Category: Films

Film Review: “The Bikeriders”

The Bikeriders is Comer’s star-making vehicle

Director Jeff Nichols has been on an impressive streak of memorable dramatic films that directly or indirectly involve the culture of middle-America, including Shotgun Stories, Take Shelter, Mud, and Loving. The Bikeriders is his latest dramatic piece of cinematic Americana (or, “Ameridrama”, to coin a phrase), stradling the median between mainstream drama and niche historical fiction. The Bikeriders is a surprisingly charming piece of old-school storytelling, buoyed by an impressive script and strong performances. Continue reading “Film Review: “The Bikeriders””

Film Review: “Tuesday”

Death stops for Julia Louis-Dreyfus in smart, introspective picture 

Zora (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) struggles with grief over the pending loss of her ill daughter.

Croatian filmmaker Daina Oniunas-Pusic has earned multiple awards for her short films, and now parlays that talent on to the big screen with Tuesday, her terrific feature film debut. A contemplative and serious meditation on life, death, grief, and letting go, Oniunas-Pusic’s film never feels heavy-handed, even as it grapples with some of life’s most weighty philosophical questions.

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Film Review: “Bad Boys: Ride or Die”

Bad Boys sticks to its guns for an explosively fun summer flick

After “The Slap,” Will Smith took a much needed multi-year hiatus from acting. Whatever self-reflection, anger management, family therapy or whatnot he (was forced to or voluntarily) went through, good for him. He also made a very wise decision (likely in close coordination with his agent) to return to movies within the warm embrace of the most tried-and-true action franchise of his career: Bad Boys. Re-teaming with Martin Lawrence and directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (Bad Boys for Life), this fourth installment, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, proves that the series still has some juice left in the tank, as long as it sticks to its iconic blend of neon-soaked action and curse-filled bickering. Continue reading “Film Review: “Bad Boys: Ride or Die””

Film Review: “Ezra”

Mediocre drama wastes Cannavale, De Niro pairing

Ezra (William A. Fitzgerald, bottom r.) learns some fighting moves from his grandfather (Robert De Niro) as his father (Bobby Cannavale) looks on.

Robert De Niro and Bobby Cannavale have acted together once before, in Martin Scorsese’s 2019 mob drama The Irishman. But casting them as father and son is a brilliant idea, and, if nothing else, actor/director Tony Goldwyn’s new film Ezra at least offers audiences that long overdue delight. 

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Film Review: “Young Woman and the Sea”

Young Woman and the Sea joins the pantheon of Disney’s finest live-action sports dramas

In the 1990s and early 2000s, Disney’s live-action sports dramas used to be a much bigger deal at the box office and in audience’s appreciation. If you’re of a certain age, movies like Cool Runnings (1993) and Iron Will (1994) carry special meaning, and if you’re slightly younger, movies like Remember the Titans (2000), The Rookie (2002), and Miracle (2004) may carry similar weight. These movies share specific characteristics: based on true stories, the protagonists are underdogs, more than a few training montages, and surface-level commentary on socio-political topics. Disney’s latest, Young Woman and the Sea, contains all the above facets and confidently carries the torch forward for the sub-genre. Director Joachim Rønning (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil) knows how and when to deploy the emotional and feminist beats of the story, so the film never feels overly stuffed or preachy. Like the great Disney live-action sports dramas that have come before it, Young Woman and the Sea is a spirited and emotional tale that is perfect for viewers of all ages. Continue reading “Film Review: “Young Woman and the Sea””

Film Reviews: “Babes” and “Back to Black”

Weekend movie choices: Amusing comedy or forgettable biopic? 

The summer blockbuster movies season is still a few weeks away, but in the interim two very different smaller pictures featuring female protagonists open today. Are they worth seeing? Read on to find out! 

Continue reading “Film Reviews: “Babes” and “Back to Black””

Film Review: “The Fall Guy”

Movie stars and plenty of action kick off the summer in The Fall Guy 

Loosely based on the 1980s television series starring Lee Majors, The Fall Guy is an ode to stunt work. Stunt teams have been providing the thrills of action sequences since the era of silent movies and Buster Keaton, to the present day Mission: Impossible and Fast and Furious franchises. Director David Leitch, who has helmed numerous stunt-centric projects, such as Atomic Blonde, Bullet Train, Deadpool 2, and he even co-directed the first John Wick, is the perfect figure to pay homage to the stunt profession. In doing so, The Fall Guy is also properly kicking off the 2024 summer movie season. The movie highlights movie stars, aka the beautiful celebrities recognized worldwide, as much as it highlights stuntmen and stuntwomen, aka those who likely aren’t recognized anywhere. It wouldn’t work without two top-of-their-game A-list actors with incredible chemistry, and it wouldn’t work without great stunt work. The Fall Guy has all the ingredients of an escapist popcorn flick, and rises to the occasion. Continue reading “Film Review: “The Fall Guy””

Film Feature: 67th SFFILM Festival Preview #2

The 67th SFFilm Festival opens tomorrow, Wednesday, April 24th, and will run through Sunday, April 28th. The Festival is presenting over 45 programs featuring films from 40 countries in venues in San Francisco and Berkeley. We’ve already previewed five of the Fest’s films (two documentaries and three narratives), and below we take a look at five more narrative features:

Continue reading “Film Feature: 67th SFFILM Festival Preview #2”

Film Feature: 67th SFFILM Festival Preview #1

The 67th San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM) will take place April 24-April 28 with screenings at various theaters around San Francisco and the East Bay.

For a full view of special awards, spotlights, and centerpiece films, check out the complete festival guide. Tickets can be purchased here. 

Below is a preview of the festival, featuring brief looks at five films:

1.) BILLY & MOLLY: AN OTTER LOVE STORY
(UK, 2023. 78 min)

Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story is a documentary about a man and his otter friend, and the film is an absolute joy. Produced by National Geographic and directed by renowned nature photographer Charlie Hamilton-James, Billy & Molly features brilliantly photographed coastal vistas and serene sunset colors. And, of course, there’s the most adorable otter ever, Molly. She enters Billy’s life when he most needs a friend, and they end up impacting each other’s lives in profound ways. The film is heartwarmingly narrated by Billy and his wife Susan with a wry sense of humor and a deep familial awareness. Billy & Molly will make you cry, smile, laugh, and love nature (and especially otters) more than you already should.

Screenings (click here for tickets):
– Sat., April 27th, 12:15pm at the Marina Theatre Continue reading “Film Feature: 67th SFFILM Festival Preview #1”

Film Review: “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare”

Sometimes an ensemble of handsome spies killing Nazis is all you need

Heist films are commonly fun to watch, since they often include an ensemble cast, clever misdirections, and clearly defined stakes. In essence, Guy Ritchie’s latest film, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, is a World War II heist film. It’s based on Damien Lewis’s 2014 book Churchill’s Secret Warriors: The Explosive True Story of the Special Forces Desperadoes of WWII. The film isn’t as bloody as you may expect (it’s still very violent). It’s not as funny or fast-paced as you may expect from Guy Ritchie, nor is it as dramatic. Yet, it carries a modicum of each element which, when put together, forms a solidly entertaining spy action flick. Continue reading “Film Review: “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare””