We've got two festivals this week, but both close Sunday: Noir City and the Bay Area International Children's Film Festival. But only three days later, the Pacific Film Archive will open again for business in its new digs. B- 45 Years, Embarcadero Center, Shattuck, Aquarius, Rafael, opens Friday Not much happens in Andrew Haigh's chamber drama … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 29 – February 4
Month: January 2016
An old marriage feels the strain in 45 Years
B- Relationship drama Written and directed by Andrew Haigh From a short story by David Constantine The English seem to pride themselves on staying calm. Consider the country's primary myth: King Arthur and His Round Table. It's about a monarch who's too polite to bring up the little problem of his wife shagging his best … Continue reading An old marriage feels the strain in 45 Years
Marriage, alienation, and Alfred Hitchcock: Why Rear Window belongs on my A+ list
You hardly notice the knot growing in your stomach. The glamorous movie stars on the screen are doing little more than talking as they try to work out whether or not there has been a murder. Slowly you begin to realize, long before they do, that they're putting themselves in danger. Your hand starts squeezing … Continue reading Marriage, alienation, and Alfred Hitchcock: Why Rear Window belongs on my A+ list
Sunday Classical Music Noir Citys
Sunday's Noir City was all about classical musicians; dark, evil, down-and-dirty classical musicians. Well, not quite. Humoresque Talent isn't enough to make you a great musician. You need to work hard. You have to devote yourself to your art. And you have to sleep with Joan Crawford. In Humoresque, John Garfield plays a brilliant young … Continue reading Sunday Classical Music Noir Citys
Saturday at Noir City
I attended three of the four movies screened at Noir City Saturday. They didn't all adhere to this year's theme: The Art of Darkness (ie, dark films about artists). But they ranged from reasonably entertaining to absolutely brilliant. But the movies themselves aren't the festival's only attraction. Many people dress up for Noir City, usually … Continue reading Saturday at Noir City
Rear Window and Noir City Opening Night
Friday night I came the Castro for opening night of this year's Noir City festival. They were screening one of my all-time favorites, Rear Window, along with the obscure Public Eye from 1992. After grabbing my seat in the 3rd row, I went upstairs to the mezzanine, where I examined the bookstore table. The covers … Continue reading Rear Window and Noir City Opening Night
What’s Screening: January 22 – 28
This week's film festivals: SF Sketchfest continues through Sunday. And Noir City opens Friday and runs through the week and beyond. And now, some movies: B+ Aferim!, Opera Plaza, opens Friday Racially-based slavery wasn't limited to the Americas in the 1800s. As this disturbing and odd black and white film shows, it was common in … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 22 – 28
Aferim!: Slavery Romania Style
B+ Period road movie Written by Radu Jude & Florin Lăzărescu Directed by Radu Jude Racially-based slavery wasn't limited to the Americas in the 1800s. As Radu Jude's Aferim! shows, it was common in parts of Eastern Europe while it ravaged souls in Virginia. And the despised, enslaved people were not the decedents of sub-Sahara … Continue reading Aferim!: Slavery Romania Style
What’s Screening: January 15 – 21
In festival action, both SF Sketchfest and Berlin & Beyond continue through this week. A+ The Adventures of Robin Hood, Balboa, Thursday, 7:30 Not every masterpiece needs to provide a deep understanding of the human condition; some are just plain fun. And none more so than this 1938 Errol Flynn swashbuckler. For 102 minutes, you … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 15 – 21
A+ List: The Lady Eve
The art of screwball comedy is pretty much lost today, and has been for at least 60 years. Sure, we still have romantic comedies, and some of them are even pretty good. But the screwball was different. The romantic leads were not only attractive and sexy; they were glamorous--dressed, made up and photographed to look … Continue reading A+ List: The Lady Eve
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