B+ Documentary Directed by Robert Greene Special screening at New Mission, Monday, 7:00 Opens Friday Written text on a red background tells us the story before the movie really starts. In 1917, Bisbee, Arizona was a prosperous mining town. But many of the miners wanted a part of that prosperity and joined the International Workers of … Continue reading Bisbee ’17: Small town with a cruel past
Complex moral issues go to court in The Children Act
A- Courtroom drama Written by Ian McEwan, adapted from his novel Directed by Richard Eyre Note: I saw this film at this year's SFFILM Festival, and wrote this review soon afterwards. Since then, I've been holding this review, waiting for the Bay Area theatrical run. That run has not yet happened, but the film is … Continue reading Complex moral issues go to court in The Children Act
What’s Screening: September 21 – 27
Spike Lee, Gilda Radner, Ingmar Bergman, Laurel and Hardy, James Dean, and a young girl accused of witchcraft. Add three film festivals and there's plenty to see in Bay Area movie theaters this week. Festivals The SF Latino Film Festival continues through this week and beyond The Homage to Marcello Mastroianni takes over the Castro … Continue reading What’s Screening: September 21 – 27
A Love Letter to Gilda Radner
A Documentary Directed by Lisa D'Apolito You'll laugh a lot in Lisa D'Apolito's documentary on comedian Gilda Radner. The clips, from the early seasons of Saturday Night Live, Second City, her Broadway show, and elsewhere, are abundant and hilarious. It might feel strange to laugh so much over the life of a great and troubled … Continue reading A Love Letter to Gilda Radner
Mill Valley Film Festival Preview, Part 2
Here's another crop of movies coming to this year's Mill Valley Film Festival. This selection, unfortunately, isn't as good as the last one. You can follow my Mill Valley coverage. B+ Destroyer Crime and grime penetrate the city in this very dark noir. Nicole Kidman (in a brilliant performance) plays Officer Bell, the hard-drinking, tough, unreliable … Continue reading Mill Valley Film Festival Preview, Part 2
Greatest Hits with the Club Foot Orchestra
I spent most of Saturday at the Castro, where The Club Foot Orchestra accompanied a selection of silent features and shorts. The event was run by the San Francisco Silent Film Festival. The Club Foot Orchestra - ten musicians in its current form - calls itself "pioneers of modern music for silent films." They seem to … Continue reading Greatest Hits with the Club Foot Orchestra
What’s Screening: September 14 – 20
Herzog's vampire, Cameron's cyborg, Eisenstein's mutiny, and Visconti's Postman, along with three film festivals, light up Bay Area movie screens this week. Festivals The San Francisco Green Film Festival closes today The SF Latino Film Festival opens today Greatest Hits with the Club Foot Orchestra takes over the Castro Saturday. See my preview. Promising events … Continue reading What’s Screening: September 14 – 20
Mill Valley Film Festival Preview, Part 1
Alfonso Cuarón returns to his roots, the Kronos Quartet take on the Vietnam War, Maggie Gyllenhaal gets obsessed with a five-year-old, and the Big Bad Fox can't get a break. Here are four films that will screen at this year's Mill Valley Film Festival, in order from best to worst…although they're all pretty good. A … Continue reading Mill Valley Film Festival Preview, Part 1
What’s Screening: September 7 – 13
Dogs, cats, and Dennis Hopper. Also Terry Gilliam, Laurel & Hardy, and Ingmar Bergman's greatest comedy. All this and a film festival on Bay Area movie screens this week. Festivals The San Francisco Green Film Festival continues into next week New films opening C- Let the Corpses Tan, New Mission, New Parkway, opens Friday This … Continue reading What’s Screening: September 7 – 13
Mill Valley Lineup Announced
The Mill Valley Film Festival announced this year's lineup Thursday morning. And the big question is: Which film will win the Best Picture Oscar? Okay, the real big question is: What movies should you see? From October 4 through 14, the Festival will screen 108 feature films and 96 shorts, from 46 different countries. I … Continue reading Mill Valley Lineup Announced
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