Click here for Part I. Last year around this time, I wrote a post about the best festival-only films I'd seen that year. Not a very practical list, as none of these films were readily available to American audiences, but I thought an interesting one. And perhaps, I told myself, my praise might get some … Continue reading Top Ten Preparation–Part II
All In These Recommendations and Warnings
All In This Tea, Cerrito, Sunday. Documentarian extraordinaire Les Blank lives in El Cerrito, so it's no surprise that the local theater gets his new film's East Bay premiere. Blank will appear in person at both shows. All In This Tea is also opening Friday at the Rafael and the Roxie. Double Bill: Follow the … Continue reading All In These Recommendations and Warnings
Top Ten Preparation–Part I
It's December, when movie critics' minds turn to their annual Top Ten lists. We don't actually publish the list until January, but we think about it now. At least I do. and I thought I'd share my thoughts on the subject with you . So let's get started with the rules. To qualify for my … Continue reading Top Ten Preparation–Part I
Youth Without Youth
Arty fantasy thriller Written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola Stylistically, it’s an art film, with slow pacing, a mix of muted and striking colors, and unusual camera angles. Yet the plot sounds like a superhero comic-book movie: Lightning strikes a 70-year-old college professor, but instead of killing him, it recovers his youth and gives … Continue reading Youth Without Youth
No Country for Old Men
Thriller Written and directed by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen Based on a novel by Cormac McCarthy The Coen brothers haven't quite topped themselves with their latest crime-gone-wrong thriller; Fargo is still their best picture. But they never before made anything so dark and depressing as No Country for Old Men. Or so bereft of … Continue reading No Country for Old Men
Chaplin and Other Recommendations & Warnings
Things aren't as silent-movie heavy as last week, but the Chaplin festival continues at the Castro and the Pacific Film Archive, and that dominates this week's recommendations (and warnings). A Dog's Life, The Idle Class, and Shoulder Arms, Pacific Film Archive, Saturday, 2:30. Charlie Chaplin made far more shorts than features (hundreds as opposed to … Continue reading Chaplin and Other Recommendations & Warnings
San Francisco Silent Film Festival Winter Edition Report
I couldn't attend the entire San Francisco Silent Film Festival--Winter Edition yesterday, but I caught the 8:00 screening of Flesh and the Devil. Good show. The show started with a very short, and very odd 1906 Danish one-reeler call "Rivalinder." I'm not sure to what extent this story of adultery and its cost was meant … Continue reading San Francisco Silent Film Festival Winter Edition Report
I’m Not There
Musical biopic/mockumentary/weird undefinable something Written by Todd Haynes and Oren Moverman Directed by Todd Haynes Artists should experiment, try new things, push the boundaries of their art. There can be no masterpieces without experimentation. But since experimentation involves trying something that may or may not work, failure is a real possibility. (I'm talking about artistic … Continue reading I’m Not There
Silent Recommendations and Warnings
In three years of Bayflicks, I have yet to see a week so totally dominated by silents. The silent movie events listed below outnumber the talkies three to one. San Francisco Silent Film Festival--Winter Edition, Castro, Saturday, all day. What a great way to spend a Saturday! The festival begins at 11:00 with a series … Continue reading Silent Recommendations and Warnings
A Century Ago on Film
The cinematic art is just barely old enough for centenaries. After all, the oldest movie to still retain some popularity as entertainment, "A Trip to the Moon," is only 105 years old. On December 6, the Rafael will look back at the year 1907 in a collection of shorts that promise to capture that transitional … Continue reading A Century Ago on Film
Bayflicks 