I'm not sure who proclaimed 1939 The Great Movie Year. Probably it was Ted Turner, when he owned the MGM, Warner, and RKO libraries. A lot of beloved classics came out that year, including The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind - the two most beloved films of Hollywood's studio era. Also, 1939 … Continue reading Movies from 1939 at the Stanford
What’s Screening: November 1 – 7
Note: I've corrected this newsletter since I published it. Martin Scorsese will make two personal appearances at the Castro this week. Also three new films, comedies from Jacques Tati and The Naked Gun, those men with The Right Stuff, and that very scary Face in the Crowd. And only two film festivals. Festivals Doc Stories … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 1 – 7
The Cave will shake you to the core
A documentaryDirected by Feras Fayyad This fly-on-the-wall documentary about the Syrian war left me shaken and disturbed. That's appropriate. You shouldn't be able to watch screaming, terrified children and exhausted and hopeless adults, while death and destruction rains down overhead, and not be moved. The fact that it's real makes it all more terrifying. If … Continue reading The Cave will shake you to the core
Frankie doesn’t get much of a vacation
B Drama Written by Mauricio Zacharias & Ira Sachs Directed by Ira Sachs I've never been to Sintra, Portugal, but judging from this film, it's a wonderful place for a vacation. But Frankie and her family and friends have a hard time being happy. The family matriarch has cancer and probably won't survive the year. … Continue reading Frankie doesn’t get much of a vacation
Three silent classics by Josef von Sternberg, now together on Criterion Blu-ray
When cinephiles consider Josef von Sternberg, they usually think about beautiful, erotic images of Marlene Dietrich, set in exotic, far-off places but shot entirely on the Paramount lot. Yet before he met Dietrich or made a talkie, he created three stunning silent dramas that are among his best work. These three films, Underworld, The Last … Continue reading Three silent classics by Josef von Sternberg, now together on Criterion Blu-ray
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Parasite, The Exterminating Angel, & My Dinner with Andre
After covering film festivals and reviewing Blu-rays of classics, I'm finally getting time to see a new film in theaters and to revisit two classics I hadn't seen in years. A Parasite (2019), California (Berkeley) This hilariously cruel comedy thriller about the haves and the have nots is one of the best films I've seen … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Parasite, The Exterminating Angel, & My Dinner with Andre
What’s Screening: October 25 – 31
With Halloween around the corner, you can guess what kind of movies are showing up on specialty Bay Area screens this week. But we do have a few interesting films that don't intend to scare you out of your seat. Festivals The San Francisco Greek Film Festival continues through Saturday The United Nations Association Film … Continue reading What’s Screening: October 25 – 31
