What makes these films different from any other films? Most of them are horror movies. Also, most of them will disappear from The Criterion Channel come midnight, December 31. Stream them before they go away. Full recommendations A+ Brazil (1985) One of the best black comedies ever filmed, and the best dystopian fantasy ever. In … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion at the end of the Year
Tag: Terry Gilliam
What’s Screening: December 17 – 23
With Christmas around the corner, plenty of the vintage movies screening this week have a Yuletide theme. For instance, there's that seasonal movie where our hero climbs into a building to separate the naughty and nice. But don't despair, Die Hard isn't the only holiday movie on the big screen this week. But, as usual … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 17 – 23
What’s Screening: July 30 – August 5
As July turns into August, here's what's happening in Bay Area cinema this week: a scientist and his butterflies, a pig and her children, Irish punk, and the best film Terry Gilliam ever made. Festivals The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival closes Sunday New films opening (virtual) A Son of Monarchs (2020), BAMPFA, available today … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 30 – August 5
What’s Screening: January 22 – 28
This week in Bay Area (virtual) movie theaters, we have a discussion on early cinema at the Presidio and a new, independent, animated documentary about sex. Also, on the bill, oldies but goodies from Terry Gilliam, Wong Kar-Wai, and Jackie Chan, along with two film festivals. Festivals For Your Consideration opens Friday and runs for … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 22 – 28
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
More good than bad in August at the Criterion Channel
If you love great cinema, you really should subscribe to the Criterion Channel. Here you can get your fill of Akira Kurosawa, Fritz Lang, Mike Leigh, Atom Egoyan, Yasujiro Ozu, Asghar Farhadi, and so much more. And it's not all serious. Search for comedy, and (as I write this), you'll get 378 results. Throughout August, … Continue reading More good than bad in August at the Criterion Channel
What’s Screening: December 13 – 19
Frank Capra's masterpiece. Cagney and Bogart. The movie that made Terry Gilliam famous and the one that created the word gaslighting. The creepy world of medieval Christianity. And remember, the family that runs an ambulance together struggles to make a living. All that and more on Bay Area movie screens this week. Festivals The last … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 13 – 19
Cinequest: The South Bay’s Big Film Festival
I cover SFFilm extensively, and Mill Valley pretty well, but I can't seem to get to Cinequest, the Bay Area's other big, red-carpet film festival. Part of the problem is geography; I hate going to the Peninsula. Another reason is time-related. I'm generally very busy on non-film work January through March. Which is unfortunate, because The Cinequest Film … Continue reading Cinequest: The South Bay’s Big Film Festival
What’s Screening: September 7 – 13
Dogs, cats, and Dennis Hopper. Also Terry Gilliam, Laurel & Hardy, and Ingmar Bergman's greatest comedy. All this and a film festival on Bay Area movie screens this week. Festivals The San Francisco Green Film Festival continues into next week New films opening C- Let the Corpses Tan, New Mission, New Parkway, opens Friday This … Continue reading What’s Screening: September 7 – 13
A Tale of Two Munchausens
The real Baron Munchausen (yes, there was one) never went to the moon. He did not ride on a cannonball. And he certainly wasn't swallowed by a giant fish. But the 18th-century aristocrat gained a reputation of telling outrageous tales of his military exploits. In 1785, when the Baron was still alive, Rudolf Erich Raspe … Continue reading A Tale of Two Munchausens
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