B+ The White Meadows I'm sort of live blogging here, writing this on a Mac in the San Francisco International Film Festival press lounge, just after watching the movie. If this seems unpolished, there's a reason: I'm writing this and posting it quickly. Before this strange and beautiful Iranian fantasy screened, a staff member told … Continue reading SFIFF: The White Meadows
Month: April 2010
What’s Screening: April 23 – 29
The San Francisco International Film Festival continues through this week at various locations. My festival-related blurbs are at the bottom of the newsletter. I’m also devoting a special section to the Castro’s Stanley Kubrick section. Roots of Animation, Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, Saturday night, 7:30. This collection of silent cartoons starts with a short … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 23 – 29
Welles, Bogdanovich, and Wahl @ Castro
I’ve seen Orson Welles’ The Lady From Shanghai only once, long ago, and didn’t care for it. (Yes, the funhouse mirror scene was impressive, but not as impressive as Chaplin’s version from The Circus). That’s why I didn’t mention its upcoming screening in my last newsletter. But I missed something worth mentioning. The screening, tomorrow … Continue reading Welles, Bogdanovich, and Wahl @ Castro
Pacific Film Archive Coming Attractions
I got the new Pacific Film Archive schedule in yesterday’s mail. And once again, I just sort of want to move into the theater. They’ve got the beginnings of a summer-long Kurosawa retrospective (in honor is his birth centenary) and a series of recent Romanian Cinema. They’ve got another one on recent additions to the … Continue reading Pacific Film Archive Coming Attractions
The Gold Rush and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
Friday night, I finally saw Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush properly—a good print with live musical accompaniment. And by the San Francisco Symphony, no less. Definitely the best way to see this wonderful comedy (although in the pantheon of great silent comic features, I still prefer City Lights, The General, and Kid Brother). Like The … Continue reading The Gold Rush and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
What’s Screening: April 16 – 22
The Sonoma International Film Festival continues through Sunday, and the San Francisco International Film Festival opens Thursday. And we’ve got an earthquake to commemorate. A- The Palm Beach Story, Stanford, Saturday through Tuesday. No one wrote and directed screwball comedies as well as Preston Sturges, and if this one doesn’t quite come up to the brilliant … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 16 – 22
SFIFF Previews
I've now screened three films that will play this year's San Francisco International Film Festival. Here they are, starting with the best. And speaking of the best, I’m giving a little more than my usual paragraph to the one that most deserves it. A The Day God Walked Away, Clay, Monday, May 3, 6:45; Kabuki, Tuesday, … Continue reading SFIFF Previews
What’s Screening: April 9 – 15
This is a great week for silent movie lovers. We’ve got The Gold Rush with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Sunrise with organ accompaniment (it usually plays with the original Movietone track), and Sherlock Jr. with hip-hop. On the festival beat, the Sonoma International Film Festival starts its four-day run on Thursday. A The Gold … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 9 – 15
War and Ballet @ the PFA
I attended two very different British films at the Pacific Film Archive Sunday. They were not a double bill. The Red Shoes I’d seen this 1948 Technicolor backstage ballet drama in the 1970’s, and didn’t care for it then. But it’s considered a classic and has recently been restored, and I felt it was time … Continue reading War and Ballet @ the PFA
What’s Screening: April 2 – 8
I’m trying to get back into the swing of things after my mother’s death. Expect this newsletter to be short. I missed the San Francisco International Film Festival press conference on Tuesday, but I have the press kit. I’ll get to it probably on Sunday. B+ The President’s Analyst, Castro, Wednesday. This little comedy from … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 2 – 8
Bayflicks 