I'm coming back from the Castro's major marathon: The San Francisco Silent Film Festival. After the opening Wednesday night, there were four days of very old movies and live music. Each day started at 11:00am, and most of the last films of the day started at about 9:00pm. Opening night with The Iron Mask I'm … Continue reading Four long (and enjoyable) days of silents

Two of my favorite festivals will be playing this week. Outside of the fests (and in them), several worthwhile comedies are playing in Bay Area movie theaters. Festivals & Series The San Francisco Silent Film Festival closes Sunday The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival opens Thursday The San Francisco Frozen Film Festival closes Sunday Festival … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 14 – 20

Last week, I gave you five reviews of films that will play at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. Here's another four. That way you know what you should see (if your taste in movies is like mine). The festival runs from July 20 to August 6. [[I made a mistake when I posted this … Continue reading Jewish Film Festival Previews: Part 2

It is not a movie.

Several vintage films from famous directors will screen in Bay Area theaters this week. There are films by Steven Spielberg, Louis Malle, Philip Kaufman (in person), Jean-Luc Goddard, Richard Lester, Pedro Almodovar, Brad Bird, Bob Fosse, Sergio Leone, Blake Edwards, John Waters, and two from Mike Nichols. But we'll start with two films from the … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 2 – 8

The word of the week in Bay Area cinema is Hitchcock. Eleven films from the master of suspense will play on the big screen, thanks to the Balboa. Festivals & Series The Alfred Hitchcock Festival starts Friday and runs until ends Monday The SF DocFest opens Thursday Festival Recommendations: Alfred Hitchcock festival A+ Rear Window … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 26 – June 1

I missed Blackberry at SFFilm, and it's nowhere playing in the East Bay. It looks like cinema is dying. What can we do? First of all, get off the couch and go see a movie. Here are five films that I've seen in May. Three were new and I saw them theatrically. In each of … Continue reading Movies I’ve recently seen: Chevalier ֍ Air ֍ The Last Seduction ֍ Bend of the River ֍ Book Club: The Next Chapter

The Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive, also known as BAMPFA, is one of only two movie theaters within Berkeley's city limits. BAMPFA, which is part of the university, doesn't just show movies. It runs series of films. And this summer's series looks very good. There's animation, Claudia Cardinale, Luis Buñuel, movies set in Tokyo, and … Continue reading Serious Cinema and Having Fun at BAMPFA

At the end of every month, The Criterion Channel removes a lot of films from their streaming library. Here are some of the best of those that will disappear after 12:59 pm. don't worry too much; some will pop up on the Channel in a year or two. Full recommendations A+ Days of Heaven (1978) … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion at the end of May

The SFFilm Festival opens tonight at the Grand Lake with Stephen Curry: Underrated. I haven't seen it. Since my last preview article, I've seen three other three films and here's what I thought about them. From now on, I'll be attending the festival in the flesh. A Peafowl Modern sexual freedom rubs badly against aged … Continue reading SFFilm Fest Previews, Part 2