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: Howard Hawks
What’s Screening: January 20 – 26
Last week we were walloped by massive waterfalls from the sky. And this week? You must pick between noirs from the year of 1948 or half of the Coen brothers. Along with one of the brothers, Bay Area cinemas will be showing vintage movies from Martin Scorsese, F. W. Murnau, Jacques Tati, David Lynch, Howard … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 20 – 26
What’s Screening: August 19 – 25
In Bay Area moviegoing this week: A Powell/Pressburger film I’ve yet to see. A Kurosawa double bill. Spike Lee’s best film free in the open air. Movies by Howard Hawks and Samuel Fuller. And for the first time in movie history, a handsome man lights a cigarette and says the immortal words, “Bond. James Bond.” … Continue reading What’s Screening: August 19 – 25
Movies I’ve recently seen: L’Atalante ֍ Eating Raoul ֍ Gentlemen Prefer Blondes ֍ Death on the Nile ֍ The Bitcoin Field Guide
Another random selection of old and new movies, from nearly brilliant to worthless junk. Click a movie's title to find out where you can stream it. A- L'Atalante (1934) It's a common story, but done very well, thanks to director Jean Vigo's poetic realism. A bride tries to adjust to her new family, and they … Continue reading Movies I’ve recently seen: L’Atalante ֍ Eating Raoul ֍ Gentlemen Prefer Blondes ֍ Death on the Nile ֍ The Bitcoin Field Guide
What’s leaving Criterion at the end of the year
When the ball drops and 2021 turns into 2022, some very good films will disappear from The Criterion Channel (but not forever; many of them will return after a few months). If you don't subscribe to Criterion, you can start a 14-day free trial. Here are some of the movies that you might want to … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion at the end of the year
What’s leaving Criterion when February ends
I was shocked! Shocked that so many good films were leaving the Criterion Channel at the end of the month. Worse than that, I didn't even know that a lot of them even were on the Channel. Here are ten of them that I recommend you try to catch before March 1. But if you … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion when February ends
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
What’s Screening: November 29 – December 5
It's Black Friday, but that doesn't mean you have to fight the crowds in the malls. Why not go to the movies? This week in Bay Area cinemas we have James Cagney, Aretha Franklin, Cary Grant, and a sleek, black-and-white thriller you'll probably never get to see again. Festivals Another Hole in the Head Film … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 29 – December 5
Movies from 1939 at the Stanford
I'm not sure who proclaimed 1939 The Great Movie Year. Probably it was Ted Turner, when he owned the MGM, Warner, and RKO libraries. A lot of beloved classics came out that year, including The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind - the two most beloved films of Hollywood's studio era. Also, 1939 … Continue reading Movies from 1939 at the Stanford
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