The more you love a film, the more you often you see it. And the more often you see it, the more you notice its flaws. And those flaws endear you to the movie all the more, because it reminds you that it was created by imperfect human beings. I don't know how many times … Continue reading 2001: A Mistake Odyssey
Tag: Stanley Kubrick
My 15 Best Moviegoing Experiences of 2018
I went to the movies quite a bit in 2018, and it was often a wonderful experience. I attended six (I think) Bay Area film festivals, numerous special presentations, and just plain really good movies. In May, I flew to Rochester, New York for the Nitrate Picture Show. For four days of screenings and museum … Continue reading My 15 Best Moviegoing Experiences of 2018
What’s Screening: December 28 – January 3
As one year ends and another begins, we get to celebrate with Kubrick, DeMille, Cuarón, Murnau, and Chaplin - all in Bay Area movie theaters. But still no film festivals. The Week's Big Event A+ 2001: A Space Odyssey — The 70mm / 4K Challenge, Castro, Friday through Tuesday 70mm and/or 4K presentations! Stanley Kubrick's … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 28 – January 3
What’s Screening: December 7 – 13
This week on Bay Area movie screens: Fritz Lang, Billy Wilder, a Peter Sellers masterpiece double bill, and some animated Shakespeare. Also, your last chance to attend a film festival in 2018. Festivals When Another Hole in the Head Film Festival closes Wednesday, it will also close Bay Area Film Festivals for 2018. Read my … Continue reading What’s Screening: December 7 – 13
Movies I’ve Seen Recently: Lolita, A story from Chikamatsu, Cluny Brown, & The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Here are four more movies I've recently discovered or rediscovered. A Lolita (1962), FilmStruck I'm not sure if Kubrick's take on Nabokov is a very funny tragedy or a very sad comedy, but it's certainly about reprehensible people. James Mason carries the tragic vibe as the intellectual obsessed with a teenage girl but who cares only for himself. … Continue reading Movies I’ve Seen Recently: Lolita, A story from Chikamatsu, Cluny Brown, & The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
What’s Screening: September 21 – 27
Spike Lee, Gilda Radner, Ingmar Bergman, Laurel and Hardy, James Dean, and a young girl accused of witchcraft. Add three film festivals and there's plenty to see in Bay Area movie theaters this week. Festivals The SF Latino Film Festival continues through this week and beyond The Homage to Marcello Mastroianni takes over the Castro … Continue reading What’s Screening: September 21 – 27
What’s Screening: August 31 – September 6
This must be my thinnest Bayflicks Newsletter ever. One film festival, two recommended revivals, two continuing engagements, and one frequently-revived classics. So, to add some heft, I'm adding another section just for this week (and maybe occasionally in the future) called Still in theaters. These are for good independent films that opened more than a … Continue reading What’s Screening: August 31 – September 6
What’s Screening: July 27 – August 2
Three new movies this week, two of which are about the dangers of excessive money. Also, a religious double bill, surreal sci-fi, journalists, filmmakers, and giant worms. And only two film festivals. Festivals Modern Cinema/Black Powers: Reframing Hollywood closes Sunday. Read my preview. The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival continues throughout the week and beyond. … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 27 – August 2
What’s Screening: July 6 – 12
After a couple of stubborn years, I've decided to accept the Pacific Film Archive's no-longer-new name, BAMPFA. It stands for Berkeley Art Museum Pacific Film Archive. I would rather they had called it PFABAM, because in my mind, the movies come first. Anyway, this week we have Jewish triplets, African-American telemarketers, animated Beatles, live Beatles, … Continue reading What’s Screening: July 6 – 12
What’s Screening: June 8 – 14
Transgender prostitutes, unruly composers, hungry aliens, two film festivals, and three new B+ movies. And all of this is happening on Bay Area movie screens this week. Festivals DocFest continues through the week Frameline opens Thursday New films opening B+ Filmworker, Opera Plaza, Shattuck, opens Friday Like many great artists, Stanley Kubrick was an obsessive … Continue reading What’s Screening: June 8 – 14