From classics like “Singin’ in the Rain” to goofball comedies like “Tropic Thunder,” movies about movies are embedded with a unique type of charm. When filmmakers invite audiences into their own worlds, the result is often insightful, realistic and pleasingly self-aware. American director Joshua Oppenheimer puts a sinister twist on Read More…
If disco is dead, then writer-director-producer Jamie Kastner has delivered its praising eulogy with his glittering, tongue-in-cheek documentary, “The Secret Disco Revolution.” Kastner does more than examine the history of the 1970s music craze — he offers a reflection upon the revisionist theory that, beneath its “carefully vapid veneer,” disco Read More…
It’s a bird, it’s a plane … It’s another film reboot of the classic 1930s comic book “Superman.” While Bryan Singer’s “Superman Returns” failed to wow audiences back in 2006, director Zach Synder’s highly anticipated “Man of Steel” lays a solid foundation for the future of the franchise. Conceived by Read More…
The year is 2022, and America is “a nation reborn.” Unemployment is at 1 percent, and the crime rate is at a record low — all thanks to the New Founding Fathers, who have sanctioned a 12-hour period each year for society to purge itself of its pent-up violent aggression. Read More…
Besides clowns, magicians have the misfortune of being everyone’s least favorite entertainers. They are often cheesy, tacky, deceptive and, above all else, sequined. However, with a dynamic plot as his cape and a star-studded cast as his wand, director Louis Leterrier takes this tired image and makes it disappear. “Now Read More…
It has been over 40 years since political activist and scholar Angela Davis landed on the FBI’s Most Wanted list, but her story of perseverance and courage in the fight for civil rights is timeless. The upcoming documentary, “Free Angela & All Political Prisoners,” chronicles Davis’s lifework and her journey Read More…
Every March for the past 30 years, the festival has showcased hundreds of films, proving to be the country’s most vital source for Asian cinema. This year the festival seems to offer a healthy balance of documentaries, shorts and narratives. Read More…
Drawing on both American and Chinese traditions of storytelling, writer and director Daniel Hsia’s debut film, “Shanghai Calling,” is a twist on the traditional immigrant tale. A story of “internationalism on the individual scale,” the film aims to demystify China for American audiences through comedy, romance and the allure of Read More…
The annual San Francisco Independent Film Festival celebrates its 15th anniversary this month. Its penchant for showcasing alternative and subversive pieces of cinema has helped it become one of the most important festivals around the nation. From the psychological odyssey “Simon Killer” to the gang-epic “Days of Grace,” 2013 proves Read More…
From soul to hip-hop to dubstep and to reggae, vocal sensations Pentatonix effortlessly cross and blend genres, revitalizing a singing style seldom heard outside of churches or choir halls. The five-part a cappella group took the stage at The Warfield in San Francisco on Sunday night, voicing their rallying call, Read More…
