"Joey, do you like movies about gladiators?" I finally saw The Hunger Games a couple of nights ago. Pretty good for a modern Hollywood blockbuster. It's a gladiator movie, of course. Sure it's all dressed up in science fiction hardware and leftwing economic attitudes. The story involves a television spectacle where 24 mostly unwilling teenagers … Continue reading On the Moral Dilemma of Gladiator Movies
What’s Screening: November 1 – 7
Four film festivals opening this week. Both Taiwan Film Days and the American Indian Film Festival start today. And, speaking if Indians, the 3rd i South Asian Film Festival starts Wednesday. French Cinema Now starts Thursday. A 12 Years A Slave, Kabuki, Embarcadero Center, California (Berkeley), Piedmont, CineArts at Sequoia, opens Friday. True story: In … Continue reading What’s Screening: November 1 – 7
My Thoughts on Night of the Living Dead
Tuesday night, in the seasonal holiday spirit, I finally saw the original Night of the Living Dead. It really is one of the greatest horror films ever made. This is fear without compromise. The terror and suspense never let up. There's absolutely no room for a happy ending. The slow, nearly unstoppable ghouls (no one … Continue reading My Thoughts on Night of the Living Dead
American Epic With an Unblinking Eye: My Review of 12 Years a Slave
A Historical drama Written by John Ridley, based on the memoir by Solomon Northup Directed by Steve McQueen Painful, frightening, outrageous, lyrical, beautiful, and terrifying despite the happy ending promised in the title, 12 Years a Slave reminds you of what cinema is supposed to be about. This is easily the best new film I've … Continue reading American Epic With an Unblinking Eye: My Review of 12 Years a Slave
Young, Gay, Jewish, Talented, and Out of Control: My Review of Kill Your Darlings
A Drama Written by Austin Bunn and John Krokidas Directed by John Krokidas Interesting how Indiewood has embraced the beats lately--especially Allen Ginsberg. Depending on how you look at it, Kill Your Darlings is the second or third feature about Ginsberg in the space of just over three years. First there was Howl, about Ginsberg … Continue reading Young, Gay, Jewish, Talented, and Out of Control: My Review of Kill Your Darlings
My Thoughts on Fargo
Saturday night, my wife and I showed Fargo to another couple. About half an hour in, immediately after the first set of grisly murders, one of our guests asked "Why are we watching this?" After it was over, she asked us why we thought it was a great film. I never thought I'd have to … Continue reading My Thoughts on Fargo
What’s Screening: October 25 – 31
The United Nations Association Film Festival continues through Sunday. No other festivals this week. I've moved Halloween-oriented events to the bottom of this newsletter. B+ The Trials of Muhammad Ali,Opera Plaza, California (Berkeley), opens Friday. A well-made documentary about a great subject, The Trials of Muhammad Ali looks at a man who is arguably the … Continue reading What’s Screening: October 25 – 31
Coming Attractions at the Castro, PFA and Stanford
Note: This article has been altered since I first posted it. I corrected some typos and misspellings. I always feel a little guilty (not too much) going to a movie on a beautiful summer day. But the guilt evaporates in November. So let's look at what's coming up at the Castro, Stanford, and the Pacific … Continue reading Coming Attractions at the Castro, PFA and Stanford
What’s Screening: October 18 – 24
The United Nations Association Film Festival opened last night (sorry, I missed it in last week's newsletter) and runs through the 27th. Sister Cities Cinema: Zurich / SF opens today and plays through the weekend. I've placed Festival capsules at the bottom of this newsletter.C+ Zaytoun, Opera Plaza, Shattuck, Rafael, opens Friday. A Palestinian boy … Continue reading What’s Screening: October 18 – 24
X-Rated Movies at Yerba Buena
Some films are just too strong to get an R rating. And for the first 22 years of the rating system, those films were saddled with the notorious X. Through November and December, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts will celebrate that controversial and now-dead label with an eight-film series, X: The History of … Continue reading X-Rated Movies at Yerba Buena
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