C+ Youth drama Written & directed by Maysaloun Hamoud You'd expect a film that breaks down walls and shatters stereotypes to excite you - to grab you by the heart and fling you across the room. Alas, Maysaloun Hamoud's first feature film doesn't quite blow you away. The content - the wild party life of … Continue reading In Between: Secular and Religious Youths
What’s Screening: February 9 – 15
So many great movies screen this week in the Bay Area it's daunting. And that doesn't include the five film festivals I had to create a whole other post just about films at the New Parkway. Festivals IndieFest continues through the end of the week. Check out my Previews to help you decide what to … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 9 – 15
New Parkway turns to love this coming week
With Valentine's Day coming up, the New Parkway brings out a lot of romantic movies as part of what they're calling Love Week, running from Friday, February 9th through the 15th. You might also want to check their Valentine Day events. [Note, Feb. 9: I altered this paragraph this morning, after receiving the Love Week URL.] Here are … Continue reading New Parkway turns to love this coming week
Great Movie; Too Bad It Sucks
Howard Hawks once described a good movie as one with "Three great scenes, no bad ones." But what do you call a film with three great scenes and two horrible ones? I call it frustrating. If I discover a great film, it's wonderful. If I discover a stinker, I'll never see it again. But when … Continue reading Great Movie; Too Bad It Sucks
Closing This Year’s Noir City
Noir City closed Sunday with a masterpiece…and a pretty good B picture. I finally saw The Big Heat, and I saw it under about the best conditions possible. Following the theme of this year's festival, each double feature included a relatively expensive A picture (noirs were never hugely expensive) and a very cheap B picture. … Continue reading Closing This Year’s Noir City
Saturday at Noir City
Saturday is always the biggest day at Noir City, with two double bills. Yesterday, each double bill had one relatively expensive A picture, and one very cheap B picture. Money talks; in each case, the A was better than the B. All these movies came out in 1950. Matinee: The Underworld Story & Southside 1-1000 … Continue reading Saturday at Noir City
Thursday Night at Noir City
I couldn't go movie-watching Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. But Thursday night, my wife and I managed to get to the Castro for another Noir City double bill. This time, the films were both from 1948. The A picture, I Walk Alone, was pretty damn good. The B picture, Bodyguard, was pretty damn silly. I Walk … Continue reading Thursday Night at Noir City
What’s Screening: February 2 – 8
This week in Bay Area movie theaters: The Marx Brothers, three film festivals, Spike Lee, and P.T. Anderson. Plus, live and in town, Liv Ullmann. Yes, Liv Ullmann is in the Bay Area and making appearances. And, of course, it's Groundhog Day. Repeat that: It's Groundhog Day! Groundhog Day Festivals Noir City closes Sunday IndieFest … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 2 – 8
Chaplin Diary, Part 5: Early Mutual
What happens to a performer whose contract ends just as they become the most famous and beloved person on the planet? They get tremendous artistic control and an obscene amount of money. When Chaplin signed another one-year contract, this time with the Mutual Film Corporation, he got his own production company and studio, and near … Continue reading Chaplin Diary, Part 5: Early Mutual
Berlin & Beyond Previews
What should you see at the Berlin & Beyond film festival? What should you avoid? I've seen three of the films. Here's what I thought of them. A- Welcome to Germany A very funny comedy with a serious heart, predictable, but not too predictable. A well-off couple, with their children grown and gone, bring a … Continue reading Berlin & Beyond Previews
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