I hope you noticed that I didn't publish a San Francisco International Film Festival report yesterday. I took Tuesday off, so I had nothing to write about on Wednesday. But what did I see on Wednesday? Unlike every other day at the SFFILM Festival, I did not see a single new feature. Instead, I saw … Continue reading International Shorts & Mismatched Music: Wednesday at SFFILM Fest
Mr. Rogers, Identical Triplets, & movies with music: Monday at SFFilm Fest
Unlike Sunday, there was no overall theme between the movies I saw Monday at the San Francisco International Film Festival, also known as the SFFILM Festival. Won't You Be My Neighbor? I kept my review of this film to a maximum of 75 words on the Festival's request. Ordained minister Fred Rogers - with his … Continue reading Mr. Rogers, Identical Triplets, & movies with music: Monday at SFFilm Fest
My Spacy Sunday at SFFILM Fest
Sunday was an especially spacy day at the San Francisco International Film Festival (also known as the SFFilm Festival), even though my brain was completely clear. Both movies I saw were about outer space. Well, barely outer space; more like low-Earth orbit. One was a documentary. The other was based on a true story that few Americans … Continue reading My Spacy Sunday at SFFILM Fest
A Hard-Working African & a Dying Photographer: Saturday at SFFILM Festival
Finally, a day without rain. Even better, a day with two very films. Makala I kept my review of this film to a maximum of 75 words on the Festival's request. Whatever others say, this is not a documentary. But it's a very good film. Makala lives with his family in an isolated hut. But … Continue reading A Hard-Working African & a Dying Photographer: Saturday at SFFILM Festival
Corruption in Iran & Slavery in Ghana: Friday at SFFilm Fest
After such a disappointing Thursday at the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, I had a great Friday. I saw two movies, and both were excellent. But outside of the theaters, it was awfully wet. When people tell you that rain is the perfect weather for a film festival, don't believe them. It's horrible. You must … Continue reading Corruption in Iran & Slavery in Ghana: Friday at SFFilm Fest
Miners in Georgia, miners in Iceland, and kids in LA: The First Full Day at SFFilm Fest
I saw three films on Thursday, the first full day of the San Francisco International Film Festival. The first was very good. The other two were deep disappointments. City of the Sun This breathtakingly beautiful documentary examines a small, dying mining town in Georgia (the country, not the state). The people work, struggle, and keep … Continue reading Miners in Georgia, miners in Iceland, and kids in LA: The First Full Day at SFFilm Fest
What’s Screening: April 6 – 12
Robert Redford, Ingrid Bergman, Laurel and Hardy, and a week of animation…if you're not planning on attending the big festival in San Francisco. Festivals The Oakland International Film Festival opened last Tuesday (sorry I didn't tell you about it earlier) and runs through Saturday The San Francisco International Film Festival continues through this week and … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 6 – 12
A Kid Like Jake and Opening Night at SFFilm Fest
This year's San Francisco International Film Festival, also known now as the SFFilm Festival, opened last night at the Castro with a screening of A Kid Like Jake. As opening nights go, it went well. The show began only a few minutes after the official 7:00 starting time. Executive Director Noah Cowan took the stage … Continue reading A Kid Like Jake and Opening Night at SFFilm Fest
Hitchcock and Others at the Stanford
If you like to be scared out of your theatre seat, you may want to visit the Stanford over the next two months. Silicon Valley's classic movie palace opens its new series, Hitchcock and Other Masters of Suspense, this Friday. It closes Sunday, June 10. All films will be screened in 35mm. The series starts … Continue reading Hitchcock and Others at the Stanford
Chaplin Diary, Part 9: The Kid
As Chaplin's methods slowed down while he chose to make longer films, it was inevitable that a year would come without a single new Chaplin comedy. The first such year was 1920; there would be many others. Everyone wanted him to make more movies. His distributer, First National, had signed him up for eight short … Continue reading Chaplin Diary, Part 9: The Kid
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