This week in Bay Area art cinemas: John Boorman's wartime childhood, Federico Fellini's runaway bride, and two epic tales of hippies. Also, Salma Hayek plays an artist, Harold Lloyd becomes romantic, and Steve McQueen calls bullshit. No film festivals, but another Kurosawa double feature and a whole lot of cats. Promising events Hope and Glory (1987), … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 21 – 27
Four films you can see at Cinequest
Starting at standup. A truly evil murderer. Sleeping with strangers but not having sex. And an alien who took over the body of the wrong human. Here are four films that will screen at Cinequest, listed from best to worst. B+ All Joking Aside Dramas about comedians can be tricky, and although this one is … Continue reading Four films you can see at Cinequest
What’s Screening: February 14 – 20
What's in Bay Area art house cinemas this week? Still more Agnès Varda, but this time with something by her husband, Jacques Demy. Also Kurosawa and Monty Python double bills. And works by Spike Lee, Alfonso Cuarón, Hal Ashby, and Paul Thomas Anderson. But only one film festival. I have to wonder, what would Pauline … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 14 – 20
The humor comes from real life in Come As You Are
A- Comedy road movie Written by Erik Linthorst Directed by Richard Wong Three youngish, disabled men take a road trip to lose their virginity. Why a road trip? They discovered the existence of a brothel in Montreal that caters to men with disabilities. They also need to get away from their over-protective parents. This is … Continue reading The humor comes from real life in Come As You Are
Kurosawa Series Here. Coppola Series coming soon
There's a new Akira Kurosawa series going on at the Stanford. And starting next month, the BAMPFA will start a series on Zoetrope, also known as American Zoetrope, the company that Francis Coppola created more than 50 years ago. What's more, Kurosawa and Zoetrope came together in the early 1980, and the film that the … Continue reading Kurosawa Series Here. Coppola Series coming soon
Watching the Oscars at the Roxie Theater
I think I enjoyed the Oscars last night more than any other time in my life. And that's not only because of the big surprise happy ending. I was part of an enthusiastic crowd at the Roxie, cheering, groaning, and applauding. And we were very well entertained during the commercial breaks. This wasn't the first … Continue reading Watching the Oscars at the Roxie Theater
Independent Spirit: The other, hipper Oscars
The Independent Spirit Awards positions itself as the hipper, cooler Oscars. It's not on a major TV network, so the people on stage can say words generally bleeped out. What these awards shun is big-budget movies. Nothing from Marvel, here. More importantly, it celebrates diversity. For instance, The top prize, Best Feature, went to The … Continue reading Independent Spirit: The other, hipper Oscars
