C+ Documentary Directed by Lauren Greenfield Let's start with the obvious: The extreme wealth and greed inherent in our society is destroying our lives, our culture, and even the planet's ability to support human life. Lauren Greenfield studied outragious American affluence before in the excellent documentary The Queen of Versailles, where she studied one couple … Continue reading Generation Wealth looks at our money-obsessed culture, but gets distracted
A Day of Two Film Festivals
On Sunday, for the first time in my life, I attended two film festivals on the same day. Only in the Bay Area. Modern Cinema/Black Powers: Reframing Hollywood SFFILM and SFMOMA don't officially call their various series festivals, but they qualify in my book. When you can see eight films in three days, all built … Continue reading A Day of Two Film Festivals
A Day of Jazz and Noir at the SF Jewish Film Fest
I saw two films at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival Saturday; both at the Castro. I liked them both, but neither of them blew my mind. B Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes This documentary traces the history of the revolutionary jazz label that brought Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Thelonious Monk onto vinyl. The … Continue reading A Day of Jazz and Noir at the SF Jewish Film Fest
Jewish Film Fest Opens with Love, Gilda
I hate the Castro Theatre's balcony! It's dark and you must feel your way through stairs and ramps to find an empty seat. And once you find one, the rows are so narrow it's almost impossible to get to it. And when you finally sit down, there's little room for your legs. The seats lack … Continue reading Jewish Film Fest Opens with Love, Gilda
What’s Screening: July 20 – 26
Silent comedians, weird cartoons, French noir, military musicians, mediocre musicians, and four film festivals. This and more on Bay Area movie screens this week. Wild parrots couldn't drag me away! Festivals The San Francisco Frozen Film Festival runs through Sunday. You can read my admittedly short preview. Modern Cinema/Black Powers: Reframing Hollywood continues through the … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 20 – 26
Chaplin Diary, Part 14: City Lights
As we work through Charlie Chaplin's directorial work in chronological order, we now come to his greatest masterpiece. Yes, that's my opinion, but it's hardly an unusual one. City Lights may come as close to a perfect comedy as you can find. I've already written about City Lights in a 2013 Blu-ray review, so I'll … Continue reading Chaplin Diary, Part 14: City Lights
Don’t Worry He Won’t Get Far on Foot
A- biopic Written by Gus Van Sant, from John Callahan's autobiography Directed by Gus Van Sant If you're looking for a cinematic argument against alcohol addiction, this biopic of paraplegic cartoonist John Callahan makes a very strong argument. The film also gives you a strong sense of how Alcoholics Anonymous works. If it had not … Continue reading Don’t Worry He Won’t Get Far on Foot
Marijuana and the Movies
The 1970s was the decade where I changed from a kid who liked movies to a true cinephile. It was also the decade where I smoked way too much pot. I don't regret smoking pot; I still imbibe occasionally. But I do regret smoking so much of it. In those days, there were movies that … Continue reading Marijuana and the Movies
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Summer 1993, 20,000 Leagues, Analyze This, & Henry VIII
Four more movies that weren't in local festivals, and that I didn't officially review. I just paid my ticket (or the home video equivalent) and watched the movie. A Summer 1993 (2017), Shattuck This amazing film about children, but not for children, slipped into theaters below the radar. That's too bad, because it's very much worth … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Summer 1993, 20,000 Leagues, Analyze This, & Henry VIII
What’s Screening: July 13 – 19
Astaire and Rogers, Powell and Loy, Harryhausen and Disney, and the Wrath of Khan. Also Beatles, Chaplin, exploitation, five (count 'em, five!) film festivals, and love amongst the autistic - and all available this week on Bay Area movie screens. Festivals Modern Cinema/Black Powers: Reframing Hollywood continues. Read my preview. Charlie Chaplin Days opens tonight … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 13 – 19
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