In festival news, Frameline continues through this week. But, in a push against Frameline, Outside the Frame opens today and runs through Sunday. No, it's not a Republican homophobic festival, but one that "challenges Frameline's complicity with Israeli apartheid," under the banner "Queers for Palestine." B Akeelah and the Bee, Roxie, Sunday, 10:30am A talent for … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 19 – 25
Finally Catching Up with Apu
I finally saw Satyajit Ray's Apu Trilogy in its entirety this week. And yes, I loved it. Epic in scope, the trilogy follows the life of poverty-born Apu from birth through young adulthood. None of the three films has a plot in any conventional sense, but they all brim with drama, laughter, joy, suspense, and … Continue reading Finally Catching Up with Apu
Three Ways to See Three-Strip Technicolor at the PFA
They stopped making three-strip Technicolor movies about 60 years ago. The movies are still around, and they're still beautiful. This summer, the Pacific Film Archive will screen three different films shot in the still-loved format, and thanks to the way they're being screened, each one projected using a different technology. You can decide which is … Continue reading Three Ways to See Three-Strip Technicolor at the PFA
What’s Screening: June 12 – 18
I have a confession to make. Years ago, the San Francisco Black Film Festival fell off my radar, and I haven't been promoting it since. That's why I didn't note its opening night last week. I won't let that happen again. It runs through Sunday. Here are this week's other festivals. There are a lot … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 12 – 18
What’s Screening: June 5 – 11
Ain't we lucky? We've got four film festivals running this week in the Bay Area: SF DocFest opened last night and runs through this week and beyond Charlie Chaplin Days plays over the weekend New Filipino Cinema opens Thursday Also opening Thursday, the Reel Recovery Film Festival ? Hatari!, Castro, Thursday, 7:00 Archival dye-transfer Technicolor print! … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 5 – 11
The A+ List: The Last Laugh
If the clothes make the man, what happens to the man when his clothes are taken away? Does he loses his self-esteem? Or the love and respect of his friends and family? That's what happens in the 1924 German masterpiece, The Last Laugh, written by Carl Mayer and directed by F.W. Murnau. An aging hotel … Continue reading The A+ List: The Last Laugh
The Best of this years’ San Francisco Silent Film Festival
I planned to report on every day and every screening I attended at the San Francisco Silent Film Festival. But that was just too much. So this year, I'm waiting to the end and discussing the highlights. But first, one serious lowlight. When it comes to reserving seats, the Silent Festival is getting almost as … Continue reading The Best of this years’ San Francisco Silent Film Festival
Silent Film Festival opens with All Quiet on the Western Front
Most people think of All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)--the Oscar-winning movie that opened this year's San Francisco Silent Film Festival last night, as a talkie--and they're right. But in the early days of talkies, it was common to make an alternative silent version for theaters that had not yet converted, and for the … Continue reading Silent Film Festival opens with All Quiet on the Western Front
What’s Screening: May 29 – June 4
We've got three film festivals going on in the Bay Area this week: The San Francisco Silent Film Festival runs through Monday. The Green Film Festival run through Wednesday. SF DocFest opens Thursday You'll find festival screenings at the bottom of this newsletter. A+ Citizen Kane, Rafael, Sunday How does any movie survive a half-century reputation … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 29 – June 4
The Castro June Calendar
I just saw the Castro's June calendar. I don't have much time, as I'm about to head off to the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, but here are a few highlights: June 10: Double Indemnity and Body Heat. The classic noir story of an evil housewife who wants to be a rich widow, told very … Continue reading The Castro June Calendar
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