The Black Power Mixtape 1967–1975

September 21, 2011June 13, 2011 ~ Lincoln Spector ~ 2 Comments

B+ Documentary Directed by Göran Hugo Olsson The nature of the civil rights movement changed dramatically in the mid-to-late 1960’s, abandoning non-violence and attacking the heart of the American government. This American/Swedish documentary tracks the Black Power movement from Stokely Carmichael’s 1967 heyday until heroin ravaged Harlem in 1975. The picture starts out by explaining … Continue reading The Black Power Mixtape 1967–1975

Wings of Defeat

September 12, 2011September 3, 2011 ~ Lincoln Spector

I wrote this review in 2008, after previewing this documentary before its screening at the San Francisco Asian American Film Festival. I held back the full-length review for the film's planned theatrical release. I feel now that I've held it back long enough, so I'm posting it now. Unfortunately, Wings of Defeat isn't available in any form. Historical … Continue reading Wings of Defeat

Shaolin

September 7, 2011 ~ Lincoln Spector ~ 3 Comments

B+ Period action film One expects monks—at least of the Buddhist variety—to abhor violence. Yet the Shaolin Temple is known as an important center of Kung Fu. The monks in Benny Chan’s new period piece hate bloodshed, but they still get to beat up a lot of bad guys. The movie starts with a pacifistic … Continue reading Shaolin

Days of Heaven At the Cerrito

August 12, 2011 ~ Lincoln Spector ~ 1 Comment

I first saw Terrence Malick’s historical, visually poetic epic, Days of Heaven, in 1978. It was brand new back then, and I saw it in 70mm, at San Francisco’s now-defunct Regency II. I saw it a second time last night at the Cerrito. I’m pleased to report that it is still a great film. Which … Continue reading Days of Heaven At the Cerrito

Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff

July 27, 2011 ~ Lincoln Spector ~ 1 Comment

B+ Documentary Few filmmakers understood color as well as British cinematographer Jack Cardiff. And those who did understand have Cardiff to thank for it. Early in Craig McCall’s documentary, an aged Cardiff (he died in 2009 at the age of 94) describes his first interview with Technicolor, which had just opened a lab in England. … Continue reading Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff

Life, Above All

July 20, 2011May 16, 2011 ~ Lincoln Spector ~ 2 Comments

A drama Written by Dennis Foon and Oliver Schmit Directed by Oliver Schmit Children must often carry greater and more difficult burdens than they should bear. Occasionally, an unusually capable child is up to the task. That's the case with Chanda (Khomotso Manyaka) in this remarkably touching and emotional film from South Africa. Only 12 … Continue reading Life, Above All

Terri

July 13, 2011June 28, 2011 ~ Lincoln Spector ~ 1 Comment

A Teenage comedy/drama Written by Patrick deWitt Directed by Azazel Jacobs Terri (newcomer Jacob Wysocki) has problems well beyond those of your average adolescent. For one thing, he’s extremely overweight. He lives with a mentally-ill uncle. He dresses only in pajamas, and gets to school late almost every day. On the upside, the school’s guidance … Continue reading Terri

Jewish Film Festival Preview

July 4, 2011 ~ Lincoln Spector

I’ve managed now to preview four films for the upcoming San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, three of them documentaries. Here’s what I thought about them: A- 100 Voices: A Journey Home, Castro, Thursday, July 28, 8:15 (San Francisco closing night); Oshman Family JCC, Wednesday, August 3, 6:15; Roda, Thursday, August 4, 6:40. In 2009, documentarians … Continue reading Jewish Film Festival Preview

Pictures at a Revolution: Five Movies and the Birth of the New Hollywood

June 19, 2011May 17, 2017 ~ Lincoln Spector ~ 1 Comment

By early 1968, Hollywood was finally beginning to realize that nothing would ever be the same again. “Warren Beatty, who looked like a movie star, had become a producer. Dustin Hoffman, who looked like a producer, had become a movie star. And Sidney Poitier, who looked like no other movie star had ever looked, had … Continue reading Pictures at a Revolution: Five Movies and the Birth of the New Hollywood

Sixty Six

June 13, 2011June 13, 2011 ~ Lincoln Spector ~ 2 Comments

Note: I wrote this review after screening this film for the 2008 San Francisco Film Festival, and saved it as a draft, waiting for a theatrical release that never happened. I've discovered today that it's available for instant streaming on Netflix, so I'm posting it now. B Coming-of-age comedy Written by Peter Straughan and Bridget O’Connor, from … Continue reading Sixty Six