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Dave Good
Marty Graham
Moss Gropen
Andrew Hamlin
Dorian Hargrove
Garrett Harris
Ken Harrison
Patrick Henderson
Tam Hoang
Eve Kelly
Dryw Keltz
Eva Knott
Thomas Larson
Ken Leighton
Matthew Lickona
Mike Madriaga
Bill Manson
Scott Marks
Bob McPhail
Walter Mencken
Joseph O'Brien
Sheila Pell
Ian Pike
Matt Potter
H.G. Reza
Dave Rice
Elizabeth Salaam
Jay Allen Sanford
Julie Stalmer
DJ Stevens
Matthew Suárez
Amanda Tascher
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Alan Segal
Alan Segal
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State of Play
My Sicilian mother, had a favorite saying "look what the cat dragged in", and I immediately remembered that when Russell Crowe appeared on screen visually channeling Dennis Hopper in "Easy Rider", in the new political thriller "State of Play". Crowe is joined by a cast of Hollywood's biggest brand names, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren,Robin Wright Penn, Rachel McAdams, and Jason Bateman who is worth the price of admission as a sleazy lobbyist in a minor role. The movie brilliantly interweaves two current headlines, the covert threat of Blackwater-type private armies, and the overt economic threat to news coverage. The plot is filled with twists, turns and surprises, and equals great cinema entertainment.
— April 30, 2009 11:31 a.m.
Monsters vs. Aliens
Finally got around to taking my 6 year old grand daughter to see Monsters Vs Aliens, the 3D version. We went to the Ultra Star in Mission Valley, a really comfortable theatre. My grand daughter usually thinks she's in a rocking chair when she watches a movie and has to talk to me above the soundtrack through the whole film. Well, as soon as she put on the glasses she was still, silent, and thoroughly engrossed, as was I. Dreamworks has a real winner in this movie. It appeals to kids and their grand dads. My favorite alien was Bob. And the evil alien reminded me of Plankton on Spongebob.
— April 20, 2009 7:12 p.m.
Observe and Report
The new film "Observe and Report" starring Seth Rogan, Anna Faris and Ray Liotta is being marketed as a "nutso comedy". Well, if you think watching a violent, bi-polar,Rogan play a mentally ill mall security guard is funny, then you probably think Limbaugh's, Beck's, and Hannity's political hate talk is entertainment. I laughed only three times, and I felt uncomfortable doing it since the scenes were about his drunk and dysfunctional mother. The Dream factory has hit a new low with this movie, and writer director Jody Hill is one sick puppy! Caveat Emptor.
— April 11, 2009 4:57 p.m.
Duplicity
"Duplicity", the new caper movie with it's expensive production values, locations, and big name stars should be much better than it is. Julia Roberts, Clive Owens, Paul Giamatti and Tom wilkinson head the high priced cast. But it's writer and director Tony Gilroy tries too hard to top his last Oscar recognized film, "Michael Clayton". In Duplicity, Gilroy reverts to time shifting to tell his convoluted story and the cinema experience is like playing pick up sticks, with no sense or clarity until the ending, when a single stick is left.
— March 29, 2009 8:31 a.m.
Frozen River
When Melissa Leo(who?), got nominated for a best actress Oscar for the indie film, Frozen River,you could easily call it the Hollywood surprise of the year. So I finally broke down and rented the DVD, recently released. Well it's not a surprise anymore. Not only is her believable character deserving of the nomination; but the film proves again the fundamentals of entertaining cinema,a good story, and good characters equal a good movie.
— March 22, 2009 4:23 p.m.
Watchmen
From a Facebook posting by a friend of mine: "Dan Murphy is wishing had $10.25 back that he spent on 'Watchmen' - what a waste of money". I guess that sums it up.
— March 11, 2009 10:11 a.m.
Taken
If your virgin 17 year old daughter was kidnapped by sleazy cuthroat Albanian sex slavers on her first day in Paris along with her hot 19 year old girlfriend, who would you turn to, 007, the Dark Knight, Dick Cheney or Rosie ODonnel to get her back? After seeing "Taken" the latest revenge thriller, it's unanimous, ex-CIA hitman Liam Neeson. This is not an art film, it's not a chick flick, nor is it filled with cyber effects, instead it's a good old time at the movies where the really bad guys get what they deserve for once in life, not like real life. If you wear a pacemaker be careful.
