After the San Francisco International Film Festival, I like to clear my palette with a totally escapist, Hollywood-style explosion movie. So Tuesday night, my wife and I saw Captain America: Civil War. And we even saw it in 3D. I enjoyed it. Well, sort of. I'm giving it a B-. In case you make a … Continue reading Big and shallow fun in Captain America: Civil War
Month: May 2016
A+ List: The Last Waltz
Talk about the musical stars aligning perfectly. The Band decides to break up. Bill Graham produces their farewell concert--a Thanksgiving extravaganza filled with some of the greatest names in rock and roll. Then Martin Scorsese, fresh from Taxi Driver, brings together some of Hollywood's brightest to record the event. The Last Waltz captures one of … Continue reading A+ List: The Last Waltz
Upcoming classics
With the San Francisco International Film Festival over, I finally have time to write about some other promising upcoming events. MIDCENTURYECLECTIC This four-day festival (May 13 - 16) looks at 12 films from the middle of the 20h century that helped prepare the world for arthouse cinema. Programmer Don Malcolm (The French Had a Name … Continue reading Upcoming classics
Thursday: The last day at this year’s San Francisco International Film Festival
I saw two movies on the last day of this year's San Francisco International Film Festival. The first one was directed by someone named Ross. The second by someone named Moss. Neither of them was a loss. Frank & Lola I saw this at the New Mission, and thankfully, it was in the big, downstairs … Continue reading Thursday: The last day at this year’s San Francisco International Film Festival
Thursday: The last day at this year’s San Francisco International Film Festival
I saw two movies on the last day of this year's San Francisco International Film Festival. The first one was directed by someone named Ross. The second by someone name Moss. Neither of them was a loss. Frank & Lola I saw this at the New Mission, and thankfully, it was in the big, downstairs … Continue reading Thursday: The last day at this year’s San Francisco International Film Festival
What’s Screening: May 6 – 12
We've got Spike Lee, Robin Hood, Mother's Day, a Miracle Worker, and classic Kung Fu (but no festivals) this week in Bay Area movie theaters. Promising events Do the Right Thing, Cerrito, Thursday, 9:30 It's been far too long since I've seen Spike Lee's masterpiece, which I suspect would get an A or even an … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 6 – 12
Visiting North Korea and Afghanistan: Wednesday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
I've really come to hate the upstairs theaters at the New Mission. The number of decent seats are in the single digits--and for the festival, most of them are reserved. The front row is so close it can induce headaches--even for me. If you don't want to sit that close, and you weren't one of … Continue reading Visiting North Korea and Afghanistan: Wednesday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
Salt Flats and Music: Tuesday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
I saw two films, both documentaries, at the San Francisco International Film Festival on Tuesday. One was about the world coming to a previously isolated stretch of Bolivia. The other was about music of the world. B+ Salero Before the screening, Director Mike Plunkett told us that the film was "a passion project of mine. It … Continue reading Salt Flats and Music: Tuesday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
Live Music for the Undead: Monday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
I only went to one San Francisco International Film Festival event on Monday, and that was Carl Theodore Dreyer's 1932 classic, Vampyre, with musical accompaniment by Mercury Rev and Simon Raymonde. It was at the Castro. Vampyre belongs on any list of great horror films. Todd Brown's Dracula, made the previous year, is stagy and … Continue reading Live Music for the Undead: Monday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
Sunday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
I caught two movies Sunday at the San Francisco International Film Festival. B Cameraperson I caught this one at the Victoria Theatre. Cinematographer Kirsten Johnson has been shooting documentaries for decades. The films she's lensed include Citizenfour and Farenheit 911. Now she's gathered much of what she shot, including home movies, into a montage of … Continue reading Sunday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
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