Here's what I saw Saturday: B+ Beats of the Antonov This documentary about the current Sudanese civil war starts with a plane dropping bombs on civilians—from the civilian’s point of view. Then, when the bombing is over, laughter breaks out on the soundtrack. In this situation, you need to find something to be happy about. … Continue reading Music, Sex, and Novelists: Saturday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
Category: First-person Report
SFIFF Thursday: Japanese teenagers and Chinese Brothers (but not really)
I left work early Thursday to catch some movies at the San Francisco International Film Festival. I only had time for two. C+ Wonderful World End I’m really not sure what to make of this Japanese teenage drama. Seventeen-year-old Shiori lives with her theater-oriented boyfriend and enjoys some modest fame from her video blog. Then … Continue reading SFIFF Thursday: Japanese teenagers and Chinese Brothers (but not really)
Marlon Brando at the PFA (and the SFIFF)
Monday night I decided to attend the San Francisco International Film Festival without crossing the Bay to San Francisco. So I caught Listen to Me Marlon at the Pacific Film Archive. I've seen a lot of documentaries about movie stars. But I've never before seen one quite like this. Brando recorded his thoughts and feelings … Continue reading Marlon Brando at the PFA (and the SFIFF)
Fashions and fighting: Sunday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
I only caught two films yesterday. A- Iris I started the day with Albert Maysles’ latest film, Iris. What fun! Here's what I thought about it: Iris Apfel, a fixture in the New York fashion scene well in her 90s, dresses herself in loud, bright, and absurd clothes, augmented with even crazier accessories. And yet … Continue reading Fashions and fighting: Sunday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
Bees, detectives, abortions, and more more bees: Saturday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
I caught three films, all narrative features, Saturday at the San Francisco International Film Festival. Two of them were by woman directors; that is, but shouldn't be, unusual. Two of them were about beekeepers. which really is unusual. B+ Mr. Holmes What a life! This weekend, I got to see the newest Sherlock Holmes feature … Continue reading Bees, detectives, abortions, and more more bees: Saturday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
Alex Gibney, Steve Jobs, and opening night for the San Francisco International Film Festival
The San Francisco International Film Festival opened last night with a mercifully short introduction, an excellent film, and a short but interesting Q&A. But the night started off on the wrong foot. When we entered the Castro, we found that almost all of the seats were "Reserved." Only the front three and back five rows … Continue reading Alex Gibney, Steve Jobs, and opening night for the San Francisco International Film Festival
The 50-hour science fiction movie marathon
I promised back in 2012 to tell you about the 50-hour science fiction marathon. As we just passed the 40th anniversary of the event, I think the time has come. For more than two days in March, 1957 1975, I sat with hundreds of other crazy people and watched 25 feature motion pictures starring aliens, … Continue reading The 50-hour science fiction movie marathon
Fort Apache at the Alameda
Tuesday night, I visited the Alameda Theater for the first time, for a screening of John Ford's Fort Apache. This was also my first time seeing this classic on the big screen. The Alameda is a huge, beautiful, art deco theater originally built in 1932. It was, of course, originally built as a single-screen theater. … Continue reading Fort Apache at the Alameda
Marriage and Murder Marathon: Watching five features Saturday at Noir City
I spent Saturday at the Castro for the penultimate day, and the longest day, of this year's Noir City festival. Over the course of nearly 12 hours, the festival screened five feature films about crime, attempted crime, sex, attempted sex, and marriages both nurturing and homicidal. The festival's theme this year is "Til death do … Continue reading Marriage and Murder Marathon: Watching five features Saturday at Noir City
Godard and Wilder: Friday Night at the Pacific Film Archive
What do Jean-Luc Godard and Billy Wilder have in common--aside from the obvious? The Pacific Film Archive is currently running series on both of them: Jean-Luc Godard: Expect Everything from Cinema and Ready for His Close-Up: The Films of Billy Wilder. Friday night, the PFA screened one film from each series. This was not a … Continue reading Godard and Wilder: Friday Night at the Pacific Film Archive
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