Not much is happening in festivals this week. Cinema by the Bay opens today and continues through Sunday. That's all until next week. On the other hand, you can see one family movie written and directed by Brad Bird on Saturday, then another one on Sunday. In fact, it's a very family-friendly newsletter this week…if … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 22 – 28
Life as we all must some day know it: My Blu-ray review of Tokyo Story
Before watching the Blu-ray Sunday night, it had been years since I'd last seen Yasujirō Ozu's 1953 masterpiece, Tokyo Story. I remember loving the film, but I wasn't ready for the emotional wallop it delivered. Perhaps my own mental state contributed to the experience--I've seen my son get married and lost two close relatives this … Continue reading Life as we all must some day know it: My Blu-ray review of Tokyo Story
Comic Perfection: My Blu-ray Review of City Lights
A great comedy seamlessly mixes a good story, an intelligent observation on the human condition, and a lot of laughs. Everything works together, and only on the third or fourth viewing do you become aware of how the filmmakers balanced all these ingredients, so that the gags and the emotional reality compliment each other instead … Continue reading Comic Perfection: My Blu-ray Review of City Lights
What’s Screening: November 15 – 21
In festival news, New Italian Cinema continues through Sunday, and the Chinese American Film Festival keeps going until Tuesday. The United Film Festival opens today and runs through Sunday. After a few day's hiatus, 3rd i's South Asian Film Festival returns for one more day on Saturday. B- Persistence of Vision, Rafael, Thursday, 7:00. Filmmaker … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 15 – 21
The Bay Area needs another film festival like it needs…
Like a herd of zombies hungry for human flesh, the 10th Annual Another Hole in the Head Film Festival will take over the Balboa on November 29 and not let go until December 5. Then it will move to the New People Cinema, where it will continue to devour brains until the 19th. We think … Continue reading The Bay Area needs another film festival like it needs…
No Capital in the Bay Area
I got an email this morning with the subject "CAPITAL Has Been CANCELLED." "Wow!" I thought. Maybe Obama really is a socialist. Of course, it was about Costa-Gavras' latest film, Capital. Apparently the film's American distributor decided against releasing it in the Bay Area. That seems pretty weird to me. I can't imagine a better … Continue reading No Capital in the Bay Area
My Thoughts on Star Trek: The Motionless Picture
Monday evening, I watched the very first Star Trek theatrical feature, Star Trek:The Motion Picture. The last time I saw it was 34 years ago, when it played in first run at the now gone Berkeley Theater. I watched it again for two reasons: the Blu-ray fell into my hands, and I wanted to see … Continue reading My Thoughts on Star Trek: The Motionless Picture
Friday Night at the PFA
I visited the Pacific Film Archive Friday night to see two very good films. I suppose I could say that they were both feminist films. The first was about a woman and the damage done to her because to her gender, and the second was directed by a woman. But that would be a stretch. … Continue reading Friday Night at the PFA
What’s Screening: November 8 – 14
Both the American Indian Film Festival and French Cinema Now continue through Sunday. 3rd i's South Asian Film Festival also plays through Sunday, but will resurrect itself for one day next week. Both the New Italian Cinema and the Chinese American Film Festival start Wednesday. A- Dead Man, Castro, Friday. Here you have a western … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 8 – 14
To Late for Halloween: My Blu-ray Review of Nosferatu
The big question about Kino's forthcoming Blu-ray release of Nosferatu, newly and beautifully restored: Why release a classic vampire movie three weeks after Halloween? Now, on with our review. Before Christopher Lee, Gary Oldman, or even Bela Lugosi, Max Schreck created the first screen Dracula. He was not the elegant, sexy aristocrat of the night … Continue reading To Late for Halloween: My Blu-ray Review of Nosferatu
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