— February 11, 2009 5:15 p.m.
The Wrestler
When I was younger I lived in San Francisco and wrote film reviews for alternative papers. One of the perks was seeing films early in private screening rooms for free. When I first experienced Mickey Rourke in the movie "Diner", I gushed in my review he's the next James Dean. Well, his career almost terminated early, not in a car crash, but in a collision of personal abuse, steroid shape shifting, and B movie bad guy roles. Then along came young and talented writer director Darren Aronofsky who convinced Rourke he was perfect to play Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a self described "old broken down piece of meat", in the award winning film "The Wrestler". I don't know why I waited so long to see this impressive film and Rourke's riveting and sympathetic performance? But coupled with supporting actress Marisa Tomei's best and most pleasantly revealing role in years,it was well worth waiting for, and a flat out winner not to be missed.
— February 6, 2009 3:47 p.m.
Defiance
Anybody having trouble trying to figure out why the concept of disproportionate force is irrelevant in Israel's recent incursion into Gaza to stop Hamas from firing rockets, need only to see the new film "Defiance". When you have a malignant cancer on your border that's sole existence is to terminate you and deny your right to exist, any force used to eradicate that cancer is justifiable. This film is not a great work of art. but it tells a true and rare story of Jews who didn't go passively in 1941 to their deaths in the concentration camps. But took up arms and built a community of resistance in the treacherous forests of Belorussia, and survived the Nazi's frequent attempts to terminate them. It's an old fashioned David and Goliath story that works well to educate, entertain, and evoke your emotions, all without special effects or computer wizardy.
— January 25, 2009 9:21 p.m.
Gran Torino
I went to an early morning screening of Gran Torino. Most of the others at the show were seniors like me. The preview of the film looked like a cross between "Dirty Harry" and an Eastwood revenge spaghetti western. But the film was much more than that. Eastwood is a 78 year old wonder. Most people his age are watching movies in an assisted living facility, not directing or starring in them as Walt Kowalski, Korean War vet, and good ol beer drinking, American bigot. The movie is a brilliant metaphor for social and personal change through the eyes of someone Clint's age. There are several classic Eastwood lines as mouthed by Kowalski, some uncomfortably funny, but all true to character and what one expects from Clint. What isn't expected is the surprising but satisfying ending. Eastwood also directed "Changeling" with Angela Jolie this year. This is one american icon you'll never see in a Viagra commercial.
— January 18, 2009 10:53 a.m.
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This Week’s
Reader
This Week’s
Reader
State of Play
My Sicilian mother, had a favorite saying "look what the cat dragged in", and I immediately remembered that when Russell Crowe appeared on screen visually channeling Dennis Hopper in "Easy Rider", in the new political thriller "State of Play". Crowe is joined by a cast of Hollywood's biggest brand names, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren,Robin Wright Penn, Rachel McAdams, and Jason Bateman who is worth the price of admission as a sleazy lobbyist in a minor role. The movie brilliantly interweaves two current headlines, the covert threat of Blackwater-type private armies, and the overt economic threat to news coverage. The plot is filled with twists, turns and surprises, and equals great cinema entertainment.— April 30, 2009 11:31 a.m.
Monsters vs. Aliens
Finally got around to taking my 6 year old grand daughter to see Monsters Vs Aliens, the 3D version. We went to the Ultra Star in Mission Valley, a really comfortable theatre. My grand daughter usually thinks she's in a rocking chair when she watches a movie and has to talk to me above the soundtrack through the whole film. Well, as soon as she put on the glasses she was still, silent, and thoroughly engrossed, as was I. Dreamworks has a real winner in this movie. It appeals to kids and their grand dads. My favorite alien was Bob. And the evil alien reminded me of Plankton on Spongebob.— April 20, 2009 7:12 p.m.
Observe and Report
The new film "Observe and Report" starring Seth Rogan, Anna Faris and Ray Liotta is being marketed as a "nutso comedy". Well, if you think watching a violent, bi-polar,Rogan play a mentally ill mall security guard is funny, then you probably think Limbaugh's, Beck's, and Hannity's political hate talk is entertainment. I laughed only three times, and I felt uncomfortable doing it since the scenes were about his drunk and dysfunctional mother. The Dream factory has hit a new low with this movie, and writer director Jody Hill is one sick puppy! Caveat Emptor.— April 11, 2009 4:57 p.m.
