The Jewish Film Festival WinterFest closed only a few days ago, and we already have another Jewish film festival coming up. The East Bay Jewish Film Festival doesn't take place in Oakland or Berkeley, but much farther east, in the more suburban towns of Pleasant Hill and Livermore. I've seen some of the films - … Continue reading The Jewish Film Festival on the other side of the hills
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Movies I’ve Recently Seen: They Shall Not Grow Old, The Tin Drum, Cold War, & Howards End
I had great luck watching movies lately. All of these are very much worth catching. A They Shall Not Grow Old (2018), Grand Lake I generally disapprove of colorizing and other technologies that make old movies look new, but this is different. The British cameramen who, more than 100 years ago, shot what would become Peter … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: They Shall Not Grow Old, The Tin Drum, Cold War, & Howards End
British & Yiddish Film Festivals in February
February may have been the cruelest month for T. S. Eliot, but for Bay Area movie lovers, it's not that bad. Here are two festivals running in 2019's second month. Mostly British Film Festival February 14 - 21 Vogue If you like foreign films, but hate subtitles, this is the festival for you. None of … Continue reading British & Yiddish Film Festivals in February
Movies for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
If there's anyone in American history worthy of celebrating, it's the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. And so, come next Monday, we'll celebrate him by going shopping on a day where we'd usually go to work or school. After all, it's too cold and wet for barbeque. Not really the best way to honor … Continue reading Movies for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Destroyer: Nicole Kidman as one tough dame
B+ Crime thriller Written by Fred Berger, Phil Hay, & Matt Manfredi Directed by Karyn Kusama Crime and grime penetrate Los Angeles in this very dark noir. The deeply dense plot works mostly as a structure for presenting atmosphere and character. But then, in the last few minutes, that plot suddenly becomes clear and everything … Continue reading Destroyer: Nicole Kidman as one tough dame
My 15 Best Moviegoing Experiences of 2018
I went to the movies quite a bit in 2018, and it was often a wonderful experience. I attended six (I think) Bay Area film festivals, numerous special presentations, and just plain really good movies. In May, I flew to Rochester, New York for the Nitrate Picture Show. For four days of screenings and museum … Continue reading My 15 Best Moviegoing Experiences of 2018
San Francisco Film Critics Circle 2018 Awards
The San Francisco Film Critics Circle - an organization to which I do not belong - announced Sunday its 2018 awards. Here they are, with my commentary in purple. Not all of these films have yet played in Bay Area theaters outside of festivals, but they all will play before December 31. Best Picture Roma … Continue reading San Francisco Film Critics Circle 2018 Awards
Kanopy: The free FilmStruck alternative
In last week's article about FilmStruck alternatives, I didn't go into detail about Kanopy - the free streaming service you can access through your library card. The problem was that my card is with the Alameda Public Library, which doesn't qualify. Soon after I posted that article, I discovered that I can get a library … Continue reading Kanopy: The free FilmStruck alternative
The Pending Death of FilmStruck
Admittedly, much worse things have popped up in the news lately. The end of a movie streaming service doesn't mean much compared to a mass killing in a house of worship. But for American cinephiles, the sudden announcement about closing Filmstruck feels like the pending death of a too-young good friend. It's been only two … Continue reading The Pending Death of FilmStruck
The West meets Islam on the Mill Valley Film Festival’s penultimate day
I saw three films Saturday at the Mill Valley Film Festival - all at the Rafael. Two were narratives, one was a documentary. All three dealt with the line between Islam and the West. A- Northern WindThis essentially serious film offers flashes of humor while studying the universality of working-class struggle. Two blue-collar men, who … Continue reading The West meets Islam on the Mill Valley Film Festival’s penultimate day
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