The Best Picture winner of 1967 is one terrific noir. But it's far more than that. Culturally, it was an important part of the civil rights movement, while still being an effective whodunit. It also used color film in ways that few had been rarely successful before – especially in noir. Kino Lorber is selling … Continue reading In the Heat of the Night in 4K
Tag: Sidney Poitier
What’s Screening: October 14 – 20
Remember when Imax was for documentaries and travelogues? This Monday, you can see a doc that's also a love story and seems to be perfect for the gigantic screen. Also in movie theaters this week: James Cameron's excellent sequel, the noir that broke the color line, Kubrick's horror, and vampires haunting both Iran and New … Continue reading What’s Screening: October 14 – 20
What’s Screening: July 22 – 28
The Bay Area hosts several theatrical screenings of classic cinema this week. You can choose between laughs from Preston Sturges, Kubrick's great SciFi epic, Norman Jewison (who is, by the way, not Jewish) and changed the look of noir while breaking the color line. James Whales made the monster who just wanted to be loved. … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 22 – 28
What’s leaving Criterion at the end of March
At the end of every month, The Criterion Channel removes a considerable number of films from their streaming platform. Here are some I suggest catching before April Fool's Day. Full recommendations A The Killing (1956) Stanley Kubrick started his Hollywood career with this crackerjack noir heist thriller. A career criminal (Sterling Hayden) orchestrates a complex racetrack robbery … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion at the end of March
What’s Screening: February 4 – 10
We've got two worthwhile new documentaries about race and gender in theaters this week. And for vintage cinema, you can go to a movie theater and see classics from Hitchcock, Coppola, Miyazaki, Poitier, Bogdanovich, and Van Peebles. I've added a new section: Films of historical interest. These pictures aren't all that good, but are worth … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 4 – 10
Movies I’ve recently seen: From Here to Eternity ֍ Tick, Tick… Boom! ֍ Terror in a Texas Town ֍ One Hour with You & ֍ No Way Out
I haven't been going to theaters recently, but here are a few, mostly old movies that I've watched at home. The fact that four of the five movies are in black-and-white tells you that that most of these pictures are vintage. And if you want to find out how to stream any of these, click … Continue reading Movies I’ve recently seen: From Here to Eternity ֍ Tick, Tick… Boom! ֍ Terror in a Texas Town ֍ One Hour with You & ֍ No Way Out
What’s leaving Criterion at the end of May
A lot of laughter will be leaving the Criterion Channel when May turns into June. The Preston Sturges flicks will disappear, along with comedies by Melvin Van Peebles, Elaine May, and John Sayles. Even a few great dramas will also leave the Channel. A+ The Lady Eve (1941) Like all great screwballs, The Lady Eve … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion at the end of May
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
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: In the Heat of the Night, Shampoo, The Great Train Robbery, & a lot more
I've recently been revisiting movies I liked long ago, which is probably why I'm giving so many good grades out this time around. But there's a real stinker in the collection, as well. A- In the Heat of the Night (1967) The Best Picture winner of 1967 is one really good noir. You already know … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: In the Heat of the Night, Shampoo, The Great Train Robbery, & a lot more
What’s Screening: September 15 – 21
Bogart goes for the gold, Curtis and Poitier flee for freedom, and James Dean wants to know his mother. All that and a lot of Wes Anderson in Bay Area movies this week. Festivals The Wes Ander-Thon Weekend opens today and runs through Sunday Cine+Mas SF opens today and continues through the month The San … Continue reading What’s Screening: September 15 – 21
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