James Dean, Jim Jarmusch, clueless teenagers, and a big turtle grace Bay Area screens this week. And, of course, Groundhog Day. Festivals Noir City continues through Sunday SF Sketchfest also closes Sunday Indiefest opens Thursday. Check my reports for recommendations. New films opening A- The Red Turtle, Kabuki, opens Friday A man marooned on a … Continue reading What’s Screening: Jan 27 – Feb 2
Taking Raiders of the Lost Ark off my A+ List
Tuesday night, I revisited Raiders of the Lost Ark, with the intention of writing it up for my A+ list of all-time favorite classic films. But as I watched it again for the umpteenth time, I couldn't help feeling that I didn't quite like it as much as I used to. Which isn't to say that … Continue reading Taking Raiders of the Lost Ark off my A+ List
The Red Turtle: A movie beyond words
A- Animated fantasy Written by Pascale Ferran & Michael Dudok de Wit Directed by Michael Dudok de Wit A man marooned on a deserted island struggles to survive, escape, and ward off loneliness in this strange, beautiful, and effecting animated tale. And in a strange way, he will find almost everything he wants. Although essentially … Continue reading The Red Turtle: A movie beyond words
Indiefest preview
I've now screened another three films that will play at Indiefest. You'll find two more in my original Indiefest report. Here's what I thought about the new three: B+ Superpowerless The plot sounds like a promising farce: A superhero, suffering a mid-life crisis, loses his superpowers. But Duane Andersen turned it into a surprisingly effective … Continue reading Indiefest preview
Sunday at Noir City
Americans invented Film Noir, but the French named it. So it seems appropriate that on the first Sunday of this year's festival, Noir City presented a double bill of French crime thrillers. The two films have something else besides nationality between them. Both deal with gangsters who have young children. This always complicates things. Rififi … Continue reading Sunday at Noir City
Saturday at Noir City
I caught three of the four movies screened at Noir City Saturday. To varying degrees, I liked all of them. I missed all but the last 15 minutes of Kansas City Confidential, and not only because I've already seen it. I was marching in the streets of Oakland before the lure of noir got to … Continue reading Saturday at Noir City
What’s Screening: Jan 20 – 26
Bach, Keaton, Erdmann, and a lot of film noir play on Bay Area screens in the first week of the Trump regime. Festivals SF Sketchfest continues through the week and beyond, although there are no movie events after Thursday. Noir City opens tonight, and continues into next week. I'm giving this festival its own section … Continue reading What’s Screening: Jan 20 – 26
Toni Erdmann: Imagine Groucho Marx as your father
A- Comedy/drama Written and directed by Maren Ade Try to imagine a Marx Brothers movie weaved into a reasonably realistic family comedy/drama that runs almost three hours. Even more amazingly, imagine that it works, and for the most part, works beautifully. Toni Erdmann places an incorrigible prankster and practical joker into the world of giant corporations … Continue reading Toni Erdmann: Imagine Groucho Marx as your father
What’s Screening: Jan 13 – 19
Here's what's happening in Bay Area movie theaters during what feels like the last week of American democracy. Festivals SF Sketchfest continues through this week and beyond Three double features over the course of three days isn't quite a festival, but this is as good a place as any to mention the Roxie's Paul Verhoeven … Continue reading What’s Screening: Jan 13 – 19
IndieFest brings films you’ll probably never see again
IndieFest is a difficult film festival to categorize. It doesn't focus on an identifiable group of people, such as the Jewish Film Festival or Frameline. It doesn't stick to one genre, such as noir or horror. And it doesn't get the potential art house hits that San Francisco International and Mill Valley enjoy. Instead, IndieFest … Continue reading IndieFest brings films you’ll probably never see again
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