Margot Robbie captures attention in ‘Mary, Queen of Scots’ (Review)
Essayist Jeanne Powell’s take on film Mary, Queen of Scots. Queen Mary Stuart has been celebrated and profiled on stage and screen since Friedrich Schiller’s…
Film Reviews
Film reviews covering indie, arthouse, and mainstream cinema.
Juicy romp ‘The Favourite’ should garner Oscar buzz for Emma Stone (Review)
The Favourite is a juicy and irreverent romp through the reign of Queen Anne of Great Britain (1665-1714), with a focus on her years as…
Film Review: ‘Perfect Note’ tells uplifting story about San Francisco’s Café Jacqueline
Café Jacqueline, near the intersection of Grant and Union in San Francisco, has been a culinary legend for 27 years. This tiny restaurant in the…
‘Ask Jane’ a riveting independent film based on true events
Ask for Jane is a riveting independent film shown recently at the Napa Valley Film Festival. Written and directed by Rachel Carey and produced by…
A Private War: “You only cry when you bleed” (Review)
Rosamund Pike stars as celebrated war correspondent Marie Colvin.
Film Review: ‘Nutcracker and the Four Realms’ perfect for family holiday time
With drawbridges, castle moats, marching tin soldiers, fog, ravens, shooting stars, and a truly mesmerizing Mouse King, along with a mysterious godfather scientist wearing an…
Film Review: ‘Time for Ilhan’ is about the village, building it, believing in it, sustaining it
Of the many fine documentaries featured in the 2018 Mill Valley Film Festival, Time for Ilhan stands out for its sheer excitement and joy as…
Film Review: ‘Whistleblower of My Lai’ a memorable fusion of opera and documentary
Jeanne Powell reviews The Whistleblower of My Lai, an outstanding documentary from the 2018 Mill Valley Film Festival. Connie Field is the director of this…
‘The Old Man & the Gun’: Robert Redford shines in true heist account (Film Review)
The Old Man & the Gun is a sweet film, based on the true story of serial bank robber Forrest Tucker. David Grann’s article about…
Fahrenheit 11/9 Film Review: Democracy takes work
Filmmaker Michael Moore fears the consequences of a loss of faith in our country, and says it could be the death knell of democracy.