|
|
 | Gems glittering on the silver screen The summer belongs to the Hollywood blockbuster, right? Wrong. To fully appreciate the art of modern cinema, you have to travel back in time to see where the art form came from. The [b]11th San Francisco Silent Film Festival[/b] is your ticket to the first three decades of the 20th century when films leapt off the silver screen in all their monochromatic glory without accosting the senses.More |  | Down and Almost Out When a married couple works together on a picture, the results can be devastating if their relationship falls apart during the project. In the case of Olivier Assayas directing (his now ex-wife) Maggie Cheung, the result is [b]Clean[/b], an impressive, emotional film with equal parts tenderness and unflinching drama.More |  | Drowning Souls When politicians tout the sanctity of marriage and religious zealots rave about marriage being the bedrock of civilization as we know it (that is, the United States), they act like all marriages happen willingly and survive happily into the couple's golden years. Just because marriage is a very old institution does not mean that everything about it should be sanctioned. For example, societies steeped in tradition, ceremony, and religion have not always been kind to widows -- even when they are young girls.More |  | Good Night and Good Luck Considering the public's ongoing love affair with the "American Idol" television series, our unceasing embrace of celebrity culture, and the vexing behavior of our current president, it's not surprising that a film would emerge exposing the unholy mess we're in.More |  | Land of the Lost and Found Taggart Siegel's [b]The Real Dirt on Farmer John[/b] is a fascinating profile of John Peterson, an eccentric, creative man who farms the land he grew up on in rural Illinois in a style very much his own. Venturing beyond a typical PBS documentary about the trials and tribulations of contemporary family farming -- which you probably already know is perilous, especially as more and more monster homes get built on "beautiful black soil" in rural America -- Siegel's film explores deeper, more complex terrain by delving into the psyche of a farmer and uncovering the essence of what it means to farm, and for whom farming is important.More |  | It's Not All German January often marks the beginning of the doldrums of cinema because the studios have already released their Oscar contenders for the past year. For a change from the bland, check out the [b]11th Annual Berlin & Beyond Film Festival[/b], which features innovative films from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.More |  | Giacomo to My House As if to counteract any misconstrued notions audiences might have about his heterosexuality, given his recent highly acclaimed performance as a gay cowboy in [i]Brokeback Mountain[/i], Heath Ledger comes out swinging his manhood in [i]Casanova[/i], a delightful period piece that looks as scrumptious and inviting as the actor's lips.More |  | This Is Frozen Spinal Tap This film comes from so far out in left field, you can't help but admire the sheer bravado of the filmmakers, the audacity of the first-time actors, and the patience of the crew (mostly the same folks as the cast). You won't ever view frozen dinners the same.More |  | Anything But Lame Rugby is a rough sport. When quadriplegics play it, it's even rougher. [i]Murderball[/i] is the dramatic documentary about hypercompetitive, wheelchair-bound men who play "quad rugby" (the nicer term than murderball) with a passion equaling that of any professional athlete. It's truly something to behold.More |  | Dance Fever The beat is infectious and the movement is captivating. Raw and natural rhythmic spasms blend with aggressive gymnastics. Solo performers merge into tight-knit groups. Flailing limbs somehow miss each other by a hair's breadth. Faces are painted with lavish colors and intricate designs; there's even a rainbow-colored afro. This is not your daddy's break-dancing. This is "krumping", a physical manifestation of pent-up emotions that combine celebration with rivalry. David LaChapelle captures the spirit of this modern dance craze in his feature debut, [i]Rize[/i].More |
|
