As a 50-year-old masterpiece gets back into theaters, last year's best film finally comes to big screens! It's an offer you can't refuse. You can also see movies by Barry Jenkins, Nicolas Roeg, F. W. Murnau, and Samuel Fuller. But if you're tired of great auteurs, you can watch MST3K on the big screen for … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 25 – March 3
Month: February 2022
From Fellini to Wang: Spring at the BAMPFA
Two years ago, when COVID-19 closed all the theaters, the Berkeley Art Museum Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) was running a series called Federico Fellini at 100. Now that series is coming back…although they should have called it this time Federico Fellini at 102. But Fellini is only one of the film series that will be … Continue reading From Fellini to Wang: Spring at the BAMPFA
Best picture candidates from best to worst
Here's my opinions of the ten Oscar Best Picture nominees, from really fantastic to "Did they spend money to make this thing?" You might notice that I'm giving most of these movies very good grades. That's how it should be. These are, in theory, the best films made last year. Click the name of a … Continue reading Best picture candidates from best to worst
What’s Screening: February 18 – 24
This is a great week for silent movie lovers. Bay Area theaters are screening three shows this week with live musical accompaniment, from such masters of the art as Murnau, Méliès, and Chaplin. But if you prefer talking in your movies, local cinemas will screen works from Truffaut, Coppola, and Hitchcock. But no festivals. The … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 18 – 24
What’s leaving Criterion at the end of February
At the end of every month, The Criterion Channel removes a considerable number of films from their streaming platform. Here are some that I can recommend. See them, or at least as many as you can, before February becomes March. Full recommendations A Pickup on South Street (1953) Richard Widmark plays a pickpocket who lifts … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion at the end of February
The Pact: Nothing poetic
C drama Written by Christian Torpe, from Thorkild Bjørnvig's memoir Directed by Bille August There's nothing cinematic about writing poetry. It's not like painting or composing music. Unless the poet reads their work aloud, the audience doesn't experience it. There's little reading aloud in The Pact. Instead of the art of poetry, the filmmakers managed … Continue reading The Pact: Nothing poetic
No subtitles at the Mostly British Film Festival
When you go to an international film festival, you know you're going to have to read a lot of subtitles. But not so much at the Mostly British Film Festival. This event presents foreign films from such exotic locales as Ireland, England, and Australia - places outside of North America where people generally speak English. … Continue reading No subtitles at the Mostly British Film Festival
What’s Screening: February 11 – 17
Monday is Valentine's Day, so we have several romantic films you can enjoy on the big screen. In fact, the New Parkway, which has been closed recently because of Omicron, has several cinematic love stories served with special dinners. Festivals & Series SF IndieFest closes Sunday Special online events Restoring the Films of William S. … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 11 – 17
My thoughts on the Oscar Nominees
The Oscar nominations came with a very big disappointment. Cyrano received only one nomination, and that was only Costume Design. I was hoping Peter Dinklage would come home with the Best Actor Oscar. I also thought that this wonderful film should have been in the running for Best Picture. Cyrano Why is it so overlooked? … Continue reading My thoughts on the Oscar Nominees
Shortbus is funny, serious, and very sex-positive
B+ sexual romance Written & directed by John Cameron Mitchell Jon Cameron Mitchell created a funny, serious, sexual, and asexual movie, and gave it the seemingly ridiculous title Shortbus. It contains a considerable amount of hardcore sex (mostly male-on-male). But it mostly deals with the emotional issues connected with sex - along with the emotional … Continue reading Shortbus is funny, serious, and very sex-positive
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