As usual, a lot of movies available on the Criterion Channel will disappear at the end of February. If you like screwball comedy, and other genres, check out these films before it's March. Full recommendations A+ The Lady Eve (1941) Like most great screwballs, Preston Sturges' The Lady Eve looks at class differences. It also examines the problems … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion at the end of February
Tag: Barbara Stanwyck
The last weekend…of this year’s Noir City
I spent most of the weekend at the Grand Lake enjoying the Noir City festival, watching dark crime movies. Here's what I saw: Saturday Matinée B+ Night Has a Thousand Eyes Do you want to know the future? In this dark fantasy, Edward G. Robinson can see the future, and he wishes he couldn't. He … Continue reading The last weekend…of this year’s Noir City
What’s leaving Criterion at the end of January
At the end of every month, The Criterion Channel drops a lot of movies from its streaming service to make room for other pictures. Here are just a few of the films that will disappear from the Channel on February 1st. Full recommendations A Broken Blossoms (1919) We're not supposed to say good things about … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion at the end of January
What’s Screening: December 23 – 29
Note: I attended to set this article to go live on Friday, December 23, at 8:30am. But, by my mistake, it came out earlier. There's not much Christmas spirit in Bay Area cinemas this holiday week – unless you count Die Hard. But there's joy in the Richmond district. The 4-Star cinema is showing five … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 23 – 29
What’s Screening: August 12 – 18
A lot of vintage fantasy and sci-fi plays on the big screen in the Bay Area this week. There's also that Mark Zuckerberg biopic, along with two movies by Samuel Fuller. You can find MGM at its most sparkling (if not of the best), and a dance directed by Jean-Luc Godard. Festivals & Series Gamera … Continue reading What’s Screening: August 12 – 18
What’s new at the Criterion Channel
Judy Garland, cheap movies, musicals, and early Billy Wilder. The Criterion Channel opened several movie collections on Tuesday. Here's are some of these collections and what's in them: 100 Years of Judy Garland Here are 17 movies starring the girl who went over the rainbow. And yet, The Wizard of Oz isn't in this collection. … Continue reading What’s new at the Criterion Channel
What’s Screening: February 11 – 17
Monday is Valentine's Day, so we have several romantic films you can enjoy on the big screen. In fact, the New Parkway, which has been closed recently because of Omicron, has several cinematic love stories served with special dinners. Festivals & Series SF IndieFest closes Sunday Special online events Restoring the Films of William S. … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 11 – 17
What’s Screening: Jan 28 – Feb 3
What's happening in Bay Area cinema as January turns into February? We've got laughs from Preston Sturges, Bill Murray, and Monty Python. Also noir from Pedro Almodóvar, or satire from Boots Riley. I had to prepare this newsletter earlier than usual for personal reasons. That means that if a screening is announced at the last … Continue reading What’s Screening: Jan 28 – Feb 3
What’s Screening: January 14 – 20
I have stopped going to movie theaters because of Omicron. I just don't think it's safe - even though I wear a mask and have all the right shots. I'm not the only one who thinks that way. The Film Noir Foundation has postponed this year's Noir City festival. And the New Parkway has gone … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 14 – 20
What’s happening at BAMPFA: December thru April
From early December through late April, here's what will happen cinematically at the Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA). As I write this, the museum's theater is currently the only cinema in the Bay Area that focuses specifically on old films. They're offering a lot of good movies, and at least two stinkers. BAMPFA arranges … Continue reading What’s happening at BAMPFA: December thru April
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