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
Tag: Alfred Hitchcock
What’s Screening: May 18 – 24
Indiana Jones, Douglas Fairbanks, Mitchum vs. Peck, triple Vertigo, and a movie Beyond the Infinite - and all on Bay Area movie screens this week. Also, one film festival. Festivals CAAMFest continues through the week Vertigo, Vertigo, & Vertigo Over the weekend, three movie theaters will present special screenings of most people's favorite Alfred Hitchcock … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 18 – 24
What’s Screening: May 11 – 17
Professional killers, psychotic killers, inept superheroes, dangerous rabbits, and a whole lot of clay chickens on Bay Area movie screens this week. And only one film festival. Festivals CAAMFest continues through the week and beyond Promising events Mystery Men, New Mission, Wednesday, 10:15 I loved this superhero satire when it opened in 1999; I even … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 11 – 17
What’s Screening: May 4 – 10
A rock star on the supreme court, a love triangle amongst spies, musical Milos, and three film festivals - all on Bay Area screens while I'm in New York State. I wrote this newsletter a little early, so it may not include everything it should. Festivals DocLands continues through Sunday. Read my report. The Empress … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 4 – 10
What’s Screening: April 27 – May 3
Islamic justice, Communist romance, the western as myth, and a brief history of time. All that and three film festivals on Bay Area screens this week. Festivals The Tiburon International Film Festival closes tonight The Homage to Michelangelo Antonioni takes over the Castro Saturday. Here's my report. DocLands opens Thursday. You can read my recommendations. … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 27 – May 3
Great Movie; Too Bad It Sucks
Howard Hawks once described a good movie as one with "Three great scenes, no bad ones." But what do you call a film with three great scenes and two horrible ones? I call it frustrating. If I discover a great film, it's wonderful. If I discover a stinker, I'll never see it again. But when … Continue reading Great Movie; Too Bad It Sucks
Darkness in the Castro: The First Weekend at Noir City
I can't catch every movie in Noir City, the Castro-based festival of dark movies filled with crime, corruption, and great-looking hats. But I did manage to see all six films screened on Saturday and Sunday. This year's theme matches a big- or moderate-budget A picture with a low-budget B picture. The films are being presented … Continue reading Darkness in the Castro: The First Weekend at Noir City
What’s Screening: January 12 – 18
Hitchcock thrills, Bogart on wheels, slapstick pratfalls, reefer madness, and some very classy French people light up Bay Area screens this week. But no film festivals. New films opening A- Intent to Destroy, Roxie, opens Friday The Armenian genocide of 1915-16 is to Turkey what climate change is to America; a clearly documented truth that … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 12 – 18
What’s Screening: November 17 – 23
Alfred Hitchcock and Michelangelo Antonioni together at last, along with Bill Nye, Bob Fosse, James Dean, and two - yes, only two - film festivals. All that and more on Bay Area screens. Festivals The 3rd i South Asian Film Festival plays one extra day on Saturday And the SF Urban Film Fest continues through … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 17 – 23
What’s Screening: October 27 – November 2
Chimps, rats, kids, vampires, a wronged man, a wronged samurai, a psychopathic preacher, big aliens, and a lot of Halloween movies this week in Bay Area movie screens. Also four film festivals. Festivals Modern Cinema closes Sunday The United Nations Association Film Festival also closes Sunday. Another Hole in the Head Film Festival continues through … Continue reading What’s Screening: October 27 – November 2