Author: Carrie Kahn

Moving from the arthouse to the multiplex with grace, ease, and only the occasional eye roll. Proud member of the San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle.

Film Feature: 65th SFFILM Festival Spotlight #3

The 65th SFFilm Festival opened on Thursday and will run through Sunday, May 1st, so there’s still plenty of time to check out some new films this weekend and through next week. Here’s a look at four more offerings. 

1.) NAVALNY
(USA/Germany/Russia, 2022. 98 min)

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Back in late January, nobody knew just how relevant this documentary about Russian opposition leader, poisoning victim, and current prisoner Alexi Navalny would be just a few weeks later, as the Russians invaded Ukraine. Nominated for Sundance’s Documentary Grand Jury prize and winning both the Festival Favorite Award and the Audience U.S. Documentary Award, this portrait of courage is as relevant as it is intriguing. An eye opening look at Russian politics, director Daniel Roher’s film shouldn’t be missed.  

Screenings (click here for tickets):
– Sat., April 23rd, 4:30pm at the Castro
– If you miss Saturday’s screening, the film is also available on CNN.

Continue reading “Film Feature: 65th SFFILM Festival Spotlight #3”

Film Review: “All the Old Knives”

Old knives sharp enough for satisfying spy thriller

Former colleagues and lovers Celia (Thandiwe Newton) and Henry (Chris Pine) catch up over dinner in Carmel.

Danish director Janus Metz brings a chilly Scandinavian sensibility to his adaptation of Olen Steinhauer’s 2015 spy novel All the Old Knives. The serviceable picture keeps the viewer at some remove from the characters, but presents a story just entertaining enough to absorb us.

Continue reading “Film Review: “All the Old Knives””

Film Feature: Carrie Picks the 2022 Oscars

Who will – and who should – win the 94th Academy Awards

The 94th Academy Awards air tonight, Sunday, March 27th, on ABC at 5:00 pm PST. After a pandemic pause last year, I’m back this year to share my predictions — and hopes — for the major categories. The show could pique more interest this year, since the controversial decision was made to shorten the program by moving eight of the 23 categories off screen. Protests may happen, and hosts Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes are sure to have some pointed commentary. Tune in to see how it all plays out, and to see close I (and you!) get to picking the winners.

Continue reading “Film Feature: Carrie Picks the 2022 Oscars”

Film Review: “I Want You Back”

Slate, Day charm in warmhearted rom-com

Emma (Jenny Slate) and Peter (Charlie Day) stalk their exes on Instagram.

If you’re looking for a post-dinner, new streamable rom-com to add to your Valentine’s Day evening itinerary, you could do worse than I Want You Back. Featuring the always appealing Jenny Slate and Charlie Day, the film hews close to standard rom-com tropes, but offers up just enough surprises and engaging performances to keep it from feeling too tired.

Continue reading “Film Review: “I Want You Back””

Film Feature: Carrie’s Top 10 Films of 2021

After having to watch the bulk of our films from our living rooms in 2020, the slow but sure return to cinemas in 2021 was more than welcome. And the year rewarded us with many Top 10 list worthy contenders. I’ve narrowed mine down to the list below. You can also check out fellow film writer Chris Piper’s list here, as well as my 2020 list here. Now stop reading lists, and go seek these out! 

Continue reading “Film Feature: Carrie’s Top 10 Films of 2021”

Film Review: “The Tender Bar”

An elegy for a Tender Bar: Affleck bright spot in familiar memoir-based story 

Young J.R. (Daniel Ranieri, l.) listens intently to life lessons dispensed by his Uncle Charlie (Ben Affleck). 

George Clooney wears his director hat for The Tender Bar, and with a script by William Monahan (The Departed) and Ben Affleck in the lead, the film, on paper, seems full of promising cred. So imagine my disappointment, then, as I watched the movie and the whole thing felt… familiar. Unoriginal. Cliche. The picture has a few decent performances, but sadly is ultimately forgettable.

Continue reading “Film Review: “The Tender Bar””

Film Review: “Encounter”

Ahmed’s performance anchors tense, imperfect drama

Malik (Riz Ahmed, center) prepares his sons Jay (Lucian-River Chauhan, l.) and Bobby (Aditya Geddada) for an alien threat.

First, a heads up about the new movie Encounter: it is *not* a sci-fi movie. Despite the title, trailer, and marketing copy all seemingly indicating that’s what we’re in for, the film’s publicity team has done a bait and switch. So if you’re a huge sci-fi fan and think the trailer looks intriguing — as I did — know that instead what you’re getting with this picture is actually a serviceable psychological drama. I’ll also warn you that if you get stressed out by watching gross creepy insects and children in peril, this picture probably isn’t for you.

Continue reading “Film Review: “Encounter””

Film Review: “14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible”

New doc is a terrific peak at extraordinary accomplishment 

Mountaineer extraordinaire Nims Purja, atop one of his many ascents.

If you feel like you need some motivation to get back in shape after your long Thanksgiving weekend of feasting and resting, I recommend you watch the new Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible stat. The film tells the story of Nepali mountaineer Nirmal “Nims” Purja, who became the first person to summit all 14 of the world’s highest peaks in under seven months. The feat–and the movie about it–are both exceptional and inspiring.

Continue reading “Film Review: “14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible””

Film Review: “The Humans”

Strong performances anchor awkward stage-to-screen adaptation 

The Blake family gathers for Thanksgiving.

“Boy, the holidays are rough. Every year I just try to get from the day before Thanksgiving to the day after New Year’s,” the late great screenwriter Nora Ephron has Harry (Billy Crystal) comment to Sally (Meg Ryan) in the 1989 classic When Harry Met Sally. “A lot of suicides,” Sally dryly replies. Some 30 years later, Pennsylvania-born playwright and first-time filmmaker Stephen Karam has given us The Humans, a Thanksgiving-set film that illustrates Harry’s point. In keeping with the spirit of the holiday, though, thankfully, the picture lacks Sally’s cynicism.

Continue reading “Film Review: “The Humans””

Film Review: “King Richard”

Game, set, and match: Smith serves up winning performance in Williams biopic

Richard Williams (Will Smith) coaches his daughters Serena (Demi Singleton, l.) and Venus (Saniyya Sidney).

The last based-on-real-life tennis move I reviewed was Battle of the Sexes back in 2017, a jaunty yet powerful look at the infamous 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. Just as that movie was about so much more than solely tennis, so too is King Richard, a film that takes place nearly 20 years later, and, while ostensibly about the early lives of tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams, is actually about race, class, parenting, and marriage. But the picture features plenty of nail-biting tennis matches, too, for the true tennis aficionado.

Continue reading “Film Review: “King Richard””