The Motion Picture Academy released the 2017 Oscar nominees this morning, and for the most part, they did a good job. (As I write this, oscar.com is over capacity. I'm getting the results from CNN.) Let's start with the big one: Best Picture. There are nine nominees this year, and I saw and liked eight … Continue reading The Oscar Nominees
Category: Awards
Top 15 Moviegoing Experiences of 2017
Instead of listing my top ten movies of 2017, I'm giving you my top 15 moviegoing experiences of the year. What's the difference? I consider the theater, the quality of the print or digital source, the enthusiasm of the audience, and live onstage supplements such as musical accompaniment and filmmaker Q&As. I also consider the … Continue reading Top 15 Moviegoing Experiences of 2017
SFFILM honors Joe Wright’s Darkest Hour
Monday night at the Castro, SFFILM recognized Joe Wright and Anthony McCarten's historical drama, Darkest Hour, giving the film the organization's second annual SF Honors award. The event included a mercifully short presentation of the award, a screening of the film, and a Q&A with five of the filmmakers. Darkest Hour follows Winston Churchill's first … Continue reading SFFILM honors Joe Wright’s Darkest Hour
My Oscar predictions…and wishes (with, of course, issues of race)
Back in October, I predicted that Loving would win the Best Picture Oscar. At that time, I had not yet seen the movie, and quality didn't even come into my equation. Loving didn't come into the Academy's equation, either. It can't win Best Picture because it wasn't nominated. (For the record, I liked Loving very … Continue reading My Oscar predictions…and wishes (with, of course, issues of race)
My thoughts on the Golden Globes, La La Land, and the Musical/Comedy category
The Golden Globes turned into a big party for La La Land. I liked the movie, but not as much as most people did. As you probably already know, La La Land won seven awards, including Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. I loved the first part of La La Land. The opening song, … Continue reading My thoughts on the Golden Globes, La La Land, and the Musical/Comedy category
Mill Valley Film Festival and Oscar Predictions
If past is prologue, hundreds of Mill Valley Film Festival attendants have now seen this year's Best Picture Oscar winner. In every year since 2010, that coveted award went to a film that had its Bay Area premiere at Marin's big festival. Whatever it will be, I haven't yet seen this year's winner. Although I've … Continue reading Mill Valley Film Festival and Oscar Predictions
Quick thoughts on the Oscars
No one who cares about cinema considers the Academy Awards to be a reliable indication of great art. But the Oscars do provide an interesting view of what Hollywood thinks of current movies. And reasonably often, they actually reward good films. To a reasonable degree, they did so last night. My wife and I didn't … Continue reading Quick thoughts on the Oscars
A Classic Comedy and a Colombian Thriller: Sunday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
This year's San Francisco International Film Festival is beginning to wind down. Sunday was the last non-workday of the festival. I attended two events, and hit the jackpot both times. The Mel Novikoff Award Ceremony and The Lady Eve More than anyone else, Mel Novikoff helped bring repertory cinema to the Bay Area. The SFIFF's … Continue reading A Classic Comedy and a Colombian Thriller: Sunday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
SF Silent Film Festival Report 1: Wings
I always felt that realistic sound effects weren't appropriate for silent films. I was wrong. Or perhaps this was just an exception. Realistic sound effects are fantastic if they're performed live by an ensemble directed by sound effects wizard Ben Burtt. Using bicycles, drums, a typewriter (I think) and devices that I couldn't possibly name … Continue reading SF Silent Film Festival Report 1: Wings
Quick Comments on the Oscars
About the awards Third year in a row that a film shot digitally appeared to be a likely Best Picture winner, but lost to a film shot on film. Early on I thought it was going to be a Hugo sweep, but it turned into a happy ending, after all. I liked them both, but … Continue reading Quick Comments on the Oscars
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