Film
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Fran Recommends (From 1997)
Martin Scorcese’s HBO documentary Public Speaking is about the writer Fran Lebowitz and, judging by the trailer and reviews, it consists mostly of Scorcese filming Lebowitz while she talks, which might be her true métier. If you’ve seen Lebowitz interviewed,…
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10/40/70 #30: Machine Gun McCain
This ongoing experiment in film writing freezes a film at 10, 40, and 70 minutes, and keeps the commentary as close to those frames as possible. This week, I examine Machine Gun McCain, directed by Giuliano Montaldo (1969):
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Can Creative Writing Help Students Become More Successful?
Mother Jones is doing an ongoing education reporting series from Mission High School in San Francisco. This week’s article asks, “Does Creative Writing Help Kids Succeed?” Tough question to answer. I think creative writing can help kids, but like the…
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Blood, Snow, Glory: Mountain Goats Meet Sir Arne’s Treasure
I basically hurt myself with excitement when I read that the San Francisco Film Society was presenting Mauritz Stiller’s 1919 silent film classic Sir Arne’s Treasure with live musical accompaniment by indie rock icon John Darnielle of the Mountain…
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Notable San Francisco, This Week: 12/13-12/19
This week in San Francisco, it’s Ladies Night at The Rumpus! Also, Dave Eggers plays ping pong, art for the blind, sitting and lying in protest of the Sit/Lie law, and crafty alternatives to traditional holiday shopping. Monday 12/13: What…
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Synecdoche, New York: The Shooting Script
What follows is the introduction to Synecdoche, New York: The Shooting Script, by Charlie Kaufman:
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“Fill your hand, you son of a bitch.”
Really informative essay over at The New York Times about Charles Portis, author of True Grit, the novel that inspired the John Wayne classic and the Coen brothers redo. NYT writer Carlo Rotella relays his own person meetings with Portis…
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Sir Arne’s Treasure with the Mountain Goats
If you’re in San Francisco next Tuesday night, the San Francisco Film Society is presenting a screening of the 1919 silent classic, Sir Arne’s Treasure, with live accompaniment by John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats. Full program information is here.
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10/40/70 #29: Duel in the Sun
This ongoing experiment in film writing freezes a film at 10, 40, and 70 minutes, and keeps the commentary as close to those frames as possible. This week, I examine Duel in the Sun, directed by King Vidor (1946):
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Notable San Francisco, This Week: 12/6-12/12
This week in San Francisco, Granta at City Lights, literature meets food at Feast of Words and to-the-death battle at Literary Death Match, and Believer Magazine hangs out at Electric Works. Monday 12/6: Celebrate issue 113 of Granta magazine at…
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James Franco In a Chair On a Stage
The actor/artist/writer/director talks for four hours about his process; young writer takes notes:
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Notable San Francisco, This Week: 11/29-12/5
This week in San Francisco, booze for a cause at Drink Good Do Good, come hang out with me at this month’s Quiet Lightning, two words: Cinema Orgy, Booksmith’s first Literary Clown Foolery, Babylon Salon, and fund raise San Francisco…