I somehow missed the Sonoma Film Festival, but you can still catch the last few days; it ends Sunday. So does the Women's Film Festival, but that one opens tonight. The San Francisco International Film Festival opens Thursday. B Farewell, My Queen, Castro, Thursday, 7:00. What was it Versailles like in the final days of … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 13 – 19
Tag: silent film
What’s Screening: April 6 – 12
No festivals this week. And no big, French silent films accompanied by full orchestras, either. B Comic-Con IV: A Fan’s Hope, Vogue, opens Friday. Morgan Spurlock’s latest documentary will disappoint his fans, which is odd because it’s all about fandom--specifically fans of comic books, video games, and sci-fi/fantasy movies with reoccurring characters. This documentary follows … Continue reading What’s Screening: April 6 – 12
What’s Screening: March 30 – April 5
Feeling festive? Sorry. No festivals this week. However, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts starts a series called Great Directors Speak! And here's something that doesn't happen often: Saturday, you can choose between two great French silent films, each accompanied by a full orchestra, playing within five miles of each other. A+ Napoleon, Oakland Paramount, … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 30 – April 5
Great Napoleon Photo
The San Francisco Silent Film Festival included this photo in a recent email. I thought I should share it: Click it to see the full-sized image. I've also added this image to my report on Saturday's screening.
Napoleon at the Paramount: An Incredible Day at the Movies
Abel Gance's Napoleon so overwhelmed me that I hardly know where to start. Despite a few slow sequences, the experience was as innovating, exciting, and entertaining as anything I've experienced as part of an audience. I doubt I have ever seen such a perfect melding of cinema and showmanship; the movie requires this special presentation, … Continue reading Napoleon at the Paramount: An Incredible Day at the Movies
What’s Screening: March 23 – 29
In festival news, Cinemadness starts tonight and ends Sunday (more on that below). But this week really means one thing for Bay Area film lovers: Napoleon, Oakland Paramount, Saturday and Sunday (plus Saturday and Sunday next week), 1:30. To call this the biggest Bay Area movie event in recent memory would be a gross understatement. … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 23 – 29
What’s Screening: March 9 – 15
Cinequest runs through Sunday, and the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival continues through the week. The San Francisco Dance Film Festival opens Friday. A Children of Paradise, Castro, Saturday. Shot while the Nazi occupation of Paris fell apart, Children of Paradise may be the most ecstatically French film ever made. A three-hour epic … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 9 – 15
What’s Screening: March 2 – 8
The SF Green Festival opened on Wednesday, but I just found out about it on Thursday. It runs through next Wednesday. Cinequest is on and will continue to run this week and beyond. Another pre-code festival, Hollywood Before the Code: Nasty-Ass Films For a Nasty-Ass World, opens Friday and runs through the week. And the … Continue reading What’s Screening: March 2 – 8
What’s Screening: January 20 – 26
The Wages of Separation When You Put Safety Last Noir City opens today (Friday) and runs through the week and a bit beyond. A A Separation, Embarcadero Center, opens Friday. Writer/director Asghar Farhadi demonstrates how good people can turn against each other in this harrowing tale from Iran about divorce, family responsibilities, and courtroom drama. … Continue reading What’s Screening: January 20 – 26
My Best Movie-Going Experiences of 2011
Happy New Year! With 2011 now consigned to the pages of history (and probably mythology), it's time to look back at my favorite movie-going experiences of 2011. These aren’t the best films of 2011, the best films I saw at festivals that didn't get a theatrical release, or even the best restorations. These are simply … Continue reading My Best Movie-Going Experiences of 2011
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