They just keep on coming! San Francisco Frozen Film Festival July 18 - 23 Most film festivals concentrate on features. This one is all about the shorts - small, low-budget flicks with short running times. It opens July 18 with a party at PianoFight, accompanied by Best Virtual Reality Screenings, and followed by a midnight … Continue reading Two More Film Festivals in mid-July
What’s Screening: July 6 – 12
After a couple of stubborn years, I've decided to accept the Pacific Film Archive's no-longer-new name, BAMPFA. It stands for Berkeley Art Museum Pacific Film Archive. I would rather they had called it PFABAM, because in my mind, the movies come first. Anyway, this week we have Jewish triplets, African-American telemarketers, animated Beatles, live Beatles, … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 6 – 12
Chaplin Diary, 13: The Circus
People often overlook Charlie Chaplin's fourth feature, The Circus. Sandwiched between his two long-form masterpieces, The Gold Rush and City Lights, it feels unimportant. But you shouldn't overlook it. While The Circus is no masterpiece, it's a very funny comedy with a considerable amount of heart, even if it veers very close at times to the … Continue reading Chaplin Diary, 13: The Circus
Sorry to Bother You, but you don’t want to miss this movie
A- Comedy Written and directed by Boots Riley I worry that people will assume that this very pointed comedy is nothing but a Get Out rip-off. Both movies combine humor, horror, and social commentary, and were made by an African-American neophyte director with a decidedly black point of view. But if you know anything about … Continue reading Sorry to Bother You, but you don’t want to miss this movie
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: First Reformed, Friendly Persuasion, Anna Karenina, & Now Voyager
I see a lot of films at festivals. I screen films that haven't yet been released. I review classics on Blu-ray, and I revisit beloved films in series such as my current Chaplin Diary. But sometimes, I just want to see a movie at home or, better yet, in a theater. Here's my latest batch … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: First Reformed, Friendly Persuasion, Anna Karenina, & Now Voyager
SF Jewish Film Festival Preview, Part 2
Here are four more capsule reviews of movies playing at this year's San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. Once again, I have two documentaries and two narratives. Only this time, only one is likely to get a theatrical release. This is the last I'll right about this festival before opening night. A Wajib Often very funny, … Continue reading SF Jewish Film Festival Preview, Part 2
What’s Screening: June 29 – July 5
Stoned grandpa and dead meat, along with Sturges, Hawks, Spielberg, Lubitsch, Antonioni, and no film festivals in Bay Area movie theaters this week. New films opening A- Eating Animals, Clay, Shattuck, opens Friday Considering the documentary's title and the involvement of outspoken vegan (and movie star) Natalie Portman, one would assume that Eating Animals preaches … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 29 – July 5
Eating Animals: Knowing what you consume
A- Documentary Directed by Christopher Dillon Quinn From the book by Jonathan Safran Foer Warning: This documentary contains many horribly gruesome images. And unlike the gore in horror movies, you know that it's all real. Considering the film's title and the involvement of outspoken vegan (and movie star) Natalie Portman, one would assume that Eating … Continue reading Eating Animals: Knowing what you consume
You’ll want to put Boundaries between yourself and this movie
F Road movie Written & directed by Shana Feste Road movies follow a very close formula. Two or three people, usually relatives who hate each other, are forced together on a long road trip. Along the way, they argue, learn more about each other, and bond. In the end, they've learned something about themselves and … Continue reading You’ll want to put Boundaries between yourself and this movie
SF Jewish Film Festival Preview, Part 1
As I write this, I've seen four movies that will screen in this year's San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. They're split evenly between narratives and documentaries. One is a 1933 classic. The others are new, and will all be distributed after the festival (possibly long after the festival) by Menemsha Films - a company that … Continue reading SF Jewish Film Festival Preview, Part 1
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