Wesley Morris, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Critic at Large for the New York Times, gave this year's State of the Cinema Address. His theme: The Radicalization of Sidney Poitier. It was in the Victoria Theatre on Saturday afternoon, and it was wonderful. Coming on stage in a snappy red suit, he warned that he would give spoilers … Continue reading Wesley Morris, Sidney Poitier, and the San Francisco International Film Festival’s State of the Cinema Address
Month: April 2016
Music and exercise: Friday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
I caught two movies Friday, a music documentary at the Roxie and a very unique coming-of-age story at the New Mission's Theater 1. B+ Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music Like The Wrecking Crew, Soundbreaking looks at how music--specifically rock and roll--is created in the studio. But it isn't about session musicians. It's … Continue reading Music and exercise: Friday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
What’s Screening: April 29 – May 5
Pot-laced challah, the big SF festival, On the Waterfront, and Buster Keaton on the waterfront. That's the week in Bay Area film going. Festivals The San Francisco International Film Festival continues to the end of this week. Check my coverage for recommendations. New films opening B+ Dough, Embarcadero, Albany, Aquarius, Rafael, opens Friday This feel-good … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 29 – May 5
Thursday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
I caught two movies on Thursday, both at the New Mission, but this time, not in the big Theater 1. C Southside with You Here we have yet another variation on Before Sunrise. Two attractive people who barely know each other walk through a city, talking, doing fun and meaningful things, and getting to know … Continue reading Thursday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
Wednesday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
I saw two movies Wednesday at the San Francisco International Film Festival. The first was pretty good, the second fantastic. Both were screened at the New Mission's huge and beautiful Theater 1. Both films are on the festival's Hold Review List, which means that at this point in time, I have to review the films … Continue reading Wednesday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
SFIFF: Tom McCarthy, The Station Agent, and this year’s Kanbar Award
The San Francisco International Film Festival's Kanbar Award used to go to a screenwriter. Now they've expanded it to "storytellers," which can mean just about anyone who works in film. And so screenwriters remain the least visible people making movies. This year, the award went to Tom McCarthy, who is a screenwriter, as well as … Continue reading SFIFF: Tom McCarthy, The Station Agent, and this year’s Kanbar Award
New Zealand comedy & the horrors of war: Sunday at SFIFF
Passover kept me away from the movies on Friday and Saturday, so Sunday became my first regular day at this year's San Francisco International Film Festival. Here's what I saw: B Hunt for the Wilderpeople I caught this one at the New Mission's theater 5. The auditorium is short and wide; not the best configuration … Continue reading New Zealand comedy & the horrors of war: Sunday at SFIFF
SFIFF opening night and Love & Friendship
I attended the opening night program for this year's San Francisco International Film Festival Thursday night. The introductions, the movie, and the Q&A were all appropriately funny. But as usual for festivals' big nights, the reserved seat problem annoyed a lot of people. Unless you like to sit very close, very far back, or off … Continue reading SFIFF opening night and Love & Friendship
What’s Screening: April 22 – 28
The San Francisco International Film Festival dominates the week in specialty Bay Area movie going, but it doesn't dominate it completely. Festivals SF International continues through this week and beyond. Check my coverage to help you decide what you should see and what you should skip. The Rafael's Baseball in the Movies isn't a festival; … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 22 – 28
What’s Screening: April 15 – 21
This week in Bay Area movies, the earth shakes, a lion grows up, and the world is destroyed. And the big SF film festival opens. Festivals The Tiburon International Film Festival closes today. The Green Film Festival closes Wednesday. The big one, the San Francisco International Film Festival, opens Thursday. If you want to know … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 15 – 21