Another set of films I've recently seen - two new ones and two classics. And only one of them have I seen on the big screen. A- Gunda (2020) The non-fiction version of Babe is an amazing feat of cinematography. Viktor Kosakovskiy's camera crew captures farm animals like no other, bringing us the emotions of creatures that … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Gunda | Demolition Man | Drums Along the Mohawk & Summer of Soul
What’s Screening: July 9 – 15
What's in Bay Area cinema this week? The absurdity of Fractured Flickers, a talk about Taxi Driver, lesbians young and old, The Beatles, The Jedi, and dancing in LA. Sorry that I haven't been posting as often as I should. I've been busy with other work. Festivals windrider bay area opened yesterday (sorry about that). … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 9 – 15
The 2021 SF Jewish Film Festival
For the second year in a row, the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival is basically a streaming event. But this year, there'll be two days in the Bay Area's best movie palace, The Castro. The festival runs from July 22 to August 1. On July 24 and 25, the Castro will screen seven films - … Continue reading The 2021 SF Jewish Film Festival
What’s Screening: July 2 – 8
What's happening in Bay Area cinema this week? You can talk about American Splendor (the movie, not the nation's condition). You can see The Naked Gun or Independence Day at the drive-in. You can stream Shiva Baby, Blood Simple, and The Story of a Three Day Pass. And best of all, you can catch Donnie … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 2 – 8
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Picnic | Black Orpheus | Princess Mononoke & Images
What can I say about these four movies as a group? I can tell you that they were all made in the second half of the last century. They have sound and they're all in color. And finally, I watched (or re-watched) all of them recently and had never written about them before. A- Picnic … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Picnic | Black Orpheus | Princess Mononoke & Images
What’s Screening: June 25 – July 1
What's happening in Bay Area cinema this week? Silent movie fans can choose between Charlie Chaplin and Dinosaurs (you can actually have both). For something more modern, you can watch and discuss The Dark Knight. You can also view Muppets, gay cowboys, and strange creatures looking for love. Also two film festivals. Festivals Frameline closes … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 25 – July 1
Samuel Fuller Criterion: Pickup on South Street on Blu-ray
Here's one of the best noirs from the dark, grimy, golden age of the genre. Written and directed by the great Samuel Fuller, it doesn't pull its punches, either metaphorically or literally. Richard Widmark (whose cold face cries out for noir) stars as a pickpocket who lifts the wrong wallet on a crowded New York … Continue reading Samuel Fuller Criterion: Pickup on South Street on Blu-ray
What’s leaving Criterion at the end of June – the complete version
Sorry about yesterday's blunder. I accidentally posted an unfinished version of this article. Here's the complete post. Several Marx Brothers will disappear from the Criterion Channel at the end of the month…and that's no laughing matter. Some serious films will disappear as well. Here are just a few of the films that will no longer … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion at the end of June – the complete version
In the Heights & in the theaters – along with reserved seats
Saturday night, my wife and I went to the Cerrito Theater to see In the Heights. It was more than just a really good movie on the big screen. It was the first time in 16 months I sat in a good-sized theater with a good-sized audience. That meant a lot. No more masking tape … Continue reading In the Heights & in the theaters – along with reserved seats
What’s Screening: June 18 – 24
I discuss two new movies this week in Bay Area cinema. And no, In the Heights isn't one of them (I haven't got to it, yet), but one of them is about a Puerto Rican dancer. If you like to go to the drive-in, I can recommend five excellent films you can watch from your … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 18 – 24
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