There's little more than two weeks before this year's San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. Do you know you what you want to see? Here are five films that will play in the festival, and only one of them you've likely have seen. [[I made a major mistake when I posted this article. I did not … Continue reading Jewish Film Festival Previews: Part 1
Category: Festivals
Summer of silents & Jews (yes, I’m talking about film festivals)
Two of my favorite film festivals come one right after the other this year. First, the San Francisco Silent Film Festival opens Wednesday, July 12 at 7:00. The opening movie is Douglas Fairbanks' last silent swashbuckler, The Iron Mask. Then there are three long days of rare old movies, new restorations, and live music. The … Continue reading Summer of silents & Jews (yes, I’m talking about film festivals)
Frameline previews
Have you noticed that current film festivals are awash with documentaries. Consider: Frameline gave me three films to review. Two of them were docs. The only narrative flick in the bunch looks intentionally like a documentary. In fact, it could be easily called a docudrama. So here are the three films I saw. Even if … Continue reading Frameline previews
What’s Screening: May 5 – 11
Want to see new movies and old movies on the big screen? Here are reviews of two fresh films from CAAMFest (the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival). There is also a new film of the great outdoors and the people trying to save it. Also, there's a Soviet silent, one of the best … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 5 – 11
My last SFFilm fest reviews (this year)
The 2023 SFFilm Film Festival is over. Life can become normal again. Here are the films I saw over the last week, all at the BAMPFA. I listed them from the first to the last. A Persistence of Vision Award: Mark Cousins + "The March on Rome" [The page has been removed] This year, Irish filmmaker … Continue reading My last SFFilm fest reviews (this year)
The first weekend at SFFilm
From Friday to Sunday, I watched five feature films, all of which played at this year's SFFilm Festival. You may notice I gave all of them good grades. Do I love every film I see? Maybe I was lucky. Perhaps they're showing a lot of good movies this year. A Luxembourg, Luxembourg Easily the best … Continue reading The first weekend at SFFilm
The last weekend…of this year’s Noir City
I spent most of the weekend at the Grand Lake enjoying the Noir City festival, watching dark crime movies. Here's what I saw: Saturday Matinée B+ Night Has a Thousand Eyes Do you want to know the future? In this dark fantasy, Edward G. Robinson can see the future, and he wishes he couldn't. He … Continue reading The last weekend…of this year’s Noir City
Coen ‘n’ Noir
With Joel Coen and Frances McDormand at the BAMPFA, and Noir City at the Grand Lake, the East Bay was popping with cinephilia. I couldn't have seen everything. Here's what I caught. Friday night: Noir City Opening Night Does any other film festival open with a double feature? But then, Noir City may be the … Continue reading Coen ‘n’ Noir
It’s a dark and foggy film festival…and it’s only weeks away
Noir City isn't like most Bay Area Film Festivals. For one thing, they don't show new movies. You could probably stream most of these pictures right now in your home. But it's a lot more fun watching the movies at Oakland's Grand Lake Theater. People dress up for the occasion. Every movie is preceded by … Continue reading It’s a dark and foggy film festival…and it’s only weeks away
My experiences at the Day of Silents
Yes, that's Silents, not Silence. It rained off and on in the Castro neighborhood, but it was dry and joyful (mostly) in the Castro theater. Two days before the Day, cinema made history. A selection of critics released their once-a-decade Sight & Sound of the Best Films of All Time. I'll get to that soon. … Continue reading My experiences at the Day of Silents
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