Didn't get enough silent films a month ago? Then head to Niles this weekend for the Broncho Billy Silent Film Festival. Unless, of course, you're attending Frameline, which like Broncho Billy, ends Sunday. I list a couple of Brocho Billy screenings at the bottom of this newsletter. A+ Jaws, Castro & Lark, Thursday. People associate … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 27 – July 3
Month: June 2014
This Year’s SF Jewish Film Fest Coming in July
The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival claims to be the oldest and largest Jewish film festival in the world. And at 34, it may also be the oldest film festival geared to a particular ethnicity. Since I am personally of that ethnicity, this festival catches my attention more than the others. Which explains why I'm … Continue reading This Year’s SF Jewish Film Fest Coming in July
What’s Screening: June 20 – 26
Frameline, San Francisco's LGBT film festival, continues through the week. I've placed two Frameline screenings at the bottom of this newsletter. C+ Manakamana, Lark, Friday, 3:30; Sunday, 6:00. The setting: a cable car that transports people to a Hindu temple high in the Nepalese mountains. Filmmakers Stephanie Spray and Pacho Velez set their camera in … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 20 – 26
Manakamana: A very uneven ride
C+ Documentary Directed by Stephanie Spray and Pacho Velez This documentary shot in Nepal shows us small groups of people in brief, eight-minute segments against beautiful but repetitive scenery. At times it's touching, funny, boring, lovely, and strange. But ultimately, it becomes repetitive. Shortly before seeing Manakamana at the 2014 San Francisco International Film Festival, … Continue reading Manakamana: A very uneven ride
Technology, Classic Films, and Mick LaSalle
In this week's Ask Mick LaSalle column, the SF Chronicle reviewer answered a reader who asked if he could "you name any American movie from the last 20 years that might be for the ages?" His answer was, for the most part, intelligent, but not entirely. And the problems started at the top, when Mick … Continue reading Technology, Classic Films, and Mick LaSalle
What’s Screening: June 13 – 19
In festival news, New Filipino Cinema closes Sunday, while DocFest continues through the rest of this week. And just as that one closes, Frameline opens Thursday night. B+ Interview with the Vampire, Castro, Friday, 7:20. Writer Anne Rice and director Neil Jordan create a vampire epic stretching across three centuries. And a very dark yet … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 13 – 19
Red River on Blu-ray: Of men and cattle
To those who consider westerns mindless shoot-em-ups, and dismiss John Wayne as a talentless reactionary symbol, I can think of no better answer than Howard Hawks' Red River. And outside of a movie theater, I can think of no better way to see it than in this new Criterion Blu-ray release. In Tom Dunson, Wayne … Continue reading Red River on Blu-ray: Of men and cattle
What’s Screening: June 6 – 12
Need some film festivals? DocFest continues through this week and beyond. New Filipino Cinema opens Wednesday. Charlie Chaplin: The Little Tramp at 100 Years, The irreplaceable David Shepard will provide commentary for a two-hour survey of the great comedian and filmmaker. The show will include three complete shorts--Kid Auto Races in Venice, Mabel's Married Life, … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 6 – 12
San Francisco Silent Film Festival, Part 2
One of the major problems with life is that it intrudes on watching movies. Saturday, other responsibilities kept me away from the Castro, and the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, until mid-afternoon. Among other things, I missed Serge Bromberg's Treasure Trove. What a pity. But here's what I saw on Saturday and Sunday. You can … Continue reading San Francisco Silent Film Festival, Part 2
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