From the top to the bottom, it’s a fall from fortitude and glory as graceful as Miley Cyrus’s transition from Disney sweetheart to foam-finger sex machine. Although I do get mistaken for Kanye West on a regular basis, I am not talking about a celebrity transition from adoration to widespread Read More…
The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, an annual event seeking to promote “awareness, appreciation and pride in the diversity of the Jewish people,” kicked off this past week with a variety of showings across the Bay, including the July 27 screening of Alex Karpovsky’s “Red Flag” at San Francisco’s Castro Read More…
Sometimes we have those days that just aren’t like the others. It may be beautiful outside, and the sweet Berkeley summer air might still be mild, but for some reason, there’s something different about the way you feel. Perhaps today is a Monday. Perhaps your inspiration just isn’t on point Read More…
The fundamental neurotic character in Woody Allen films, traditionally played by Allen, is not entirely absent in his latest dark comedy, “Blue Jasmine.” It is, however, exaggerated, complicated in class satire and embodied in a female character played by Cate Blanchett. It’s interesting; whereas Allen’s male characters are charming and Read More…
In a world of stupid movies, “The Hangover III” does not stand out. The Wolf Pack returns with yet another inane movie that rides on Zach Galifianakis’ strange facial expressions and obtrusive figure. However, that’s exactly what the movie is supposed to be: The audience comes in expecting nothing more Read More…
Yesterday, for me, was a day of self-reflection. After getting the WarnMe alert from the chancellor about a threat on campus, I found myself — like many others I presume — in a state of quick panic as I fought the urge to bolt out the door in the middle of my Read More…
A chance encounter leads to a quick marriage, an ordinary man is followed around the city by a pack of paparazzi and there’s a young guy trying to justify his impending act of infidelity. The word “pseudo-intellectual” makes an appearance at some point as does an old Jewish New Yorker Read More…
Let’s be honest. Last summer was a sore disappointment. Out of the many blockbusters to be released — “Thor,” “X-Men: First Class” and the laughably awful “Green Lantern” — no film stood out as the centerpiece of the summer season (except maybe “Harry Potter”). There was no “Inception” or “Dark Read More…
I’m not sure if Americans realize this, but the United States is one of the most surreal places for a foreigner to travel to. American culture, particularly cinema has an unparalleled global reach. I watch more American films in a year than my country has produced in its entire history. Read More…
Supine on a hotel bed, Inez asks Gil, “Do you really want to give it all up just to struggle?” Yes, he does. And if people like Gil didn’t give it all up, we wouldn’t have movies like Woody Allen’s 41st feature film “Midnight in Paris.” Skeptics like Inez are Read More…