A Documentary Directed by Jessica Kingdon If you think America is the land where people desperately fight for a piece of the pie, you should see how it works in so-called "socialist" China. Jessica Kingdon's spellbinding, narration-less documentary shows the People's Republic as a country of paupers scrambling to raise themselves financially - or at … Continue reading Ascension: The Rat Race in “Communist” China
Movies I’ve recently seen: They Were Expendable ֍ The French Dispatch ֍ Laura ֍ Eyes Wide Shut
In my last "recenty seen" post, I noticed that new movies seemed to be better than old ones. Not this time. A- They Were Expendable (1945) The Navy very much wanted to make this film, and especially have it made by Captain John Ford USNR (yes, that John Ford). Much as I like the picture, … Continue reading Movies I’ve recently seen: They Were Expendable ֍ The French Dispatch ֍ Laura ֍ Eyes Wide Shut
What’s Screening: November 5 – 11
I've been busy lately, which is why this is the only article I posted this week. But we've got a documentary about China that the Chinese government probably won't like. What else might you like? How about films from the Coen Brothers, Alain Resnais, or Francis Coppola - all at their peak? Or maybe a … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 5 – 11
What’s Screening: October 29 – November 4
I haven't listed so many old movies playing in theaters since before COVID. Of course, Halloween had a lot to do with it. But we can also see films by Tarkovsky, Ray, Mizoguchi, and Kubrick. But if you decide to stream your Halloween, take a look at my article on Funny and Scary Movies. Festivals … Continue reading What’s Screening: October 29 – November 4
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: No Time to Die | 15 Minutes of Shame | The Life of Emile Zola | Libeled Lady & Wee Willie Winkie
You might notice that the new films in this selection are all better than the old ones - a strange situation from a lover of classic cinema. Why? I picked two out of three old movies not because I believed they were good, but because they were historically interesting. The other was, well, not as … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: No Time to Die | 15 Minutes of Shame | The Life of Emile Zola | Libeled Lady & Wee Willie Winkie
What’s Screening: October 22 – 28
It seems as if every theater is playing Dune - a movie that disappointed me. I'm hoping that The French Dispatch will be better. If you're looking for oldies on the big screen, we've got two mid-century Japanese classics, two versions of Nosferatu, and a bad horror flick with comic commentary. Also, we've got three … Continue reading What’s Screening: October 22 – 28
Bogart, Lupino, & the High Sierra on blu-ray
Badd After eight years in prison, "Mad Dog" Roy Earle walks out. The mob paid a lot of dough to get him released - they have a job for him to do. But what does Earle do first? He goes to a local park and enjoys the trees and watches the children playing. Humphrey Bogart … Continue reading Bogart, Lupino, & the High Sierra on blu-ray
What will leave Criterion come midnight
When the trick-or-treaters go to bed and October turns into November, some excellent films will mysteriously disappear. Many of them were directed by John Huston. At the end of this month, Criterion will remove 59 feature films from its streaming service to make more for other classics. Here's a few of them: A The African … Continue reading What will leave Criterion come midnight
UNAFF: The United Nations Association Film Festival
The United Nations Association Film Festival (UNAFF) sees itself as a "two-decade-long celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, emphasizing our readiness to resume resolute strides towards lasting solutions." It opens Thursday. Although most of the festival will happen on the peninsula - Stanford and Palo Alto - UNAFF will have one day in … Continue reading UNAFF: The United Nations Association Film Festival
After Mill Valley: What’s coming up at BAMPFA (and that doesn’t count virtual cinema)
I haven't written an article like this one for almost two years, and I sure am glad to be writing this one now. The Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) is getting back into show business, and I don't mean streaming into your home. As the Mill Valley Film Festival closes at BAMPFA, UC Berkeley's repertory … Continue reading After Mill Valley: What’s coming up at BAMPFA (and that doesn’t count virtual cinema)
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