The Castro is hosting the San Francisco Film Noir Festival, Noir City, this week, and I made it to see a double feature tonight:
Shakedown, a truly gritty, fabulous film- apparently originally named "The Magnificent Heel"- about a photographer who realizes that he can make more money with bribery than journalism. He gets a little greedy; he's not quite smart enough, and doesn't last long. The screenplay is a gem. It's a rare film, which is a bummer, because I'd like to see it again soon, if only to write down some of the best lines...
The Raging Tide was a weird little film about a murderer who hides out on a fishing boat, only to discover that he loves the life of a fisherman. The fisherman comes to love him like a son. Criminal redeems self through selfless act, resulting in his death, and everyone else lives happily ever after. Shelley Winters plays the lonely, not-so-bright girlfriend. (Before the film, the director of the festival mentioned that she had a reputation for getting parts for reasons other than her acting abilities. well, gee- I wonder how she got top billing on this one.)
On my way home I stopped for a beer in a neighborhood bar I occasionally visit during happy hour. mistake! I forgot that all the idiots in the city go out drinking in my neighborhood on the weekends. I drank the fastest beer of my life, blew my favorite bartender (kneedeep in youngster yuppies) a kiss, and got the hell out of there. I miss my old restaurant schedule- bars are nice and peaceful at midnight on Tuesdays...

Last night I went to see Rabbit Proof Fence, which was beautiful and sad- it made me want to howl. Instead I cried like a baby. Afterward, in a hungry daze, I wandered into the Virgin Mega-Hella-Corporate Music store and bought the soundtrack, by Peter Gabriel, and some Nick Cave (yes, best of, because I'm damned lazy). I went in looking for the Chita Rivera/Gwen Verdon recording of Chicago, but they only had the movie soundtrack and the 1998 London Cast Recording, and while Ute Lemper is one of my favorites, I just don't want my Velma Kelly to have a faint German accent...