B- Erotic noir Written by Seo-Kyung Chung and Chan-wook Park, from the novel Fingersmith by Sarah Waters Directed by Chan-wook Park Some films really do need to run well over two hours; others don't. The Handmaiden falls into the latter category. At 80 or 90 minutes, this would have been a really fun movie. But at … Continue reading The Handmaiden: Too long for its own good
Moonlight shines new light on the inner city
A Drama Written by Tarell Alvin McCraney; based on his play Directed by Barry Jenkins Moonlight is the best new American film I've seen this year. With the advantages of a white skin, it's easy to assume certain stereotypes of those on the margins--especially African Americans living in what is now called the inner city. Writer Tarell … Continue reading Moonlight shines new light on the inner city
The Best of the Marx Brothers in one Blu-ray Box
The Marx Brothers used comedy to deflate the pompous and tear down the establishment. They turned respectable, upper-class society into anarchy and surrealism. They also made us laugh. The brothers honed their comedy in vaudeville, jumped to Broadway, and made the leap to Hollywood at the height of the talkie revolution. They made their first … Continue reading The Best of the Marx Brothers in one Blu-ray Box
What’s Screening: October 21 – 27
Harry Potter, Nightmare on Elm Street, My Fair Lady, and six film festivals in this week's Bay Area screenings. Festivals I somehow missed FACINE: The Filipino International Cine Festival, which opened Wednesday. It runs through Saturday. I also didn't know about the United Nations Association Film Festival until Friday morning. It opened last night and will run through the … Continue reading What’s Screening: October 21 – 27
Mill Valley Film Festival and Oscar Predictions
If past is prologue, hundreds of Mill Valley Film Festival attendants have now seen this year's Best Picture Oscar winner. In every year since 2010, that coveted award went to a film that had its Bay Area premiere at Marin's big festival. Whatever it will be, I haven't yet seen this year's winner. Although I've … Continue reading Mill Valley Film Festival and Oscar Predictions
Along time in the making: Boyhood on Blu-ray
Richard Linklater's Boyhood is such a unique and important experience that I had to make an exception. I usually limit my Blu-ray reviews to classic films. But when I discovered that Criterion was releasing a two-disc, supplement-filled Blu-ray release of Richard Linklater's epic story of everyday life, I had to give it a good, long … Continue reading Along time in the making: Boyhood on Blu-ray
Closing the Mill Valley Film Festival with 3D and Disney Animation
Yes, I know. This year's Mill Valley Film Festival closes with several screenings of Loving. But I'm not able to attend any of them. So I finished my Mill Valley Film Festival with two special presentations at the Rafael. Both events were family friendly, and had quite a few children present. The 3D Sideshow As … Continue reading Closing the Mill Valley Film Festival with 3D and Disney Animation
Diani and Devine Meet the Apocalypse at the Mill Valley Film Festival
Saturday afternoon, my wife and I drove across the Bay to the Lark for a Mill Valley Film Festival screening of the thoroughly outrageous comedy Diani and Devine Meet the Apocalypse. We arrived at the Lark just as the rain started falling. People think that a rainy day is perfect for movie going, but that's … Continue reading Diani and Devine Meet the Apocalypse at the Mill Valley Film Festival
Mifune and The Handmaiden at the Mill Valley Film Festival
Quick notes on two films screening at the Mill Valley Film Festival. Both films have one more screening at the festival, and both will soon get a theatrical release. Mifune: The Last Samurai I caught this documentary at the Lark Friday night. Director Steven Okazaki introduced the film, describing his first Mifune experience: The Seven … Continue reading Mifune and The Handmaiden at the Mill Valley Film Festival
What’s Screening: October 14 – 20
Five festivals, multiple Keatons, Trump vs. Clinton, and A Man Called Ove on Bay Area screens this week. Festivals The Mill Valley Film Festival continues through Sunday. You can read my reports and reviews while choosing what to see. The Arab Film Festival also continues through Sunday Modern Cinema continues through this weekend and next … Continue reading What’s Screening: October 14 – 20
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