Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Force, The Player, & A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

~ Lincoln Spector

Here are three other movies I've seen. A The Force (2017), California Theater (Berkeley) No, this not a Star Wars movie, but a cinema verite documentary about the Oakland Police Department, shot over a period of two years. There's no narration, and if anything was staged for the movie cameras - even an interview - I … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Force, The Player, & A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Graham Greene: The PFA finally celebrates a screenwriter…sort of

~ Lincoln Spector

The Pacific Film Archive often runs series celebrating a director, an actor, or even a novelist. But a screenwriter? Never. And the same goes for the Stanford, the Roxie, the Rafael, and the Castro (which has run series celebrating composers and cinematographers). That's ridiculous. The screenwriter shapes a film's story, often conceives it, and puts … Continue reading Graham Greene: The PFA finally celebrates a screenwriter…sort of

Mill Valley Film Festival Preview, Part 3

~ Lincoln Spector ~ 1 Comment

Here's my last batch of Mill Valley Film Festival previews. As usual, their listed from best to worst. A- The Florida Project Cheap motels, filled with desperate people, abound on the edge of Disney World. Sean Baker's touching film concentrates on children staying in these motels - especially Moonie (Brooklynn Kimberly Prince), a little girl … Continue reading Mill Valley Film Festival Preview, Part 3

What’s Screening: September 22 – 28

~ Lincoln Spector

Overly-protective parents, exceptionally dumb teenagers, Jerry Lewis, French mimes, Buster Keaton, and a whole lot of Lina Wertmüller lights up Bay Area screens this week. Also, Sunday is Art House Theater Day. Bay Area theaters involved include the Elmwood, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Rafael, Lark, and the Roxie. Check each theater to see … Continue reading What’s Screening: September 22 – 28

Movies I’ve Recently Seen: City Girl, Rumble, & The Private Life of Don Juan

~ Lincoln Spector

Three more films I've seen for the first time. I only really liked one of them. B+ City Girl (1930), FilmStruck Sunrise wasn't F.W. Murnau's last word on rural vs. city life. In this very late silent, a young man from a Minnesota farm goes to the big city on business and falls in love with … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: City Girl, Rumble, & The Private Life of Don Juan