Bergman illustrates Mozart. Antonioni does adventure. Garbo plays the Queen. And Keaton wrecks the house. All that, plus a full week of LGBTQ films in Bay Area movie theaters. Festivals Frameline continues through this week and beyond Promising events McKellen: Playing the Part, Embarcadero Center, Shattuck, Aquarius, Tuesday, 7:00 The great Shakespearean actor (and movie star) … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 15 – 21
Author: Lincoln Spector
Lincoln Spector writes about cinema, technology, and cinema technology. From 1986 through 2008, he wrote Gigglebytes, the first technology-oriented humor column. From 1977 through 2016, he wrote PC World's Answer Line column and blog.
Critique of Macho: The Big Country on Blu-ray
William Wyler's big-budget, large-format, star-studded epic, The Big Country, just may be the first anti-western. It condemns, rather than celebrates, the macho behavior of the mythical cowboy. The hero only fires a gun once, and he's not aiming at anyone. Gregory Peck plays that hero, a sea captain named James McKay, who's traded in his … Continue reading Critique of Macho: The Big Country on Blu-ray
Black Powers coming to Modern Cinema
Black filmmakers illuminate the African-American experience in SFFILM and SFMOMA's latest Modern Cinema series, Black Powers: Reframing Hollywood. The series/festival runs from July 12–29. As with all Modern Cinema series, this one takes place at SFMOMA's Phyllis Wattis Theater. Neither organization is calling this a festival, but I think the title fits, because you can … Continue reading Black Powers coming to Modern Cinema
A Tale of Two Munchausens
The real Baron Munchausen (yes, there was one) never went to the moon. He did not ride on a cannonball. And he certainly wasn't swallowed by a giant fish. But the 18th-century aristocrat gained a reputation of telling outrageous tales of his military exploits. In 1785, when the Baron was still alive, Rudolf Erich Raspe … Continue reading A Tale of Two Munchausens
What’s Screening: June 8 – 14
Transgender prostitutes, unruly composers, hungry aliens, two film festivals, and three new B+ movies. And all of this is happening on Bay Area movie screens this week. Festivals DocFest continues through the week Frameline opens Thursday New films opening B+ Filmworker, Opera Plaza, Shattuck, opens Friday Like many great artists, Stanley Kubrick was an obsessive … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 8 – 14
A Boy Like Jake should be part of the film
B+ Family drama Written by Daniel Pearle; based on his stage play Directed by Silas Howard Early on, I found myself wondering if we really need this story? Do I care if this white, comfortable, Brooklyn couple get their four-year-old son (the Jake of the title) into the right private school? But as the story … Continue reading A Boy Like Jake should be part of the film
The Goodness and Flaws of Mr. Rogers
B+ Documentary Directed by Morgan Neville I'm not a Christian, but it strikes me that Fred Rogers - the ordained minister who created a long-running, completely secular children's television program - is an excellent example of what a Christian is supposed to be. He was kind and self-effacing. He taught pre-school children how to handle … Continue reading The Goodness and Flaws of Mr. Rogers
