D+ Character-driven comedy Written by Lawrence and Meg Kasdan Directed by Lawrence Kasdan I hate watching good actors, some of whom I've admired for decades, struggle through a bad script. That made Darling Companion a very difficult movie to sit through. Here we have a character-driven comedy almost entirely lacking in either fully developed characters … Continue reading Darling Companion
Category: Reviews
Last Call at the Oasis
B+ Documentary Directed by Jessica Yu How do you judge a political documentary? Artistic and technical merit? How well it argues its case? Is it entertaining? How important is the subject? Do you agree with what it says? Jessica Yu's examination of the water crisis looming over the human race does reasonably well on all … Continue reading Last Call at the Oasis
Headhunters
A thriller Written by Lars Gudmestad and Jo Nesbø, from the novel by Ulf Ryberg Directed by Morten Tyldum Shit happens, sometimes literally, in this scary, effective, funny, gruesome, and utterly entertaining thriller from Norway. Roger Brown (Aksel Hennie) leads the good life. He's a headhunter--in the modern, corporate meaning of the term. He helps … Continue reading Headhunters
SFIFF Report: Saturday Evening
Caught two movies after dinner last night: A- Oslo, August 31 Anders, a recovering drug addict living in a halfway house in the country, gets a day's leave to return to Oslo for a job interview. The trip will also give him a chance to catch up with some friends. But he's lost, has no … Continue reading SFIFF Report: Saturday Evening
17 Girls
Note: Last September, I screened and reviewed this French film prior to its upcoming Bay Area threatrical release. That release never happened, and my review remained unpublished. I just discovered that the film is available streaming on Netflix, so I'm posting my review. B+ Adolescent drama Written and directed by Delphine & Muriel Coulin 17 … Continue reading 17 Girls
Attenberg
B Coming of age drama Written & Directed by Athina Rachel Tsangari You have to adjust yourself to the slow pace of Athina Rachel Tsangari’s story of a young woman simultaneously facing her budding sexuality (at the rather late age of 23) and her father’s mortality. The static and low-key opening scene of two women kissing … Continue reading Attenberg
Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope
B Pop-culture documentary Directed by Morgan Spurlock Morgan Spurlock's latest documentary will disappoint his fans, which is odd because it's all about fandom. In this documentary, Spurlock doesn't experiment with diet or sell himself to corporations. He doesn't even put on a Batman costume. In fact, Spurlock never appears on camera and you never hear … Continue reading Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope
Free Men
B- Holocaust drama Written by Alain-Michel Blanc and Ismaël Ferroukhi Directed by Ismaël Ferroukhi I had two reasons to see Free Men, despite my general tiring of Holocaust dramas. First, at a time when Muslims are vilified, and when Muslims and Jews are portrayed in the media as natural enemies, it's important to challenge these … Continue reading Free Men
Napoleon at the Paramount: An Incredible Day at the Movies
Abel Gance's Napoleon so overwhelmed me that I hardly know where to start. Despite a few slow sequences, the experience was as innovating, exciting, and entertaining as anything I've experienced as part of an audience. I doubt I have ever seen such a perfect melding of cinema and showmanship; the movie requires this special presentation, … Continue reading Napoleon at the Paramount: An Incredible Day at the Movies
Elite Squad: The Enemy Within
A super-violent cop cleans up the streets of Rio, but at what cost? B Political thriller Written by Bráulio Mantovani and José Padilha Directed by José Padilha Captain Roberto Nascimento (Wagner Moura) strongly believes in killing "scumbags." And as an officer in Rio's militaristic Special Police Operations Battalion (BOPE), he gets plenty of chances. This … Continue reading Elite Squad: The Enemy Within
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