When the trick-or-treaters go to bed and October turns into November, some excellent films will mysteriously disappear. Many of them were directed by John Huston. At the end of this month, Criterion will remove 59 feature films from its streaming service to make more for other classics. Here's a few of them: A The African … Continue reading What will leave Criterion come midnight
UNAFF: The United Nations Association Film Festival
The United Nations Association Film Festival (UNAFF) sees itself as a "two-decade-long celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, emphasizing our readiness to resume resolute strides towards lasting solutions." It opens Thursday. Although most of the festival will happen on the peninsula - Stanford and Palo Alto - UNAFF will have one day in … Continue reading UNAFF: The United Nations Association Film Festival
After Mill Valley: What’s coming up at BAMPFA (and that doesn’t count virtual cinema)
I haven't written an article like this one for almost two years, and I sure am glad to be writing this one now. The Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) is getting back into show business, and I don't mean streaming into your home. As the Mill Valley Film Festival closes at BAMPFA, UC Berkeley's repertory … Continue reading After Mill Valley: What’s coming up at BAMPFA (and that doesn’t count virtual cinema)
What’s Screening: October 15 – 21
What's happening in Bay Area cinema this week? You can see one of the most suspenseful documentaries I've ever seen? Not your thing? How about a preview of one of the year's biggest movies, even if it deserves to bomb. Festivals & Series The Mill Valley Film Festival closes Sunday The San Francisco Dance Film … Continue reading What’s Screening: October 15 – 21
Dune at the Mill Valley Film Festival
I went to the CinéArts Sequoia for my last 2021 Mill Valley Film Festival event: A screening of Denis Villeneuve's upcoming science fiction epic, Dune. It was not an enjoyable experience. Before the movie, Executive Director Mark Fishkin and Director of Programming Zoë Elton came to the front of the theater and brought up Daniel … Continue reading Dune at the Mill Valley Film Festival
A “hero” and a cartoon at Mill Valley (but not in Mill Valley)
Saturday night, I attended a Mill Valley Film Festival screening at the BAMPFA, of Asghar Farhadi's new film, A Hero. Then, on Sunday, I streamed The Bears' Famous Invasion. I'll start with the more serious film. It's also the one I saw first. A Hero Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi first caught my eye with A … Continue reading A “hero” and a cartoon at Mill Valley (but not in Mill Valley)
Opening Night, Peter Dinklage, & Cyrano
The Mill Valley Film Festival opened Thursday night with Joe Wright's musical retelling of Edmond Rostand's 1897 classic play Cyrano de Bergerac, starring Peter Dinklage. Most actors playing Cyrano wear an extremely long nose - the character's huge snout keeps him from finding love. But Dinklage needs no special makeup; his own shortness sets him … Continue reading Opening Night, Peter Dinklage, & Cyrano
What’s Screening: October 8 – 14
The Mill Valley Film Festival is taking a lot of oxygen out of the cinematic Bay Area. But if you're not in the mood for new and serious films, some worthwhile oldies are also in theaters…mostly as a run-up to Halloween. Festivals & Series The Mill Valley Film Festival continues through this week and beyond … Continue reading What’s Screening: October 8 – 14
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Big Chill | The Man Who Would Be King | Island of Lost Souls | Gretchen the Greenhorn & The Good German
It's amazing I've been seeing so few movies recently, aside from those I reviewed for the Mill Valley Film Festival. But I managed these four. A- The Big Chill (1983) A group of baby boomers, now coming into their 30s, come together for a funeral. They were all radical activists back in the day; now … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Big Chill | The Man Who Would Be King | Island of Lost Souls | Gretchen the Greenhorn & The Good German
What’s Screening: October 1 – 7
A lot of classics are turning up in movie theaters this week. We even have a double bill! But it's October, and Halloween approaches. There's nothing like screaming with everybody else in the middle of an audience. Festivals & Series The Mill Valley Film Festival opens Thursday night Veinte por veinte (20 for 20) closes … Continue reading What’s Screening: October 1 – 7
