I dedicate this week's newsletter to film historian and filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich (July 30, 1939 – January 6, 2022). Considering what Omicron is doing all over the world, we have a surprising number of vintage movies playing in real theaters. We've got major works from Peter Jackson, F.W. Murnau, Wong Kar Wai, The Coen Brothers, … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 7 – 13
Tag: Peter Jackson
What’s Screening: November 5 – 11
I've been busy lately, which is why this is the only article I posted this week. But we've got a documentary about China that the Chinese government probably won't like. What else might you like? How about films from the Coen Brothers, Alain Resnais, or Francis Coppola - all at their peak? Or maybe a … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 5 – 11
The so-called Great War and its movies
The First World War, called The Great War before a worse one followed it, created some exceptional cinema. Why is that? Perhaps, it's the timing. The ascendancy of feature-length films happened as the war was being fought. Another possibility: World War 1 was so horrible, and yet so pointless (we weren't fighting fascism yet), that … Continue reading The so-called Great War and its movies
What’s Screening: April 19 – 25
This week in Bay Area movie theaters: Jackie Chan and Orson Welles, plus Mike Nichols directing Elizabeth Taylor, Alfred Hitchcock directing Doris Day, and Martin Scorsese directing The Rolling Stones. Also soldiers, bowlers, showgirls, and two film festivals closing. Festivals The Tiburon International Film Festival closes Sunday. The SFFilm Festival officially closes Sunday…but continues through … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 19 – 25
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: They Shall Not Grow Old, The Tin Drum, Cold War, & Howards End
I had great luck watching movies lately. All of these are very much worth catching. A They Shall Not Grow Old (2018), Grand Lake I generally disapprove of colorizing and other technologies that make old movies look new, but this is different. The British cameramen who, more than 100 years ago, shot what would become Peter … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: They Shall Not Grow Old, The Tin Drum, Cold War, & Howards End