A Dramatic Comedy Written and directed by Michel Hazanavicius The question with which I opened my Hugo post applies even more to Michel Hazanavicius' new silent film: Did I--and other cinephiles--love The Artist because it is a very good motion picture, or because the story, setting, and style are so close to any cinephile's heart? … Continue reading The Artist
Seducing Charlie Barker
B+ Sex Comedy Written by Theresa Rebeck Directed by Amy Glazer Charlie Barker (Stephen Barker Turner) is not a happy man, and wild sex with a young, gorgeous, horny, yet stupid sociopath will not improve anything. Seducing Charlie Barker starts as a comedy and grows serious, a trick few films successfully pull off. It helps … Continue reading Seducing Charlie Barker
Thoughts on Hugo
I sometimes wonder whether Singin’ in the Rain really is the greatest movie musical ever made. I think it is, but I may be prejudiced because Singin' is, after all, a movie about film history--something I care very much about. Other critics and historians may have a similar prejudice. And so we come to Hugo, … Continue reading Thoughts on Hugo
What’s Screening: November 25–December 1
Want to read something really amazing? There are no film festivals in the Bay Area this week. At least, none that I know of. But there are some good movies. A Steamboat Bill Jr., Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, Saturday, 7:30. One of Buster Keaton’s best, both as a performer and as the auteur responsible for the … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 25–December 1
What’s Screening: November 18 – 24
The flood of festivals is slowing down. New Italian Cinema and the Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival both end Sunday. And amazingly enough, nothing else is on the immediate horizon. A Harry Potter Marathon, Castro, Saturday and Sunday. Here’s your chance to see all eight Harry Potter movies, over two days, on the Castro’s giant … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 18 – 24
Blu-ray Review: 12 Angry Men
The 1950s--the decade when movies went wide and advertised casts of thousands--also saw three great films that took place at a single location and shot on a single set. Alfred Hitchcock did it brilliantly in Rear Window, Kurosawa pulled it off in The Lower Depths, and Sidney Lumet, for his very first film, triumphed in … Continue reading Blu-ray Review: 12 Angry Men
Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview
B- Documentary · Written and Presented by Robert X. Cringely · Directed by Paul Sen Even an Apple cynic like myself must admit that Steve Jobs drastically changed the world we live in, and mostly for the better. I'm writing this on a Windows computer, I have a Creative Zen music player, and my smartphone … Continue reading Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview
What’s Screening: November 11 – 17
Both the Animation Festival and 3rd i South Asian Film Festival continue through Sunday. And on that very Sunday, New Italian Cinema opens. The Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival keeps on going. C California State of Mind: The Legacy of Pat Brown, Film Society/New People Cinema, Thursday. Do you know who shouldn’t make a documentary about … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 11 – 17
Blu-ray Review: Fanny and Alexander
It was meant to be Ingmar Berman's last film (although he ended up making another), his final statement about life, the theater, and the place of humanity in a possibly Godless universe. It's unquestionably his most magical, one of his least grim, and in my opinion, one of his best. He also made two versions … Continue reading Blu-ray Review: Fanny and Alexander
The Wire
A few nights ago, I finished what may be one of the best motion pictures of the last decade. I say "finished" because I watched the 60+ hour film piece by piece over the course of several months. Yes, I'm talking about a television series. The Wire ran for five seasons from 2002 through 2008 … Continue reading The Wire
Bayflicks 