The Last Blockbuster

"Make it a Blockbuster night". The Last Blockbuster is a documentary that captures the nostalgia of the physical act of going into a Blockbuster store. Browsing around, chatting with other customers, the kid at the register, the smell of candy and popcorn. I miss it. Good doc.

Mank

 An interesting look at film history, Mank covers a lot of ground. This dramatization of the writing of Citizen Kane shows an unattractive side of Hollywood and the early movie making machine. It's not all glamour. There is a constant narration in this film that is a bit much, but there is a lot of explaining to do. The film takes on a lot. 

The Watermelon Woman

 A creative deep dive into film history is the base of The Watermelon Woman. Researching an actress from the 30s, sheds an unexpected light for an industrious film maker. The detailed fictional creation of what-if is very satisfying. I especially liked the surprise revelations. Good film.

The Man Who Killed Don Quixote

Making a film can be quite an adventure. When you make a movie about Don Quixote, even more so. In The Man who Killed Don Quixote a film maker bounces back and forth from reality to fantasy in an interesting way. Struggling with the past, while looking to the future. Adam Driver plays it very self-aware with a sense of humor. This is a good adventure film.

Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood

In the film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, we meet an actor and his stunt man/friend working their way through early Hollywood. They are always looking for work and the reality of age is encroaching on their ability to get work. Real life characters enter the story at the Manson ranch and it becomes a bit of a what-if story. The actor becomes an unwitting hero. I liked this film, which certainly gives film lovers a lot to talk about. 

Casting By

The documentary Casting By tells the stories of some of the brilliant casting directors in film history. I enjoy all things behind the scenes, and this documentary walks through historic casting decisions. Well done.

Warner Brothers Studios

I am fortunate enough to belong to a group of Brand Ambassadors for Netfilix DVD branch. I was invited to visit one of the Netflix hubs as a thank you for my participation. We went to Disneyland for Mickey's Halloween Party and the hub tour was just amazing. On the afternoon of the second day we got in a bus and went to Burbank to visit the Warner Brothers Studios. Our tour guide was amazing. This is how the day went:

Champagne welcome and history of Warner Brother's Studio film
Exterior tour: lagoon, Star's Hollow, City Hall from the Batman TV show, Oceans 11, Phil's, A Star Is Born marquee
Harry Potter: sorting hat, costumes, books, props
DC: Wonder Woman and Batman costumes and vehicles
Workshop: sets and Oscar statues
Warehouse: Casablanca piano, so many phones, furniture
Sets of Ellen, The Connors, Mom, Young Sheldon, Big Bang Theory
Costume museum: Friends set, Corpse Bride, My Fair Lady, Nightmare Before Christmas

This memorable day finished with diner nearby. It was so much fun and a movie-lover's dream. I'd go back in a heartbeat.

Hitchcock / Truffaut

Alfred Hitchcock's work was explored in Francois Trffaut's book "Cinema According to Hitchcock". In the documentary Hitchcok/Truffaut we see how both men's work effected film makers through the years. An insightful film to style and influence. I liked this one.

Sunset Boulevard on Broadway

Watching Glenn Close in a late night show interview, I knew that I wanted to see Sunset Boulevard on my next visit to NYC. That day arrived today when I found myself in the eighth row enjoying the performance of a lifetime. Close brings heart, light and drama to the character of Norma Desmond in this Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. Though the score is a bit cheesy, the performers are so earnest I did not mind. The staging was very interesting and dramatic. At the end the standing ovation was long and enthusiastic. Close returned to the stage many times, soaking in the applause. A woman behind me kept shouting "thank you" until she was hoarse. It was a fabulous show.

By Sidney Lumet

I first learned of the documentary By Sidney Lumet at Tribeca Film Festival last year. His work sits on the top of my all-time favorites list. He also has been generous with his process in books and interviews. In this documentary, Lumet talks about his life and time with his family and film. He has led a fascinating life. I had the pleasure of meeting he and his wife years ago at Tribeca Film Festival. They were friendly and low key. This documentary is worth a look.

Blank City

Mike Russell recommended Blank City as a piece of film history. The film documents early independent film in New York City. The film maker's dreams and motivations are explored. Jim Jarmusch and lend cool insight. Interesting documentary.

Hail, Caesar!

The cast of Hail, Caesar! is a Hollywood Who's Who list. The story of a studio star who is kidnapped and held for ransom is silly and raucous. The characters are caricatures. I loved the musical numbers, especially No Dames with a surprisingly dynamic performance from Channing Tatum. Fun film.

Life Itself

Roger Ebert was an icon. The documentary Life Itself shows us why. Though arrogant and sometimes pompous, he taught us how to look at movies and discern why we did or did not like a film. We get a look inside his personal life as well. Interesting documentary.

Rewind This

Video technology matured in the late 70s and early 80s. I had forgotten how that technology changed our media consumption until I watched Rewind this! It also changed our lifestyle and viewing habits with the ability to record shows to watch later and brought the big screen into our living rooms. It also reminded me of the ease to record with the invention of the camcorder. Home movies made easy and accessible. This film is a good history lesson.