As July turns into August, here's what's happening in Bay Area cinema this week: a scientist and his butterflies, a pig and her children, Irish punk, and the best film Terry Gilliam ever made. Festivals The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival closes Sunday New films opening (virtual) A Son of Monarchs (2020), BAMPFA, available today … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 30 – August 5
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Gray Flannel Suit | Charming Bourgeoise | The Blue Dahlia | Crossfire
There's a theme going through this list of theoretically random movies - they're all listed at the bottom of my last Criterion article. A- The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (1956) This is much more than an attack on 1950's conformity. Gregory Peck stars as a father, husband, and breadwinner, and doing all that … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Gray Flannel Suit | Charming Bourgeoise | The Blue Dahlia | Crossfire
Broncho Billy & the Movie-Going Experience
This last weekend, the Niles Essanay Silent Film hosted The Broncho Billy & Friends Silent Film Festival. It was virtual, of course. And since it was virtual, the festival was made up of streaming videos and Zoom conferences. There were three separate videos about Essanay's work in Chicago - including one with David Shepard. Les … Continue reading Broncho Billy & the Movie-Going Experience
What’s Screening: July 23 – 29
What's happening in Bay Area cinema this week? Plenty of silent movie action. For more modern fare, there's that Promising Young Woman, along with a peek at the joys of Sesame Street. And if you're not quite ready to see a Hitchcock flick in a real theater, you can take the Terminator to the drive-in. … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 23 – 29
What’s leaving Criterion at the end of July
A lot of movies will leave The Criterion Channel come July 31 - and several of them written by Dalton Trumbo. Here are some you may want to catch before August - although some of these may be back on Criterion soon. A He Ran All the Way (1951) When I first saw this cheap … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion at the end of July
What’s Screening: July 16 – 22
Big news! BAMPFA will be screening movies in August. But this week, you can see Uncut Gems, Barbara Lee (who's something of a gem, herself), The African Queen, and Mulholland Dr. We also have three (mostly virtual) film festivals. Festivals The S. F. Frozen Film Festival closes Sunday windrider bay area closes Friday The San … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 16 – 22
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Gunda | Demolition Man | Drums Along the Mohawk & Summer of Soul
Another set of films I've recently seen - two new ones and two classics. And only one of them have I seen on the big screen. A- Gunda (2020) The non-fiction version of Babe is an amazing feat of cinematography. Viktor Kosakovskiy's camera crew captures farm animals like no other, bringing us the emotions of creatures that … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Gunda | Demolition Man | Drums Along the Mohawk & Summer of Soul
What’s Screening: July 9 – 15
What's in Bay Area cinema this week? The absurdity of Fractured Flickers, a talk about Taxi Driver, lesbians young and old, The Beatles, The Jedi, and dancing in LA. Sorry that I haven't been posting as often as I should. I've been busy with other work. Festivals windrider bay area opened yesterday (sorry about that). … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 9 – 15
The 2021 SF Jewish Film Festival
For the second year in a row, the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival is basically a streaming event. But this year, there'll be two days in the Bay Area's best movie palace, The Castro. The festival runs from July 22 to August 1. On July 24 and 25, the Castro will screen seven films - … Continue reading The 2021 SF Jewish Film Festival
What’s Screening: July 2 – 8
What's happening in Bay Area cinema this week? You can talk about American Splendor (the movie, not the nation's condition). You can see The Naked Gun or Independence Day at the drive-in. You can stream Shiva Baby, Blood Simple, and The Story of a Three Day Pass. And best of all, you can catch Donnie … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 2 – 8
