No festivals this week, but these screenings may help you get over your withdrawal. Early Kubrick and Altman Double Bill, Roxie, Sunday, 7:00. The Film on Film Foundation presents early, low-budget works by future great directors: Stanley Kubrick's Fear and Desire and Robert Altman's the Delinquents. Both movies will be presented in 35mm prints. Should … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 8 – 14
Month: May 2009
John Wayne at Stanford
Two years ago this month, I wrote a post bemoaning the lack of respect John Wayne receives from Bay Area cinephiles. Now the Stanford is running a John Wayne series with some of his best films--and some oddball choices. Among my favorite Wayne's, it's got Fort Apache, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and Rio … Continue reading John Wayne at Stanford
SFIFF Report: Wednesday, May 6
I got to the Festival in time to see two films yesterday. I liked both of them, but wasn't blown away by either. Can Go Through Skin. After barely escaping an attempted murder, Marieke (Rifka Lodeizen) moves to the country to find peace and quiet. She finds a warm and friendly community, and even an … Continue reading SFIFF Report: Wednesday, May 6
More Bad News for Speakeasy Theaters
Less than two months after Speakeasy Theater's flagship, the Parkway, suddenly closed, the chain may lose control of the Cerrito, as well. Last night the El Cerrito city counsel met publicly to discuss the fate of the city-owned, Speakeasy-operated theater. According to a report from Friends of the Cerrito Theater (which had encouraged its members … Continue reading More Bad News for Speakeasy Theaters
SFIFF Report: The Lost World & Dengue Fever
Completely free of cold symptoms, I finally got back to Festival attendance last night, making my way to the Castro for the screening of the 1925 version of The Lost World. The Cambodian-American alternative indie band Dengue Fever provided the live musical accompaniment. The event was as much about Dengue Fever as it was about … Continue reading SFIFF Report: The Lost World & Dengue Fever
Lemon Tree
A Drama Written by Suha Araf and Eran Riklis Directed by Eran Riklis A lifetime of movie-going leads to expectations. We watch two people onscreen begin to fall in love despite society's disapproval, and we expect triumph or tragedy. Decent people on opposites sides of a conflict will eventually meet and have a heart-to-heart talk. … Continue reading Lemon Tree
My New Location
Good! You found me. For the second time in a year, bayflicks.net was hijacked. It became obvious that I had neither the skill to keep an independent WordPress blog secure, nor the time to acquire the skill. So I'm moving the site here, to WordPress.com (where I don't have to deal with code or security). … Continue reading My New Location
My Upcoming (Internet) Radio Appearance
My cold (I'm pretty sure it's not the Swine Flue) is still keeping me away from the festival, but that doesn't keep me from talking about it. I'll be appearing tonight on on blogtalkradio's Worst Show On The Web to discuss the films I've seen so far. I'll be on at about 8:15, and the … Continue reading My Upcoming (Internet) Radio Appearance
What’s Screening: May 1 – 7
Are you staying home from the movies because of the swine flu? I hope not, especially with the San Francisco International Film Festival in full swing through the end of the week. I've grouped festival screenings at the bottom of this newsletter. Mary Pickford Celebration, Lark, Friday and Saturday. 2009 marks the centenary of Mary … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 1 – 7
Battle For Terra
Animated Family Film Written by Evan Spiliotopoulos Directed by Aristomenis Tsirbas It's a wonder no one thought of this before: an alien invasion movie where we are the alien invaders. (Well, someone might have thought of it before, but I don't know about it.) The gentle creatures of an apparently unnamed planet (the invaders name … Continue reading Battle For Terra
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