As the year of no movie theaters is coming to an end, you can catch the serious drama that inspired Fiddler on the Roof, along with gay shorts, love and lust in China, a Swedish vampire, and a fantastic planet. Appropriately, the last film festival of 2020 is designed to make you jump out of … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 25 – 31
Widescreen Black & White
I recently saw two new Netflix films shot in widescreen scope and black and white. It's an interesting mix. They were never intended to work together, but they do very well. (The movies were Mank and The Forty-Year-Old Version.) In 1953, 20th-Century Fox decided to make all its movies in its new widescreen format, CinemaScope. … Continue reading Widescreen Black & White
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Prom, David Byrne, Ma Rainey, & 40-Year-Old Version
If this wasn't for the pandemic, I'd be in theaters watching the last (and often the best) movies of the year. But instead, I've been streaming new movies available mostly on Netflix. (The exception is on HBO). By the way, all four films are about music, theater, or musical theater. A The Prom (2020), Netflix … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Prom, David Byrne, Ma Rainey, & 40-Year-Old Version
What’s Screening: December 18 – 24
It's a short newsletter this week, but it will allow you to run away to the circus (virtually, of course). You can watch a Jack London story Italian style, cinema's most adorable pig, and troubles in transport. Plus, a continuing, but scary film festival. Festivals Another Hole in the Head Film Festival continues into next … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 18 – 24
25 Official Classics: This year’s Library of Congress selections
Each year, the Library of Congress adds 25 films to the National Film Registry, which means these movies will be preserved by the United States Government instead of whatever distributor owns them. On Monday, the Library announced this year's selections. These are not all masterpieces, nor are they intended to be. The films must have "culturally, … Continue reading 25 Official Classics: This year’s Library of Congress selections
What’s leaving Criterion when December ends
You'll probably be happy to see the end of 2020. But you may also find sadness about the films going away from The Criterion Channel at the end of December. Here are a few that will disappear from Criterion on New Year's Day: A Trouble in Paradise (1932) What's so fascinating and entertaining about witty, … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion when December ends
The Jewish Soul: Yiddish Cinema on Blu-ray
In the 1930s, small studios in Warsaw and New York made low-budget movies for an international market of not-quite-assimilated Jews. These films were mostly in Yiddish. Production costs were low, and the movies tried to have everything. Most of these pictures contain comedy, drama, and people breaking out in song. They were often about young … Continue reading The Jewish Soul: Yiddish Cinema on Blu-ray
What’s Screening: December 11 – 17
This week in Bay Area movie theaters, either on the big screen or streaming through virtual cinema: managing a city under occupation, punk rock Irish style, work around the clock, and Jimmy Carter. Also films by Wong Kar-Wai, Joon-ho Bong, and Norman Jewison. Plus, two virtual film festivals open Friday. Festivals The Tiburon International Film … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 11 – 17
Through the Night: Daycare around the clock
B Documentarydirected by Loira Limbal The new documentary called Through the Night is not about young people partying until dawn. Instead, it's about very young people, as in children, and the adults who are paid to take care of them. The film has an important point to make, but that's overpowered by the sheer joy … Continue reading Through the Night: Daycare around the clock
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: I’m No Angel, Bad Santa, Mank, & Black Peter
My most recent selection of random movies have no masterpieces. But they don't have any stinkers either. Three out of the four get Bs, and the best only gets a B+ B+ I'm No Angel (1933) In what I believe is probably Mae West's best movie (I haven't seen them all), she deals with carnies, … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: I’m No Angel, Bad Santa, Mank, & Black Peter
