Passover kept me away from the movies on Friday and Saturday, so Sunday became my first regular day at this year's San Francisco International Film Festival. Here's what I saw: B Hunt for the Wilderpeople I caught this one at the New Mission's theater 5. The auditorium is short and wide; not the best configuration … Continue reading New Zealand comedy & the horrors of war: Sunday at SFIFF
SFIFF opening night and Love & Friendship
I attended the opening night program for this year's San Francisco International Film Festival Thursday night. The introductions, the movie, and the Q&A were all appropriately funny. But as usual for festivals' big nights, the reserved seat problem annoyed a lot of people. Unless you like to sit very close, very far back, or off … Continue reading SFIFF opening night and Love & Friendship
What’s Screening: April 22 – 28
The San Francisco International Film Festival dominates the week in specialty Bay Area movie going, but it doesn't dominate it completely. Festivals SF International continues through this week and beyond. Check my coverage to help you decide what you should see and what you should skip. The Rafael's Baseball in the Movies isn't a festival; … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 22 – 28
What’s Screening: April 15 – 21
This week in Bay Area movies, the earth shakes, a lion grows up, and the world is destroyed. And the big SF film festival opens. Festivals The Tiburon International Film Festival closes today. The Green Film Festival closes Wednesday. The big one, the San Francisco International Film Festival, opens Thursday. If you want to know … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 15 – 21
Sold
B+ Social issue drama Written by Jeffrey Dean Brown and Joseph Kwong Directed by Jeffrey Dean Brown Sold is a message movie. The filmmakers want you to know that something horrible is going on, and that we all need to do something about it. The film has the sort of single mindedness of message that … Continue reading Sold
San Francisco Intl. Film Fest previews
Here are six films I've previewed for this year's San Francisco International Film Festival. I'm listing them in order from best to worse, although they're all at least pretty good. A Leaf Blower Finding keys in a huge pile of leaves is a daunting task, especially if you're not sure which huge pile is the … Continue reading San Francisco Intl. Film Fest previews
Silent Film Fest Preview
Wednesday evening, the San Francisco Silent Film Festival announced its 2016 schedule. And as fans have come to expect, it will be an intense experience. In the course of three full days plus an opening night, they will screen 19 different programs, all with live music. (There's also an opening night party.) Nine different musical … Continue reading Silent Film Fest Preview
What’s Screening: April 8 – 14
The Bay Are hosts three film festivals this week, along with a Studio Ghibli retrospective and a great Orson Welles/John Ford/Gregg Toland double bill. Festivals The Oakland International Film Festival closes Saturday The Tiburon International Film Festival opens today and runs for a week and a day. The Green Film Festival opens Thursday It's not … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 8 – 14
Steampunk at its best: April and the Extraordinary World
A- Animated fantasy Written by Franck Ekinci and Benjamin Legrand, from the graphic novel by Jacques Tardi Directed by Christian Desmares and Franck Ekinci This charming, French, animated alternative history takes place in Europe, 1941. But it's not the 1941 we know. If you look quickly, you'll get a glimpse of Adolf Hitler, drawing caricatures of … Continue reading Steampunk at its best: April and the Extraordinary World
Miles Ahead miles away from a biopic
B+ Music biopic (sort of) Written by Steven Baigelman & Don Cheadle Directed by Don Cheadle Don't expect anything like Ray or Walk the Line in this totally crazy story of Miles Davis in a turning point in his career. It's more like a raunchy caper comedy set in the 1970s, but with great music … Continue reading Miles Ahead miles away from a biopic
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