C+ Drama with comic elements Written and directed by Aki Kaurismäki This Finnish film about refugees and those that help and hinder them runs along two very different story threads. Both of them have their good points, but they conflict so badly with each other that they don't really work together. The strongest thread follows … Continue reading The Other Side of Hope has its moments, but…
Month: December 2017
Darkest Hour finds the light to push on through
A Historical drama Written by Anthony McCarten Directed by Joe Wright Dunkirk showed us a soldier's point of view of the disaster-turned-victory that saved England from Nazi conquest. Darkest Hour covers much of the same history, but from the point of the nation's leader - the newly-appointed Winston Churchill. We go into this rousing story … Continue reading Darkest Hour finds the light to push on through
The Shape of Water: A great film comes from The Black Lagoon
A Horror thriller Written by Guillermo del Toro and Vanessa Taylor Directed by Guillermo del Toro Only Guillermo del Toro could make a grand, romantic, suspenseful, and horrifying sequel to The Creature from the Black Lagoon. And in doing so, The Shape of Water brings up issues concerning military overreach, the abuse of science, and … Continue reading The Shape of Water: A great film comes from The Black Lagoon
Six Silent Films in One Day
I spent Saturday at the Castro Theater, attending the San Francisco Silent Film Festival's Day of Silents. They screened six feature-length movies, all with live musical accompaniment, starting at 10:00AM and ending a little after 11:00PM. The five intermissions ranged from 30 minutes to an hour. Here's what I saw, in the order I saw … Continue reading Six Silent Films in One Day
Coming to FilmStruck in December
The best way to see a movie is in a movie theater. But let's face it; you probably also watch movies at home. Last week, I told you about the classics Coming in December to Bay Area theaters. Now I'll tell you about some films and special offerings coming to FilmStruck's Criterion section during the … Continue reading Coming to FilmStruck in December
What’s Screening: December 1 – 7
Loony Tunes, friendly aliens, an Indiana Christmas, and the forgotten TV version of 12 Years a Slave. All this and more on Bay Area movie screens. Festivals There's only one film festival this week, and it only runs for one day: Saturday. It's A Day of Silents, and you can read my preview. Promising events … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 1 – 7
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