Bach, Keaton, Erdmann, and a lot of film noir play on Bay Area screens in the first week of the Trump regime. Festivals SF Sketchfest continues through the week and beyond, although there are no movie events after Thursday. Noir City opens tonight, and continues into next week. I'm giving this festival its own section … Continue reading What’s Screening: Jan 20 – 26

Here's what's happening in Bay Area movie theaters during what feels like the last week of American democracy. Festivals SF Sketchfest continues through this week and beyond Three double features over the course of three days isn't quite a festival, but this is as good a place as any to mention the Roxie's Paul Verhoeven … Continue reading What’s Screening: Jan 13 – 19

Almodovar, Von Sternberg, Kazan, and a talking pig grace Bay Area screens this week. Also, the first film festivals of 2017. Festivals For Your Consideration opens Friday and runs through Thursday SF Sketchfest opens Thursday New films opening A Julieta, Clay, opens Friday; Rafael, Saturday, 7:30 Middle-aged Julieta (Emma Suárez) runs into an old friend … Continue reading What’s Screening: Jan 6 – 12

We launch the new year with Jack Nicholson, a pajama party, the Mercury astronauts, and stunningly beautiful images. Promising events Pajama Movie Night, Alameda, Saturday Close a truly horrific year with a multiplex movie party. For the regular price of a single movie, you get to watch anything and everything at the Alameda. Also included: … Continue reading What’s Screening: Dec 30 – Jan 5

Terry Gilliam, Billy Wilder, Powell & Pressburger, and Satyajit Ray direct classic films screened this week in the Bay Area. But still no film festivals. New films opening B+ Hidden Figures, AMC Metreon, opens Sunday Here's a feel-good movie that actually has something to feel good about. If you remember anything about the early American … Continue reading What’s Screening: Dec 23 – 29

This week in Bay Area theaters we have Charlie Kaufman, Fred and Ginger, horny nuns, silent shorts, and a whole Brand New Testament. But no film festivals. New films opening A The Brand New Testament, Opera Plaza, Shattuck, Rafael, opens Friday This funny, silly, sacrilegious, and surprisingly touching comedy from Belgium pictures God as a … Continue reading What’s Screening: Dec 16 – 22

I've been down with the flu for the last week, so I missed the Day of Silents. I don't know when I'll be healthy enough to go to a theater without disturbing the people around me. And that's unfortunate, because there's a lot of good stuff playing this week, including the Rafael's eight-film Kirk Douglas … Continue reading What’s Screening: Dec 9 – 15

This week we have Elf and Die Hard and Elf and Die Hard and Elf. Also The Front Page, The Life of Brian, and a rare, wonderful, largely forgotten comedy from the 1960s. Also a full day of silent movies. Festivals We've got two one-day festivals this weekend. And unless I've missed something, these are … Continue reading What’s Screening: Dec 2 – 8

Warren Beatty, Eddie Murphy, the Marx Brothers, and some great musicians (but no film festivals) in this week's Bay Area screenings. New films opening B+ Rules Don't Apply, Shattuck, opened Wednesday Warren Beatty returns to the director's chair for the first time this century, wringing laughs out of billionaire recluse Howard Hughes. Alden Ehrenreich and … Continue reading What’s Screening: Nov 25 – Dec 1

Sex, comedy, Harlem, and John Wayne--along with three film festivals--light up this week's Bay Area screenings. Festivals The 3rd i South Asian Film Festival reopens for one more day on Saturday New Italian Cinema closes Sunday SF Urban Film Fest also closes Sunday New films opening B- Elle, Embarcadero, opens Friday As you'd expect from … Continue reading What’s Screening: Nov 18 – 24