I've really come to hate the upstairs theaters at the New Mission. The number of decent seats are in the single digits--and for the festival, most of them are reserved. The front row is so close it can induce headaches--even for me. If you don't want to sit that close, and you weren't one of … Continue reading Visiting North Korea and Afghanistan: Wednesday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
Category: Action Movies
Trains on Film Saturday report
I spent Saturday at the Rafael, where I caught three of the six movies in the Trains on Film mini-festival ending today (Sunday). I had seen all three films before, but this was a great way to see them. And not only because of the big screen and enthusiastic audience. Film historian David Thomson and … Continue reading Trains on Film Saturday report
Melvin Van Peebles, Sweet Sweetback, and Me
I finally saw the completed version of Melvin Van Peebles' ground-breaking Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. I didn't see it when it was in theaters partly because I was a bit too young for X-rated movies. But mostly because I had already seen a rough cut. When it hit theaters, Sweetback created a sensation. Here was … Continue reading Melvin Van Peebles, Sweet Sweetback, and Me
The Wave loses power in last act
B Disaster triller Written by John Kåre Raake and Harald Rosenløw Eeg Directed by Roar Uthaug Scandinavia created more than just democratic socialism. In recent years, it's also created some exceptional thrillers--Headhunters being the best of them. Norway's latest heart stopper almost reaches that level of frightening entertainment, but then it sags in the final stretch. … Continue reading The Wave loses power in last act
The Force Awakens at the Alamo Drafthouse New Mission
Thursday afternoon--the last afternoon of 2015--my wife and I finally saw Star Wars: The Force Awakens. And we went out of our way to see it at the Alamo Drafthouse New Mission. It was our first experience seeing a movie there. It was a lot of fun, but expensive. I've already written about the New Mission--the … Continue reading The Force Awakens at the Alamo Drafthouse New Mission
Mad Men and Mad Max
I attended two screenings in movie theaters so far this week. I thought I'd share them with you. Mad Men Finale at the New Parkway My wife and I have been following Mad Men for some years now--without cable or satellite. We binge-watched the first three seasons on disc, and season four on Netflix. We … Continue reading Mad Men and Mad Max
The A+ List and The Adventures of Robin Hood
I'm embarking on a journey through my all-time favorite films--the ones that I've awarded an A+. For a film to earn that grade, it must be the perfect embodiment of its genre or, better yet, stand beyond genre. It must be at least 20 years old (so I know that it's stood the test of … Continue reading The A+ List and The Adventures of Robin Hood
Fashions and fighting: Sunday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
I only caught two films yesterday. A- Iris I started the day with Albert Maysles’ latest film, Iris. What fun! Here's what I thought about it: Iris Apfel, a fixture in the New York fashion scene well in her 90s, dresses herself in loud, bright, and absurd clothes, augmented with even crazier accessories. And yet … Continue reading Fashions and fighting: Sunday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
Kevin Kline and Swashbucklers
I first saw Kevin Kline in the film version of the 1983 film version of The Pirates of Penzance. He played the Pirate King, and he was perfect for the part--handsome, graceful, athletic, and funny. It struck me that, if he had been born 50 years earlier, he could have been a great swashbuckling star, … Continue reading Kevin Kline and Swashbucklers
Catching The Amazing Spider-Man 2 After the Festival
After two weeks watching dramas and documentaries (most of them with subtitles) at the San Francisco International Film Festival, I felt it was time to reconnect with another aspect of cinema. So I visited a multiplex and caught The Amazing Spider-Man 2--in 3D, no less. This is the sort of summer movie that makes you forgive … Continue reading Catching The Amazing Spider-Man 2 After the Festival
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