B+ Drama Written by Jose Rivera, from the novel by Jack Kerouac Directed by Walter Salles Note: I wrote this review last summer, after a screening prior to the Mill Valley Film Festival. When I was told that the film would open in the Bay Area on January 18, I set this review to go … Continue reading On the Road
This Year’s IndieFest Announced
Most film festivals fall into one of three categories: Genre festivals, like Noir City and the the Silent Film Festival, concentrate on a particular kind of film. Ethnic festivals, like the Jewish Film Festival and Frameline, concentrate on a particular kind of filmgoer. General festivals, like the San Francisco Film Festival and Mill Valley, don't … Continue reading This Year’s IndieFest Announced
What’s Screening: January 11 – 17
The holiday festival draught is over. Both For Your Consideration and the Studio Ghibli Series open tonight. And the Mostly British Film Festival opens Thursday. And here's what else is playing. B+ Hitchcock Double Bill: The 39 Steps & Sabotage, Friday, 7:00. The B+ goes to The 39 Steps, which is not one of my … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 11 – 17
What’s Screening: January 4 – 10
Still no festivals. But that sorry state of affairs ends next week. Important note: I'm writing the newsletter early this week, and may not be able to update it later. Please excuse any errors. A Performing arts double bill: A Late Quartet & Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present, Castro, Tuesday. The A goes to … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 4 – 10
My Top Ten Movie-Going Experiences of 2012
As the curtain parts on 2013's opening titles, it's time to look at my favorite movie-going experiences of the past year. To make this list, both the film and the presentation had to be exceptional. I consider the quality of the print or digital transfer, the theater, the showmanship involved with the presentation, the audience, … Continue reading My Top Ten Movie-Going Experiences of 2012
The Digital Lawrence of Arabia Experience
I spent yesterday afternoon at the Castro, watching one of my all-time favorite films, Lawrence of Arabia. I've seen it many times, and over the last few years, always at the Castro. But this time was different. Sony digitally restored the epic this year, and this new version was played off a DCP instead of … Continue reading The Digital Lawrence of Arabia Experience
What’s Screening: December 28 – January 3
Still no festivals. But as we move in 2013, we do have some good movies. A Lawrence of Arabia, Castro, Saturday through Monday. Lawrence isn’t just the best big historical epic of the 70mm roadshow era, it’s one of the greatest films ever made. Stunning to look at and terrific as pure spectacle, it’s also … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 28 – January 3
New Movies I’ve Seen Recently…and How I Saw Them
I've managed to see six first-run movies in theaters over the last couple of months. I liked all of them to varying degrees. Here's what I thought about the movies, and about the conditions in which I saw them. Technical note: All of these films were screened digitally, two of them on screens that had … Continue reading New Movies I’ve Seen Recently…and How I Saw Them
Yet Another Upcoming Festival, This One With a Stiff Upper Lip
When I posted First Festivals of the New Year yesterday, I missed an important one: Mostly British Film Festival January 17 - 24 This festival celebrates British cinema--by a rather broad definition of the term--both old and new. Amongst the films you may have seen are Odd Man Out, two by David Lean, This Happy … Continue reading Yet Another Upcoming Festival, This One With a Stiff Upper Lip
First Festivals of the New Year
The holiday season isn't so festive for Bay Area cinephiles. In fact, it's a big, seasonal, film festival drought. But it won't last. Here are some festivals on the way: For Your Consideration January 11 - 17 As it does every year, the Rafael will screen a series of movies that the Academy is considering … Continue reading First Festivals of the New Year
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