3
A Day of Silents at the Castro
Yes, that's Silents, not Silence. On Saturday, December 3, the San Francisco Silent Film Festival will have a one-day marathon of silent movies and live music. A Day of Silents will play at the Castro. These days, every time you go to that beautiful theater, you may be watching a movie there for the last … Continue reading A Day of Silents at the Castro
Fire of Love on the very big screen
How often do you see a documentary on volcanoes that's also a romantic love story? Katia and Maurice Krafft – a very happily married couple – spent their lives studying the dangerous powers that occasionally break through the earth's crust. But I didn't watch it the way I should have seen it. I first saw … Continue reading Fire of Love on the very big screen
What’s Screening: Oct. 21 – 27
What can you see on Bay Area big screens this week? Two of the best of Hitchcock. The looney, and sexy, world of Max Fleischer. Also, there's a very disturbing post-Holocaust thriller, Mel Brooks' Halloween treat, the world's most Catholic horror flick, and Charlie Chaplin with live music. Festivals & Series The Albany Filmfest closes … Continue reading What’s Screening: Oct. 21 – 27
Night of the Living Dead in 4K Blu-ray
I've never been a big fan of zombie movies. To me, zombies are just vampires without sex appeal. Yet Night of the Living Dead is one of the scariest movies I've ever seen. There are others with bigger death counts, or ones dripping with more blood. Many are funnier – intentionally or not. But in … Continue reading Night of the Living Dead in 4K Blu-ray
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