Gumby Dharma will screen Thursday night at 7:00 at the Balboa. In addition to the movie, the evening will include live music and a panel discussion. Gumby--the green, animated, clay boy who has graced children’s television since 1956—is an acquired taste. I can’t honestly say that I acquired the taste; I must have seen some … Continue reading Gumby Dharma
Month: March 2010
No Newsletter This Week
Sorry, folks, but no newsletter this week. My mother died Sunday morning. Obviously, seeing what’s playing isn’t the top thing on my mind. (Yes, posts went up Monday and Wednesday, but they were already written and set to go live automatically.)
The Sun
D- Historical drama Written by Yuri Arabov Directed by Aleksandr Sokurov Few movie-going experiences are worse than a really bad film about a fascinating subject, and few subjects are as fascinating as Japan’s 1945 transition from imperial power to occupied country. And what a cast of characters! You’ve got a war criminal who thinks he’s … Continue reading The Sun
Kurosawa Diary, Part 14: Going Widescreen
I’ve now arrived at an important transition in Akira Kurosawa’s career. In my project of watching all (or all available) Kurosawa films in chronological order, I’ve completed his pre-widescreen work. Every film I’ve watched so far, from his first, Sanshiro Sugata, to his 17th, The Lower Depths, was shot in the old Academy Ratio of … Continue reading Kurosawa Diary, Part 14: Going Widescreen
The General at the Paramount
I’ve seen The General countless times, in classrooms, museums, theaters, festivals, and home. I’ve rented it on VHS, and have owned it on Laserdisc, DVD, and Blu-ray. Yet Friday night at Oakland’s Paramount Theater, I had what is probably my greatest General experience. And it wasn’t even, officially speaking, a movie event. It was part … Continue reading The General at the Paramount
What’s Screening: March 19 – 25
The Asian American Film Festival plays through Sunday, and the Tiburon International Film Festival continue through the week. Creature Features Presents Horror Express, Balboa, Thursday, 7:00. Bay area film buffs old enough to remember TV before the VCR have fond memories of KTVU (channel 2)’s late night series Creature Features. Each week, host Bob Wilkins--or … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 19 – 25
The Return of Cerrito Classics
I’ve just received word that the Cerrito will revive its old Cerrito Classics series, now running the second Thursday night of each month. The series begins April 8 with Diva. Other films on the schedule include Chinatown, Born Yesterday, Jaws, To Catch a Thief, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Rosemary’s Baby, The Red Shoes, and White Christmas.
More Screenings of Playland
In my newsletter Friday morning, I mentioned the premiere screening of Remembering Playland at the Beach at the Balboa Tuesday evening. I’ve just discovered that the screening has sold out. But there will be extra screenings Wednesday at 7:00 and 9:15, and next Saturday at 12:00 noon. Filmmaker Tom Wyrsch will be at all of … Continue reading More Screenings of Playland
What’s Screening: March 12 – 18
Slim pickings this week. If it wasn’t for the Stanford’s Kurosawa series, there would hardly be anything. I hope to soon get back into the festival routine, which would give me much more to write about for weeks like this one. The Asian American Film Festival continues through the week. And the Tiburon International Film … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 12 – 18
Kurosawa Diary, Part 13: The Lower Depths
Akira Kurosawa turned two classic European stage plays into Japanese films in 1957. But while the first of these adaptations, Throne of Blood, is exciting, action-packed, and expressionistic, the second, The Lower Depths, is dialog-heavy and relentlessly realistic. I was also going to call it low-key, but I realized that wasn’t quite accurate. There’s a … Continue reading Kurosawa Diary, Part 13: The Lower Depths
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