The Tiburon International Film Festival closes tonight, and the  San Francisco International Film Festival opens Thursday. A Cheatin', Elmwood, Roxie, opens Friday. Visuals reflect emotional states in this dialog-free romance by Bill Plympton, arguably the strangest, most brilliant animator around. For instance, when a wife reaches out to touch her estranged husband, her hand keeps … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 17- 23

Both the Tiburon International Film Festival and the Buddhist Film Festival play through this week. A Kill Me Three Times, Opera Plaza, Shattuck, opens Friday. Simon Pegg stars as a professional killer surrounded by amateurs in this very funny thriller from Australia. This is the sort of movie where a gruesome, bloody murder is interrupted … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 10 – 16

The Tiburon International Film Festival officially opens Thursday, although the first movie screening will be the following Friday. But here are a few movies actually playing this week: B+ Girlhood, Elmwood, opens Friday. Considering Marieme’s family situation, it’s no surprise she’s doing badly in school. Her mother works long hours and is rarely home. There’s no … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 3 – 9

The Sonoma International Film Festival runs Through Sunday, which is the only day for the Albany Film Festival. B The Wrecking Crew, Opera Plaza, Rafael, Shattuck, opens Friday. Now you can meet the artists behind the addictive riffs on “Da Doo Ron Ron,” "California Dreamin’," and the theme music for Mission: Impossible. This mostly entertaining … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 27 – April 2

We've got three festivals this week: CAAMFest finishes its run on Sunday. A Rare Noir is Good to Find closes Monday. The Sonoma International Film Festival opens Wednesday. A Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine, Elmwood, opens Friday. If a film makes me cry, it gets an A. This documentary about the horrific, homophobic … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 20 – 26

We've got two current film festivals for you. CAAMFest continues its run through this week and beyond, while A Rare Noir is Good to Find opens Thursday. B+ Magician: The life and times of Citizen Welles, Opera Plaza, Rafael, Shattuck, opens Friday. Every cinephile must contemplate the strange phenomenon of Orson Welles. His first film, … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 13 – 19

In the festival scene, Cinequest continues through Sunday, and CAAMFest starts Thursday. A+ The Crowd, California Theatre (San Jose), Friday, 7:30. A young man comes to New York, dreaming of success and wealth. But reality refuses to live up to his dreams–perhaps because he dreams too much– in King Vidor’s silent masterpiece. Told with daring … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 6 – 12

The Noise Pop Film Festival continues through Sunday, while Cinequest runs through this week and beyond. Here's what else is screening: A Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem, Embarcadero, Rafael, Shattuck, opens Friday. Viviane Amsalem moved out of her husband’s home years ago. But her remote and stubborn spouse won’t give her a divorce. The … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 27 – March 5

The Noise Pop Film Festival opens today (Friday). And Cinequest opens Tuesday. And the Oscars are Sunday. Oscar Parties, Balboa, Cerrito, Lark, Rafael, Roxie, Sunday, click on these theater links for starting times and more information. Yes, both the awards and the ceremonies tend towards the ridiculous. But the show is usually entertaining, and sometimes, … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 20 – 26

aIndieFest and the Mostly British Film Festival continue through this week. A Romeo & Juliet (1967 version), Castro, Saturday, 8:00. Star Leonard Whiting in person. Franco Zeffirelli’s version of Shakespeare’s popular romantic tragedy changed forever how filmmakers approached the Bard–and changed it for the better. Beautiful, violent, funny, sexy, sad, and lusciously romantic, it makes … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 13 – 19