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Movie Reviews

Romantic Drama
Movie Review: ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’ entertains with tricks in time
by Loni Kao Stark | 12.03.09 | Comment
Movie Review: ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’ entertains with tricks in time

‘The Time Traveller’s Wife’ is another movie amongst several that deals with the theme of true love transcending time. Others in this category include ‘Benjamin Button’ and the latest vampire craze.

As Hollywood tries to grapple with the true ...

Independent Film
Cinequest: ‘Beresina or The Last Days of Switzerland’
by Clinton Stark | 12.01.09 | Comments (1)
Cinequest: ‘Beresina or The Last Days of Switzerland’

In the mood for something different? How about an eccentric Swiss black comedy? Yes. I know what you’re thinking. Not another eccentric Swiss black comedy.

Beresina is an intriguing, quirky musical that played at Cannes and Cinequest, and is ...

Changing American Cuisine
Movie Review: Julie & Julia is part french cuisine masterpiece and part overcrowded mushrooms
by Loni Kao Stark | 11.08.09 | Comment
Movie Review: Julie & Julia is part french cuisine masterpiece and part overcrowded mushrooms

Ever since the movie Julie & Julia arrived in cinemas, I’ve been meaning to go see it. The wonderful write up by Pat Reardon on her experiences with making Beef Bourguignon only tempted me ...

Cinequest Screening Series
In Review: ‘Crazy Like a Fox’ cunningly wins you over
by Loni Kao Stark | 08.02.09 | Comment
In Review: ‘Crazy Like a Fox’ cunningly wins you over

‘Crazy Like a Fox’ is a beautifully shot film about Nat Banks (Roger Rees), an 8th generation owner of a family farm, Greenwood, who has hit financial hard times.

The movie doesn’t go into much detail as to how ...

6 Months Pregnant?!
Soon-to-be parents look for home in ‘Away We Go’, find laughs, hippies, destiny
by Clinton Stark | 06.15.09 | Comment
Soon-to-be parents look for home in ‘Away We Go’, find laughs, hippies, destiny

It’s hard to watch Maya Rudolph (Verona De Tessant) in a movie and not laugh. Her face reminds me of so many Saturday Night Live skits; usually unfunny ones, with her somehow managing to creatively eake out laughs.

Ditto ...

Wine and Film
Movie review: Bottle Shock (2008) proves wine alone does not make for great spectacle
by Clinton Stark | 05.25.09 | Comment
Movie review: Bottle Shock (2008) proves wine alone does not make for great spectacle

As much as I love wine, it alone cannot carry a movie. Where Sideways succeeds, Bottle Shock fails. The difference? The former is about two guys dealing with mid-life crises with wine as a backdrop. Bottle Shock is ...

San Jose Cinequest and Independent Film
Film review: ‘The Last Lullaby’ delivers — Director Jeffrey Goodman one to watch
by Clinton Stark | 05.21.09 | Comments (3)
Film review: ‘The Last Lullaby’ delivers — Director Jeffrey Goodman one to watch

“Movies today are getting louder, and faster. At some point, it will become illogical.”

Jeffrey Goodman, the director of ‘The Last Lullaby’, a gem of an indie film, discussed his film after a recent screening at Camera Cinema Club ...

Movie and Wine pairing!
Movie Review: ‘Angels & Demons’, San Francisco preview with Quintessa wines
by Al Graichen | 05.15.09 | Comment
Movie Review: ‘Angels & Demons’, San Francisco preview with Quintessa wines

Angels & Demons opens on Friday, May 15, but for a few lucky people around the US a special preview screening was held tonight, May 14 to accompany the release of Quintessa’s 2008 Illumination and 2006 Faust.

The preview ...

StarkSilverCreek
Cinequest Film Festival: ‘The Least Among You’ screening and maverick spirit award for Louis Gossett Jr.
by Clinton Stark | 03.04.09 | Comment
Cinequest Film Festival: ‘The Least Among You’ screening and maverick spirit award for Louis Gossett Jr.

The Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose, now in its 19th year, is in full swing, and last night Loni and I had the pleasure to attend a special screening of Louis Gossett Jr’s latest film, ...

StarkSilverCreek
‘Slumdog Millionaire’ review: Clever and energetic with Bollywood dancing included
by Tom Eden | 02.22.09 | Comments (1)
‘Slumdog Millionaire’ review: Clever and energetic with Bollywood dancing included

I thought for a moment it could not be true: a Bollywood movie with no musical dancing number? Say it ain’t so. But then again, this was an edgier style of Indian movie, not just a feel good ...

StarkSilverCreek
‘The Happening’: Being chased by wind and talking to plants marks another low for M. Night
by Tom Eden | 01.16.09 | Comment
‘The Happening’: Being chased by wind and talking to plants marks another low for M. Night

By the time the protagonists are running from the wind during the climax of  M. Night’s ‘The Happening’ , like some kind of Frankenstein version of The Sound of Music and Twister, there is little left to do but laugh, ...

StarkSilverCreek
‘The Dark Knight’ combines epic storytelling, visceral action and Joker redux
by Tom Eden | 01.07.09 | Comment
‘The Dark Knight’ combines epic storytelling, visceral action and Joker redux

Almost 20 years ago, Jack Nicholson, dressed in outlandish purples, greens with an electronic Prince soundtrack thumping in the background bellowed “Wait’ll they get a load of ME!” It was one of several memorable quotes from Tim Burton’s ...

StarkSilverCreek
In Review: ‘The House Bunny’, predictably fluffy
by Loni Kao Stark | 01.05.09 | Comment
In Review: ‘The House Bunny’, predictably fluffy The House Bunny (2008) Rating Loni says: “Predictably fluffy, only watch if you are in the mood for some pink cotton candy.” Genre Comedy, Romance Category Movie reviews

After watching “Dark Knight” the day before, I couldn’t think of a movie with greater contrast ...