What do Bay Area cinemas (the few left) offer us when it comes to vintage movies? This week it's early Fellini, Kubrick destroying the world, the great mobster epic, Billy Wilder at his best, and Richard Linklater his youth. Festivals & Series Sorry, but I didn't catch the SFFilm Doc Stories festival until Friday. It … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 3 – 9
Tag: Edward G. Robinson
What’s Screening: July 7 – 13
This week, we have films from Japan, Italy, Mexico, and Warner Brothers. Most of them are pretty good – and all of them will be better in a theater. Festivals & Series Studio Ghibli Festival opens Saturday, and goes through July The San Francisco Silent Film Festival opens Thursday The San Francisco Frozen Film Festival … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 7 – 13
What’s leaving Criterion at the end of June
When June disappears and July appears, you'll probably still be shivering with cold. So, before this month goes away, here are eight worthwhile films that will disappear from the Criterion Channel come July. Full recommendations A Dogtooth (2009) This very dark satire of over-protective parents – and arguably totalitarianism – examines an upper-middle class nuclear … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion at the end of June
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 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: 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
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Stranger, The Wicker Man, Angel, & Dementia 13
Considering that it's October, we have two horror movies, along with something noir. But if you want to smile, there's a Lubitsch in here, too. B+ The Stranger (1946)Orson Welles' third film is a conventional anti-Nazi noir (no deep focus photography), but a very good one. Edward G. Robinson plays the hero for a change, as … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Stranger, The Wicker Man, Angel, & Dementia 13
I Wake Up Streaming
For several years now, the Roxie has hosted an annual film noir festival called I Wake Up Dreaming. This year, like everyone else, they're doing something different. Instead, they're running a series called I Wake Up Streaming, from October 13 to November 24. (Why am I calling it a series and not a festival? A … Continue reading I Wake Up Streaming
What’s Screening: July 19 – 25
This week in Bay Area movie theaters: a new comedy about death, a massive epic about totalitarianism, rock and roll gone wrong, masterpieces by Orson Welles and Martin Scorsese, and a trip out of this world. Also film festivals frozen, haunted, and Jewish. Festivals The Frozen Film Festival continues through Sunday Modern Cinema: Haunted! (Gothic … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 19 – 25
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