A Drama Written & directed by Alfonso Cuarón Opens Friday What an amazing film! Alfonso Cuarón, after making Children of Men and Gravity, returns to his native Mexico to create a loosely-plotted study of Mexico City, 1970-71, through the eyes of an indigenous maid who works for a comfortable middle-class family. At first, Roma seems … Continue reading Roma: Alfonso Cuarón recalls his childhood
Category: Drama
Drama
A Private War made public by a brave reporter
A Biopic Written by Arash Amel, from a Vanity Fair article by Marie Brenner Directed by Matthew Heineman This is the sort of film that makes me proud to be a journalist. On the other hand, it also makes me feel ashamed that I never, in the course of my profession, did anything really important … Continue reading A Private War made public by a brave reporter
Lebanon & Beale Street: Closing Day of the Mill Valley Film Festival
This year's Mill Valley Film Festival closed Sunday. I caught two narrative films there. I loved them both. Both films will get theatrical releases in the near future. A Capernaum Children living in poverty have to do for themselves in this heartbreaking story of love and the lack of love. Twelve-year-old Zain sues his parents for … Continue reading Lebanon & Beale Street: Closing Day of the Mill Valley Film Festival
The Hate U Give comes back to you
A- Drama Written by Audrey Wells, from a novel by Angie Thomas Directed by George Tillman Jr. Of this year's many impressive films about the African-American experience, The Hate U Give must be the most thematically ambitious. It covers police brutality, inner-city neighborhoods, being black in an overwhelmingly white school, drug dealing, black-on-black violence, demonstrations, riots, … Continue reading The Hate U Give comes back to you
The Happy Prince & the very sad story
C- Period drama Written & directed by Rupert Everett Opens Friday Many assume that if a movie focuses on very unhappy people wallowing in their many past mistakes, it must be a great film. This is especially true if the photography is conventionally beautiful, the cast British, and the main character an actual historical figure. Many … Continue reading The Happy Prince & the very sad story
Bias & Hate: Sunday at the Mill Valley Film Festival
I went to Mill Valley yesterday for the Mill Valley Film Festival (I usually go to the Rafael). I saw two films, one documentary and one narrative, and both about prejudice. B+ Bias Everyone, even the least racist and sexist among us, have implicit biases - the prejudices you don't even know you have. Even computer … Continue reading Bias & Hate: Sunday at the Mill Valley Film Festival
A Private War & Opening Night at the Mill Valley Film Festival
Thursday night, I attended one of the two opening night screenings at the Mill Valley Film Festival. I chose A Private War over Green Book. But before I get to the movie, I want to comment on something that bothers me at all the big film festivals. Although they bend left politically, their ticket sales … Continue reading A Private War & Opening Night at the Mill Valley Film Festival
Complex moral issues go to court in The Children Act
A- Courtroom drama Written by Ian McEwan, adapted from his novel Directed by Richard Eyre Note: I saw this film at this year's SFFILM Festival, and wrote this review soon afterwards. Since then, I've been holding this review, waiting for the Bay Area theatrical run. That run has not yet happened, but the film is … Continue reading Complex moral issues go to court in The Children Act
Hidden genius found in this Puzzle
A- drama Directed By Marc Turtletaub Screenplay By Oren Moverman & Polly Mann Based on the film Rompecabezas by Natalia Smirnoff Dramas, which like to feel above genre, have their own recognizable tropes. You can often see what's going to happen as clearly as you can see the ending of an action flick or a … Continue reading Hidden genius found in this Puzzle
Don’t Worry He Won’t Get Far on Foot
A- biopic Written by Gus Van Sant, from John Callahan's autobiography Directed by Gus Van Sant If you're looking for a cinematic argument against alcohol addiction, this biopic of paraplegic cartoonist John Callahan makes a very strong argument. The film also gives you a strong sense of how Alcoholics Anonymous works. If it had not … Continue reading Don’t Worry He Won’t Get Far on Foot
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