Back in the days before DVDs, if you loved films and wanted to enjoy them in your own home, the Criterion Collection was king. Their Laserdiscs were the first to have careful, state-of-the-art transfers, the first to letterbox widescreen films, and the first to come in supplement-filled special editions. They also, to my knowledge, invented … Continue reading The Lost Criterion Commentaries
Month: March 2011
Potiche
D Alleged comedy I don't like it when Roger Ebert complains that a lousy movie wasted two hours of his life. After all, it's his job. He's paid for it. And watching even the worst picture is better than what most people have to do for a living. But I review films as a hobby. … Continue reading Potiche
This Year’s San Francisco International Film Festival Announced
You probably found my notes from the San Francisco International Film Festival press conference impenetrable. Here's the polished version: This year's Festival opens Thursday, April 21 with Beginners and closes May 5 (also a Thursday) with On Tour. Over the course of those 15 days, it will screen 188 films from 48 countries in five … Continue reading This Year’s San Francisco International Film Festival Announced
This Year’s San Francisco International Film Festival Announced—Raw Version
These are my unedited notes from the SFIFF press conference. I don’t have Internet access here at the Westin, so I’ll post this as soon as I can. When I get a chance, I will post an edited version. Update: I had that chance. You'll find a more readable version here. I’m not totally comfortable … Continue reading This Year’s San Francisco International Film Festival Announced—Raw Version
What’s Screening: March 25 – 31
The Dance FIlm Festival continues through Monday. B+ The White Meadows, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Sunday, 4:00. I was saddened, but not surprised, to learn that the Iranian government has sentenced writer/director Mohammad Rasoulof to six years in prison. There's some definite political satire in this film, although not of the constant belly … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 25 – 31
Early News on the San Francisco International Film Festival
The press conference isn't until next Tuesday, but the San Francisco Film Society has been sending out select announcements for weeks now. Here's what I know: The festival opens with Beginners, starring Ewan McGregor as a man recalling the life of his recently-deceased, gay father (Christopher Plummer). Christine Vachon, producer of Kids, Happiness and Boys … Continue reading Early News on the San Francisco International Film Festival
Red Vic in Trouble
In 1980, the Red Vic became a movie theater and devoted itself to repertory cinema. Back then, its competition was from other revival houses. Today, most of that competition is gone, and it struggles to compete with DVDs and Netflix. The competition is much harder. Those who read today's Chronicle Datebook section know that the … Continue reading Red Vic in Trouble
They Released What on Blu-ray?
To my mind, no Hollywood features show off the virtues of Blu-ray better than the large format road-show spectaculars of the 1950s and '60s. Indeed, 2001: A Space Odyssey was the first Blu-ray disc I bought. I've been delighted to see Sparticus, Patton, How the West was Won, and The Ten Commandments turn up on … Continue reading They Released What on Blu-ray?
The Battleship Potemkin
My wife and I caught Sergei Eisenstein's Battleship Potemkin last night at the Castro. This was my fourth time viewing of what many consider amongst the greatest films ever made. It was my second time seeing it theatrically, and my first since Kino's new restoration. In fact, it was my first viewing in this century. … Continue reading The Battleship Potemkin
What’s Screening: March 18 – 24
The Asian American Film Festival continues through Sunday, and the Dance FIlm Festival opens Thursday. Battleship Potemkin, Castro, Friday through Sunday. It's been too long since I've seen Sergei Eisenstein’s 1925 agitprop masterpiece for me to assign it a grade. I remember being at times impressed with its technique and at other times annoyed by … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 18 – 24
Bayflicks 