Here's my first batch of films screening at the upcoming SFFILM Festival (also known as the San Francisco International Film Festival). A Aniara This slow, frightful, depressing space movie from Sweden carries a heavy charge. A spaceliner taking refugees to Mars (Earth has become unlivable) has an accident that sends them out to the edges of … Continue reading SFFILM Fest Preview, Part 1: Spaceships, a Savage family, Sex, & Satan
Becky Sharp on Blu-ray & Technicolor
Unlike most of the Blu-rays I review, Becky Sharp isn't a beloved classic. Nor does it deserve to be one. But if you're interested in the technical side of film history, this Kino Lorber release is a must. This 1935 adaptation of Vanity Fair is the first full-length feature shot entirely in three-strip Technicolor. Technicolor … Continue reading Becky Sharp on Blu-ray & Technicolor
What’s Screening: March 22 – 28
Cold wars, hot wars, evil spies, unions, and cinema's greatest femme fatale appear on Bay Are screens this week. We also have two film festivals, and both in the East Bay. Festivals The Albany FilmFest closes Sunday. Read my preview. The GLAS Animation Festival also closes Sunday Promising events Norma Rae, New Parkway, Saturday, 3:10 … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 22 – 28
Laura Dern, Claire Denis, Claude Jarman, and John C. Reilly at the SFFILM Festival
The San Francisco International Film Festival, now also named SFFILM, opens Wednesday, April 10 with Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City. No, it's not a remake; it's a sequel to the PBS series of the 1980s, based on Maupin's serialized novels. And yes, it has Laura Linney, Olympia Dukakis, and other veterans of the show … Continue reading Laura Dern, Claire Denis, Claude Jarman, and John C. Reilly at the SFFILM Festival
The Big Bad Fox & the joys of simple animation
B Animated family fare Written by Benjamin Renner and Jean Regnaud Directed by Benjamin Renner and Patrick Imbert Note: I saw this family comedy last year before it screened at the SFFIM Festival. It never got a theatrical fun in the Bay Area. It appears it won't get one. But it will be available on … Continue reading The Big Bad Fox & the joys of simple animation
The Kid Brother Blu-ray review
If people know about Harold Lloyd at all, they think of Safety Last. Or maybe The Freshman. But for my money, his penultimate silent, The Kid Brother, is his masterpiece. It has several of the funniest, brilliantly designed, extended comedy sequences ever filmed. But it's more than just a very funny movie. It makes you … Continue reading The Kid Brother Blu-ray review
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Magnificent Ambersons, Waking Life, The Newton Boys, Hot Water
Orson Welles' ruined masterpiece, Harold Lloyd at his worst, and good and bad movies by Richard Linklater. A- The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), Newly purchased Blu-ray Orson Well's follow-up to Citizen Kane just might have been a masterpiece. RKO took the film away from Welles, cut out about a third, and added a horribly happy ending. But … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: The Magnificent Ambersons, Waking Life, The Newton Boys, Hot Water
What’s Screening: March 15 – 21
What's on Bay Area screens this week? Dangerous dinosaurs. Dangerous French women. Swiss women so dangerous they insist on getting the vote! And if that's not scary enough, we've got two Hitchcock double bills. Also two film festivals and Laurel and Hardy. Festivals The Albany FilmFest opens Saturday and through the week and beyond. Read … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 15 – 21
Two drinking holidays in the same week: St. Patrick’s Day & Purim
St. Patrick's Day lands on March 17 of the Gregorian calendar. Purim lands on Adar 15 of the Jewish calendar. They're only days apart this year. Traditionally, people tend to get plastered on these days. Throughout 2019, I'll be writing articles about holidays and the most appropriate movies to help get into the festive mode. … Continue reading Two drinking holidays in the same week: St. Patrick’s Day & Purim
Ash Is Purest White but love is for the worthy
A- Crime drama Written and directed by Zhangke Jia At first you think this is going to be a gangster movie. At one point you decide it's becoming a revenge flick. Slowly, you realize it's something very different; something much more subtle. For most of Ash Is Purest White's long runtime, there's no conventional plotline. … Continue reading Ash Is Purest White but love is for the worthy
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