In Bay Area movie theaters this week: Martin Scorsese rolls out Bob Dylan's thunder, Orson Welles raises Kane, Mike Nichols graduates to the big leagues, and Anthony Mann mans up James Stewart. Also, a continuing documentary festival. Festivals SF DOCFEST continues through this week and beyond New films opening C+ The Fall of The American … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 7 – 13
The Waldheim Waltz dances with two left feet
C Documentary Directed by Ruth Beckermann I saw this documentary before its screening in last year's San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. I then wrote this review, but held it back, waiting until the film had a theatrical run in the Bay Area. That has not yet happened. But I have just discovered that it's streaming … Continue reading The Waldheim Waltz dances with two left feet
The American Empire falls with a dull thud
C+ Crime thriller Written & directed by Denys Arcand The movie gets off to a great start. Pierre-Paul (Alexandre Landry) explains to his soon-be-ex why, with a PhD in Philosophy, he's driving a delivery truck. He argues that dumb people do better in capitalism than smart people. His points and his examples (yes, Trump is one … Continue reading The American Empire falls with a dull thud
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Biggest Little Farm, Booksmart, & Drive a Crooked Road
It seems I've been visiting the Shattuck Theater a lot lately. Anyway, here are three movies I've seen for the very first time, in order of quality. A The Biggest Little Farm (2018), Shattuck John and Molly Chester did something seemingly impossible. They left the big city, and after years of hard work, created a … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Biggest Little Farm, Booksmart, & Drive a Crooked Road
What’s Screening: May 31 – June 6
This week on Bay Area movie screens: A new look at Woodstock, a zoot suited messiah, a really bad symptom of PTSD, and another chance to see War and Peace. Also, a documentary film festival. Festivals SF DOCFEST continues through this week and beyond The Week's Big Event A- War and Peace, BAMPFA, dates and … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 31 – June 6
Another Woodstock Documentary?
B Historical documentary Directed by Barak Goodman Do we really need another documentary about a certain 1969 music festival? After all, Michael Wadleigh's epic film became one of the most beloved documentaries of all time - at least for people in my generation. Well, yes, we do. Wadleigh's combination of concert film and celebration of … Continue reading Another Woodstock Documentary?
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: War of the Worlds, Dinner at Eight, Non-Fiction
Between film festivals, revival theaters, reviewing films before their release, and streaming classics, it's been months since I simply went to a regular multiplex to see a new movie. I finally managed to do it last night. And it was a disappointment. See below. B War of the Worlds (1953), Kanopy The first invasion-from-space picture … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: War of the Worlds, Dinner at Eight, Non-Fiction
War and Peace on the big screen
Like almost every literate person on the planet, I never read War and Peace. But I've now seen Sergey Bondarchuk's massive film version. Last Saturday, Russia took over the Castro. The large theater was packed to the gills with people wanting to see this massive, rarely projected epic. But is this film version of War … Continue reading War and Peace on the big screen
What’s Screening: May 24 – 30
This week in Bay Area movie theaters: Two very different opera movies, three silent films with live accompaniment (in three different theaters), lesbian love in Kenya, dancing about death, thrillers by Hitchcock and Malle, and the biggest epic of all time. Also, a documentary festival opens. Festivals SF DOCFEST opens Wednesday The Week's Big Event … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 24 – 30
James Stewart at the Stanford
Starting this Friday, the Stanford will run a six-week series of James Stewart movies. A lot of very good films, and a few masterpieces, are on the schedule. At this point, I'm supposed to tell you why James Stewart deserves a series. But if you like movies enough to read this blog, you probably know … Continue reading James Stewart at the Stanford
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