The Criterion Channel added a lot of good movies at the beginning of September. Here are some of the best: Most of these are part of one of more collections – mostly New York Stories. A+ The Crowd (1928), part of the series New York Stories Of all the films in my All-Time Great Films … Continue reading Good movies suddenly available on Criterion
Advertising Broadway
C show business documentary Directed by Directed by Oren Jacoby On Broadway is not so much a documentary, but advertising for New York City's big and flamboyant theater district. But I'm not sure who they're marketing to. Is the film for people who might buy a ticket or two, or those who are considering investing … Continue reading Advertising Broadway
Catch Mr. Rugoff tonight!
Last night I saw Searching for Mr. Rugoff, an important documentary about the business of independent cinema. It will screen tonight, at 6:45, at the Roxie. I don't know when it will screen, or stream, again. If you love independent cinema, you must watch this film. Which is why I am writing a short, and … Continue reading Catch Mr. Rugoff tonight!
What’s Screening: August 27 – September 2
Want to talk about Apocalypse Now? How about young newlyweds exploring sex (even if the groom doesn't seem to care much). No? How about Anthony Hopkins going senile. Or, perhaps, Fellini's personal comic masterpiece or Wong Kar Wai's brilliant film about adultery. But while the Dark Knight goes after the Joker, Carl Th. Dreyer plays … Continue reading What’s Screening: August 27 – September 2
Movies with intermissions
If I was king, I'd insist that theatrical features running longer than 200 minutes would be required to have intermissions. This isn't about art. It's about restrooms. Since I'm not a monarch, I can only discuss long films with and without intermissions. But I'm skipping over the years from 1954 to 1971. I've already written … Continue reading Movies with intermissions
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: CODA, Respect, Thunderball, & Annette
Over the last few months, my Movies I've Recently Seen articles have focused entirely on old movies, streaming into my home. But things are changing. Three of these four movies are brand-new. And two of them I actually saw in theaters. A CODA (2021) You rarely find so much in such a conventional story. Teenaged … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: CODA, Respect, Thunderball, & Annette
What’s Screening: August 20 – 26
Everyone seems to be fighting this week in Bay Area cinema. King Kong vs. Godzilla. Chaplin vs. Keaton. People vs. mythological creatures. Mothers vs. teachers. And rich people against other rich people. Festivals & Series King Kong Crashes Godzilla opens Friday and closes Sunday Veinte por veinte (20 for 20) opens Thursday Special online events … Continue reading What’s Screening: August 20 – 26
The Lost Leonardo: Hobbies of the filthy rich
C art documentaryDirected by Andreas Koefoed Was the Salvator Mundi painted by Leonardo da Vinci? Or one of his students? Or was it painted by someone who's name is lost to history? But the possibility that da Vinci may have painted it has turned the picture into the most expensive painting in history, being sold … Continue reading The Lost Leonardo: Hobbies of the filthy rich
Cryptozoo: Mythology & adult animation
A- Animated fantasy for adults Written & directed by Dash Shaw A couple walk through a forest. They stop to smoke some pot and make love. They find and climb over a very tall chain-link fence. They find something amazing. Don't be surprised; this very unusual cartoon is not about these two hippies - even … Continue reading Cryptozoo: Mythology & adult animation
Confetti will make you feel happy
B Gentle drama Written and Directed by Ann Hu Here's a movie to warm the cockles of your heart. Lan, a school janitor in China discovers that her daughter Meimei is dyslexic. There's no help in her native country, so Lan takes her daughter to America, where she struggles to get Meimei into the right … Continue reading Confetti will make you feel happy
