Out of the films that were nominated for Best Picture last year, half of them weren't worth watching. This year, all the nominees are at least pretty good. Most are excellent. Here's what I have to say about them. A Killers of the Flower Moon There's very little about indigenous people in Martin Scorsese's recent … Continue reading When it comes to Oscars, 2023 was a very good year
Tag: Greta Gerwig
What’s Screening: March 31 – April 6
What's happening in Bay Area cinema from March 31 to April 6? It's outer space with Star Trek: First Contact, The Empire Strikes Back, and best of all, 2001: A Space Odyssey. But down to earth, there's two new movies worth watching. In vintage cinema, Alfred Hitchcock can give you vertigo. There's also the most … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 31 – April 6
What’s Screening: March 17 – 23
The newsletter is kind of short this week. I've been under the weather. Festivals & Series Berlin & Beyond Film Festival closes Monday Sonoma International opens Wednesday Festival Recommendations: Berlin & Beyond A- The Forger (2022), Roxie, Thursday, 9:00pmCioma Schönhaus was an extraordinary forger. It's a useful job for a young Jewish man in Berlin during … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 17 – 23
What’s Screening: December 9 – 15
Movies this week can be explained by two words: Buster, and Keaton. The great stoneface pops up, mostly as the movie's star, in four films this week. But Bay Area theaters are also giving us holiday cheer, even if it's a 3D noir. But if you want something serious, Inmar Bergman is on the screen, … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 9 – 15
What’s Screening: March 4 – 10
What's happening in Bay Area cinemas this week? Two by Fellini, two written by Greta Gerwig, early Richard Linklater, along with desperate poverty, teenage girls, and silent horror. And as Omicron lifts, film festivals that didn't happen in January and February have dates set up in March. Festivals & Series WinterFest closes SundayThe SF Urban … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 4 – 10
Good movies suddenly available on Criterion
The Criterion Channel added a lot of good movies at the beginning of September. Here are some of the best: Most of these are part of one of more collections – mostly New York Stories. A+ The Crowd (1928), part of the series New York Stories Of all the films in my All-Time Great Films … Continue reading Good movies suddenly available on Criterion
My best top 10 films of 2020
I usually start the year with a survey of my best movie-going experiences - considering projection, sound, audience enthusiasm, and, of course, the quality of the movie. But I had very few chances to go to the movies in 2020. So, this year I'm offering the best new movies I've seen while sitting in front … Continue reading My best top 10 films of 2020
What’s Screening: Nov 27 – Dec 3
There's not much in the drive-ins this week, or at least not much that I can recommend. But if you like Scorsese, you can join a conversation about Goodfellas this Saturday. I can recommend three new, streaming documentaries, and you can revisit two of the best films of the 1990s. Special online events A+ Thrillville … Continue reading What’s Screening: Nov 27 – Dec 3
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: King of Hearts, Little Women, The Front Page, & last but very much least, Quantum of Solace
Here are four movies that aren't playing in an upcoming film festival. No one asked me to review them. One is still in theaters. The others are currently available only in your own home. They're just movies I've recently seen, from best to worst. A King of Hearts (1966), Kanopy World War I gave us … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: King of Hearts, Little Women, The Front Page, & last but very much least, Quantum of Solace
Lady Bird: Coming of Age in Sacramento
A- Coming-of-age comedy Written and directed by Greta Gerwig If you've followed Greta Gerwig's career as an actress and a screenwriter, you wouldn't be surprised at the quality of her solo directorial debut. In Lady Bird, she examines a very explosive mother/daughter relationship, explores the social dynamics of a Catholic high school, and manages to … Continue reading Lady Bird: Coming of Age in Sacramento
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