C+ animal documentary Directed by Elizabeth Lo Don't expect a happy documentary about the wonderful relationship between people and our four-footed best friends. This documentary is about something far less enjoyable: How wild dogs manage in urban areas without a human to give them food and shelter. That's a good subject for a doc, but … Continue reading Stray: Dogs run free
The People vs. Agent Orange
B political documentary Directed by Alan Adelson and Kate Taverna Don't worry, the pictures of children with horrible birth defects are few in this very message-heavy documentary. This story doesn't need such images to boil your blood - what people say into the camera does the work without them. During the Vietnam war, the American … Continue reading The People vs. Agent Orange
What’s Screening: Feb 26 – March 4
This week in Virtual Cinema, you can meet a new American family, discover the horrors that come after a rape, and watch Spike Lee's masterpiece. But if you really want to leave home and watch a really big screen, you have drive-in options from The Black Messiah to Austin Powers. You can even join a … Continue reading What’s Screening: Feb 26 – March 4
Movies I’ve recently seen: Nomadland | Judas and the Black Messiah | Morocco & March of the Wooden Soldiers
Here again are two new films that everybody's talking about and two films made more than 80 years ago. That wasn't intended. A Nomadland (2020) After Fern loses her husband, job, and home (Frances McDormand), she goes on the road in her van, working temporary jobs, getting by, and befriending other "nomads." She doesn't consider … Continue reading Movies I’ve recently seen: Nomadland | Judas and the Black Messiah | Morocco & March of the Wooden Soldiers
Test Pattern is not about TV
A- Drama Written and directed by Shatara Michelle Ford Test Pattern is not about old-fashioned television. It's about date rape, and how that affects everyone involved - except, perhaps, the rapist. This is the second film I've seen in the last few weeks about date rape. I liked Test Pattern and Promising Young Woman very … Continue reading Test Pattern is not about TV
You should catch Minari…if you can
I saw a wonderful movie last Friday, but I had to go through tech hell to watch it. Minari first caught my attention while writing about the Golden Globe nominees. The film was nominated for Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language, even though its official nation of origin is USA. That's unusual, although not impossible. … Continue reading You should catch Minari…if you can
Disappearing from HBOmax
The Criterion Channel isn't the only streaming service that removes movies at the end of the month. Here are some good movies streaming on HBOmax that you may want to watch before February goes away: A Chinatown (1974) Roman Polanski was at his best when he made this neo-noir tale of intrigue and double-crosses set … Continue reading Disappearing from HBOmax
What’s Screening: February 19 – 25
What's going on, cinema-wise, this week in the Bay Area - aside from dark theaters? Concentration camps in America, the tricks of scoring silent movies, car racing and prize fighting, and an idiot with money. Also three film festivals. Virtual Festivals SF Indiefest closes Sunday The SF Urban Film Fest also closes Sunday The Jewish … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 19 – 25
What’s leaving Criterion when February ends
I was shocked! Shocked that so many good films were leaving the Criterion Channel at the end of the month. Worse than that, I didn't even know that a lot of them even were on the Channel. Here are ten of them that I recommend you try to catch before March 1. But if you … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion when February ends
Is it a movie or a play…or a word?
When I wrote my Golden Globe nominees article, I hit on something that forced me to think about what is a movie in 2021. When I saw that Hamilton was nominated for Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy, my first thought was: This isn't a movie; it's a filmed stage play. Which isn't a bad … Continue reading Is it a movie or a play…or a word?
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