A lot of early John Ford films will disappear from the Criterion Channel at the end of June. There are several other good films that will go away after June 30. Click the film's title to start watching the movie – assuming as if you subscribe to the Channel. Full recommendations A+ The Last Picture … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion at the end of June
Bitterbrush on the open range
A- cinema verite documentary Directed by Emelie Mahdavian Yes, there are real cowgirls - but probably not for long. Hollyn and Colie travel through what's probably the least populated part of the American West - doing temporary work. Mostly, they herd cattle. And judging by Emelie Mahdavian's documentary, these women know what they're doing. As … Continue reading Bitterbrush on the open range
What’s Screening: June 10 – 16
Being that it's Pride Month, several classic gay movies are screening in theaters this week. But Bay Area cinemas are also playing films from such famous straight directors as Charlie Chaplin and Akira Kurosawa. Also, two festivals. Festivals & Series The Castro Theater's 100th Birthday Celebration closes Sunday Frameline opens Thursday New films opening theatrically … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 10 – 16
I’m Charlie Walker, but my movie could have been better
C Historical drama Written & directed by Patrick Gilles Here's an interesting San Francisco story, involving oil slicks, the environment, racism, hippies, prostitutes, and an oil company executive who worries that working with a black man could hurt his company's image. This all takes in 1971, when a black man in the boardroom wasn't rare … Continue reading I’m Charlie Walker, but my movie could have been better
Movies I’ve recently seen: L’Atalante ֍ Eating Raoul ֍ Gentlemen Prefer Blondes ֍ Death on the Nile ֍ The Bitcoin Field Guide
Another random selection of old and new movies, from nearly brilliant to worthless junk. Click a movie's title to find out where you can stream it. A- L'Atalante (1934) It's a common story, but done very well, thanks to director Jean Vigo's poetic realism. A bride tries to adjust to her new family, and they … Continue reading Movies I’ve recently seen: L’Atalante ֍ Eating Raoul ֍ Gentlemen Prefer Blondes ֍ Death on the Nile ֍ The Bitcoin Field Guide
What’s Screening: June 3 – 9
What have we got in Bay Area cinema this week? Stiff upper lips, a powerful dog, the mafia, a cowardly lion, Halloween in June, William Goldman's enchanting and funny fairy tale, and of course, sex. Also, two festivals. Festivals & Series Doc Fest ends on Thursday The Castro Theater's 100th Birthday Celebration opens today and … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 3 – 9
What’s new at the Criterion Channel
Judy Garland, cheap movies, musicals, and early Billy Wilder. The Criterion Channel opened several movie collections on Tuesday. Here's are some of these collections and what's in them: 100 Years of Judy Garland Here are 17 movies starring the girl who went over the rainbow. And yet, The Wizard of Oz isn't in this collection. … Continue reading What’s new at the Criterion Channel
What’s Screening: May 27 – June 2
This week in Bay Area cinema: More of Star Wars - along with Indiana Jones, an excellent drama set in Montana, and the cheap sci-fi flick that started John Carpenter's and Dan O'Bannon's careers. Festivals & Series Doc Fest, which is not to be confused with the recently closed DocLands, opens Wednesday, and ends next … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 27 – June 2
Movies I’ve recently seen: Everything Everywhere All at Once ֍ Blue Velvet ֍Bottle Rocket ֍ They Drive by Night
Between SFFilm and the Silent Film Fest, I haven't had much time to just go to the movies - or even watch them at home. So here are four movies, old and new, that I managed to see in the last few weeks. Click a film's title to find out how to see it. A- … Continue reading Movies I’ve recently seen: Everything Everywhere All at Once ֍ Blue Velvet ֍Bottle Rocket ֍ They Drive by Night
What’s happening this summer at BAMPFA
You may have noticed that recently there haven't been any movies playing at the Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA). No, it's not closing down like so many theaters. It's just that the museum's Barbro Osher Theater always closes down in the last half of May. But coming in June, movies will return to the … Continue reading What’s happening this summer at BAMPFA
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