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
Tag: Burt Lancaster
What’s leaving Criterion at the end of November
At the end of every month, the Criterion Channel removes a lot of movies from their streaming service (although some return surprisingly fast). Here are only a few of the films that will go away when November disappears. Full recommendations A Deep Cover (1992) Here's an extraordinary film noir from the early 1990s. Laurence Fishburne … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion at the end of November
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Official Competition ֍ Forbidden Paradise ֍ Victor/Victoria ֍ Desert Fury
What movies have I seen recently (outside of the Jewish Film Fest)? There's a very funny Spanish movie, early Lubitsch, Julie Andrews disguised as a man disguised as a woman, and a mediocre melodramatic weepie. I saw two of these films in theaters, and I'll tell you which they are. Click the film's title to … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Official Competition ֍ Forbidden Paradise ֍ Victor/Victoria ֍ Desert Fury
What’s leaving Criterion at the end of March
At the end of every month, The Criterion Channel removes a considerable number of films from their streaming platform. Here are some I suggest catching before April Fool's Day. Full recommendations A The Killing (1956) Stanley Kubrick started his Hollywood career with this crackerjack noir heist thriller. A career criminal (Sterling Hayden) orchestrates a complex racetrack robbery … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion at the end of March
Movies I’ve recently seen: From Here to Eternity ֍ Tick, Tick… Boom! ֍ Terror in a Texas Town ֍ One Hour with You & ֍ No Way Out
I haven't been going to theaters recently, but here are a few, mostly old movies that I've watched at home. The fact that four of the five movies are in black-and-white tells you that that most of these pictures are vintage. And if you want to find out how to stream any of these, click … Continue reading Movies I’ve recently seen: From Here to Eternity ֍ Tick, Tick… Boom! ֍ Terror in a Texas Town ֍ One Hour with You & ֍ No Way Out
What’s leaving Criterion at the end of July
A lot of movies will leave The Criterion Channel come July 31 - and several of them written by Dalton Trumbo. Here are some you may want to catch before August - although some of these may be back on Criterion soon. A He Ran All the Way (1951) When I first saw this cheap … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion at the end of July
Before Halloween: 6 good movies leaving Criterion October 31
Here's something to scare you as Halloween approaches: 45 movies will disappear from the Criterion Channel as the kids go virtual trick-or-treat. Here are six of these movies that I can recommend. That doesn't mean I hate the other 39. I just haven't seen most of them. Others I haven't seen or didn't really like. … Continue reading Before Halloween: 6 good movies leaving Criterion October 31
Swashbucklers: A needed escape from reality
Since we can't escape from COVID-19's reality, we can at least spend some time with the most escapist genre in the history of cinema: swashbucklers. Although these sword-wielding adventure movies are usually set in Europe or the Caribbean from 1500 to 1800 CE, you can find them set in ancient Greece or 19th-century China. The … Continue reading Swashbucklers: A needed escape from reality
What’s Screening: March 6 – 12
With coronavirus spreading, it's a scary time to go to the movies. The Stanford is closed until further notice, ending or delaying the Kurosawa series. Amazon, Netflix and other companies have dropped out of SXSW - a major technology and film festival in Austin. But if you have the courage to go to an arthouse … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 6 – 12
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Killer’s Kiss, Zero for Conduct, 1917, Blaze, & The Swimmer
I had a horrible, sickly January, pretty much keeping me in the house. It wasn't until this Monday that I felt I could go to a movie theater without ruining everyone else's fun with my coughing and sneezing. (That's why I didn't cover Noir City or IndieFest this year.) Here's what I've been seen for … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Killer’s Kiss, Zero for Conduct, 1917, Blaze, & The Swimmer