I've been trying to see as much Oscar bait as I can lately. That means that I've seen some very good, new movies. And that's why the new films on this list are better than the vintage movies. A West Side Story (2021) I've seen the 1961 version maybe seven times, but I never cried … Continue reading Movies I’ve recently seen: West Side Story ֍ Don’t Look Up ֍ The Power of the Dog ֍ The Last Emperor ֍ & The Edge of the World
Tag: Steven Spielberg
The return of musicals
Two or three years ago, I read about a film history professor who screened Singin' in the Rain to his students. They laughed at the wrong places. The students thought it was ridiculous that people would break into song and dance. A generation weaned on superhero movies had little or no experience with movie musicals. … Continue reading The return of musicals
What’s Screening: October 8 – 14
The Mill Valley Film Festival is taking a lot of oxygen out of the cinematic Bay Area. But if you're not in the mood for new and serious films, some worthwhile oldies are also in theaters…mostly as a run-up to Halloween. Festivals & Series The Mill Valley Film Festival continues through this week and beyond … Continue reading What’s Screening: October 8 – 14
The Cerrito opens with a classic fest
When was the last time you watched a beloved classic the way it should be seen? And by that, I mean in a theater with a large screen and an audience. I don't think I've had that experience since 2019. The Cerrito celebrates its reopening this Friday with the Cerrito Classics Festival. Here are the … Continue reading The Cerrito opens with a classic fest
What’s Screening: March 19 – 25
Almost exactly a year ago, I posted what I thought might be my last What's Screening newsletter. After all, how could I write about films in local theaters when the theaters were all closed? I ended up writing about movies set in medieval times. I knew this newsletter would have to change. For almost a … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 19 – 25
What’s Screening: December 4 – 10
The drive-ins are closing for the winter, and the recently opened hard-top theaters have suddenly been shut down. So, this week I'm doing something unusual for the newsletter. Instead, I'm focusing on recommending movies via virtual cinema - where you can watch a movie safely at home while helping your favorite theater. Big News Our … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 4 – 10
What’s Screening: November 20 – 26
This week in pandemic movie watching, we have a talk with Charlie Chaplin's son and two new films in actual theaters. What's more, Coppola, Coogler, Spielberg, and Leone just might entice you to the drive-in. And we even have a virtual festival. Festivals Berlin & Beyond in Focus opened yesterday and closes Saturday Special online … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 20 – 26
What’s Screening: November 13 – 19
A few hardtop theaters are opening up, but despite all the precautions they're taking, I'm still not ready to visit one. But a lot of fine films are playing in makeshift drive-ins. Festivals The Napa Valley Film Festival closes Sunday So does the Transgender Film Festival New films opening B The Climb, in real movie … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 13 – 19
In Bay Area Virtual Cinema & Drive-ins: July 3 – 9
The hardtop theaters in the Bay Area are still closed, but the drive-ins are open (I didn't even realize they still existed). But at home you can see freedom fighters Ai Weiwei, John Lewis, and Mad Max, along with Catherine Deneuve and Ethan Hawke playing actors. We've also got polar bears and dinosaurs. Bay Area … Continue reading In Bay Area Virtual Cinema & Drive-ins: July 3 – 9
What’s Screening: January 17 – 23
What's in Bay Area outarthouse cinemas this week? A hilarious disaster. A real and tragic disaster. And movies by Spielberg, Forman, Fellini, Lumet, Keaton, and Varda. But no film festivals. <Sorry about that. I was running a fever when I wrote that.> The Week's Big Event A Airplane! 40th anniversary, Castro, Sunday, 3:00They're flying on … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 17 – 23
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