I caught Kings of the Road Friday night at the Pacific Film Archive. It was the opening show of the series Wim Wenders: Portraits Along the Road. Like most of the films in this long series (it plays through July), Kings is the beneficiary of a recent 4K restoration. Therefore, the PFA projected the 1976, … Continue reading Kings of the Road at the PFA
When Evening Falls on Bucharest Or Metabolism: Not Quite Jim Jarmusch
C+ Drama Written and directed by Corneliu Porumboiu May 12, 2016: I wrote this review in 2014, on the assumption that this film would get a theatrical release in the Bay Area (it had screened in that year's San Francisco International Film Festival). The release never happened. However, on discovering that this film is available on … Continue reading When Evening Falls on Bucharest Or Metabolism: Not Quite Jim Jarmusch
What’s Screening: May 13 – 19
There's a lot of interesting stuff screening this week, especially at the New Mission, the New Parkway, and the old Roxie (old because it claims to be "the oldest continuously operated cinema in the United States"). Festivals Midcentury Eclectic opens Friday and closes Monday. I discussed it in more detail at this Upcoming classics article. … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 13 – 19
Big and shallow fun in Captain America: Civil War
After the San Francisco International Film Festival, I like to clear my palette with a totally escapist, Hollywood-style explosion movie. So Tuesday night, my wife and I saw Captain America: Civil War. And we even saw it in 3D. I enjoyed it. Well, sort of. I'm giving it a B-. In case you make a … Continue reading Big and shallow fun in Captain America: Civil War
A+ List: The Last Waltz
Talk about the musical stars aligning perfectly. The Band decides to break up. Bill Graham produces their farewell concert--a Thanksgiving extravaganza filled with some of the greatest names in rock and roll. Then Martin Scorsese, fresh from Taxi Driver, brings together some of Hollywood's brightest to record the event. The Last Waltz captures one of … Continue reading A+ List: The Last Waltz
Upcoming classics
With the San Francisco International Film Festival over, I finally have time to write about some other promising upcoming events. MIDCENTURYECLECTIC This four-day festival (May 13 - 16) looks at 12 films from the middle of the 20h century that helped prepare the world for arthouse cinema. Programmer Don Malcolm (The French Had a Name … Continue reading Upcoming classics
Thursday: The last day at this year’s San Francisco International Film Festival
I saw two movies on the last day of this year's San Francisco International Film Festival. The first one was directed by someone named Ross. The second by someone named Moss. Neither of them was a loss. Frank & Lola I saw this at the New Mission, and thankfully, it was in the big, downstairs … Continue reading Thursday: The last day at this year’s San Francisco International Film Festival
Thursday: The last day at this year’s San Francisco International Film Festival
I saw two movies on the last day of this year's San Francisco International Film Festival. The first one was directed by someone named Ross. The second by someone name Moss. Neither of them was a loss. Frank & Lola I saw this at the New Mission, and thankfully, it was in the big, downstairs … Continue reading Thursday: The last day at this year’s San Francisco International Film Festival
What’s Screening: May 6 – 12
We've got Spike Lee, Robin Hood, Mother's Day, a Miracle Worker, and classic Kung Fu (but no festivals) this week in Bay Area movie theaters. Promising events Do the Right Thing, Cerrito, Thursday, 9:30 It's been far too long since I've seen Spike Lee's masterpiece, which I suspect would get an A or even an … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 6 – 12
Visiting North Korea and Afghanistan: Wednesday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
I've really come to hate the upstairs theaters at the New Mission. The number of decent seats are in the single digits--and for the festival, most of them are reserved. The front row is so close it can induce headaches--even for me. If you don't want to sit that close, and you weren't one of … Continue reading Visiting North Korea and Afghanistan: Wednesday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
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