|
|
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! |
|
|
 | Beautiful yet Empty The long awaited cinematic adaptation of Arthur Golden's moving 1997 novel [i]Memoirs of a Geisha[/i] has finally arrived. Unfortunately the movie has to follow in the footsteps of a much-read book that clocks in at 448 pages. Which is something almost impossible to compete with and come out on top. [i]Memoirs of a Geisha[/i] the movie tries the best it can but still falls somewhat flat.More |  | A Jigsaw Puzzle Stephen Gaghan has a reputation for dealing with complicated issues. Five years ago he tackled the screenplay for [i]Traffic[/i] about drug trafficking. This year he both writes and directs an epic film on the oil industry that spans the globe and involves a myriad of characters. Welcome to [i]Syriana[/i].More |  | Marlboro Men I will never see [i]Brokeback Mountain[/i] again. Not because it was awful. On the contrary, it was so incredibly good and made such an indelible impression that it will stay with me for the rest of my life. Indeed, I have never seen a movie quite like it before and have seldom been so moved.More |  | Husband Hunting You would think the world would have had enough of Jane Austen remakes by now. But with yet another rendition of [i]Pride & Prejudice[/i] you realize that, on the contrary, they have not. Director Joe Wright brings us this latest version, which is less insipid than you might think and…surprisingly funny.More |  | D-i-s-s-a-p-p-o-i-n-t-i-n-g Spelling bees seem to be enjoying a revival and a boost in the coolness factor. The national championships are televised on ESPN and gamblers bet on contestants on-line. There's a Tony-award winning musical about bees ([i]The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee[/i]) and author Myla Goldberg's novel [i]Bee Season[/i] has been made into a widely released movie.More |  | An Assassin with an Attitude If you've stayed up late watching Liquid Television on MTV, then you've already been acquainted with [i]Aeon Flux[/i]. I guess it's taken ten years for someone to finally step up and get the animated series, full of dark undertones, surreal elements and experimental notions, out of the cult archives. Karyn Kusama (whose first film was the outstanding [i]Girlfight[/i]) has tackled this potentially disastrous task with flare.More |  | A Biopic Geared Towards Fans It seems like every year, right around the holidays, another biopic about a musician is released. I can imagine watching Madonna's life story unfold in 2030 or perhaps that of Prince's. This year we have Mr. Cash. While "the man is black" may not have been as popular or as well known as "the king" with whom his used to tour, Johnny Cash holds his own.More |  | A Funny Drama Rolled up into a Memoir From the very beginning, when the all you hear is a voice narrating over a dark screen, to the rough and tumble intro in which the narrator stumbles his way through boot camp, through his training in the Marines and his time serving in Operation Desert Storm up until when the credits roll, [i]Jarhead[/i] will keep you riveted. Which is surprising for a war, and a story, that lacks any real "action", as defined by a typical Hollywood movie. But, then again, [i]Jarhead[/i] is not your typical Hollywood movie.More |  | Rescue From Retail Hell If you've ever worked retail, you know how insanely mind numbing, soul killing and lethargy-inducing it can actually be. The side effects are crushing. It can drown you in a sea of ennui and squash any ounce of ambition you've ever had. If you work in a high-end shop, the kind of store where you can't afford to buy any of the items you are trying to sell, these feelings are only multiplied. Based on the novel of the same name as well as adapted to the screen by Steve Martin, [i]Shopgirl[/i], tells the tale of one such victim of retail.More |  | The First One is Always the Hardest Everyone has that one great love. The one that shapes you and colors all following relationships. This love is quite influential and leaves a lasting impression. Written and directed by Ben Younger ([i]Boiler Room[/i]), [i]Prime[/i] is essentially about this kind of love, with the (unnecessary) additions of comedic histrionics and overbearing mothers.More |
|
