The San Francisco International Film Festival is over for another year. But fear not, festival fans. Hola México started its six-day run at the Embarcadero last night, and I Still Wake Up Dreaming: Noir Is Dead! / Long Live Noir! starts its two-week run at the Roxie Thursday night. So let’s see what else is … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 7 – 13
Category: Weekly Newsletter
What’s Screening: April 30 – May 6
The San Francisco International Film Festival continues through Thursday, and dominates this newsletter. I’ll start with the non-festival recommendations and warnings. The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers, Elmwood, Thursday, May 6, 7:15. I haven’t seen this (relatively) widely-released documentary, and therefore have no opinion on its quality. But I’d … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 30 – May 6
What’s Screening: April 23 – 29
The San Francisco International Film Festival continues through this week at various locations. My festival-related blurbs are at the bottom of the newsletter. I’m also devoting a special section to the Castro’s Stanley Kubrick section. Roots of Animation, Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, Saturday night, 7:30. This collection of silent cartoons starts with a short … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 23 – 29
What’s Screening: April 16 – 22
The Sonoma International Film Festival continues through Sunday, and the San Francisco International Film Festival opens Thursday. And we’ve got an earthquake to commemorate. A- The Palm Beach Story, Stanford, Saturday through Tuesday. No one wrote and directed screwball comedies as well as Preston Sturges, and if this one doesn’t quite come up to the brilliant … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 16 – 22
What’s Screening: April 9 – 15
This is a great week for silent movie lovers. We’ve got The Gold Rush with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Sunrise with organ accompaniment (it usually plays with the original Movietone track), and Sherlock Jr. with hip-hop. On the festival beat, the Sonoma International Film Festival starts its four-day run on Thursday. A The Gold … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 9 – 15
What’s Screening: April 2 – 8
I’m trying to get back into the swing of things after my mother’s death. Expect this newsletter to be short. I missed the San Francisco International Film Festival press conference on Tuesday, but I have the press kit. I’ll get to it probably on Sunday. B+ The President’s Analyst, Castro, Wednesday. This little comedy from … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 2 – 8
No Newsletter This Week
Sorry, folks, but no newsletter this week. My mother died Sunday morning. Obviously, seeing what’s playing isn’t the top thing on my mind. (Yes, posts went up Monday and Wednesday, but they were already written and set to go live automatically.)
What’s Screening: March 19 – 25
The Asian American Film Festival plays through Sunday, and the Tiburon International Film Festival continue through the week. Creature Features Presents Horror Express, Balboa, Thursday, 7:00. Bay area film buffs old enough to remember TV before the VCR have fond memories of KTVU (channel 2)’s late night series Creature Features. Each week, host Bob Wilkins--or … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 19 – 25
More Screenings of Playland
In my newsletter Friday morning, I mentioned the premiere screening of Remembering Playland at the Beach at the Balboa Tuesday evening. I’ve just discovered that the screening has sold out. But there will be extra screenings Wednesday at 7:00 and 9:15, and next Saturday at 12:00 noon. Filmmaker Tom Wyrsch will be at all of … Continue reading More Screenings of Playland
What’s Screening: March 12 – 18
Slim pickings this week. If it wasn’t for the Stanford’s Kurosawa series, there would hardly be anything. I hope to soon get back into the festival routine, which would give me much more to write about for weeks like this one. The Asian American Film Festival continues through the week. And the Tiburon International Film … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 12 – 18