Now that the big festival is winding down, I have time to tell you about a smaller one coming up. On Saturday, April 28, Cinema Italia San Francisco will take over the Castro for an Homage to Michelangelo Antonioni. This one-day film festival will screen five of his major works - three in 35mm; two … Continue reading Immerse yourself in Michelangelo Antonioni
What’s Screening: April 20 – 26
Three great new films, two beautiful old fantasies, plus Mr. and Mrs. Frankenstein. Also a superhero marathon, a murderous preacher, and Russians taking over our government. And all that's available on Bay Area movie screens this week. Also, in honor of 420, three theaters screen The Big Lebowski today. Just remember to not light up … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 20 – 26
The Rider must discover his own limitations in this excellent film
A Western drama Written & directed by Chloé Zhao When we first meet Brady (Brady Jandreau), he appears to be doing brain surgery on himself. Not quite, but he's removing massive bandages and even metal staples from his head. You get the very strong feeling that he shouldn't be doing this on his own. Brady, … Continue reading The Rider must discover his own limitations in this excellent film
1945: When the Jews returned to town
A Period drama Written by ván Angelusz , Péter Reich, and Ferenc Török Directed by Ferenc Török It's August, 1945. The war in Europe ended scarcely three months ago. In a small Hungarian town, two Orthodox Jews get off the train. Who are they and what are they doing there? 1945 isn't about these two Jews. … Continue reading 1945: When the Jews returned to town
Kodachrome focuses on blurred relationship
A- Road movie Written by Jonathan Tropper, from an article by A.G. Sulzberger Directed by Mark Raso No, this picture isn't about analog vs. digital photography. It's a road movie, and a drama about a father and son reconnecting after a long and strained absence. Road movies feel loose, but they follow a strict story … Continue reading Kodachrome focuses on blurred relationship
Chinese “Angels” and an Alcoholic, Paraplegic Cartoonist: My Last Day at SFFILM Fest
Technically, the San Francisco International Film Festival is still going on. Today and Tuesday, you can catch movies you missed, but only at the Roxie and the Victoria. But last night was the official Closing Night, which sort of makes everything after that a bit anti-climactic. Here's what I saw on my last day at … Continue reading Chinese “Angels” and an Alcoholic, Paraplegic Cartoonist: My Last Day at SFFILM Fest
A Great Scholar and a Very Bad Mom: Saturday at SFFILM Festival
Like many film festivals, SFFILM creates a different trailer every year, which screens at the beginning of each show. Most years, I'm deeply bored of the trailer well before the end of the festival. Not this year. A snappy, exciting montage set to an infectious beat, this year's trailer is short and fun, and has … Continue reading A Great Scholar and a Very Bad Mom: Saturday at SFFILM Festival
2 Judges (both women) and a reluctant Buddhist: Friday at SFFILM Festival
I should explain why some of my reviews are constricted to 75 words or less. Every festival that shows new films sends a Hold Review List to press covering the event. The movies on this list either have an American distributor or are negotiating with one. The distributers don't want long reviews published too soon, … Continue reading 2 Judges (both women) and a reluctant Buddhist: Friday at SFFILM Festival
Revolution in Serbia & Exploitation in America: My Thursday at SFFILM Festival
I saw two films yesterday at the San Francisco International Film Festival, also known as the SFFILM Festival. Both were worth seeing. The Other Side of Everything I'm generally suspicious of documentaries about the filmmaker…or the filmmaker's family. But this one worked. Srbijanka Turajlic, the director's mother and the subject of the film, is a … Continue reading Revolution in Serbia & Exploitation in America: My Thursday at SFFILM Festival
What’s Screening: April 13 – 19
Women by Bergman and Altman, Eisenstein's love letter to Stalin, Jack Nicholson's first starring role, the movie that made Christopher Nolan famous, and the last few days of the SFFILM Festival. Festivals The San Francisco International Film Festival, the only festival running this week, continues through Tuesday, which is kind of weird, because the closing … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 13 – 19
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