A Holocaust thriller Written by Lola Doillon and Anne Peyregne; based on the book by Fanny Ben Ami Directed by Lola Doillon [Note: I wrote this review, after previewing the film before the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, with the intention of posting it before the picture's theatrical release. I changed my plan Sunday morning, … Continue reading Fanny’s Journey: Children on the run
Category: Reviews
Whose Streets: Ferguson and America
A- Documentary Directed by Sabaah Folayan & Damon Davis The police murder of Michael Brown rocked the town of Ferguson, Missouri - and the nation. This incendiary and totally-biased documentary does more than tell you the story. It puts you on the ground with the people that marched, protested, and rioted as their city became … Continue reading Whose Streets: Ferguson and America
Brigsby Bear: Art for good and art from evil
A- Fish out of water comedy Written by Kevin Costello and Kyle Mooney Directed by Dave McCary If you're looking for a laugh-a-minute comedy, Brigsby Bear shouldn't be your first choice. But if you want a good (if not entirely believable) story about parenting and the nature of art - along with a few giggles … Continue reading Brigsby Bear: Art for good and art from evil
An Inconvenient Sequel about fixing the problem
A documentary Directed by Bonni Cohen and Jon Shank The film starts with glaciers melting, while we hear commentators from Fox News and similar outlets trashing Al Gore as an alarmist and a liar. We hear the lies, while we see the truth. Al Gore's 2006 documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, was strong on bad news, … Continue reading An Inconvenient Sequel about fixing the problem
Person to Person: Not that personable
C Multi-story drama Written and directed by Dustin Guy Defa Dustin Guy Defa wants to be Robert Altman - or at least he wants to make Altman-like movies, with multiple stories weaved together as a portrait of a time and place. But Person to Person is no Nashville. It lacks a theme to tie the … Continue reading Person to Person: Not that personable
Landline finds humor in relationships
B+ Relationship comedy Written by Elisabeth Holm & Gillian Robespierre Directed by Gillian Robespierre This essentially serious comedy finds laughs in human relationships, both romantic and filial. It's very funny, but it's also touching and true to life. The central story concerns two sisters living in New York in 1995 - a time when the … Continue reading Landline finds humor in relationships
Harold and Lillian: The happy marriage of unsung Hollywood heroes
B+ Film history documentary Directed by Daniel Raim Harold Michelson was one of Hollywood's top storyboard artists…until he became a top production designer. His wife, Lillian Michelson, ran a research library and helped filmmakers learn about the places and times in which their movies were set. Between them, they influenced an astonishingly large group of … Continue reading Harold and Lillian: The happy marriage of unsung Hollywood heroes
Dawson City: A Hidden Treasure Trove in an Artic Swimming Pool
C+ Film history documentary Directed by Bill Morrison In 1978, Michael Gates of Dawson City stumbled on a huge collection of 35mm nitrate film, buried in a former swimming pool below a torn-down ice rink. The once-thriving Yukon mining town sits less than 200 miles south of the Arctic Circle. The film stock was much … Continue reading Dawson City: A Hidden Treasure Trove in an Artic Swimming Pool
13 Minutes: The difference between life and death in Nazi Germany
A- Historical drama Written by Léonie-Claire Breinersdorfer and Fred Breinersdorfer Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel This spellbinding and sometimes gruesome story about Nazi Germany feels very relevant today. It's a must see, even though it will probably turn your stomach. No matter how much you like 13 Minutes, you probably won't want to see it twice. … Continue reading 13 Minutes: The difference between life and death in Nazi Germany
Maudie: Beautiful biopic of a painter
A biopic Written by Sherry White Directed by Aisling Walsh I went into this beautiful story without knowing that it was based on the life of a real person. I came out wanting to know more about Maude Lewis, a painter of moderate renown from Nova Scotia. Her paintings are colorful, simple, and cheerful. She … Continue reading Maudie: Beautiful biopic of a painter
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