One festival closes, and a few days later, another opens. Noir City continues through Sunday at the Castro, and IndieFest opens Thursday for a 16-day run at the Roxie. And the Roxie is closed for renovations. I Was Born, But . . ., Pacific Film Archive, Wednesday, 3:00. Ozu's late (1932) silent comedy/drama sees the … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 30 – February 5
Month: January 2009
Cinequest on the Way
Cinequest runs in San Jose from February 25 through March 8, with "250 screenings, 150+ films, with 80 U.S., North American, and World Premieres." In addition to all the new films they'll be showing (none of which I've seen), here are a couple of interesting events: How often do you get to see D. W. … Continue reading Cinequest on the Way
Wendy and Lucy
Low-key drama Written by Jonathan Raymond and Kelly Reichardt, from Raymond' story "Train Choir" Directed by Kelly Reichardt This is a film for our time. We're all hurting. We're all scared. We’re all wondering when the axe will fall and how long we'll stay afloat when it does. (Pardon the mixed metaphor.) Our economic situation, … Continue reading Wendy and Lucy
Fellini’s Amarcord
How's this for weird: I was actually in film school when Fellini’s Amarcord came out. And I was a big fan of Fellini at that time, with both La Strada and 8 1/2 high on my list of the greatest films of all time (8 1/2 is still there). But until Friday night (when I … Continue reading Fellini’s Amarcord
What’s Screening: January 23-29
Now that Berlin & Beyond is over, Noir City moves into the Castro, starting Friday and running through February 1. The theme this year is “Newspaper Noir,” with hard-boiled reporters rather than detectives. Among the titles you might recognize are Billy Wilder’s Ace In the Hole, and a Burt Lancaster double-bill of The Killers and … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 23-29
Thoughts on the Oscar Nominees
The Oscar nominations were announced this morning, but I had a busy day, so I'm only writing about it now. Every year I get excited and hyped-up about the Oscars, and yet I always know how stupid the whole thing is. If the best picture of the year actually becomes the Best Picture of the … Continue reading Thoughts on the Oscar Nominees
Wim Wenders and Palermo Shooting
I saw Wim Wenders' new film, Palermo Shooting, at the Berlin & Beyond festival last night. I also saw Wim Wenders, who was there to receive a lifetime achievement award. If the Castro wasn't sold out, it was close to it. After four people came onstage to talk about Wenders' effect on their lives, the … Continue reading Wim Wenders and Palermo Shooting
Revolutionary Road and the New Shattuck
My wife and I saw Revolutionary Road at the newly refurbished Shattuck tonight. I’ll start with the film, then tell you about the theater. After a romantic prologue where an attractive couple meet and fall for each other, Revolutionary Road plunges you into a severely unhappy marriage--all the worse because the couple clearly still love … Continue reading Revolutionary Road and the New Shattuck
Oscar Bait Roudup
I've seen a few of this year's Oscar Bait films. Here's what I thought of them, from best to worst. Milk: Yep, I'm always a sucker for a historical epic, especially one set in a time and place that I can remember. Sprawling without ever being boring, and inspiring without getting preachy. I've always known … Continue reading Oscar Bait Roudup
What Else is Screening: January 16-22
A couple of things I missed. First of all, the Rafael is also screening the inauguration. Second: The Secrets, Kabuki, opened Friday. The Secrets looks at young women trying to change the extremely parochial world of ultra-Orthodox Judaism from within. That’s not an easy–or perhaps even a possible–goal. The young women in question are the … Continue reading What Else is Screening: January 16-22
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