I told you there were a lot of festivals coming up. I missed two: Dead Channels, October 3-9: In its second year, Dead Channels celebrates independent and international fantasy films, with an emphasis on horror. It's clearly going for the same audience as Hole in the Head. Mostly at the Roxie, it moves to the … Continue reading Two More Festivals
Anita O’Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer
Music documentary Directed by Robbie Cavolina and Ian McCrudden People don't recognize the name Anita O'Day the way they do Billie Holiday or Ella Fitzgerald, but as a jazz vocalist she's arguably in their class. She possessed a beautiful voice, a unique and expressive way of making familiar lyrics her own, and a phenomenal sense … Continue reading Anita O’Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer
Humboldt County
Comedy-drama Written and directed by Darren Grodsky and Danny Jacobs Movies that start as broad comedies and turn serious seldom work. The transition is tricky, especially if you don't layer in enough reality between the big laughs before the drama begins. Yet first-time writers/directors Darren Grodsky and Danny Jacobs pull it off beautifully in Humboldt … Continue reading Humboldt County
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers
Family Drama Written by Yiyun Lee; based on her short story Directed by Wayne Wang Generations and cultures clash, but quietly, in Wayne Wang's return to Chinese-American subject matter. Things feel strained when widower Mr. Shi (Henry O) arrives in America to visit his daughter Yilan (Faye Yu). That's understandable. They haven't seen each other … Continue reading A Thousand Years of Good Prayers
Festivals Not in Mill Valley
A lot of film festivals arrive in the Bay Area in the coming weeks, and not all of them are in Mill Valley. Here are some others, listed chronologically: Berkeley Video & Film Festival, September 26-28: This three-day festival of extremely independent fare has an interesting ticket policy. A $13 ticket buys you entry for … Continue reading Festivals Not in Mill Valley
Mill Valley Film Festival Preview
I've now seen five films getting their local premiere at this year's Mill Valley Film Festival. (Oddly enough, two of them come reasonably close to qualifying as silent films.) Here's what I think of those five, plus one classic to be screened that I was already familiar with. I've listed the films from best to … Continue reading Mill Valley Film Festival Preview
What’s Screening: September 19-25
Forbidden Lie$, Roxie and Shattuck, opens Friday. I have mixed feelings about documentaries that recreate scenes with actors, but Anna Broinowski's doc about author/con-artist Norma Khouri justified them beautifully. None of the events recreated in the film actually happened, and Broinowski reminds us of that by showing us the freshly murdered girl, covered in stage … Continue reading What’s Screening: September 19-25
Opera Jawa
Dance opera Written by Aramantono and Garin Nugroho Directed by Garin Nugroho Astonishing sensual, works like a dream. Things don't connect the way they do in the real world (or in a conventional film), but that doesn't bother you in the slightest. You're in its world, and you see no reason to want out. In … Continue reading Opera Jawa
Forbidden Lie$
Documentary Written and directed by Anna Broinowski I have mixed feelings about documentaries that recreate scenes with actors, but Anna Broinowski's doc about author/con-artist Norma Khouri justified them beautifully. None of the events recreated in the film actually happened, and Broinowski reminds us of that by showing us the freshly murdered girl, covered in stage … Continue reading Forbidden Lie$
Youssou N’Dour: Return to Gorée
Music documentary Written by Pierre-Yves Borgeaud and Emmanuel Gétaz Directed by Pierre-Yves Borgeaud It's sad when a great idea and an important subject lose their way. I don't know whether to blame filmmaker Pierre-Yves Borgeaud or the film's subject, singer/song-writer Youssou N'Dour, but Return to Gorée isn't the film it should have been. Part of … Continue reading Youssou N’Dour: Return to Gorée
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