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Anhoni Patel Administrator Besides being Managing Editor of SF Station, Anhoni Patel writes fiction and reviews. She is the author of "All Good Things Die in L.A." and is currently at work on her second novel. Her many passions include movies, food and books. Check out her web site and read her book! |
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 | A Grim Fairytale, for Adults Writer and director Guillermo del Toro ([b]Cronos[/b], [b]Hellboy[/b]) brings us a magical fable that is every much as frightening as it is beautiful. Although it is not scary in the way of a horror movie but in the way of a suspenseful drama, and it is not beautiful in a superficial special effects way but in a more soulful, profound manner. It is unique in every sense of the word.More |  | How Many Rounds Can You Take? If you liked, enjoyed or even loved [b]Rocky[/b], then you will feel the same about this final segment of the franchise. The last few [b]Rocky[/b] sequels were pumped with lots of flash and very little substance. This latest offering is, if anything, understated. But most importantly, like its famous protagonist, it is genuine.More |  | A Bit of Pretentiousness Mixed with Pederasty (a lethal combination) Based on the play by the profuse Alan Bennett, [b]The History Boys[/b] is every bit invigorating as it is offbeat. It captures the essence of being young and having the world at your feet. However, it also takes the student-teacher relationship to whole new, and disturbing, level.More |  | The Book Is Not Always Better The well-known writer Karen Eiffel (Emma Thompson) has a bad case of writers block. She’s almost finished with the novel she’s been working on for the last decade, and all she has left to do is figure out how to kill off her protagonist. The problem is her main character, Harold Crick (Will Ferrell), actually exists.More |  | Sadness and Cruelty, Around the World It’s a familiar cinematic exploration. Different seemingly disparate lives that are somehow all connected bringing one closer to understanding the true meaning of humanity. The results are both joyful and sorrowful. And while it has more than the latter and less than the former, [b]Babel[/b] is no different. While the premise is not unique, it is the characters and their stories that make it special.More |  | The Fun in Dysfunction There are parts of [b]Running with Scissors[/b] that you won’t want to believe are true. You’ll think they were simply exaggerations or just completely constructed. Unfortunately the film is not fiction but rather based on the indelible memoirs of writer Augusten Burroughs. His childhood brings new meaning to the term “stranger than fiction”.More |  | Harold and Maude Revisited? Growing up is hard to do. Especially when your mom is a controlling bitch and your father is a total wimp. Sometimes you just have to grin and bear it and sometimes you have to do something about it. In many instances your friends have an influence in your taking action, other times it's a mentor - someone who shows you that life can be different from how you know it to be.More |  | Outstanding Suburban Satire [b]Little Children[/b] might just be the best movie you've never heard of. It's only opening in one theater in the Bay Area and yet it carries the kind of star quality available to huge Hollywood productions. There's very little marketing and thus minimal buzz going around. This is a shame really, since it's one of the best movies of the fall season if not the year.More |  | Light, Fluffy and Thoroughly Addicting From its opening credits nostalgic of punk rock via shopping malls, [b]Marie Antoinette[/b] seems more like an 80s movie than a period piece on France's most notorious queen. You almost expect John Hughes as a director. However, it's Sofia Coppola ([b]Lost in Translation[/b], [b]The Virgin Suicides[/b]) that is indeed responsible for the writing and directing of this lavish, moody, and utterly stylish masterpiece.More |  | Growing Up Is Hard to Do This earnest fictionalized memoir is an intense look at the violence, sexuality and pettiness of a group of adolescent friends growing up in Queens, New York in the 80s. Think Larry Clark's [b]Kids[/b] but set in the boroughs. Like that film [b]A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints[/b] also has a realistic feel. However, unlike it, it is decidedly self-indulgent.More |
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