B+ Documentary Directed by Morgan Neville I'm not a Christian, but it strikes me that Fred Rogers - the ordained minister who created a long-running, completely secular children's television program - is an excellent example of what a Christian is supposed to be. He was kind and self-effacing. He taught pre-school children how to handle … Continue reading The Goodness and Flaws of Mr. Rogers
Filmworker: Obsessed with the Obsessed
B+ Documentary Directed by Tony Zierra Like many great artists, Stanley Kubrick was an obsessive perfectionist. You already know that. What you probably don't know was that he had an equally obsessive assistant - a man who gave up a promising acting career to stand in the shadows, on call 24/7, to help Kubrick create … Continue reading Filmworker: Obsessed with the Obsessed
Tom Mix, Sherlock Holmes, Buster Keaton, & Serge Bromberg: San Francisco Silent Film Festival, Part 2
The final nine programs I saw at this year's San Francisco Silent Film Festival: Saturday: Cowboys, spies, and Sherlock Holmes No Man's Gold After nearly 50 years as a silent film fan, I finally got around to seeing a Tom Mix western. I liked it - for what it is. The story involves a map … Continue reading Tom Mix, Sherlock Holmes, Buster Keaton, & Serge Bromberg: San Francisco Silent Film Festival, Part 2
Carl Dreyer, Yasujirô Ozu, & Ernst Lubitsch: My first report on the San Francisco Silent Film Festival
There's no time to write and post articles during the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, so I'm doing it afterwards. My first installment covers opening night, and two of the four full days - except for the late night screenings of The Lighthouse Keepers and Policeman. I need my sleep. Wednesday: Opening Night The Man … Continue reading Carl Dreyer, Yasujirô Ozu, & Ernst Lubitsch: My first report on the San Francisco Silent Film Festival
What’s Screening: June 1 – 7
Thrilling double bills by Hitchcock and Clouzot, comedy by Mel Brooks and Kristen Wiig, a fox with George Clooney's voice, silent and doc film fests, and Garbo and Gilbert's passion burning up the screen. Wild Strawberries couldn't drag me away! I had to prepare this newsletter earlier than usual, and I may have missed some … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 1 – 7
Three Identical Strangers and their strange, entwined lives
A Documentary Directed by Tim Wardle As I write this review (in April), Three Identical Strangers is the best new documentary I've yet seen this year. In 1980, 19-year-old Robert Shafran, Edward Galland, and David Kellman met each other and discovered they were identical triplets, separated at birth. Even their adopted parents didn't know that … Continue reading Three Identical Strangers and their strange, entwined lives
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Disobedience, Vagabond, A Song is Born & Pope Francis
Two films about religion, one about music, and another about the end of the hippies. Three of these four films were made by world-respected great directors, and all three disappointed. B+ Disobedience (2018), Albany Twin What do you do when your former husband marries your former lover - and all within a very close, religious community? … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Disobedience, Vagabond, A Song is Born & Pope Francis
Summer at the Pacific Film Archive
The Pacific Film Archive (or, as they'd prefer I call it, BAMPFA) pretty much shuts down in the second half of May. But come June, the movies come back. Here are the ten series running from June through August: Bergman 100: A Summer Interlude (June 1–July 15) This subdivision of the PFA's year-long Bergman 100 … Continue reading Summer at the Pacific Film Archive
What’s Screening: May 25 – 31
This week in Bay Area theaters, you'll find elephants and animation, along with Garbo, Eastwood, and Nicolas Cage when they were young and beautiful. Festivals The San Francisco Silent Film Festival opens Wednesday. Read my preview. DocFest opens Thursday New films opening B+ Love and Bananas: An Elephant Story, Elmwood, Roxie, opens Friday; Rafael, Sunday, … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 25 – 31
Love & Bananas (but mostly elephants)
B+ Documentary Directed by Ashley Bell The title Love & Bananas, along with the photos used to promote this documentary (including the ones below), suggest a joyful movie about the loving relationship between humans and elephants. And yes, there is a good deal of upbeat, lovable footage about these giant land mammals. But that's only … Continue reading Love & Bananas (but mostly elephants)
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