I spent Sunday at the Pacific Film Archive, watching the East Bay edition of the San Francisco International Film Festival. I caught three films, two great, one lousy. Oddly, the two great ones both centered around women who could reasonably be described as sociopaths. One problem with the PFA: Since food and drink are banned … Continue reading SFIFF: Sunday at the PFA
SFIFF: The Warlords
After spending most of yesterday at the Kabuki, I headed to the Castro to see The Warlords. A big, historical epic staring Jet Li seemed worth crossing town. It wasn't. Huge, cumbersome, and melodramatic, The Warlords succeeded primarily in being loud. Set during the Taiping Rebellion, it stars Li as a general who turns a … Continue reading SFIFF: The Warlords
SFIFF: Mataharis
I just saw Mataharis--another really good film. This character study of three female private detectives, all working for the same agency (and the same sleazy boss), follows them as their work and private life intertwine and complicate each other. The best story involves Inés (MarÃa Vázquez), the youngest of the three and the only single … Continue reading SFIFF: Mataharis
SFIFF: Just Like Home
I'm writing this at the Kabuki, and I'll be quick. I just saw a very funny comedy from Denmark called Just Like Home. It follows several people in a small town that's thrown into confusion from reports of a man running naked through the strees. Director/co-writer Lone Scherfig builds a quiet tone that works up … Continue reading SFIFF: Just Like Home
This Week At the Movies
I posted two articles this week, both about the San Francisco International Film Festival (opening as I type this). The first described films I haven't seen but would like to, and the second offered microreviews of the films I've been able to preview. Grandma's Boy (1922), Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, Saturday, 7:30. In his … Continue reading This Week At the Movies
San Fran Fest Preview
The San Francisco International Film Festival opens tomorrow night, and I have so far seen five of the films to be presented there. Here's what I think of them, in order from best to worst. All of these films will have runs after the festival, so you'll have additional chances to see them. Ballast. Vast, … Continue reading San Fran Fest Preview
What Looks Good at the Festival
I thought I'd share some of the films I hope to catch at the San Francisco International Film Festival. I can't officially recommend any of these because I haven't yet seen them, but I hope to catch at least a few of them. I'm not including films here that will get a regular release after … Continue reading What Looks Good at the Festival
This Week At the Movies
San Francisco International Film Festival Opening Night: The Last Mistress, Castro, Thursday, 7:00. The big, expensive, opening night! If that's your taste, the movie is secondary. If it isn't, the movie will be in theaters in a few months. But I'll tell you about the movie anyway. Pretty tame by the standards of writer/director Catherine … Continue reading This Week At the Movies
More on First Run at the Castro
This is a follow-up to an earlier post, Indiana Jones and the First Running at the Castro. I'm assuming you've read that one. A PR representative was kind enough to get back to me on Monday with more information about this seeming change in policy: We had a substantial opening in our programming at the … Continue reading More on First Run at the Castro
Indiana Jones and the First Running at the Castro
Are we about to lose the Castro? Will it go the way of the Balboa and start carrying first-run Hollywood fare? A regular Bayflicks.net reader pointed me to a very frightening article on the SF Weekly web site, which directed me to a much less scary one at the Bay Area Reporter. I’ve also exchanged … Continue reading Indiana Jones and the First Running at the Castro
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