Short films can make you laugh, inspire you with beautiful visuals, and even break your heart. And if one of them turns out to be a stinker - well, it will be over soon. Starting Friday, the Roxie will run a program containing seven shorts that wowed audiences and judges at this year's Sundance Film … Continue reading The Best Shorts at Sundance Last Year
Category: Festivals
My 15 Best Moviegoing Experiences of 2018
I went to the movies quite a bit in 2018, and it was often a wonderful experience. I attended six (I think) Bay Area film festivals, numerous special presentations, and just plain really good movies. In May, I flew to Rochester, New York for the Nitrate Picture Show. For four days of screenings and museum … Continue reading My 15 Best Moviegoing Experiences of 2018
Foreign Films & Crime-Soaked Movies: The first film festivals of 2019
The last weeks of the year become a film festival desert in the Bay Area. 2018's last fest, Another Hole in the Head, closed December 12. But with the new year come new festivals. At least two will open in January. For Your Consideration Rafael, January 4 - 10 All sorts of rules control what … Continue reading Foreign Films & Crime-Soaked Movies: The first film festivals of 2019
My Report on The Day of Silents
I spent more than 13 hours in the Castro Theatre Saturday, watching six programs of silent films. I discovered two great comedies (one short, one feature), revisited a romantic epic, and listened to a lot of great, live music. I noticed an interesting programming choice involving the music. The Festival hired piano players to accompany … Continue reading My Report on The Day of Silents
Napa Valley Film Festival opens Wednesday
The Napa Valley Film Festival opens tomorrow and runs through Sunday. Here are my opinions of three films running at the festival: A Capernaum Children living in poverty have to do for themselves in this heartbreaking story of love and the lack of love. Twelve-year-old Zain sues his parents for bringing him into a cruel … Continue reading Napa Valley Film Festival opens Wednesday
Good film/bad film: The Other Side of the Wind & They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead
We waited more than 40 years to see Orson Welles' final film, The Other Side of the Wind. What a disappointment! This just may be the worst film ever by a major auteur. On the other hand, we now have They'll Love Me When I'm Dead, Morgan Neville's excellent documentary on the making of Wind. … Continue reading Good film/bad film: The Other Side of the Wind & They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead
Horror, Silents, and Italy: The (probably) last film festivals of 2018
The fall deluge of Bay Area film festivals begins to slow down around Thanksgiving. By mid-December, they usually stop completely. I can't say for sure, but these three festivals just may be the last ones of 2018. I'm listing them in order of opening dates. Another Hole in the Head Film Festival New People Cinema, … Continue reading Horror, Silents, and Italy: The (probably) last film festivals of 2018
United Nations Festival starts tonight
I can't possibly cover all the Bay Area film festivals. It's hard enough just listing them. However, just this morning, I realized that I should write something about the United Nations Association Film Festival, which opens tonight. After all, its screening three movies that I've already seen. None of these films are likely to get … Continue reading United Nations Festival starts tonight
Lebanon & Beale Street: Closing Day of the Mill Valley Film Festival
This year's Mill Valley Film Festival closed Sunday. I caught two narrative films there. I loved them both. Both films will get theatrical releases in the near future. A Capernaum Children living in poverty have to do for themselves in this heartbreaking story of love and the lack of love. Twelve-year-old Zain sues his parents for … Continue reading Lebanon & Beale Street: Closing Day of the Mill Valley Film Festival
The West meets Islam on the Mill Valley Film Festival’s penultimate day
I saw three films Saturday at the Mill Valley Film Festival - all at the Rafael. Two were narratives, one was a documentary. All three dealt with the line between Islam and the West. A- Northern WindThis essentially serious film offers flashes of humor while studying the universality of working-class struggle. Two blue-collar men, who … Continue reading The West meets Islam on the Mill Valley Film Festival’s penultimate day
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