Duplicity
"Duplicity", the new caper movie with it's expensive production values, locations, and big name stars should be much better than it is. Julia Roberts, Clive Owens, Paul Giamatti and Tom wilkinson head the high priced cast. But it's writer and director Tony Gilroy tries too hard to top his last Oscar recognized film, "Michael Clayton". In Duplicity, Gilroy reverts to time shifting to tell his convoluted story and the cinema experience is like playing pick up sticks, with no sense or clarity until the ending, when a single stick is left.— March 29, 2009 8:31 a.m.
Frozen River
When Melissa Leo(who?), got nominated for a best actress Oscar for the indie film, Frozen River,you could easily call it the Hollywood surprise of the year. So I finally broke down and rented the DVD, recently released. Well it's not a surprise anymore. Not only is her believable character deserving of the nomination; but the film proves again the fundamentals of entertaining cinema,a good story, and good characters equal a good movie.— March 22, 2009 4:23 p.m.
Watchmen
From a Facebook posting by a friend of mine: "Dan Murphy is wishing had $10.25 back that he spent on 'Watchmen' - what a waste of money". I guess that sums it up.— March 11, 2009 10:11 a.m.
Taken
If your virgin 17 year old daughter was kidnapped by sleazy cuthroat Albanian sex slavers on her first day in Paris along with her hot 19 year old girlfriend, who would you turn to, 007, the Dark Knight, Dick Cheney or Rosie ODonnel to get her back? After seeing "Taken" the latest revenge thriller, it's unanimous, ex-CIA hitman Liam Neeson. This is not an art film, it's not a chick flick, nor is it filled with cyber effects, instead it's a good old time at the movies where the really bad guys get what they deserve for once in life, not like real life. If you wear a pacemaker be careful.— February 11, 2009 5:15 p.m.
The Wrestler
When I was younger I lived in San Francisco and wrote film reviews for alternative papers. One of the perks was seeing films early in private screening rooms for free. When I first experienced Mickey Rourke in the movie "Diner", I gushed in my review he's the next James Dean. Well, his career almost terminated early, not in a car crash, but in a collision of personal abuse, steroid shape shifting, and B movie bad guy roles. Then along came young and talented writer director Darren Aronofsky who convinced Rourke he was perfect to play Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a self described "old broken down piece of meat", in the award winning film "The Wrestler". I don't know why I waited so long to see this impressive film and Rourke's riveting and sympathetic performance? But coupled with supporting actress Marisa Tomei's best and most pleasantly revealing role in years,it was well worth waiting for, and a flat out winner not to be missed.— February 6, 2009 3:47 p.m.
Defiance
Anybody having trouble trying to figure out why the concept of disproportionate force is irrelevant in Israel's recent incursion into Gaza to stop Hamas from firing rockets, need only to see the new film "Defiance". When you have a malignant cancer on your border that's sole existence is to terminate you and deny your right to exist, any force used to eradicate that cancer is justifiable. This film is not a great work of art. but it tells a true and rare story of Jews who didn't go passively in 1941 to their deaths in the concentration camps. But took up arms and built a community of resistance in the treacherous forests of Belorussia, and survived the Nazi's frequent attempts to terminate them. It's an old fashioned David and Goliath story that works well to educate, entertain, and evoke your emotions, all without special effects or computer wizardy.— January 25, 2009 9:21 p.m.
Gran Torino
I went to an early morning screening of Gran Torino. Most of the others at the show were seniors like me. The preview of the film looked like a cross between "Dirty Harry" and an Eastwood revenge spaghetti western. But the film was much more than that. Eastwood is a 78 year old wonder. Most people his age are watching movies in an assisted living facility, not directing or starring in them as Walt Kowalski, Korean War vet, and good ol beer drinking, American bigot. The movie is a brilliant metaphor for social and personal change through the eyes of someone Clint's age. There are several classic Eastwood lines as mouthed by Kowalski, some uncomfortably funny, but all true to character and what one expects from Clint. What isn't expected is the surprising but satisfying ending. Eastwood also directed "Changeling" with Angela Jolie this year. This is one american icon you'll never see in a Viagra commercial.— January 18, 2009 10:53 a.m.