Frameline, the LGBT festival, opens Thursday at the Castro. Other than that, not much to report, if only because I’ve been just too busy. But a very special event is happening tonight in Fremont: A Around the Bay, Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, Friday, 8:00. Sparse and utilitarian, Alejandro Adams' low-key drama gets right to … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 12 – 18
Tag: film
Kurosawa Diary, Part 9: Ikiru
After the overlong, stultifying mess of The Idiot, we come to one of the great masterpieces of world cinema. The title, Ikiru, means “to live” (or so I’ve been told), and I’d be hard pressed to think of a better film about the mortality that shapes and shadows our lives. In fact, I’d be hard-pressed … Continue reading Kurosawa Diary, Part 9: Ikiru
What’s Screening: June 5 – 11
Life isn’t scary enough for you? Have no fear! Or better yet, have some. Another Hole in the Head Film Festival opens Friday for a two-week run, mostly at the Roxie. Charlie Chaplin Days, Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, Saturday and Sunday, all day. Chaplin spent his second year of filmmaking largely in Niles, and … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 5 – 11
Ryan’s Daughter at the Rafael
I caught the presentation of Ryan’s Daughter at the Rafael, last night. It was part of their Films of My Life series. This time around, the honored guest was Pixar writer/director Andrew Stanton, the creator of WALL-E. Why would someone known for family pictures pick Ryan’s Daughter, a film that somehow got a PG rating … Continue reading Ryan’s Daughter at the Rafael
The Parkway May Reopen
It seems that an Indiana-based Midwestern theater chain called Motion Picture Heritage is in talks with the Parkway’s owners about reopening the beloved Oakland theater. See this Chronicle article for details.
Silent Film Festivals
It’s June. For most of the Northern Hemisphere, that means warm, sunny days. But in the Bay Area, it means cold, fog, and silent movie anticipation. This year as in every year, late June and early July bring us two weekend-long silent film festivals. This year, personal issues will keep me away from the San … Continue reading Silent Film Festivals
What’s Screening: May 29 – June 4
I Wake Up Dreaming, the Roxie’s noir festival, has done so well it’s been held over an extra week. And CounterCorp continues at the Victoria Theater. Selling That Stuff 'Toon Style: Forty Years of Animated Advertisements and The Naughty to Nasty Sex Cartoon Extravaganza, , Oddball Film, Friday, 8:00 (advertisements) and 10:00 (sex). I think … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 29 – June 4
The Cerrito is Gone, but Thrillville Lives On
The Cerrito is gone (hopefully temporarily), and so is Speakeasy Theaters (definitely permanently), But Thrilleville lives on…at least for a bit. Will Viharo, who booked the two Speakeasy theaters and ran Thrillville there, as found a home for the next scheduled event. On June 18, at 7:30, thrill seekers will convene at the Camera 3 … Continue reading The Cerrito is Gone, but Thrillville Lives On
Kurosawa Diary, Part 8: The Idiot
By the beginning of the 1950’s, Akira Kurosawa was capable of making a masterpiece on the order of Rashomon, but he still couldn’t make two decent movies in a row. His follow-up to Rashomon, The Idiot, stinks to high heaven. And at 166 minutes, it’s a very long stink. (Kurosawa’s original cut ran 265 minutes, … Continue reading Kurosawa Diary, Part 8: The Idiot
What’s Screening: May 22 – 28
CounterCorp, "Anti-Corporate Film Festival," opens Friday at San Francisco the Victoria Theater for a three-day run. This one wears its political heart on its sleeve--it's left sleeve. In other festival news, I Wake Up Dreaming: the Haunted World of the B Film Noir continues through the week at the Roxie. John Wayne Western Double Bill: … Continue reading What’s Screening: May 22 – 28
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