The Mill and the Cross

September 28, 2011September 27, 2011 ~ Lincoln Spector ~ 3 Comments

A No genre that I can reasonably identify Written by Lech Majewski & Michael Francis Gibson Directed bt Lech Majewski Even when the subject was mythical or Biblical, Peter Bruegel the Elder always painted the world he lived in--16th century Flanders. And he did it with an affectionate eye towards the daily lives of common … Continue reading The Mill and the Cross

Mill Valley Film Festival Preview

September 27, 2011 ~ Lincoln Spector

Here’s a quick preview of two films I’ve been able to preview for the Mill Valley Film Festival: B- Small, Beautifully Moving Parts, Sequoia, Saturday, October 8, 4:00; Rafael, Monday, October 10, 9:00. Sarah, a young, very pregnant technology geek (Anna Margaret Hollyman), sets out to find her estranged, irresponsible living-off-the-grid mother. Sarah’s unique personality … Continue reading Mill Valley Film Festival Preview

Once in a Lifetime at ACT

September 25, 2011 ~ Lincoln Spector ~ 1 Comment

Why would a movie blog cover a piece of live theater? When the play is about the movies. Last night, my wife and I attended a preview performance of the American Conservatory Theater’s new production of Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman ’s 1930 Broadway hit, Once in a Lifetime. A broad farce about Hollywood, … Continue reading Once in a Lifetime at ACT

Vitaphone Shorts at the PFA

September 23, 2011 ~ Lincoln Spector

Last night I attended the screening of ten Vitaphone shorts at the Pacific Film Archive. It was part of their current UCLA Festival of Preservation series. Vitaphone was Warner Brother's early talking film technology, synchronizing image on film with sound on phonograph discs. The system was used for features—the best known being The Jazz Singer—but … Continue reading Vitaphone Shorts at the PFA

The Black Power Mixtape 1967–1975

September 21, 2011June 13, 2011 ~ Lincoln Spector ~ 2 Comments

B+ Documentary Directed by Göran Hugo Olsson The nature of the civil rights movement changed dramatically in the mid-to-late 1960’s, abandoning non-violence and attacking the heart of the American government. This American/Swedish documentary tracks the Black Power movement from Stokely Carmichael’s 1967 heyday until heroin ravaged Harlem in 1975. The picture starts out by explaining … Continue reading The Black Power Mixtape 1967–1975

Marilyn Monroe Mistake

September 20, 2011 ~ Lincoln Spector ~ 1 Comment

This morning I received a blurb advertising the Mill Valley Film Festival’s Centerpiece presentation of My Week with Marilyn. Here’s how the blurb described the film’s historical setting: In his memoir, The Prince, the Showgirl and Me, Colin Clark chronicled an epochal moment on the set with the legendary Laurence Olivier and luminous Marilyn Monroe, … Continue reading Marilyn Monroe Mistake

Latino Cinema, a Kevin Smith Thriller, and Silent Films Before Live Theatre

September 18, 2011 ~ Lincoln Spector

Here’s a trio of current and upcoming events: San Francisco Latino Film Festival This film festival opened Friday, and I didn’t even know about it. My apologies. It runs in the City, Berkeley, Marin, and San Jose through the 25th. Check the web site to see what’s playing. Kevin Smith’s Red State Kevin Smith—the writer … Continue reading Latino Cinema, a Kevin Smith Thriller, and Silent Films Before Live Theatre