Ozu, Cooper, and a whole lot of Hitchcock in this week's Bay Area screenings. Festivals Alfred Hitchcock Weekends opens today and runs through Monday, then closes for the workweek before coming back next weekend. The California Independent Film Festival opens Thursday And although it's not really a festival, the New Mission is running Septemburton, a … Continue reading What’s Screening: September 2 – 8

Two relationship movies open this week--one of them about the Obamas. Also Preston Sturges, Ray Harryhausen, Alfred Hitchcock, and a Mexican film festival. Festivals The Hola Mexico Film Festival opens tonight and runs through Sunday, screening ten Mexican films over the weekend. New films opening B+ The Intervention, Roxie, opens Friday Over a weekend getaway, a … Continue reading What’s Screening: August 26 – September 1

Short films, funny films, scary films, but no film festivals in the Bay Area this week. Last week, I confessed that I wrote the newsletter a bit early, and therefore it might not be entirely accurate. This one is even earlier. I wrote it on August 2. I promise that next week the newsletter will … Continue reading What’s Screening: August 12 – 18

This week's Bay Area screenings include a Burt Reynolds marathon, a monster-in-the-museum double bill, and the happy feet of Fred and Ginger. But be advised: For personal reasons, I prepared this newsletter on Monday, August 2. Parts of it may be out of date. Festivals Of the five film festivals that graced the Bay Area … Continue reading What’s Screening: August 5 – 11

We still have five local film festivals; the same ones that ran last week. But we also killer robots, Cuban and French musicians, a lot of Russians, and James Cagney doing Shakespeare. Festivals The Women Sports Film Festival ends Saturday. The (Not Just) Hong Kong Action Film Series closes Sunday. The Japan Film Festival also … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 29 – August 4

We've got five film festivals running this week, along with a lot of very good classic movies. Festivals The (Not Just) Hong Kong Action Film Series continues through July weekends, and also has Wednesday and Thursday screenings this week. The Frozen Film Festival continues through Saturday. The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival runs through this … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 22 – 28

We've got a ridiculously large selection of great classics screening this week--most of them at the Pacific Film Archive. Festivals The (Not Just) Hong Kong Action Film Series continues Saturday & Sunday The Frozen Film Festival opens Thursday Also opening Thursday: The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. You can read my capsule reviews of films … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 15 – 21

Bruce Lee, John Wayne, Bugs Bunny, and pregnant nuns grace this week's Bay Area screenings. And not only Bugs Bunny. This weekend we get two collections of Loony Tune classics, both in 35mm. Festivals The (Not Just) Hong Kong Action Film Series continues Friday through Sunday, as it will throughout July. New films opening B+ … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 8 – 14

Hong Kong action, Frank Zappa, Harry Dean Stanton, and a talking pig grace Bay Area screens this week. Festivals I'm not sure if I should count the (Not Just) Hong Kong Action Film Series as a festival. Indiefest is calling it a series, but with three of four films screening most Saturdays and Sundays, it … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 1 – 7

World music, Lusty Men, and a Roman Holiday this week in Bay Area screenings. Festivals Frameline continues through Sunday. Check out my preview. The Broncho Billy Silent Film Festival opens tonight and runs through Sunday. I'll be introducing the final film of the festival, The Scarlet Letter, Sunday, 4:00, at the Niles Essanay Silent Film … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 24 – 30