By the time you read this, I’ll be in New York City for my son’s graduation. Don’t expect many posts this week. Among the events I’ll miss is the first half of I Still Wake Up Dreaming, a film noir series at the Roxie. A Trouble in Paradise, Stanford, Saturday through Tuesday. What’s so fascinating … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 14 – 20
Dolby Comes to the Balboa
For some time now, the Balboa has been the only theater I regularly cover here with only mono sound, but that’s changing. The theater’s new Dolby sound system officially launches Friday with the opening there of the new Robin Hood. According to the theater’s newsletter, Robin Hood will be screened in “Dolby Stereo.” I’m not … Continue reading Dolby Comes to the Balboa
Kurosawa Diary, Part 15: The Hidden Fortress
If you remember that the Japanese term for what we westerners call a “samurai movie” actually translates closer to “costume picture,” then The Hidden Fortress was the fifth and last such film Akira Kurosawa made in the 1950s. His four previous samurai movies were an existential exploration of the limits of human knowledge (Rashomon), an … Continue reading Kurosawa Diary, Part 15: The Hidden Fortress
What’s Screening: May 7 – 13
The San Francisco International Film Festival is over for another year. But fear not, festival fans. Hola México started its six-day run at the Embarcadero last night, and I Still Wake Up Dreaming: Noir Is Dead! / Long Live Noir! starts its two-week run at the Roxie Thursday night. So let’s see what else is … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 7 – 13
Yet Another Festival: Hola México
I somehow missed a whole other festival that’s opening tomorrow: Hola México. This six-day travelling festival has already played in LA, and will go to Miami when it’s done here. As the name implies, this is a festival of Mexican cinema. I know nothing about it except what’s on the web site.
SFIFF: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea with Stephin Merritt
I saw 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea with Stephin Merritt last night (Tuesday night). It will probably be my last event at this year’s San Francisco International Film Festival. What a disappointing way to end an otherwise enjoyable festival! Coincidentally, this was the third silent film event I’ve attended in the last two months where … Continue reading SFIFF: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea with Stephin Merritt
SFIFF: Marwencol
A Marwencol I saw three films at the Festival on Sunday, all documentaries. And two of them were about people living in fantasy worlds. Marwencol was the best of the three. Five men attacked Mark Hogancamp with such viciousness he lost his entire memory and considerable brain function. As a form of self-therapy, he has … Continue reading SFIFF: Marwencol
SFIFF: Presumed Guilty
A- Presumed Guilty In Mexico, the accused are guilty until proven innocent, and the courts really aren’t interested in who’s innocent. That José Antonio Zúñiga was arrested and convicted of murder with bad evidence against him and ignored evidence in his favor is hardly unique. What was unique is that lawyers-turned-documentary-filmmakers Roberto Hernández and Layda … Continue reading SFIFF: Presumed Guilty
SFIFF: Life 2.0
B+ Life 2.0 I came into Life 2.0 knowing nothing about Second Life, the online virtual world that’s the subject of Jason Spingarn-Koff’s documentary. I came out knowing a little bit about how it works, and a good deal about how it effects its more fanatical (one’s tempted to say “more addicted”) citizens. The film … Continue reading SFIFF: Life 2.0
SFIFF: Roger Ebert
I may have to tell some of my readers who James Schamus is, but Roger Ebert needs no introduction. First film critic to win a Pulitzer. Co-star of the longest-running, most successful film-related television show in history. Champion of independent, foreign, and classic cinema who never lost his deep appreciation of Hollywood entertainment. Victim of … Continue reading SFIFF: Roger Ebert
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