My love of cinema started with Jerry Lewis. Visit to a Small Planet is the earliest film I remember loving. I don't love it anymore. I tried twice to watch it in recent years, but couldn't get passed the first few minutes. After reading his obituary Sunday, and forced myself to watch Planet all the … Continue reading Jerry Lewis and Me
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Death and virtual life in Marjorie Prime
A- Futuristic drama Written by Michael Almereyda; from the play by Jordan Harrison Directed by Michael Almereyda One of the hardest parts about losing a loved one is the knowledge that you will never talk to them again and hear a response. This moody, near-future drama posits a way that you just might be able … Continue reading Death and virtual life in Marjorie Prime
Fanny’s Journey: Children on the run
A Holocaust thriller Written by Lola Doillon and Anne Peyregne; based on the book by Fanny Ben Ami Directed by Lola Doillon [Note: I wrote this review, after previewing the film before the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, with the intention of posting it before the picture's theatrical release. I changed my plan Sunday morning, … Continue reading Fanny’s Journey: Children on the run
A Night at the PFA: Booth tour and Shadows of Our Forgotten Ancestors
Wednesday night, my wife and I attended a Pacific Film Archive screening of Sergei Paradjanov's Shadows of Our Forgotten Ancestors. But before the movie, I got a special treat: A tour of the projection booth by projectionist Gibbs Chapman. The crowded booth contains five different projectors - three film, two digital - as well as … Continue reading A Night at the PFA: Booth tour and Shadows of Our Forgotten Ancestors
Jewish Film Festival: Planetarium isn’t much to look up to
I caught an 8:45 SF Jewish Film Festival screening of Planetarium Tuesday night. Unfortunately, the movie wasn't worth watching. The story was absurd, and worse, its execution was dull and boring. Only one of the three main characters was at all interesting, and we never really got to know her. The film follows the adventures of … Continue reading Jewish Film Festival: Planetarium isn’t much to look up to
Survivor documentaries: Sunday at the Jewish Film Fest
Attending the SanFrancisco Jewish Film Festival in the East Bay is an entirely different social experience than going to any other festival...at least it is for me. When I go to most festivals, I socialize with other cinephiles - people I've come to know and befriend because we all love cinema. But at the Jewish … Continue reading Survivor documentaries: Sunday at the Jewish Film Fest
Before and after the Holocaust: Saturday at the SF Jewish Film Fest
I caught two movies Saturday at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. The first was set just before official anti-Semitism turned into genocide. The second one was set right after the war. Voyage of the Damned This big-budget overstuffed turkey from 1976 tells an important and largely true story, and one that's exceptionally important today. … Continue reading Before and after the Holocaust: Saturday at the SF Jewish Film Fest
