Here are four films that will screen at this year's SFFilm Festival. Three of them are documentaries. My next set of previews will have more fiction films. I'm listing the films from best to worst - although none are really bad. A American Justice on Trial Director Andrew Abrahams made an incisive, short, and powerful … Continue reading SFFilm Fest Previews: Part 1
Dinner from the petri dish may be coming with Meat the Future
D+ Documentary Directed by Liz Marshall A Bay Area tech startup called Upside Food is working to help the environment and end animal cruelty. They take tissue from living animals (cows, chicken, ducks and others), and grow the meat in test tubes and petri dishes. Few living animals are involved, and none are slaughtered. For … Continue reading Dinner from the petri dish may be coming with Meat the Future
More Film Festivals: Animation, Greek, & saving the world
I can't cover every Bay Area film festival. I try to cover the major ones and my favorites. So far this spring, I've written blog posts for the SFFilm Festival, the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, and Doc Week (already running). Here are three other film festivals that will play in April. I can't tell … Continue reading More Film Festivals: Animation, Greek, & saving the world
What’s Screening: April 1 – 7
It finally happened! Erich von Stroheim's original cut of Greed will play in eight Bay Area theaters this week! And April Fool's Day. Less surprising but actually true: Thanks to the Oscars, at least six Bay Area theaters are playing CODA this week. Also Star Trek at its best, Studio Ghibli, the movie that started … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 1 – 7
The SFFilm Festival is going to the movies
Wednesday morning, I did something I hadn't done in more than two years. I entered the Castro Theater. No, I didn't see a movie. I attended the press conference for this year's SFFilm Festival. They could have used Zoom, but I think they were making a point: It's time to go to the movies. Photo … Continue reading The SFFilm Festival is going to the movies
Movies I’ve recently seen: The Birdcage ֍ Cyrano De Begerac ֍ 5 Fingers ֍ Doughboys
Another four movies I've seen for the first time. None of them are masterpieces, and none of them are awful. They were all made in the 20th century. Click a film's title to find how to stream the movie. As usual, I'm going from best to worst. B+ The Birdcage (1996) The American movie version … Continue reading Movies I’ve recently seen: The Birdcage ֍ Cyrano De Begerac ֍ 5 Fingers ֍ Doughboys
The Oscars got a slapdown!
I was planning to open this article by writing about why I didn't watch this year's Oscar show. But Will Smith's slap stole the show. If you didn't watch it, here it is. As I write this, I don't know if Smith will have to return his Best Actor Oscar. Benedict Cumberbatch gave a better … Continue reading The Oscars got a slapdown!
The San Francisco Silent Film Festival is coming back
I love silent movies - especially with live music. I also love the San Francisco Silent Film Festival. You can hear various musical ensembles. People dress for the occasion (well, I don't). You can take a seat for the whole day, usually next to people you know. Between movies, you can talk to important preservationists … Continue reading The San Francisco Silent Film Festival is coming back
My Noir City 2022 experience
Sad to say, I've only seen one double bill in this year's Noir City festival - Saturday's matinee. And it looks like I won't be able to attend anything Sunday. So here are the two films I'm able to see this year: The Accused and The Killer That Stalked New York. Hopefully, you may be … Continue reading My Noir City 2022 experience
What’s Screening: March 25 – 31
Come Sunday night, we'll finally know what's the best movie of 2022…if you agree with the members of the Academy. I'm not even sure if I'll be watching the show. But if you prefer older films to new ones, Bay Area theaters will be screening quite a few classics this week. Festivals & Series The … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 25 – 31
Bayflicks 