There's little more than two weeks before this year's San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. Do you know you what you want to see? Here are five films that will play in the festival, and only one of them you've likely have seen. [[I made a major mistake when I posted this article. I did not … Continue reading Jewish Film Festival Previews: Part 1
Tag: Gene Wilder
Summer of silents & Jews (yes, I’m talking about film festivals)
Two of my favorite film festivals come one right after the other this year. First, the San Francisco Silent Film Festival opens Wednesday, July 12 at 7:00. The opening movie is Douglas Fairbanks' last silent swashbuckler, The Iron Mask. Then there are three long days of rare old movies, new restorations, and live music. The … Continue reading Summer of silents & Jews (yes, I’m talking about film festivals)
What’s Screening: June 16 – 22
What can you see in the cinema this week? The best works of Spike Lee and Mel Brooks (did they ever work together?). A laughably bad movie that has caught up on us over the decades. One of the greatest Best Picture winners of the century, and several LGBTQ films sponsored by the month of … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 16 – 22
The Producers on Blu-ray
A desperate has-been Broadway producer (Zero Mostel) and a timid, neurotic accountant (Gene Wilder in his first major role) plan a bit of larceny that will make them a fortune - if the play they produce flops. But if it's a hit, they'll go to jail. No wonder they select a play called Springtime for Hitler. … Continue reading The Producers on Blu-ray
What’s Screening: Oct. 30 – Nov. 5
What's screening this week in the Bay Area? You can talk about Halloween (the movie), learn about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, revisit a Fellini classic, and plenty of drive-in options. But no film festivals. Special online events B+ Thrillville Movie Club: Halloween, New Parkway, discussion Saturday, 3:00 The event: Watch the movie before Saturday afternoon. Then, … Continue reading What’s Screening: Oct. 30 – Nov. 5
Funny and scary movies
I'm expected to write about horror movies this time of year. But these days, real life is scary enough. So, I'm recommending a few horror comedies and some truly scary movies with a comic touch. Instead of listing the films best first, I'm listing them from the funniest to the scariest - my opinion, of … Continue reading Funny and scary movies
More good than bad in August at the Criterion Channel
If you love great cinema, you really should subscribe to the Criterion Channel. Here you can get your fill of Akira Kurosawa, Fritz Lang, Mike Leigh, Atom Egoyan, Yasujiro Ozu, Asghar Farhadi, and so much more. And it's not all serious. Search for comedy, and (as I write this), you'll get 378 results. Throughout August, … Continue reading More good than bad in August at the Criterion Channel
What’s Screening: October 25 – 31
With Halloween around the corner, you can guess what kind of movies are showing up on specialty Bay Area screens this week. But we do have a few interesting films that don't intend to scare you out of your seat. Festivals The San Francisco Greek Film Festival continues through Saturday The United Nations Association Film … Continue reading What’s Screening: October 25 – 31
It’s October, and that means horror movies in Bay Area theaters
Halloween is only one day, but Bay Area movie theaters celebrate it weeks ahead. Here's what's coming if you want to jump out of your seat…or merely laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. I'm skipping new movies in regular release. My recommendations These are your best options for frightful cinema: Double bill: B+ Frankenstein … Continue reading It’s October, and that means horror movies in Bay Area theaters
What’s Screening: August 17 – 23
John Ford and John Wayne, Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, Carl Sagan, Elia Kazan, Andrei Tarkovsky, and Mel Brooks light up Bay Area movie screens this week. But no film festivals. Also, I'm changing the Lebowskies section to Frequently-revived classics. The Big Lebowski doesn't screen as often as it used to. Promising events She Wore a … Continue reading What’s Screening: August 17 – 23
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