It seems as if every theater is playing Dune - a movie that disappointed me. I'm hoping that The French Dispatch will be better. If you're looking for oldies on the big screen, we've got two mid-century Japanese classics, two versions of Nosferatu, and a bad horror flick with comic commentary. Also, we've got three … Continue reading What’s Screening: October 22 – 28
Tag: F.W. Murnau
National Silent Movie Day…at home
This coming Wednesday is National Silent Movie Day, which makes it a perfect day to start exploring silent cinema. Here are eight of my nine favorite silent feature films. (The other, Napoleon is too big for most theaters, let alone your living room.) I'm not listing them best to worst, as I usually do. They're … Continue reading National Silent Movie Day…at home
What’s Leaving Criterion when March ends
At the end of every month, the Criterion Channel trims its collection of films to make room for others (probably because of contract issues). Thankfully, they give us warning, so we can watch a film before it goes away. If you're a Criterion subscriber, catch some of these before you wake up and discover it's … Continue reading What’s Leaving Criterion when March ends
What’s Screening: December 4 – 10
The drive-ins are closing for the winter, and the recently opened hard-top theaters have suddenly been shut down. So, this week I'm doing something unusual for the newsletter. Instead, I'm focusing on recommending movies via virtual cinema - where you can watch a movie safely at home while helping your favorite theater. Big News Our … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 4 – 10
What’s Screening: November 6 – 12
Take a look at the Alameda website. It's sure proof that movie theaters are slowly, tentatively, opening up - mostly following the CinemaSafe guidelines. You must decide for yourself whether doing so is safe. I'm still skeptical, but I'll continue listing films playing in theaters. This week you can talk to other cinephiles about The … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 6 – 12
What’s Screening: October 25 – 31
With Halloween around the corner, you can guess what kind of movies are showing up on specialty Bay Area screens this week. But we do have a few interesting films that don't intend to scare you out of your seat. Festivals The San Francisco Greek Film Festival continues through Saturday The United Nations Association Film … Continue reading What’s Screening: October 25 – 31
What’s Screening: May 24 – 30
This week in Bay Area movie theaters: Two very different opera movies, three silent films with live accompaniment (in three different theaters), lesbian love in Kenya, dancing about death, thrillers by Hitchcock and Malle, and the biggest epic of all time. Also, a documentary festival opens. Festivals SF DOCFEST opens Wednesday The Week's Big Event … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 24 – 30
What’s Screening: January 18 – 24
Harold Lloyd climbs into the public domain, Pickett and Prueher show very bad videos, and Germany frightens us in both sound and silence. Also Satyajit Ray, Christopher Guest, Ida Lupino, and a whole lot of great movies on Bay Area movie screens this week. But no film festivals. The Week's Big Event A Safety Last, … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 18 – 24
What’s Screening: December 28 – January 3
As one year ends and another begins, we get to celebrate with Kubrick, DeMille, Cuarón, Murnau, and Chaplin - all in Bay Area movie theaters. But still no film festivals. The Week's Big Event A+ 2001: A Space Odyssey — The 70mm / 4K Challenge, Castro, Friday through Tuesday 70mm and/or 4K presentations! Stanley Kubrick's … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 28 – January 3
What’s Screening: October 26 – November 1
Halloween approaches, and that tells you plenty about what’s on Bay Area movie screens this week. And if you don't like scary movies, you can attend one of more of the Bay Area's current four film festivals. Festivals The United Nations Association Film Festival continues through Sunday The Berlin & Beyond Autumn Showcase opens Thursday … Continue reading What’s Screening: October 26 – November 1
