A documentary Directed by Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami Note: This exceptional documentary struck a tremendous chord when I saw at the 2016 San Francisco Film Festival. I wrote the review below at that time, but held back publication until until Bay Area viewers could see the picture.Now that Sonita is available on Netflix, I'm publishing my review. Young … Continue reading Sonita: A suspenseful documentary about forced marriage
What’s Screening: March 3 – 9
Six film festivals - two of them Jewish - grace Bay Area screens this week. Also a newly-discovered early color musical. Festivals The GLAS Animation Festival continues through Sunday Cinequest continues through this week and beyond The East Bay International Jewish Film Festival also continues through this week and beyond. The Roxie's 41 Years of … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 3 – 9
The Roxie celebrates 41 years as an arthouse cinema
I probably first visited San Francisco's Roxie Cinema in 1977, soon after I moved from Marin County to The City. I'm not sure, but I think my first movie there was Akira Kurosawa's Dodes'ka-den. At that time, I had no idea that the Roxie was both America's oldest continuously-operated cinema and one of its youngest … Continue reading The Roxie celebrates 41 years as an arthouse cinema
What’s Screening: February 24 – March 2
In this week's Bay Area movie theaters, you'll find films that won Oscars, may win Oscars, should have won Oscars, as well as the Oscar ceremony, itself. Festivals Cinequest starts Tuesday and continues for two weeks The East Bay International Jewish Film Festival opens Thursday and runs for 11 days The GLAS Animation Festival opens it's four-day … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 24 – March 2
My Oscar predictions…and wishes (with, of course, issues of race)
Back in October, I predicted that Loving would win the Best Picture Oscar. At that time, I had not yet seen the movie, and quality didn't even come into my equation. Loving didn't come into the Academy's equation, either. It can't win Best Picture because it wasn't nominated. (For the record, I liked Loving very … Continue reading My Oscar predictions…and wishes (with, of course, issues of race)
Anne V. Coates, the Orient Express, & the Mostly British Film Festival
Tuesday night, I finally got around to attending the Mostly British Film Festival at the Vogue. How could I miss it? David Thomson would be interviewing the great, British film editor, Anne V. Coates. And after the talk, there would be a screening of Sidney Lumet's 1974 version of Murder on the Orient Express. Coates, … Continue reading Anne V. Coates, the Orient Express, & the Mostly British Film Festival
Filmstruck Revisited: Better, but still room for improvement
Back in November, I explained my disappointment with Filmstruck, the new classic movie streaming service created by Criterion and Turner Classic Movies. My biggest gripe - the limited devices available to easily send a movie to your television - has been partially fixed. You can now watch Filmstruck via Google's Chromecast. Since my TV has … Continue reading Filmstruck Revisited: Better, but still room for improvement
CAAMfest preview
I've screened four features - two narratives and two documentaries - that will screen next month at CAAMFest. Unlike my recommendations for the Mostly British Film Festival, these are all new movies that haven't yet been shown commercially in the Bay Area. B+ The Tiger Hunter This well-made fish-out-of-water comedy stars Danny Pudi of Community … Continue reading CAAMfest preview
What’s Screening: Feb 17 – 23
Aristocrats, dogs, charming thieves, oil speculators, hippies, and Hell's Angels appear on Bay Area screens this week. Festivals The Mostly British Film Festival continues through Thursday. Here's what I'm recommending. Noise Pop Film runs through Monday Promising events A Thousand Cuts: the Bizarre Underground World of Collectors and Dealers Who Saved the Movies, Roxie, Thursday, … Continue reading What’s Screening: Feb 17 – 23
Mostly British Film Festival Preview
With the Mostly British Film Festival opening Thursday night, I thought I'd tell you what I think is worth catching. I have not, unfortunately, had time to screen any of the new films at the festival, so I'll still with the older ones. All screenings are at the Vogue. An Evening with Anne V. Coates … Continue reading Mostly British Film Festival Preview
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