West Side Story, Douglas Fairbanks’ last silent, and The Wizard of Oz. No festivals this week. And the Pacific Film Archive and Stanford are closed, as well. B Sing-a-Long West Side Story, Castro, Friday through Monday. I’m commenting on the movie, not the sing-a-long experience. West Side Story swings erratically from glorious brilliance to astonishing … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 30–January 5
Month: December 2011
Two Films Playing at German Gems Festival in January
I've previewed two films that will be screened at the upcoming German Gems festival. Here's what I thought of them. Both films will screen at the Castro on Saturday, January 14 B+ Above Us Only Sky (Über uns das All), 4:30. Writer/director Jan Schomburg gives us a sad yet sexy story about the secrets that … Continue reading Two Films Playing at German Gems Festival in January
The New Pacific Film Archive Calendar
The Pacific Film Archive is still on its winter hiatus, and will remain so until January 12. But the January/February schedule is out, so we have some idea of what's ahead. This is an auteur heavy schedule, with four series devoted to particular filmmakers (two American, two French): Henri-Georges Clouzot, Howard Hawks, Robert Bresson, and … Continue reading The New Pacific Film Archive Calendar
RiffTrax Live: Plan 9 from Outer Space
Three MST3K veterans add comic commentary to Plan Nine from Outer Space, allegedly the worst film of all time. I laughed so hard I was gasping for breath. When I started reviewing Blu-ray discs on this blog, my policy would be to stick with classics. I'm not sure if this review is a derivation from … Continue reading RiffTrax Live: Plan 9 from Outer Space
What’s Screening: December 23 – 29
It’s a wonderful life for a reincarnated artist who will melt with you while singin’ in the rain. All playing this week in San Francisco Bay Area Theaters. Still no December festivals, but you can read about the January ones. On the other hand, the Castro will screen four musical double bills, which between them … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 23 – 29
Review: My Reincarnation
A Tibetan Buddhist master and his westernized son clash over the young man's place in the old man's cultural and religious world. It's a story as old, or older, than The Jazz Singer. But in My Reincarnation, a documentary by Jennifer Fox, it's made new again. B+ Documentary Directed by Jennifer Fox Chögyal Namkhai Norbu … Continue reading Review: My Reincarnation
New Film Review: I Melt With You
All middle-aged men are irresponsible jerks who romanticize their youth to the point of psychosis. At least that seems to be the theme of I Melt With You, a new film that is not The Big Chill of the punk rock generation. D Buddy drama · Written by Glenn Porter · Directed by Mark Pellington … Continue reading New Film Review: I Melt With You
January Film Festivals in the Bay Area
At least two film festivals will play the Bay Area in January, both at the Castro Theater. First off is the modest German Gems, which will take over the Castro for one day--Saturday, January 14--to screen five German features. The films include a documentary on nuclear power, a missing-person psychological thriller, and a drama about … Continue reading January Film Festivals in the Bay Area
Blu-ray Review: Seven Chances
Since I first discovered Buster Keaton almost 40 years ago, I've considered Seven Chances one of his best features. That was an unusual opinion in the 1970s, when even Keaton fans barely knew this picture existed. But its status has been rising in recent years, and I'm hoping that Kino's new Blu-ray release will help … Continue reading Blu-ray Review: Seven Chances
Could RiffTrax Save the Missing Criterion Commentaries?
Last spring I lamented the many Criterion commentary tracks that are no longer available. Back in the days of Laserdiscs, Hollywood studios often licensed Criterion to release special editions of their films. When DVDs destroyed the Laserdisc market, the studios decided to release those titles themselves rather than through Criterion. The films remain available, but … Continue reading Could RiffTrax Save the Missing Criterion Commentaries?
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