This Tuesday is Valentine's Day, so there should be a lot of romance in the air. Take your loved one to the cinema…or take several loved ones. I can tell you about three films that will be screening at the Mostly British Film Festival – two of them good, and one stinker from the great … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 10 – 16
Tag: Barry Jenkins
What’s Screening: February 25 – March 3
As a 50-year-old masterpiece gets back into theaters, last year's best film finally comes to big screens! It's an offer you can't refuse. You can also see movies by Barry Jenkins, Nicolas Roeg, F. W. Murnau, and Samuel Fuller. But if you're tired of great auteurs, you can watch MST3K on the big screen for … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 25 – March 3
In Bay Area Virtual Cinema & Drive-Ins: October 2 – 8
While preparing this weekly newsletter, I discovered something. Drive-ins, mostly new ones popping up throughout the Bay Area, are becoming the revival theaters of the COVID era. Virtual Festivals The Mill Valley Film Festival opens Thursday. I provided a quick preview Tuesday. I'll have a deeper discussion come Monday. New films available B+ Once Upon … Continue reading In Bay Area Virtual Cinema & Drive-Ins: October 2 – 8
Films that increase empathy
Roger Ebert once called movies "a machine that generates empathy." I'm not sure that's always true. Triumph of the Will generated a lot of emotions, but empathy wasn't one of them. And yet, the best films can help you understand those trapped in poverty, loneliness, and sickness. Ever since the invention of the close-up, motion … Continue reading Films that increase empathy
What’s Screening: May 3 – 9
This week in Bay Area movie screens: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Dr. Ruth, Tom Hanks, Barry Jenkins, Stanley Kubrick, Marlon Brando, and film festivals silent, Asian, and truthful. Festivals The San Francisco Silent Film Festival continues through Sunday. Read my preview. Doclands also continues through Sunday CAAMFest (The Asian-American Film Festival) opens Thursday New films opening A- … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 3 – 9
What’s Screening: March 8 – 14
This week on Bay Area movie screens: Hitmen on vacation, vampires from outer space, Oscar-winning double bills, and films by Richard Linklater, Jacques Demy, Alain Resnais, and Alfred Hitchcock. Also two new films worth seeing and two film festivals. Festivals The East Bay Jewish Film Festival closes Sunday. Read my preview. Berlin & Beyond opens … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 8 – 14
What’s Screening: February 8 – 14
For Valentine's week, Bay Area movie theaters give you Rudolph Valentino, Humphrey Bogart, Marlon Brando, Ruth Gordon, and Walt Disney's classic about classics. Also, one film festival ends and another begins. Festivals IndieFest closes Thursday. Read my preview. The Mostly British Film Festival opens Thursday. I have a preview of that one, too. Promising events … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 8 – 14
What’s Screening: December 21 – 27
This week on Bay Area movie screens: Two great new social dramas, plus Garbo, Forman, Lubitsch, Bergman (of course), a Billy Wilder double bill, no film festivals, and a theater's birthday party. Oh, and some Christmas movies. New films opening A Capernaum, Clay, Shattuck, Rafael, opens Friday Children living in poverty have to do for … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 21 – 27
Lebanon & Beale Street: Closing Day of the Mill Valley Film Festival
This year's Mill Valley Film Festival closed Sunday. I caught two narrative films there. I loved them both. Both films will get theatrical releases in the near future. A Capernaum Children living in poverty have to do for themselves in this heartbreaking story of love and the lack of love. Twelve-year-old Zain sues his parents for … Continue reading Lebanon & Beale Street: Closing Day of the Mill Valley Film Festival