I attended another press screening at Dolby Labs Thursday night, and once again, it was all about a man left for dead in inhospitable territory. Only this time, instead of The Revenant, I saw The Martian. And just like last week, I'll tell you about the movie, then a bit about the technology. As you … Continue reading The Martian and Dolby 3D
What’s Screening: February 19 – 25
We have two film festivals this week. Both the SF IndieFest and the Mostly British Film Festival close Thursday. Festival screenings are at the end of this newsletter. A Anomalisa, New Parkway, opens Friday This animated drama about a one-night stand could not possibly have worked with live action. Animation helps us experience the world … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 19 – 25
The Revenant and Dolby Atmos
I attended a special screening at Dolby Labs Thursday night of The Revenant, where the movie's Oscar-nominated audio mix could be played back in the full glory of Dolby Atmos. I'll tell you about The Revenant, and also about Atmos. In that difficult-to-find point where cinema technology merges into cinema art, The Revenant feels like … Continue reading The Revenant and Dolby Atmos
What’s Screening: February 12 – 18
In festival news, SF IndieFest continues through this week and beyond. And the Mostly British Film Festival opens Thursday. C- Where To Invade Next, Alamo Drafthouse New Mission, Piedmont, California (Berkeley), opens Friday No, Michael Moore is not attacking American imperialism. Instead, he visits the sort of countries we don't go to war with–wealthy democracies … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 12 – 18
Where to invade next
C- Comedy, documentary, mockumentary Written and directed by Michael Moore The press material for Where to Invade Next insists on calling Michael Moore's latest agitprop movie a comedy, and not a documentary. This is odd because, although it's for the most part non-fiction, it's not all that funny. It has its comic moments. A few … Continue reading Where to invade next
Quick thoughts: Anomalisa & Hail, Caesar!
I've been busy and sick lately, and therefore haven't caught many new movies. But this past weekend, my wife and I managed to get to Berkeley's California Theater twice, where we saw Charlie Kaufman's Anomalisa and the Coen brothers' Hail, Caesar! Both are worth catching, although for very different reasons. Anomalisa Early on, I wondered … Continue reading Quick thoughts: Anomalisa & Hail, Caesar!
Upcoming in February
I haven't had much time to work on this blog lately, but here's a quick note on some coming attractions. Honoring cinematographers Two great cinematographers, Haskell Wexler and Vilmos Zsigmond, passed away within three days of each other as 2015 turned into 2016. So it's appropriate that the Castro will screen four double bills highlighting … Continue reading Upcoming in February
What’s Screening: February 5 – 11
Only one festival this week. SF IndieFest opens it's two-week run Thursday. The Roxie's Mad Men Weekend--four films over three days--doesn't quite qualify as a film festival, but it comes close. The films, all made in the 50s and 60s, allegedly influenced Matthew Weiner's television drama. Serena Bramble, author of Mad Men Carousel: The Complete Critical Companion, will … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 5 – 11
What’s Screening: January 29 – February 4
We've got two festivals this week, but both close Sunday: Noir City and the Bay Area International Children's Film Festival. But only three days later, the Pacific Film Archive will open again for business in its new digs. B- 45 Years, Embarcadero Center, Shattuck, Aquarius, Rafael, opens Friday Not much happens in Andrew Haigh's chamber drama … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 29 – February 4
An old marriage feels the strain in 45 Years
B- Relationship drama Written and directed by Andrew Haigh From a short story by David Constantine The English seem to pride themselves on staying calm. Consider the country's primary myth: King Arthur and His Round Table. It's about a monarch who's too polite to bring up the little problem of his wife shagging his best … Continue reading An old marriage feels the strain in 45 Years
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