What's in Bay Area outarthouse cinemas this week? A hilarious disaster. A real and tragic disaster. And movies by Spielberg, Forman, Fellini, Lumet, Keaton, and Varda. But no film festivals. <Sorry about that. I was running a fever when I wrote that.> The Week's Big Event A Airplane! 40th anniversary, Castro, Sunday, 3:00They're flying on … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 17 – 23
Tag: Agnès Varda
What’s Screening: January 10 – 16
What's in the Bay Area's best movie theaters this week? Three new movies - two about capital punishment. A farewell to Agnès. Noir by Graham Greene, Charles Laughton, and Leigh Brackett. And comedies from the west, down under, and outer space. But no film festivals (I don't count Sketchfest). New films opening A Clemency, Embarcadero … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 10 – 16
What’s Screening: January 3 – 9
This week in Bay Area movie theaters: A Jew disappears in England; previews of two very similar upcoming dramas; shorts from Sundance, and classics by Hitchcock, Varda, and Goddard. Also, a festival preview of foreign Oscar possibilities. Festivals For Your Consideration opens today and closes Thursday. Read my preview New films opening C+ The Song … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 3 – 9
What’s Screening: December 27 – January 2
How can you close 2019 and open 2020 in Bay Area movie theaters? The Lark has a major New Year's Eve Party, including a movie. But there's a whole week of good films, including works by Paul Thomas Anderson, Alfred Hitchcock, Louis Malle, Harold Lloyd, Ernst Lubitsch, Agnès Varda, and more. New Year's Eve Events … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 27 – January 2
What’s Screening: December 20 – 26
This week in Bay Area movie theaters (aside from the final Star Wars flick): Agnès Varda says her goodbye. Bruce Willis and Gene Hackman go after bad guys. Sidney Lumet opens his big-screen career and Ingmar Berman closes his. You can even spend Christmas watching Fiddler on the Roof. And speaking of that happy holiday, … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 20 – 26
Varda, Fellini, Lynch, and more during Winter at BAMPFA
As the weather turns cold and the film festivals disappear, you can find warmth and cinema (along with other arts) at the Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive, better known as BAMPFA. UC Berkeley's revival movie theater doesn't just do films. They do film series. Here are the series coming up in December through February: Agnès … Continue reading Varda, Fellini, Lynch, and more during Winter at BAMPFA
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: One Sings, the Other Doesn’t; Downton Abbey; & Da Sweet Blood of Jesus
In the last few weeks, I've had few chances to see movies that aren't playing at the Mill Valley Film Festival. But I got to see these: A- One Sings, the Other Doesn't (1977), Criterion Channel Agnès Varda's small epic sometimes feels like the best of the hippy era - as opposed to her Vagabond, which … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: One Sings, the Other Doesn’t; Downton Abbey; & Da Sweet Blood of Jesus
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
What’s Screening: December 15 – 21
Star Wars is taking over the multiplexes across the Bay Area (and beyond). But we still have a few old movies worth watching. Festivals Along For the Ride: A Tribute To Dennis Hopper isn't quite a film festival, but it's the closest thing we get this week. This three-day series at the Roxie starts Friday … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 15 – 21
Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Coco, Three Billboards…, Leningrad Cowboys…, & Faces Places
Amazingly, I really liked all four films. A Coco (2017), Coast Cinema, Fort Bragg This beautiful journey into Mexican traditions of the afterlife (via big-budget Hollywood, of course) manages to be serious, emotional, and fun. Young Miguel (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez) belongs to a family of shoemakers who hate music. But music runs deep in the … Continue reading Movies I’ve Recently Seen: Coco, Three Billboards…, Leningrad Cowboys…, & Faces Places
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