B+ Biographical drama Written by Tom Edge, from the the stage play End of the Rainbow Directed by Rupert Goold Yes, Renée Zellweger gives an incredible performance as Judy Garland. She looks like her. She acts like her. She even, I think, sings like her. She almost completely disappears into the character. Only occasionally, and … Continue reading Renée Zellweger brings Judy to life
Category: Music
Great Movies are Better on the Big Screen
Who would shell out money and travel across town to see a movie they already own on Blu-ray? I would. Nothing you can do in your own home competes with the theatrical experience. Within the last 10 days, my wife and I bought tickets and crossed town to see two favorites on the big screen: … Continue reading Great Movies are Better on the Big Screen
Another Woodstock Documentary?
B Historical documentary Directed by Barak Goodman Do we really need another documentary about a certain 1969 music festival? After all, Michael Wadleigh's epic film became one of the most beloved documentaries of all time - at least for people in my generation. Well, yes, we do. Wadleigh's combination of concert film and celebration of … Continue reading Another Woodstock Documentary?
Two More Film Festivals in mid-July
They just keep on coming! San Francisco Frozen Film Festival July 18 - 23 Most film festivals concentrate on features. This one is all about the shorts - small, low-budget flicks with short running times. It opens July 18 with a party at PianoFight, accompanied by Best Virtual Reality Screenings, and followed by a midnight … Continue reading Two More Film Festivals in mid-July
Harmonia: Genesis and classical music in my last Jewish Film Fest screening
Today (Sunday) is the last day of this year's San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. But I'm not attending the Festival today. Therefore, the one movie I saw yesterday closed out the Festival for me. Luckily, it was a really good film. A- Harmonia This wonderful musical drama places the Biblical story of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael, … Continue reading Harmonia: Genesis and classical music in my last Jewish Film Fest screening
A+ List: Stop Making Sense at the Elmwood
Great films can affect you in different ways. Some make you laugh, cry, or think. But the Talking Heads concert movie, Stop Making Sense, makes you want to jump out of your seat and dance. I saw this 1984 film two or three times long ago at the UC Theatre, and people were dancing in … Continue reading A+ List: Stop Making Sense at the Elmwood
Saturday at SFFilm Festival
Weddings and music go together. They certainly did Saturday, as the topics of the two San Francisco International Film Festival screenings I attended. The Wedding Ring The first film financed entirely with African money takes a look at women's choices - specifically choices of whom one marries in a traditional, class-based, Muslim society. Tiyaa (Magaajyia … Continue reading Saturday at SFFilm Festival
Russian Ark & Buena Vista Social Club: Saturday night at the Pacific Film Archive
I saw Aleksandr Sokurov's Russian Ark and Wim Wender's Buena Vista Social Club Saturday night at the Pacific Film Archive. The first film was part of the ongoing series Guided Tour: Museums in Cinema. The second one closed the long-running series Wim Wenders: Portraits Along the Road. But they had an interesting thing in common. … Continue reading Russian Ark & Buena Vista Social Club: Saturday night at the Pacific Film Archive
Frank Zappa doc forces you to Eat That Question
B- Documentary Directed by Thorsten Schütte Early in this documentary on the legendary musician and provocateur, Frank Zappa insists that you can't possibly know someone from an interview. It's artificial; it's unpleasant; it's only two steps away from the Inquisition. And that captures the film's biggest problem. We hear a lot of Zappa's words, but … Continue reading Frank Zappa doc forces you to Eat That Question
The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble
A- Music documentary Directed by Morgan Neville In the year 2000, cellist Yo-Yo Ma decided to take his musical career in a new direction. He gathered up musicians from various countries, all experts in their own cultures' music, and created The Silk Road Ensemble. The idea was to find the beauty in their different traditions … Continue reading The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble
