In six years of writing this blog, I've only had two occasions to tell readers that they could catch John Huston’s 1951 romantic comedy action adventure on the big screen. Now I can tell you about a great way to own it. True, even Blu-ray can't compete with sitting in the dark, surrounded by hundreds … Continue reading African Queen Commemorative Blu-ray Box Set
Movies, TV Shows, and Blu-ray Boxed Sets
I recently completed a Blu-ray boxed set gift guide for PC World. I looked at a lot of discs for that one. Not all of them contained movies. With few exceptions, I've pretty much ignored series television for a very long time. In recent years I've heard and read raves about The Sopranos, Weeds, and … Continue reading Movies, TV Shows, and Blu-ray Boxed Sets
What’s Screening: December 10 – 16
A The King's Speech, Embarcadero, opens Friday. King George VI (the Duke of York through much of the film, and Bertie to his family) doesn’t want to live in the limelight. But fate forces that job onto the shy, reluctant man with a very bad stammer. Terrified, he turns to Australian immigrant Lionel Logue … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 10 – 16
Good News on Blue Valentine Rating
I just received word that the MPAA has agreed to The Weinstein Company's request to rate Blue Valentine R rather than NC-17. It appears that parents have the right to decide if their 16-year-olds can watch simulated cunnilingus.
The King’s Speech
A Drama Written by David Seidler Directed by Tom Hooper Three years ago, Helen Mirren showed us the life of England’s long-running Monarch in The Queen. But in The King’s Speech, writer David Seidler and director Tom Hooper introduce us to her far more interesting father. George VI (the Duke of York through much of … Continue reading The King’s Speech
Voices of Light & The Passion of Joan of Arc
Last night, I enjoyed the greatest film/live music experience of my 40+ years as a silent film aficionado. The film was Carl Theodor Dreyer's The Passion of Joan of Arc. The music was Richard Einhorn's Voices of Light, "An Oratorio with Silent Film." Mark Sumner conducted the 22-piece orchestra and approximately 180 singers from multiple … Continue reading Voices of Light & The Passion of Joan of Arc
What’s Screening: December 3 – 9
A Marwencol, Lumiere, Shattuck, opens Friday for a one-week run. Five men attacked Mark Hogancamp with such viciousness he lost his entire memory and considerable brain function. Now he uses Barbie Dolls, GI Joe-type action figures, and models to create a fantasy world centering on a fictitious town in World War II Europe. There, Mark's rugged … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 3 – 9
Marwencol
A Documentary, opening Friday. Five men attacked Mark Hogancamp with such viciousness he lost his entire memory and considerable brain function. As a form of self-therapy, he has used Barbie Dolls, GI Joe-type action figures, and models to create a fantasy world of his own. That world centers on a town, Marwencol, in World War … Continue reading Marwencol
Last Year at Marienbad
The first time I saw Last Year at Marienbad was in college, in the 1970s. The teachers didn't tell us what to expect, they just gathered several classes together in the auditorium and screened this "important film." I found it deathly boring. We all did. One friend said it needed a pie fight--or even the … Continue reading Last Year at Marienbad
What’s Screening: November 26 – December 2
Amazing as this sounds, there are no festivals running this week. But there are some good movies. Voices of Light/The Passion of Joan of Arc, Oakland Paramount, Thursday, 7:30. Although not as popular as the works of Keaton or Murnau, Carl Theodor Dreyer’s 1928 period drama The Passion of Joan of Arc carries a high … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 26 – December 2
Bayflicks 