What’s Screening: July 20 – 26

July 20, 2018July 20, 2018 ~ Lincoln Spector

Silent comedians, weird cartoons, French noir, military musicians, mediocre musicians, and four film festivals. This and more on Bay Area movie screens this week. Wild parrots couldn't drag me away! Festivals The San Francisco Frozen Film Festival runs through Sunday. You can read my admittedly short preview. Modern Cinema/Black Powers: Reframing Hollywood continues through the … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 20 – 26

Chaplin Diary, Part 14: City Lights

July 19, 2018July 19, 2018 ~ Lincoln Spector ~ 2 Comments

As we work through Charlie Chaplin's directorial work in chronological order, we now come to his greatest masterpiece. Yes, that's my opinion, but it's hardly an unusual one. City Lights may come as close to a perfect comedy as you can find. I've already written about City Lights in a 2013 Blu-ray review, so I'll … Continue reading Chaplin Diary, Part 14: City Lights

Don’t Worry He Won’t Get Far on Foot

July 18, 2018June 21, 2018 ~ Lincoln Spector

A- biopic Written by Gus Van Sant, from John Callahan's autobiography Directed by Gus Van Sant If you're looking for a cinematic argument against alcohol addiction, this biopic of paraplegic cartoonist John Callahan makes a very strong argument. The film also gives you a strong sense of how Alcoholics Anonymous works. If it had not … Continue reading Don’t Worry He Won’t Get Far on Foot

Marijuana and the Movies

July 17, 2018 ~ Lincoln Spector

The 1970s was the decade where I changed from a kid who liked movies to a true cinephile. It was also the decade where I smoked way too much pot. I don't regret smoking pot; I still imbibe occasionally. But I do regret smoking so much of it. In those days, there were movies that … Continue reading Marijuana and the Movies

Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Summer 1993, 20,000 Leagues, Analyze This, & Henry VIII

July 16, 2018 ~ Lincoln Spector

Four more movies that weren't in local festivals, and that I didn't officially review. I just paid my ticket (or the home video equivalent) and watched the movie. A Summer 1993 (2017), Shattuck This amazing film about children, but not for children, slipped into theaters below the radar. That's too bad, because it's very much worth … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Summer 1993, 20,000 Leagues, Analyze This, & Henry VIII

What’s Screening: July 13 – 19

July 13, 2018July 13, 2018 ~ Lincoln Spector

Astaire and Rogers, Powell and Loy, Harryhausen and Disney, and the Wrath of Khan. Also Beatles, Chaplin, exploitation, five (count 'em, five!) film festivals, and love amongst the autistic - and all available this week on Bay Area movie screens. Festivals Modern Cinema/Black Powers: Reframing Hollywood continues. Read my preview. Charlie Chaplin Days opens tonight … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 13 – 19

Two More Film Festivals in mid-July

July 12, 2018July 12, 2018 ~ Lincoln Spector ~ 2 Comments

They just keep on coming! San Francisco Frozen Film Festival July 18 - 23 Most film festivals concentrate on features. This one is all about the shorts - small, low-budget flicks with short running times. It opens July 18 with a party at PianoFight, accompanied by Best Virtual Reality Screenings, and followed by a midnight … Continue reading Two More Film Festivals in mid-July

What’s Screening: July 6 – 12

July 6, 2018 ~ Lincoln Spector

After a couple of stubborn years, I've decided to accept the Pacific Film Archive's no-longer-new name, BAMPFA. It stands for Berkeley Art Museum Pacific Film Archive. I would rather they had called it PFABAM, because in my mind, the movies come first. Anyway, this week we have Jewish triplets, African-American telemarketers, animated Beatles, live Beatles, … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 6 – 12

Chaplin Diary, 13: The Circus

July 5, 2018July 4, 2018 ~ Lincoln Spector

People often overlook Charlie Chaplin's fourth feature, The Circus. Sandwiched between his two long-form masterpieces, The Gold Rush and City Lights, it feels unimportant. But you shouldn't overlook it. While The Circus is no masterpiece, it's a very funny comedy with a considerable amount of heart, even if it veers very close at times to the … Continue reading Chaplin Diary, 13: The Circus