Opening night of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival got off to a slow start, but when the movie finally started--nearly 45 minutes late--it was worth the wait. No, there weren't crowd or (as far as I know) technical problems. The show started on time. It was just that the first part of the show … Continue reading Hava Nagila & Opening Night of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
Category: Festivals
SF Silent Film Festival Report, Day 4
The Mark of ZorroBig fun. I don't think I've seen this theatrically before, and certainly never with so big and enthusiastic a crowd. People cheered, hissed, and laughed on cue. Dennis James kept things lively on the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ, and Fairbanks' antics and stunts were stunning.One thing I noticed about the story: Zorro is, … Continue reading SF Silent Film Festival Report, Day 4
SF Silent Film Festival, Day 3
The Irrepressible Felix the CatThis may have been the first theatrical, 35mm presentation of multiple Felix the Cat cartoons ever. The shorts were wild, crazy, bizarre, surreal, and hilarious. The accompaniment added much to the festivities. Donald Soosan and a drummer who's name I didn't get accompanied some of the shorts. Toychestra--a sextet playing toy … Continue reading SF Silent Film Festival, Day 3
SF Silent Film Festival, Day 2
Amazing Tales From the Vault This year's technical talk concentrated on digital restorations and distribution by major studios, with experts from Paramount and Sony (Columbia). I didn't take notes, so I'll just give you a quick overview: Wings was projected off a DCP Friday night. Paramount has made a 35mm negative and prints of the … Continue reading SF Silent Film Festival, Day 2
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
Jewish Film Festival Preview
I've been able to preview three shows coming to the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, which opens a week from today. Here's what I thought of them: B+ Under African Skies You can find plenty of political music documentaries, but few that examine both sides of a difficult controversy. This doc, which examines the making … Continue reading Jewish Film Festival Preview
Oslo, August 31
A- drama Written by Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier Directed by Joachim Trier Early in Oslo, August 31, a young man leaves the home of a beautiful woman he has just slept with, and attempts suicide. We know this is not going to be a happy picture. The young man is Anders (Anders Danielsen Lie), … Continue reading Oslo, August 31
San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
This morning, one month before opening night, I attended the press conference announcing this year's San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. It will run in seven different venues around the Bay Area from July 19 through August 6. The largest runs will be at the Castro and Berkeley's Roda Theater. A few noteworthy items: A lot … Continue reading San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
Your Sister’s Sister
A- Romantic comedy Written and directed by Lynn Shelton Let's start with the title. Your Sister's Sister seems like a clumsy way of say your other sister or you. But since two of the three characters that dominate this movie are sisters who have to work out a close but problematic relationship, the title is … Continue reading Your Sister’s Sister
Life 2.0
When I saw this documentary at the 2010 San Francisco Film Festival, I was informed that it would likely receive a theatrical run. It never did--at least in the San Francisco Bay Area (I understand that it had brief runs in LA and NY). Since it's available on DVD and download through various outlets, I … Continue reading Life 2.0
Bayflicks 