This is not a Film & Always for Pleasure at the PFA

July 9, 2012July 9, 2012 ~ Lincoln Spector

I attended two separate, and very different events at the Pacific Film Archive last night. This Is Not a Film You really want something this important, this courageous, and this amazing in its very existence to also be exceptionally great. Unfortunately, This is Not a Film doesn't live up artistically to the filmmakers' courage. Iranian … Continue reading This is not a Film & Always for Pleasure at the PFA

French Cancan

June 15, 2012July 5, 2012 ~ Lincoln Spector

I finished French Cancan last night. I say "finished" because I started it Tuesday night, streaming on Hulu Plus. About 25 minutes before the ending, when the big opening night stage show begins, either Hulu or my Internet connectionI started giving me trouble. It would freeze, start, freeze, start, and so on. Forty minutes later … Continue reading French Cancan

SFIFF Closing Night: Don’t Stop Believin’

May 4, 2012May 4, 2012 ~ Lincoln Spector

This year's San Francisco International Film Festival ended with a blast of rock and roll. B+ Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey I've never been a fan of Journey, but this music documentary made me a fan of the band's new lead singer, Arnel Pineda. He's charismatic, energetic, down-to-earth, and funny. He also has a great … Continue reading SFIFF Closing Night: Don’t Stop Believin’

Sing Your Song

January 25, 2012January 25, 2012 ~ Lincoln Spector

Harry Belafonte is a great performer and a great activist. This reverential documentary emphasizes the activism. B Musical & political documentary Directed by Suzanne Rostock My mother was a big Harry Belefonte fan. She loved his singing voice. She very much approved of his political activism. And I suspect she found him very sexy. There … Continue reading Sing Your Song

Vitaphone Shorts at the PFA

September 23, 2011 ~ Lincoln Spector

Last night I attended the screening of ten Vitaphone shorts at the Pacific Film Archive. It was part of their current UCLA Festival of Preservation series. Vitaphone was Warner Brother's early talking film technology, synchronizing image on film with sound on phonograph discs. The system was used for features—the best known being The Jazz Singer—but … Continue reading Vitaphone Shorts at the PFA

Silent Film Festival Winter Event

February 13, 2011 ~ Lincoln Spector

I devoted yesterday at the Silent Film Festival Winter Event. Great way to spend a Saturday. Here are the details: It’s Mutual: Charlie Chaplin Shorts Before the movie started, I visited the retail section on the Castro's mezzanine. At the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum table, I bought a bumper sticker - "Films have a … Continue reading Silent Film Festival Winter Event

Nowhere Boy

November 1, 2010 ~ Lincoln Spector ~ 1 Comment

A My wife and I caught Nowhere Boy Saturday night. I went in knowing a considerable amount about John Lennon’s life. I went out knowing a whole lot more about how his emotional makeup. Or at least more about how some very talented filmmakers assume his makeup to have been. For those who haven’t heard, … Continue reading Nowhere Boy

SFIFF: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea with Stephin Merritt

May 5, 2010 ~ Lincoln Spector ~ 2 Comments

I saw 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea with Stephin Merritt last night (Tuesday night). It will probably be my last event at this year’s San Francisco International Film Festival. What a disappointing way to end an otherwise enjoyable festival! Coincidentally, this was the third silent film event I’ve attended in the last two months where … Continue reading SFIFF: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea with Stephin Merritt

The Gold Rush and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra

April 18, 2010 ~ Lincoln Spector ~ 3 Comments

Friday night, I finally saw Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush properly—a good print with live musical accompaniment. And by the San Francisco Symphony, no less. Definitely the best way to see this wonderful comedy (although in the pantheon of great silent comic features, I still prefer City Lights, The General, and Kid Brother). Like The … Continue reading The Gold Rush and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra

Soul Power

July 15, 2009June 17, 2010 ~ Lincoln Spector

Music Documentary Directed by Jeffrey Levy-Hinte In 1974, many of the greatest African and African-American musicians alive came together in Zaire for a big all-star concert attached to the legendary Muhammad Ali/George Foreman fight. The fight was delayed, but the concert went on as scheduled. But the film version of the Zaire ‘74 concert was … Continue reading Soul Power