The good news: The Castro‘s 3rd annual 70mm Film Festival opens July 1. The bad news: It’s smaller than last year’s. Whether this was because of disappointing box office or problems getting prints, it doesn’t bode well for the future of this great way to see big movies. (If you’re not sure what I’m talking … Continue reading 70mm at the Castro
Month: June 2008
Times and Winds
Slice-of-life drama Written and directed by Reha Erdem I think the San Francisco Film Society will open its new Kabuki screen with a pretty good film, but I’m not really sure. I screened Times and Winds under such wretched conditions that I’m not confident of its quality. It will no doubt look much, much better … Continue reading Times and Winds
Up the Yangtze
[B] Documentary Directed by Yung Chang China's Three Gorges Dam may be the largest hydroelectric project ever attempted. Spanning the highly-populated Yangtze River basin, it has been in construction for many years, yet isn't expected to be complete until 2011. As many as four million people may have to be relocated as the flood waters … Continue reading Up the Yangtze
Alexandra
Quiet war drama Written and directed by Alexander Sokurov I had no idea the Russian army allows elderly civilians to visit their grandchildren at the front. Whether or not there's any reality to this conceit, Alexander (Russian Ark) Sokurov uses it like a master to explored the effect of the Chechen war on just about … Continue reading Alexandra
This Week’s Movies
Since last week's newsletter, I filed a Johnny To Report, told you about the summer's Silent Film Festivals, and mourned Precious Prints Lost to Fire. Both the Black Film Festival and Another Hole in the Head continue through the week, although the Black Festival takes a two-day break Monday and Tuesday. I haven't seen anything … Continue reading This Week’s Movies
Precious Prints Lost to Fire
You've probably heard about the big fire at Universal Studios, and about how nothing irreplaceable was destroyed. While that's true in the technical sense, economic realities control what does and does not get replaced. Thus, thanks to that fire, many an old Universal and Paramount movie will probably never be properly screened again (Universal owns … Continue reading Precious Prints Lost to Fire
Silent Film Festivals
School is out, and parents yearn for quiet. What better time to get out of the house and watch a silent film? Perhaps that's why the Bay Area's two big weekend-long celebrations of movies with live music come two weeks apart in late June and early July. If you've never experienced that unique blend of … Continue reading Silent Film Festivals
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