Film festivals are always more exciting on weekends. There's more movies to watch, and more people to watch them with. Here's what I saw Saturday at the SFFilm Festival. State of the Cinema Rapper and filmmaker Boots Riley gave this year's State of the Cinema address. As one would expect from the very political Riley, … Continue reading Boots Riley, a British Spy, & AOC: Saturday at the SFFilm Fest
Category: First-person Report
A beach vacation, Connecting with food, John C. Reilly, & and a very gruesome western: Friday at the SFFilm Festival
When I planned for Friday's moviegoing at the SFFilm Festival, I failed to consider geography. I started at a movie at the Roxie - in the Mission. Then I had to dash to the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts - in the financial district. Then to the Castro. BART and Muni Metro made a … Continue reading A beach vacation, Connecting with food, John C. Reilly, & and a very gruesome western: Friday at the SFFilm Festival
Afghan Cinema, Laura Linney, & a Dysfunctional Family: Thursday at the SFFilm Festival
Thursday was the first full day of this year's SFFilm Festival, and I managed two events that day. I liked them both very much. What We Left Unfinished Afghanistan had a strong film industry when the Soviet Union controlled the country, but it was destroyed when fundamentalist Islam replaced fundamentalist Communism. Afghan-American filmmaker Mariam Ghani … Continue reading Afghan Cinema, Laura Linney, & a Dysfunctional Family: Thursday at the SFFilm Festival
It Happened One Night one afternoon at BAMPFA
Almost every Wednesday afternoon at 3:10, BAMPFA screens a film with a lecture or discussion in one of their In Focus series. This Wednesday, I finally got to one. Perhaps that's because they were screening Frank Capra's 1934 classic It Happened One Night. But also because I believe that screenwriters don't get enough credit, and … Continue reading It Happened One Night one afternoon at BAMPFA
German Expressionism & Marvel Superheroes: How I spent my Sunday
I saw two movies on the big screen Sunday, and they couldn't have been more different. First, at BAMPFA, a late silent noir from Germany. Second, at the United Artists Berkeley 7, a new animated take on Spider-Man. I have to say that Spider-Man was the better movie. Asphalt at the BAMPFA Alas, Louise Brooks … Continue reading German Expressionism & Marvel Superheroes: How I spent my Sunday
Last Day at Noir City
The Castro was nearly empty for the last double bill of this year's Noir City - a stark contrast to Saturday night's packed house. I think there was some sort of ball game going on. Sunday had only one double bill, but the show went all day. You could start watching the whole double bill … Continue reading Last Day at Noir City
Saturday at Noir City…plus Laurel and Hardy
Saturday was a crazy day of moviegoing. Not only did I watch four Noir City feature films at the Castro, but I also caught four Laurel and Hardy shorts on the other side of the bay. And the crazy thing is I had previously seen seven of the eight films. With some of them, I … Continue reading Saturday at Noir City…plus Laurel and Hardy
M & Not Wanted at BAMPFA
I spent Sunday afternoon at the BAMPFA, where I watched a recognized masterpiece and a lesser-known disappointment. M It had been a long time since I'd seen Fritz Lang's first talkie on the big screen, and it was as wonderful as I expected. Maybe more. Lang shows us a Germany sinking into corruption, depression, and … Continue reading M & Not Wanted at BAMPFA
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
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
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