Let’s start with the festival report. Brad Bird’s talk Sunday night was every bit as good as I’d hoped. It was amusing, thoughtful, and intelligent. In other words, he used funny voices and said almost nothing with which I didn’t agree. He talked mostly about the death of showmanship, decrying such trends as smaller theaters … Continue reading Festival Report

People fantasize about sex with movie stars. That’s often what makes them movie stars instead of merely actors. I discovered just how strongly those fantasies can hold us when I read that Uma Thurman smokes. It bothered me, the way it would bother me if a potential lover suddenly lit up. It’s ridiculous, of course. … Continue reading Sex with Movie Stars

Just a quick, off-schedule announcement. I went to the Balboa yesterday and finally saw The Best of Youth. It is, quite simply, fantastic--the best two-part, six-hour movie since Godfather I and II. Originally made for Italian television, it follows the fortunes of one family, a close circle of their friends, and the Italian people as … Continue reading Best of Youth

I'm extremely busy this week, so I'll skip the usual essay and go directly to this week's recommendations and noteworthy movies. Wait! Before I do that, I should let you know that I've added a Readers' Feedback page to the site. I'm always eager to read your comments. Send them to me by clicking // … Continue reading Movies for the Week of April 15

The good news: The San Francisco International Film Festival starts in two weeks. The bad news: So does Passover, resulting in some serious scheduling conflicts between must-see movies and my other religion. It's a good thing my family now follows Sephardic rules for observing this eight-day festival--that means I can eat popcorn. The festival runs … Continue reading San Francisco International Film Festival

Let’s talk about TiVo and other personal digital recorders. They’re wonderful gadgets, but like all wonderful gadgets, they come with undesirable side effects. (I know this site is about films in theaters, but if you love movies enough to come here—or subscribe—you probably think about how you watch them at home, as well.) Here’s the … Continue reading TiVo