John Seal is Berkeleyside’s film critic. A movie connoisseur with a penchant for natty hats who lives in Oakland, John writes a weekly film recommendation column at Box Office Prophets, as well as a column in The Phantom of the Movie’s Videoscope, an old-fashioned paper magazine, published quarterly. He also writes regular film reviews for IMDB, which can be read here.
There's wonderful ensemble acting in a powerful new film about the death penalty. Also opening Friday: the incredible story of a deep thinker and news junkie who was an early adopter of video tech.
Richard Gere, Peter Dinklage, Bradley Whitford, Walter Goggins, Kevin Pollack and Julianna Margulies star in this film that was made a few years ago but failed to find a distributor until recently.
An Italian mob movie, a 'Hitler comedy,' a bleak science-fiction film and a drama about Colombia’s indigenous Wayuu people — just four of John Seal's fave films of the year.
Four interesting films open this week, ranging from a documentary on a Mexican family who drives ambulances to a 1961 film about the Beats.
An appealing documentary focuses on a musical prodigy who spent his life in prison; and a Swedish movie is laden with 70s-style imagery: both part of the Another Hole in the Head film festival.
The Another Hole in the Head film festival, which presents an 'excursion into the realms of science fiction, fantasy, and horror' is showing two of the best films of the year.
This "absolutely terrific" Italian suspense film, produced by a major studio, isn’t getting the wide release it deserves.
This week: A documentary about a scurrilous, hugely popular supermarket tabloid; an uneasy absurdist comedy; and 34 minutes of essential viewing for punks young and old.
A family reels after a single mother is detained by ICE in this locally produced gem set in San Francisco.
A British New Wave classic starring Kim Stanley as a psychic at Pacific Film Archive, plus 80s-sitcom-style weirdness.
Mariano Llinás' film 'La Flor' runs well over 14 hours, but this critic can't wait to see it again; meanwhile one of the nastiest men of the 20th century is the subject of a documentary by director Matt Tyrnauer.
Despite its only partially satisfying conclusion, this horror flick is a must-see for genre fans this Halloween season.
There have been films about the migrant experience, but few if any told from the perspective of the migrant and none with the impact of Midnight Traveler. Also: a late-period silent film from China.
An enigmatic film that won Best First Feature award at this year’s Frameline festival, and a Swedish movie that proves foreign filmmakers make formulaic movies too.
Opening this week: A quiet drama about life in Los Angeles’ Koreatown, one of the greatest British films of the 1960s and a screening with Burning Man co-founder John Law in attendance.
An American indie with underlying honesty, and a documentary, 'The Life and Times of Molly Ivins'.
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