While we fill the days and nights of self-isolation, this is a great time to discover films that we may have overlooked—especially films from long ago. Buster Keaton’s The General, a 1926 silent film, is thought by some, including Orson Wells and BFI’s Sight & Sound magazine, to be the greatest comedy of all time…. [Read More]
Streetlight Harmonies: A New Song in Troubled Times
In the new documentary, Streetlight Harmonies shines a spotlight on the origins of doo wop and its influence on the broader culture. By creating sophisticated harmonizing music, these groups crossed color barriers and created a legacy all of its own. Among the endless jukebox of melodies and memories, Harmonies shows how these performers found themselves in the… [Read More]
Schitt’s Creek: Bloom Where You’re Planted
One minute you are comfortable. You have all you need and then some. You have freedom to go anywhere, anytime, with anyone. Secure and confident in your situation, you spend your days enjoying unlimited opportunities. And then one day, government agents are at your door, confiscating furniture, jewelry, and you’re frantically trying to pack your… [Read More]
Self-Isolation Film Festival: Napoleon Dynamite
Like many people, I have a specific slate of movies I turn to whenever I am bored or want to relax after a long day at work. Many of the films are humorous, such as The Princess Bride, Spaceballs, and The Emperor’s New Groove. Some have an endearing charm to them, like My Neighbor Totoro… [Read More]
Self-Isolation Film Festival: Ralph Breaks the Internet
Life is going along just fine, but then a virus begins spreading, threatening everything and everyone. That is a scary prospect. How is someone supposed to respond to such a crisis? That’s a problem raised in Disney’s Ralph Breaks the Internet. So, as we continue our own struggle with a threatening virus, perhaps we can… [Read More]
Self-Isolation Film Festival: Batman Begins
If I’m being honest, this could be any number of superhero films – Superman the Movie, Avengers (the first one), etc. – but I decided that Batman Begins still reflects the socio-political environment of our world today. And seriously, can you go wrong with Christopher Nolan? Fifteen years ago, the keys to the Batmobile were… [Read More]
Dumbo: The Elephant in the Room #TBT
Following the relative lack of box office success of Fantasia and Pinocchio and with the country on the verge of entering a World War, Disney needed to churn out something inexpensive and much shorter. That little movie turned out to be the story of a young elephant with big ears who learns to fly. I’ll… [Read More]
Self-Isolation Film Festival: Field of Dreams
When Ray Kinsella hears the whisper and begins plowing up his Iowa cornfield, I can start to feel the emotion building toward the sanctity of the baseball field. Too often, Field of Dreams is condemned as “only a baseball movie” by some, when in fact, the beauty of the film transcends any single genre to… [Read More]
Self-Isolation Film Festival: Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Y’all. One of my all-time favorite movies growing up was Bedknobs and Broomsticks with Angela Lansbury (#legend), and David Tomlinson (Mr. Banks from Mary Poppins). Magic beds, children winning over gruff adults, an animated remote island of human-like animals, and Nazis…I mean, it has all the elements of childhood fantasy that one could ever need…. [Read More]
Self-Isolation Film Festival: Groundhog Day
“What would you do if you were stuck in a place and every day was exactly the same?” Here in California we’ve been instructed to stay at home except for essential reasons. Kids are out of school. Some have online classes, some don’t. Churches are happening by online video. It doesn’t take long for Tuesday… [Read More]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- Next Page »
