The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival continues through the week. The Brainwash Movie Festival reopens for tonight and Saturday night. And the Japan Film Festival opens Saturday and runs through to next week. As usual, I've placed festival events at the bottom of the newsletter. But first, a re-evaluation of a film that I returned … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 26 – August 1

Sorry about the complete lack of a newsletter last week. I prepared one before going on vacation, but in the confusion of getting out of the house, I forgot to post it.Anyway, the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, which opened last night, continues through Sunday. The Brainwash Drive-In/Bike-In/Walk-In Movie Festival opens Friday and runs weekend … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 19 – 25

No film festivals in the Bay Area this week. But there are a few films I can tell you about (and I do mean a few). A The Night of the Hunter, Castro, Thursday. Widow and mother Shelley Winters makes a very bad choice for a second husband--a cruel, sanctimonious, violent, and criminally insane preacher … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 5 – 11

How lucky that the Supreme Court upheld marriage equality in the middle of this year's Frameline LGBT Film Festival, which runs through Sunday. The Broncho Billy Silent Film Festival starts tonight and also runs through Sunday. As usual, I've placed Festival events at the end of this newsletter. A Twenty Feet from Stardom, Shattuck, Rafael, … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 28 – July 4

No festivals open this week. But  DocFest continues through Sunday, while Frameline runs through the week and a bit beyond. I put my Frameline recommendations and warnings at the end of this newsletter. A A Hijacking, Elmwood, Embarcadero, Rafael, opens Friday. This isn’t your typical, fun, swashbuckling pirate movie. One truly harrowing thriller, A Hijacking … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 21 – 27

In festival news, DocFest continues through this week. The Hitchcock 9 runs from tonight through Sunday. And Frameline opens Thursday night. I've separated the festival screenings below. A Much Ado About Nothing, Albany, Aquarius, Century San Francisco Centre 9, opens Friday. Most of us don’t associate Joss Whedon with Shakespeare, yet he's done wonders with … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 14 – 20

DocFest continues this week and beyond. You'll find my totally non-fiction festival recommendations and warnings at the bottom of this newsletter. A On the Town, Cerrito, Thursday, 7:00. Three sailors arrive in New York for a 24-hour leave. That’s precious little time to see the sights, drink in the atmosphere, and fall in love. What … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 7 – 13

The Green Film Festival continues through Wednesday. Charlie Chaplin Days takes over not just the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum but the whole neighborhood of Niles. DocFest opens Thursday. And here's something heartening. The CineMark Classic Series has been so successful that they're expanding it, adding a Sunday matinee to the existing Wednesday afternoon and … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 31 – June 6

The Playground Film Festival continues through Saturday, while the Green Film Festival opens Thursday. Other than that, not much going on that I can tell you about. A- What Maisie Knew, Embarcadero, Albany, opens Friday. This family drama follows the aftereffects of a very angry, messy, and vindictive divorce–as seen through the eyes of the … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 24 – 30

The Playground Film Festival keeps on going. And if you need something noirish, I Wake Up Dreaming continues through the week. And this week, the Balboa starts Popcorn Palace, a series of kiddie matinees every Saturday at 10:00am. The series starts with a collection of independent, child-friendly, animated shorts. B Something in the Air, Opera … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 17 – 23