Here are four films that will be available during this year's SFFilm Festival. We've got a drama with one foot in Mexico and the other in the U.S., an animated fantasy for adults, a Mexican documentary, and a so-called comedy. A Son of Monarchs This story of a young man between two countries doesn't really … Continue reading SFFilm Fest Preview: Part 1: Son of Monarchs | Cryptozoo | The Spokeswoman | Supercool
Month: March 2021
What’s Screening: March 26 – April 1
What do we have in Bay Area movies this week? A drummer losing his hearing, a couple of virtual cinema suggestions, and Moses splitting the Red Sea in a real theater (just in time for Passover). At the drive-in, you can watch some of the best of Hitchcock, Wilder, and the Coens, along with a … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 26 – April 1
The return of the SFFilm Festival
The SFFilm Festival (formerly named The San Francisco International Film Festival) didn't happen last year - even in a virtual form. By the time the theaters were closed, SFFilm didn't have time to create a whole new kind of festival. But by the end of 2020, anyone paying attention knew the basics of enjoying a … Continue reading The return of the SFFilm Festival
Mike Leigh’s Secrets & Lies, now on Criterion Blu-ray
There's something very special about Mike Leigh's family drama, Secrets & Lies. Every person on the screen appears to be a fully fleshed-out human being, and I'm not just talking about the main characters. Even actors with one or two scenes feel as if they have a history. You can care about all of them … Continue reading Mike Leigh’s Secrets & Lies, now on Criterion Blu-ray
Fun stuff on Criterion, Part 2: Chaplin & Méliès
Last week I told you about a Preston Sturges series available on The Criterion Channel. This week, I'm telling you about two other series on the Channel intended just to entertain. One is about the most loved comedian of all time. The other was one of the first filmmakers to use the medium to tell … Continue reading Fun stuff on Criterion, Part 2: Chaplin & Méliès
What’s Leaving Criterion when March ends
At the end of every month, the Criterion Channel trims its collection of films to make room for others (probably because of contract issues). Thankfully, they give us warning, so we can watch a film before it goes away. If you're a Criterion subscriber, catch some of these before you wake up and discover it's … Continue reading What’s Leaving Criterion when March ends
Our night at the movies
My wife and I actually went to the movies Friday night! It's a much better cinematic experience than what we've been having for more than a year. And yet, I was left worried about the survival of theatrical cinema. The Shattuck Cinema is a multiplex in downtown Berkeley. It's owned by Landmark Theatres, which means … Continue reading Our night at the movies
What’s Screening: March 19 – 25
Almost exactly a year ago, I posted what I thought might be my last What's Screening newsletter. After all, how could I write about films in local theaters when the theaters were all closed? I ended up writing about movies set in medieval times. I knew this newsletter would have to change. For almost a … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 19 – 25
Movies on the big screen – in Berkeley!
Like almost everyone else, I haven't seen a movie in the theater in more than a year. But come Friday, that will change. Berkeley's Shattuck Cinema opens tomorrow with eleven films from this year and last. I've seen seven of these films, but only at home. And yes, I know that other theaters have been … Continue reading Movies on the big screen – in Berkeley!
The Oscar Nominees, and my opinion
The Motion Picture Academy usually announces the Oscar nominees in January. But everything was weird last year, and the weirdness has not yet worn off, so they waited until yesterday to announce them. I'm not going to list the nominees. You can find that list all over the web. So, I'll just offer a few … Continue reading The Oscar Nominees, and my opinion
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