Grapes of wrath in a red desert beneath the colors of the mountain…where samurais search for German gems. Finally, some festivals! For Your Consideration: A Selection of Oscar Submissions From Around the World runs through the week at the Rafael. And German Gems plays the Castro on Saturday, then heads north to Point Arena for … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 13 – 19

Yet another Bay Area week without a single film festival. A The Mill and the Cross, Castro, Wednesday. Painting with the wide palette that 21st century cinema allows, Lech Majewski creates a masterwork about Bruegel creating The Way to Calvary--one of his masterworks. True to Bruegel’s style, the film starts with the day-to-day lives of … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 6 – 12

It’s a wonderful life for a reincarnated artist who will melt with you while singin’ in the rain. All playing this week in San Francisco Bay Area Theaters. Still no December festivals, but you can read about the January ones. On the other hand, the Castro will screen four musical double bills, which between them … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 23 – 29

Still no festivals, but this strange December phenomenon won’t last. German Gems and Noir City have already been announced for January. Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, Shattuck , Saturday, 10:00; Castro, Sunday. I’ve only seen this on Mystery Science Theater 3000, so I can’t formally judge this cinematic work on its own merits. Neverheless, I’ll … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 16 – 22

I guess film festivals and the holiday season don’t mix. For the second week in a row, no festivals. A The Artist, Embarcadero, opens Friday. Michel Hazanavicius just made a silent movie about the death of silent movies. Even more amazing than that, he pulls it off, creating a warm, funny, heartfelt, and occasionally sad … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 2 – 8

Want to read something really amazing? There are no film festivals in the Bay Area this week. At least, none that I know of. But there are some good movies. A Steamboat Bill Jr., Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, Saturday, 7:30. One of Buster Keaton’s best, both as a performer and as the auteur responsible for the … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 25–December 1

The flood of festivals is slowing down. New Italian Cinema and the Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival both end Sunday. And amazingly enough, nothing else is on the immediate horizon. A Harry Potter Marathon, Castro, Saturday and Sunday. Here’s your chance to see all eight Harry Potter movies, over two days, on the Castro’s giant … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 18 – 24

Both the Animation Festival and 3rd i South Asian Film Festival continue through Sunday. And on that very Sunday, New Italian Cinema opens. The Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival keeps on going. C California State of Mind: The Legacy of Pat Brown, Film Society/New People Cinema, Thursday. Do you know who shouldn’t make a documentary about … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 11 – 17