Film Arts - Movies & Festivals - Reviews

We live in a death denying indeed a death defying society and I am society’s child. In fact, as a nation we would rather not mention that troublesome event at all. People pass away, expire, or “kick the bucket”.

The 13th Annual Mendocino Film Festival, June 1-3, will screen 55 films from 18 countries, including documentaries, shorts, animated films, California premieres, a children’s program, and many Sundance selections in multiple venues on the ruggedly picturesque Mendocino Coast of northern California.

There have been Frances McDormand sightings in Petaluma, she is rumored to be a denizen of Bolinas that semi-mysterious enclave of supposedly sequestered celebrities.

Syria is an abysmal Hell, a fetid, roiling cauldron of man’s inhumanity to man. The intrigue and entanglements are intricate and have global ramifications.

Mother’s Day is what May is all about. If you’re lucky enough to have your mom in your life, start a new tradition and take her to a movie after brunch this Mother’s Day!

Thank you for the emails congratulating my friend, Sam Rockwell, for winning best supporting actor for “Three Bilboards Outside Ebbing Missouri”.

The free press is under attack in a way not seen since the 1960s. The current government is engaged in an ongoing attempt at degradation of some of the long-standing media pillars of our society, while promoting and using to their advantage online websites deficient in fact-checking and proficient in inferior writing.

Sebastopol Center for the Arts has announced the program for the 11th Annual Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival. The festival will screen 66 documentaries, including one U.S. premiere and two Academy Award^® nominated films. Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival is scheduled for March 22-25 with screenings taking place at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, and the Rialto Cinemas^®in Sebastopol.

I can’t believe Summer is over! The great thing about September is that the Oscar caliber films start coming out. The one I’m excited about is “The Sisters Brothers” starring Joaquin Phoenix and Jake Gyllenhaal.

I can’t believe the end of Summer is approaching. The good news is there are amazing movies to see in the theater. The first must see movie is “Blindspotting”.

on’t go see Sicario: The Day of the Soldado which may still be lingering on local screens until you have rented the original movie first,Sicario.

Folklight Film Club, a new Sonoma County-based film production company that’s created a wine club-inspired membership experience around making a movie. Go to cool and unique events, get a glimpse behind-the-scenes, and get the opportunity to actually influence and inspire the movie being made.

This year, the 4th of July falls on a Wednesday so you can definitely catch up on movies you missed in June on Friday or Saturday. “Incredibles 2” was much better than expected so definitely see this on the big screen and not at home.

Every country at the beginnings of its nationalistic stirrings creates a myth and a hero that embodies concepts of shared identity, of ethnic cohesiveness, of common values. 

Local vintner Robert Mark Kamen of Sonoma’s Kamen Estate Wines also happens to be one of Hollywood’s most successful screenwriters. Kamen, who back in 1979 took the money from his first script sale and invested it in Sonoma property, is responsible for three extremely successful film series – The Transporter series starring Jason Statham, the Taken series starring Liam Neeson, and The Karate Kidseries starring Ralph Macchio.

My favorite time of the year has arrived. The first film I’m excited about is the sequel to “The Incredibles”. It opens June 15th. It’s been 14 years since the original came out but you will remember all the characters, especially Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl. This of course is appropriate for the whole family.