Robbie Robertson ignores his Band. Kurosawa goes '60s noir. Hitchcock becomes stranger on a train. And a giant mutant predator hits South Korea (and no, it's not Donald Trump). All this, plus three film festivals and more this week in Bay Area arthouse cinemas. Festivals The East Bay International Jewish Film Festival opens Friday and … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 28 – March 5
Month: February 2020
East Bay International Jewish Film Festival Preview
For some reason, I missed any news about the East Bay International Jewish Film Festival until Thursday afternoon. So I'm putting this together quickly. Here's what I think of seven films playing at the Festival (these are the films I've seen - mostly at other festivals), in order from best to worst. By the way, … Continue reading East Bay International Jewish Film Festival Preview
Why you should buy movies on shiny discs
I don't remember the last time I went to the video store and rented a movie. I suspect you don't either. Why should we? It's so much easier to stream them from Netflix, Criterion, Kanopy, or other services. And if the movie you want to see isn't on a service to which you subscribe, you … Continue reading Why you should buy movies on shiny discs
Robbie Robertson and…oh yeah, The Band
B Musical documentary Directed by Daniel Roher The Band was one of the best groups in the history of rock and roll. As The Hawks, they beautifully backed Screamin' Jay Hawkins and then Bob Dylan. But when they just played only with each other, the music turned into magic. Daniel Roher's documentary, Once Were Brothers: … Continue reading Robbie Robertson and…oh yeah, The Band
The film festival in little Albany
The tiny town of Albany sits between Berkeley and El Cerrito - and in some places between Berkeley and Berkeley. I can walk across it in 15 minutes. And yet it has its own film festival. The 10th annual Albany FilmFest runs this year from Saturday, March 21 to Sunday, March 29 - skipping Sunday … Continue reading The film festival in little Albany
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: King of Hearts, Little Women, The Front Page, & last but very much least, Quantum of Solace
Here are four movies that aren't playing in an upcoming film festival. No one asked me to review them. One is still in theaters. The others are currently available only in your own home. They're just movies I've recently seen, from best to worst. A King of Hearts (1966), Kanopy World War I gave us … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: King of Hearts, Little Women, The Front Page, & last but very much least, Quantum of Solace
What’s Screening: February 21 – 27
This week in Bay Area art cinemas: John Boorman's wartime childhood, Federico Fellini's runaway bride, and two epic tales of hippies. Also, Salma Hayek plays an artist, Harold Lloyd becomes romantic, and Steve McQueen calls bullshit. No film festivals, but another Kurosawa double feature and a whole lot of cats. Promising events Hope and Glory (1987), … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 21 – 27
Four films you can see at Cinequest
Starting at standup. A truly evil murderer. Sleeping with strangers but not having sex. And an alien who took over the body of the wrong human. Here are four films that will screen at Cinequest, listed from best to worst. B+ All Joking Aside Dramas about comedians can be tricky, and although this one is … Continue reading Four films you can see at Cinequest
What’s Screening: February 14 – 20
What's in Bay Area art house cinemas this week? Still more Agnès Varda, but this time with something by her husband, Jacques Demy. Also Kurosawa and Monty Python double bills. And works by Spike Lee, Alfonso Cuarón, Hal Ashby, and Paul Thomas Anderson. But only one film festival. I have to wonder, what would Pauline … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 14 – 20
The humor comes from real life in Come As You Are
A- Comedy road movie Written by Erik Linthorst Directed by Richard Wong Three youngish, disabled men take a road trip to lose their virginity. Why a road trip? They discovered the existence of a brothel in Montreal that caters to men with disabilities. They also need to get away from their over-protective parents. This is … Continue reading The humor comes from real life in Come As You Are
Bayflicks 