Chaplin Diary, Part 1: Directing at Keystone

November 27, 2017July 16, 2018 ~ Lincoln Spector

I'm starting out on a survey of Charlie Chaplin's work. My plan is to view every movie he wrote and directed, in chronological order. Chaplin started his movie career at Mack Sennett's Keystone studio. He entered Keystone late in 1913 with a weekly salary of $150. He left Sennett a year later, with a level … Continue reading Chaplin Diary, Part 1: Directing at Keystone

A Weekend of Silents in Early December

November 18, 2017November 17, 2017 ~ Lincoln Spector ~ 1 Comment

Need more silent films in your life - on the big screen with live accompaniment? You'll find the first weekend of December very satisfying. First, there's A Day of Silents, a one-day festival at the Castro on Saturday, December 2. Then, on Sunday, December 3, the Rafael will screen Buster Keaton's last silent feature, Spite … Continue reading A Weekend of Silents in Early December

Lady Bird: Coming of Age in Sacramento

November 8, 2017October 18, 2017 ~ Lincoln Spector

A- Coming-of-age comedy Written and directed by Greta Gerwig If you've followed Greta Gerwig's career as an actress and a screenwriter, you wouldn't be surprised at the quality of her solo directorial debut. In Lady Bird, she examines a very explosive mother/daughter relationship, explores the social dynamics of a Catholic high school, and manages to … Continue reading Lady Bird: Coming of Age in Sacramento

Rose Marie tells her story in Wait for Your Laugh

November 7, 2017November 2, 2017 ~ Lincoln Spector

B Show business documentary Directed by Jason Wise If you recognize the singer and comedian Rose Marie, it's probably from The Dick Van Dyke Show. She played Sally, the only woman on the writing staff. (And if you haven't seen The Dick Van Dyke Show, watch a few episodes. It's worth it.) A musical prodigy … Continue reading Rose Marie tells her story in Wait for Your Laugh

Movies I’ve Recently Seen: EDtv, Cat People, Irma Vep, & The Body Snatcher

November 6, 2017November 22, 2017 ~ Lincoln Spector

Here are four films I've recently revisited or seen for the first time. I bet you can guess which ones I watched on Halloween. A EDtv (1999), DVD Near the end of the 20th century, two comedies foretold the concept of reality television. The first, The Truman Show, got all the praise. But the second one, … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: EDtv, Cat People, Irma Vep, & The Body Snatcher

The Found Footage Festival…the theatrical experience

October 27, 2017January 17, 2019 ~ Lincoln Spector

A multitude of Jesuses. A safe sex video that recommends you use a latex barrier for kissing. Some very unconvincing signs of demonic possession. Being that it's Friday, you're probably expecting my weekly What's Screening newsletter. Don't worry. You'll get it in a few minutes. But first, I must tell you about something I saw … Continue reading The Found Footage Festival…the theatrical experience

A+ List: Top Hat

October 23, 2017April 7, 2019 ~ Lincoln Spector

Few Hollywood features have celebrated their own wholly unreal artifice like Top Hat, the best Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers musical. Despite its contemporary setting (contemporary for 1935, the year it was released), it contains almost nothing that suggests the real world. Thanks to that artifice, the songs, the madcap comic dialog and hijinks, and most of … Continue reading A+ List: Top Hat

Sunday at the Mill Valley Film Festival

October 16, 2017 ~ Lincoln Spector

If you're wondering why I stopped covering the Mill Valley Film Festival before opening night, the reason was medical. I caught the mother of all colds, and didn't want to ruin everyone else's moviegoing with my coughing and hacking. I was finally healthy enough to attend on Sunday, the very last day of the festival. … Continue reading Sunday at the Mill Valley Film Festival

Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Battle of the Sexes, Professor Marston and the Wonder Woman, & Le Million

October 15, 2017November 22, 2017 ~ Lincoln Spector

Another three movies I've seen for the first time recently. Two of them, still in theaters, are based on actual events. The other is an early talkie that makes no attempt at anything like realism. A- Battle of the Sexes (2017), Cerrito In 1973, former men's tennis champ Bobby Riggs set up a match with women's … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Battle of the Sexes, Professor Marston and the Wonder Woman, & Le Million

Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Force, The Player, & A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

October 5, 2017November 22, 2017 ~ Lincoln Spector

Here are three other movies I've seen. A The Force (2017), California Theater (Berkeley) No, this not a Star Wars movie, but a cinema verite documentary about the Oakland Police Department, shot over a period of two years. There's no narration, and if anything was staged for the movie cameras - even an interview - I … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Force, The Player, & A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum