John Ford and John Wayne, Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, Carl Sagan, Elia Kazan, Andrei Tarkovsky, and Mel Brooks light up Bay Area movie screens this week. But no film festivals. Also, I'm changing the Lebowskies section to Frequently-revived classics. The Big Lebowski doesn't screen as often as it used to. Promising events She Wore a … Continue reading What’s Screening: August 17 – 23
Chaplin Diary, Part 15: Modern Times
When you think about it, Modern Times seems a strange name for such an old-fashioned movie. No one in America, or Europe, was making silent films 1936. Of course, it wasn't really silent. It had a recorded musical score (composed by Chaplin) and a great many sound effects (much more than City Lights). It even … Continue reading Chaplin Diary, Part 15: Modern Times
What’s Screening: August 10 – 16
Jim Jarmusch, Gary Cooper, Andrei Tarkovsky, and Gene Kelly grace Bay Area movie theaters this week. Also, one film festival. Warning: I had to write this newsletter two weeks early. It may be missing several worthwhile screenings. Festivals The Broncho Billy Silent Film Festival opens tonight and runs through Sunday New films opening A The … Continue reading What’s Screening: August 10 – 16
What’s Screening: August 3 – 9
Conventional war, nuclear war, a secret marriage, and jigsaw puzzles. All that and a closing festival on Bay Area screens this week. Warning: I had to write this newsletter a week early. It's likely missing several worthwhile screenings. Festivals The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival closes Sunday. Read my reports. New films opening A- Puzzle, … Continue reading What’s Screening: August 3 – 9
Hidden genius found in this Puzzle
A- drama Directed By Marc Turtletaub Screenplay By Oren Moverman & Polly Mann Based on the film Rompecabezas by Natalia Smirnoff Dramas, which like to feel above genre, have their own recognizable tropes. You can often see what's going to happen as clearly as you can see the ending of an action flick or a … Continue reading Hidden genius found in this Puzzle
Two More Silent Film Festivals Coming Up
You don't have to wait long to watch a movie with live accompaniment these days - and I'm not talking about Star Wars with the San Francisco Symphony. Here are two local silent film festivals coming up, from the two major silent film organizations in the Bay Area. Broncho Billy Silent Film Festival Niles Essanay … Continue reading Two More Silent Film Festivals Coming Up
My Last Day at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
For personal reasons, Saturday was my last day at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. I caught two documentaries. A Science Fair Highly-motivated high school students compete in local and national science fairs for fun and college tuition. They also hope to place in the biggest such event, the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). This … Continue reading My Last Day at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
