Big Screen Berkeley: The films of Alain Tanner
The Swiss director's movies have been out of circulation for 20 years, which makes BAMPFA's upcoming series, 'Subtle Subversion: The Films of Alain Tanner,' all the more welcome.
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: ‘Blindspotting’
Berkeley High grads Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs have crafted a deeply intelligent, well-written drama with comedic overtones that's going to make waves come awards season.
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘Ava’ and ‘Under the Tree’
If you doubted Iran capable of producing feminist cinema, doubt no longer, and go see 'Ava;' Iceland’s 'Undir trénu' (Under the Tree), however, is a letdown.
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘The King’ and ‘Three Identical Strangers’
Two excellent documentaries open Friday: one, an original new take on Elvis Presley; the other, a look at a curious human interest story that turned into something darker.
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘Damsel’
The new western, 'Damsel,' is lovely to look at and delightful to listen to, except when its characters open their mouths.
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘Mrs. Hyde’ and ‘Westwood’
Two films to see this weekend: a French one about the dynamic between a teacher and her students, and a documentary about an iconic fashion designer.
Big Screen Berkeley: LGBTQ film festival Frameline 42
The SF festival plants its East Bay flag at Rialto Cinemas Elmwood over the weekend with a generous selection of ten films. Here's the skinny on three of them.
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘Western’
Though largely unknown in the United States, 'Western' was a massive success on the international festival circuit and is worth a look for anyone interested in German cinema.
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘A Touch of Zen’
Produced in Taiwan and released in 1971, 'A Touch of Zen' is, quite simply, the greatest martial arts film of all time.
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘The House of Tomorrow’
Ellen Burstyn stars in this "charming and quirky feature" about Buckminster Fuller, opening Friday at Landmark's Shattuck Cinemas.
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘Beast’
Michael Pearce's 'Beast' is a character study disguised as a murder-mystery, offering sharply drawn examinations of the black sheep boy and girl whom neighbors view with suspicion.
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘The Headless Woman’
A middle-aged, middle-class woman named Vero is driving home when she hits something. Is it a person? An animal? This Argentinian film explores her reaction to the accident.
