The Asian American Film Festival plays through Sunday, and the Tiburon International Film Festival continue through the week. Creature Features Presents Horror Express, Balboa, Thursday, 7:00. Bay area film buffs old enough to remember TV before the VCR have fond memories of KTVU (channel 2)’s late night series Creature Features. Each week, host Bob Wilkins--or … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 19 – 25
Tag: movies
What’s Screening: March 12 – 18
Slim pickings this week. If it wasn’t for the Stanford’s Kurosawa series, there would hardly be anything. I hope to soon get back into the festival routine, which would give me much more to write about for weeks like this one. The Asian American Film Festival continues through the week. And the Tiburon International Film … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 12 – 18
The Oscars
Hey, didn’t I predict last week that Cameron would lose to Bigelow? Really, the give-away was that Avatar wasn’t even nominated for Best Original Screenplay. Just as the Best Picture winner usually takes Best Director, it also generally gets one of the two screenwriting awards. Although my favorite nominee was actually Precious, I’m delighted that … Continue reading The Oscars
What’s Screening: March 5 – 11
Cinequest continues through Sunday, and the Asian American Film Festival starts Thursday. Oscar Night, Sunday evening (exact times vary from one theater to another). Don’t want to be alone as you watch James Cameron lose to his ex-wife? Join a live Oscar screening party at the Balboa, Cerrito, Lark, Rafael, or Roxie. Many are encouraging … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 5 – 11
A Couple of Quick Updates
Totally unconnected to each other: A new, 35mm print of The Red Shoes plays the Castro this Wednesday and Thursday night. I didn’t mention this in the newsletter because I haven’t seen this movie in decades, and didn’t really appreciate it then (I suspect I’d like it more, now). But even if you don’t care … Continue reading A Couple of Quick Updates
What’s Screening: February 26 – March 4
Cinequest continues down in San Jose. Balboa Birthday Bash, Balboa, Sunday, 7:00. The anniversary celebration will include a new, silent short subject shot at the Balboa, magician James Hamilton, singer Linda Kosut, a birthday cake, and a screening of the 1926 haunted house comedy The Cat and the Canary, accompanied live by Dave Miotke. A … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 26 – March 4
What’s Screening: February 19 – 25
IndieFest closed last night, but if you live near or are willing to drive to San Jose, Cinequest starts on Tuesday. A+ The Seven Samurai, Stanford, Saturday through the following Friday. If you think all action movies are mindless escapism, you need to set aside 3½ hours and watch Kurosawa’s epic masterpiece. The basic story–a … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 19 – 25
What’s Screening: February 12 – 18
IndieFest continues through Thursday at the Roxie. And the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum runs its Mid-Winter Comedy Festival this weekend—Friday through Sunday. A The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Castro, Wednesday. Terry Gilliam followed Brazil with this big, splashy fantasy spectacular about the legendary teller of tall tales. The Baron’s alleged exploits had been filmed … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 12 – 18
What’s Screening: February 5 – 11
IndieFest runs through this week and the next at the Roxie. B+ The Music Man, Pacific Film Archive, Saturday, 5:30. One of my childhood favorites doesn’t quite look like a masterpiece anymore. But it’s still big, dazzling, funny, and filled with catchy tunes. Robert Preston carries the picture as Professor Harold Hill, the conman who … Continue reading What’s Screening: February 5 – 11
What’s Screening: January 29 – February 4
In festival news, Noir City closes on Sunday, and IndieFest opens Thursday. A+ Brazil, Castro, Wednesday. One of the best black comedies ever filmed, and the best dystopian fantasy on celluloid. In a bizarre, repressive, anally bureaucratic, and thoroughly dysfunctional society, one government worker (Jonathan Pryce) tries to escape into his own romantically heroic imagination. … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 29 – February 4
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