Small Screen Berkeley: ‘Zappa’ and ‘Flowers of Shanghai’
Watch a documentary about Frank Zappa produced by his son or a Taiwanese period piece that feels like soaking in a warm bubble bath.
John Seal
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.
Articles by John
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Small Screen Berkeley: ‘Beasts Clawing at Straws’ and ‘Collective’
Streaming: A solid, entertaining mystery from South Korea; and a documentary that warns about the damage done when local journalism is stifled.
Small Screen Berkeley: ‘The Day Shall Come’ and ‘Truth is the Only Client’
A hilarious but also serious film about one of most pernicious aspects of The War on Terror; and a movie that’s essential viewing for anyone interested in the JFK assassination.
Small Screen Berkeley: ‘The Watermelon Woman’, ‘Nationtime’ and Kino freebies
For your streaming pleasure: An overlooked gem of American independent filmmaking; an inspiring look at the National Black Political Convention; and free films from Kino Lorber.
Small Screen Berkeley: ‘The Antenna’, ‘Tar’ and ‘Song Without a Name’
To watch: Two horror movies starring an oozing viscous liquid, one better than the other, and a gut-wrenching Peruvian drama, beautifully shot in black and white.
Small Screen Berkeley: ‘Buoyancy’, ‘This is Not a Movie’, and ‘White Riot’
To watch: One of the best — and most shocking — films of the year; the story of one of our greatest living journalists; and documenting the history of Rock Against Racism.
Small Screen Berkeley: ‘Treason’ and ‘The First Angry Man’
Shucking off those U.S. government chains and trying to create the perfect nation; and a reminder of a time when our ‘liberal’ state embraced the politics of the reactionary right.
Small Screen Berkeley: Highlights from the Mill Valley Film Festival
This year’s festival (running Oct. 8-18) is making the vast majority of its high-quality programming available for streaming.
Small Screen Berkeley: Four new documentaries worth watching
One looks at the efforts of former Nazis to ‘deradicalize’ their Aryan brothers. Two focus on the lives of famous men: Chuck Berry and Oliver Sacks.
Small Screen Berkeley: Bruce Dern and Lena Olin shine in ‘The Artist’s Wife’
Bruce Dern and Lena Olin give terrific performances in a film about decline and dementia; while ‘Native Sun, long unseen, is now restored and available to stream.
Big Screen Berkeley: ‘Feels Good Man’ & ‘The Hole’
Artist Matt Furie created Pepe the Frog character in 2005. A new movie traces how Pepe became an icon for white nationalists, neo-Nazis, and other assorted fascists.
Small Screen Berkeley: ‘Suspension’, ‘Stuff and Dough’ and ‘Niki and Flo’
A movie about bridge construction could be as interesting as watching paint dry. In the case of ‘Suspension,’ it’s not. Plus: Catch up on PFA’s 21st-century Romanian cinema.
Small Screen Berkeley: ‘San Francisco Docfest 2020’
There are a slew of fascinating documentaries in this virtual film festival, including one on an American-style suburban development in China and another on the last Blockbuster video store in the U.S.
Small Screen Berkeley: As host of TV’s ‘Soul!,’ Ellis Haizlip brought Black culture to Black Americans
‘Mr. Soul’ tells the story of Ellis Haizlip, a New York City-based dance producer and stage manager who hosted the extraordinary TV series ‘Soul!’ between 1968 and 1973.
Small Screen Berkeley: ‘The Prey’ and ‘Boys State’
In Vithaya Pansringarm, ‘The Prey’ may have found our next James Bond supervillain; while ‘Boys State’ provides us with everything we hope for from politics — and everything we fear.
Small Screen Berkeley: ‘My Dog Stupid’, ‘Coup 53’ and ‘Apocalypse ’45’
A “monstrous mutt” delivers in a wry and amusing French film; the best investigative documentary since last year’s ‘Cold Case Hammarskjold;’ and a must-see for WWII buffs.
