I've been writing a lot about Buster Keaton lately, thanks to BAMPFA's series Camera Man: Buster Keaton. I've been a fan of the Great Stoneface for more than 50 years now. but it's great to experience these films theatrically, with live music and other people laughing. I missed Sherlock Jr., so my first experience of … Continue reading Keaton at the BAMPFA
Tag: charlie chaplin
What’s Screening: December 9 – 15
Movies this week can be explained by two words: Buster, and Keaton. The great stoneface pops up, mostly as the movie's star, in four films this week. But Bay Area theaters are also giving us holiday cheer, even if it's a 3D noir. But if you want something serious, Inmar Bergman is on the screen, … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 9 – 15
What’s Screening: Oct. 21 – 27
What can you see on Bay Area big screens this week? Two of the best of Hitchcock. The looney, and sexy, world of Max Fleischer. Also, there's a very disturbing post-Holocaust thriller, Mel Brooks' Halloween treat, the world's most Catholic horror flick, and Charlie Chaplin with live music. Festivals & Series The Albany Filmfest closes … Continue reading What’s Screening: Oct. 21 – 27
Stuck at home? Celebrate silent films if you can’t go to a theater
Today, if you have the time, watch a film with printed titles instead of dialogue. After all, today is Silent Movie Day. With the exceptions of the Sebastopol and the Elmwood, the theaters and festivals don't seem to care. If you're not a silent film fan, and you're wondering what's so special about 100-year-old movies, … Continue reading Stuck at home? Celebrate silent films if you can’t go to a theater
What’s Screening: July 29 – August 4
It's quite a week for vintage cinema in Bay Area theaters. Both Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin will screen (and not on the same day). There are films from Billy Wilder, Alfred Hitchcock, William Wyler, Sam Fuller, Christopher Nolan, and the Wachowskis. Festivals The Broncho Billy & Friends Silent Film Festival runs through the weekend … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 29 – August 4
What’s Screening: June 24 – 30
One of the Bay Area's most unusual and exciting movie theaters reopen this weekend, after two years and more. All around the Bay, there are films by such well-loved auteurs as Quentin Tarantino, Ridley Scott, Ernst Lubitsch, Sidney Lumet, Mike Nichols, Charlie Chaplin, and the MGM motion picture assembly line. Festivals & Series Frameline closes … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 24 – 30
What’s Screening: June 10 – 16
Being that it's Pride Month, several classic gay movies are screening in theaters this week. But Bay Area cinemas are also playing films from such famous straight directors as Charlie Chaplin and Akira Kurosawa. Also, two festivals. Festivals & Series The Castro Theater's 100th Birthday Celebration closes Sunday Frameline opens Thursday New films opening theatrically … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 10 – 16
What’s Screening: February 18 – 24
This is a great week for silent movie lovers. Bay Area theaters are screening three shows this week with live musical accompaniment, from such masters of the art as Murnau, Méliès, and Chaplin. But if you prefer talking in your movies, local cinemas will screen works from Truffaut, Coppola, and Hitchcock. But no festivals. The … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 18 – 24
National Silent Movie Day…at home
This coming Wednesday is National Silent Movie Day, which makes it a perfect day to start exploring silent cinema. Here are eight of my nine favorite silent feature films. (The other, Napoleon is too big for most theaters, let alone your living room.) I'm not listing them best to worst, as I usually do. They're … Continue reading National Silent Movie Day…at home
What’s Screening: Sept 24 – 30
You may have noticed that I'm moving away from virtual cinema. That's because more classic films are popping up in Bay Area theaters. These include Chungking Express, The Man with a Movie Camera, Parasite, Knives Out, and even Creature from the Black Lagoon. Festivals & Series The Oakland International Film Festival continues through Saturday The … Continue reading What’s Screening: Sept 24 – 30
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