20th Century-Fox recently released six classic MGM films on Blu-ray. Except that none of them are originally from 20th Century-Fox, or MGM. Three of the films were originally released by United Artists: Annie Hall, Manhattan, and The Apartment. United Artists and MGM merged in the early 1980s, and for a long time was called MGM/UA. … Continue reading Six New Classic Blu-rays, Sort of from Fox/MGM
Changing Film Technologies Reflected in Best Picture Nominees
If either The Artist or Hugo wins the Best Picture Oscar, it will say something interesting about how the Hollywood community accepts the technical changes around them. If Hugo wins, it will be the first 3D movie, and the first shot digitally, to win the prize. If The Artist wins (which would please me far … Continue reading Changing Film Technologies Reflected in Best Picture Nominees
What’s Screening: February 3 – 9
Beauty and the French Connection Looking Through a Glass Onion. The Mostly British Film Festival continues through the week and IndieFest opens Thursday. A Beauty and the Beast (1946 version), Castro, Thursday. I’d be hard-pressed to think of another film that’s anything like Jean Cocteau’s post-war fantasy. It’s a fairytale, told with a charming and … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 3 – 9
What’s Screening: January 27–February 2
We’re off to see Harry Belafonte, Captain Kirk, and two black birds. And if you find yourself reading this newsletter over and over again, that’s because it’s Groundhog Day. In festival news, Noir City continues through Sunday. And the Mostly British Film Festival opens Thursday. B Sing Your Song, Roxie, opens Friday. Harry Belafonte is … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 27–February 2
Noir City Report: 2 by Sam Fuller
I spent last night at the Castro, where I saw two crime thrillers by the great Samuel Fuller: House of Bamboo and Underworld USA--all part of the Noir City festival running through Sunday. The evening got off to a late start. Due to an error, the starting time was advertised as 7:00 in some publications … Continue reading Noir City Report: 2 by Sam Fuller
Sing Your Song
Harry Belafonte is a great performer and a great activist. This reverential documentary emphasizes the activism. B Musical & political documentary Directed by Suzanne Rostock My mother was a big Harry Belefonte fan. She loved his singing voice. She very much approved of his political activism. And I suspect she found him very sexy. There … Continue reading Sing Your Song
The Arrow Awards: The Best in British Television Commercials
The British make great television and have a great comedy tradition. But does that mean you should pay to see their television commercials? C Collection of television commercials If you're like me, you probably mute or fast-forward through TV commercials. So why on earth would you go to a movie theater and buy a ticket … Continue reading The Arrow Awards: The Best in British Television Commercials
What’s Screening: January 20 – 26
The Wages of Separation When You Put Safety Last Noir City opens today (Friday) and runs through the week and a bit beyond. A A Separation, Embarcadero Center, opens Friday. Writer/director Asghar Farhadi demonstrates how good people can turn against each other in this harrowing tale from Iran about divorce, family responsibilities, and courtroom drama. … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 20 – 26
A Separation
A remarkable film from Iran reveals the tensions in two families. A drama/mystery Written and directed by Asghar Farhadi One seldom finds clear heroes and villains in family turmoil. When marriages fail and people lose their temper, you're most likely to find good people on both sides, angry and flawed, but trying to do the … Continue reading A Separation
Race and Casting in American Movies
Try this exercise: Start with a large selection of American feature films. They could be your all-time favorites, the ones you own, or AFI's most recent 100 Best American Films list. Or simply the unsubtitled movies currently in theaters. Now, remove all of the films where the protagonist--the central character or hero--is portrayed by a … Continue reading Race and Casting in American Movies
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