No festivals this week. B+ Thérèse, Opera Plaza, Shattuck, opens Friday. In the late 1920s, Thérèse (Audrey Tautou of Amélie) marries the rich and conservative Bernard. It’s a good match economically, but she almost immediately regrets the loveless and stifling relationship. When Bernard blocks his younger sister (Anaïs Demoustier of Living on Love Alone) from … Continue reading What’s Screening: August 30 – September 5
Month: August 2013
What’s Screening: August 23 – 29
No festivals this week. But I'm placing three Hitchcock 9 films at the bottom of the newsletter. B+ Flesh and the Devil, Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, Saturday, 7:30. A silly story, but a sexy one, well-told. I’ll skip the plot, and just tell you that it’s about friendship, young love, uncontrollable lust, and the … Continue reading What’s Screening: August 23 – 29
Laughing at Hitler: My Blu-ray review of To Be or Not to Be
The Nazis conquered Poland with frightening speed. But they prove no match for Carol Lombard and Jack Benny in Ernst Lubitsch's World War II comic masterpiece, available on Blu-ray August 27 from Criterion. Lombard and Benny play a married pair of egotistical stars of the Warsaw stage, heading a theatrical troupe of slightly lesser egos. … Continue reading Laughing at Hitler: My Blu-ray review of To Be or Not to Be
What’s Screening: August 16 – 22
No festivals this week. That's a rarity. However, the Pacific Film Archive starts its Hitchcock 9 series this week (the same films that the Silent Film Festival screened in June), and I'm listing those titles at the bottom of this newsletter. B+ Frances Ha, Castro, Tuesday; ongoing at the Roxie. I sometimes look back at … Continue reading What’s Screening: August 16 – 22
My Thoughts on Fruitvale Station
My wife and I visited the Cerrito Thursday night to catch Fruitvale Station. It was a strong, harrowing tale that I won't likely forget soon. You may know Alfred Hitchcock's theory on time bombs in movies. If the audience knows that there's a time bomb under the table, everything that anyone sitting at that table … Continue reading My Thoughts on Fruitvale Station
What’s Screening: August 9 – 15
The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, although no longer in San Francisco, continues to play elsewhere in the Bay Area through Monday. And the day after it closes, the Turkish Film Festival starts its three-day run. As usual, festival screenings are at the bottom of this newsletter. B+ Prince Avalanche, Opera Plaza, Shattuck, opens Friday. … Continue reading What’s Screening: August 9 – 15
What’s Screening: August 2 – 8
The Japan Film Festival continues through Sunday, while the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival moves out of San Francisco and into the East Bay. I've listed festival events at the bottom of this newsletter. A+ The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Cerrito, Thursday, 7:00. As much as any other artist, John Ford defined and deepened … Continue reading What’s Screening: August 2 – 8
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