When the trick-or-treaters go to bed and October turns into November, some excellent films will mysteriously disappear. Many of them were directed by John Huston. At the end of this month, Criterion will remove 59 feature films from its streaming service to make more for other classics. Here's a few of them: A The African … Continue reading What will leave Criterion come midnight
Tag: John Ford
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
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Gunda | Demolition Man | Drums Along the Mohawk & Summer of Soul
Another set of films I've recently seen - two new ones and two classics. And only one of them have I seen on the big screen. A- Gunda (2020) The non-fiction version of Babe is an amazing feat of cinematography. Viktor Kosakovskiy's camera crew captures farm animals like no other, bringing us the emotions of creatures that … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Gunda | Demolition Man | Drums Along the Mohawk & Summer of Soul
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Green Valley | Mortal Storm | This Paris | David Copperfield & The Blob
Three of these five films were set in Europe but made in and around Hollywood. Another was set and shot in England. And the last one starred a young unknown named Steve McQueen (it was shot and set in a small American town). Curiously, the three black-and-white movies were better than the two color ones. … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Green Valley | Mortal Storm | This Paris | David Copperfield & The Blob
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Soul | Return of the Secaucus 7 | The Mauritanian | Buck and the Preacher | The Dig & Sergeant Rutledge
Four films I've seen for the first time and two I revisited, from one of Pixar's best to one of John Ford's worst. A Soul (2020) My children are all grown, and I don't have to go to every Pixar movie anymore, but I'm glad I saw this one. Soul is one of Pixar's best, … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Soul | Return of the Secaucus 7 | The Mauritanian | Buck and the Preacher | The Dig & Sergeant Rutledge
Commentary tracks: Another way to enjoy your favorite movies
I haven't gone out much lately. One activity I can do at home is to watch a favorite movie with a commentary track. There's something special about watching a beloved film once again while someone tells you interesting facts about it. I recommend the experience. (I suppose I shouldn't even have to say this, but … Continue reading Commentary tracks: Another way to enjoy your favorite movies
Early John Ford on Blu-ray with Hell Bent
You've probably never heard of Hell Bent - a very early John Ford western, made in only his second year as a director. He's credited as Jack Ford (his birth name was Sean Feeney). And yet, sometimes you can see the greatness to come. At this point in his career, Ford was cranking out B … Continue reading Early John Ford on Blu-ray with Hell Bent
Films that increase empathy
Roger Ebert once called movies "a machine that generates empathy." I'm not sure that's always true. Triumph of the Will generated a lot of emotions, but empathy wasn't one of them. And yet, the best films can help you understand those trapped in poverty, loneliness, and sickness. Ever since the invention of the close-up, motion … Continue reading Films that increase empathy
What’s Screening: November 22 – 28
What's on Bay Area movie screens this week? Lon Chaney and Al Pacino try a life of crime, Steve Martin and John Candy try to go home, John Wayne rides the stagecoach, and Lawrence Harvey hates his mother. We also have Guillermo del Toro, Luis Buñuel, and Mad Max (but he's just a sidekick). Festivals … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 22 – 28
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
