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
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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
Keep the Change & The Jewish Film Festival Opening Night
The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival opened Thursday night with Rachel Israel's Keep the Change, a romantic comedy set in the world of serious mental disabilities. That may sound disturbing, but it's lovely and moving. The event started almost on time with a selection of past trailers. All of them were funny, including this year's … Continue reading Keep the Change & The Jewish Film Festival Opening Night
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
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Big Sick, The Little Hours, and Tom Jones
Here's another three movies I've seen recently. A The Big Sick (2017), California Theater (Berkeley) This romantic comedy/drama is like no other I've seen. For one thing, it's based on a true story, written by the couple it happened to, and stars half of that real-life couple. Also, the plot is entirely unique. Boy meets girl. … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Big Sick, The Little Hours, and Tom Jones
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Baby Driver, L’Atalante, & Marriage Italian Style
Three move movies I've seen recently - at home and in theaters. A Baby Driver (2017), Shattuck Cinemas This very entertaining crime thriller provides some of the best choreographed action I've seen in years. More importantly, it's built around an engaging and original character. Baby (Ansel Elgort) is a very young and extremely talented getaway driver. … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Baby Driver, L’Atalante, & Marriage Italian Style
A+ List: Seven Samurai on the big screen
Sunday night, I saw one of cinema's greatest masterpieces, The Seven Samurai, at the Pacific Film Archive. It was the first time I'd seen it on the big screen in maybe 35 years. Which isn't to say that I hadn't seen it plenty of times at home. I've owned this epic on Laserdisc, DVD, a … Continue reading A+ List: Seven Samurai on the big screen
Nowhere to Hide: Powerful, important, & horribly depressing
A- Documentary Directed by Zaradasht Ahmed The experience of sitting through this documentary can best be described as harrowing, gruesome, scary, and deeply depressing. At yet, I have to recommend it. You'll be a better person for seeing Nowhere to Hide. In 2011, as American troops left Iraq, the filmmakers gave a small video camera … Continue reading Nowhere to Hide: Powerful, important, & horribly depressing
What’s Screening: June 16 – 22
Danny Kaye, Batman, Toshiro Mifune, and a silent Dracula hit Bay Area movie screens this week. Also, three new films and two on-going film festivals. Festivals The San Francisco Black Festival continues through Sunday Frameline continues through this week and beyond New films opening B The Women's Balcony, Clay, opens Friday A section of a … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 16 – 22
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