Big Screen Berkeley: ‘The Invisible Witness’
This "absolutely terrific" Italian suspense film, produced by a major studio, isn’t getting the wide release it deserves.
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.
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘Scandalous’, ‘Synonymes’, and ‘Crime 1978’
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.
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘Collisions’
A family reels after a single mother is detained by ICE in this locally produced gem set in San Francisco.
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘Seance on a Wet Afternoon’ & ‘Greener Grass’
A British New Wave classic starring Kim Stanley as a psychic at Pacific Film Archive, plus 80s-sitcom-style weirdness.
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘La Flor’ and ‘Where’s My Roy Cohn?’
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.
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘The Dead Center’
Despite its only partially satisfying conclusion, this horror flick is a must-see for genre fans this Halloween season.
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘Midnight Traveler’ and ‘Struggling’
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.
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘End of the Century’ and ‘Britt-Marie Was Here’
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.
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘Ms. Purple’, ‘A Taste of Honey’ and ‘Desolation Center’
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.
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘Before You Know It’ and ‘Raise Hell’
An American indie with underlying honesty, and a documentary, 'The Life and Times of Molly Ivins'.
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘Tigers Are Not Afraid’ and ‘Becoming Nobody’
This week: a magnificent magical realist fable from the slums of Mexico City; plus, a heartfelt paean to psychedelic sage Ram Dass.
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘This Is Not Berlin’ and ‘White Balloon’
A bad-boy journey back to the music and art scene of the '80s, Mexico City style; plus an Iranian classic at the Pacific Film Archive
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘Piranhas’ and ‘Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles’
Gangster movie fans will love Giovannesi's 'Piranhas;' Plus: animated Buñuel for adults and precocious youth alike.
Big Screen Berkeley: 39th San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
Some highlights of the 39th San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, which kicks off on July 18, with many East Bay screenings.
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘The Reports on Sarah and Saleem,’ ‘The Nun’ and ‘Privilege’
Three movies to see: a Palestinian drama about a dangerous extra-marital affair; a sharp critique of Catholicism from Jacques Rivette; and a prescient pop culture feature.
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘Pasolini’
In the pantheon of filmmaking greats, Pier Paolo Pasolini stands alone. Now another great director, Abel Ferrara, has made a movie of his life, depicting his final day on earth.
