Arts & Culture :: Movies

'Queen Tut' - indie film on embracing your inner drag queen

'Queen Tut' - indie film on embracing your inner drag queen

  • by David-Elijah Nahmod
  • Aug 13, 2024

"Queen Tut" is a delightful new Canadian film that covers a lot of ground. During the course of its 100-minute running time, the film deals with class issues, gentrification, coming out, homophobia and transphobia.

'Skincare' - Elizabeth Banks' beauty biz's bumpy ride

'Skincare' - Elizabeth Banks' beauty biz's bumpy ride

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Aug 13, 2024

In "Skincare," which opens with the words "Fictional story inspired by true events," Elizabeth Banks is given the opportunity to be both serious and comedic as lead character in a sly takedown of the beauty industry's nasty side.

'Deadpool & Wolverine' in love and trouble

'Deadpool & Wolverine' in love and trouble

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Aug 6, 2024

Deadpool, as portrayed by the irresistible Ryan Reynolds, is the Marvel Comics Universe superhero for people who loathe MCU superheroes. His suggestive homoerotic patter is as hilarious as it is filthy.

'Sing Sing' - Coleman Domingo stars in the uplifting prison drama

'Sing Sing' - Coleman Domingo stars in the uplifting prison drama

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Jul 30, 2024

Coleman Domingo stars in A24's gripping "Sing Sing," based on the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program started at Sing Sing in 1996. The film follows incarcerated members as they stage a play from its inception to its opening night.

 'Am I OK?' - Dakota Johnson stars in a film about coming out in Your 30s

'Am I OK?' - Dakota Johnson stars in a film about coming out in Your 30s

  • by Joshua Polanski
  • Jul 28, 2024

The long-awaited Dakota Johnson lesbian rom-com, "Am I OK?" finally premiered on Max two years after its festival premiere. The cute film about coming out later in life is directed by the sapphic married couple Stephanie Allynne and Tig Notaro.

'Fly Me to the Moon' - Space Age shenanigans run amuck

'Fly Me to the Moon' - Space Age shenanigans run amuck

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Jul 22, 2024

"Fly Me to the Moon," could have conveyed more of the excitement, adventure, and idealism of the Apollo era and less of the cynicism and conspiracy that seems more indicative of our time. Despite fun moments, the landing doesn't stick.

SF Jewish Film Festival - Faves amidst the Gaza War

SF Jewish Film Festival - Faves amidst the Gaza War

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Jul 16, 2024

As the Israeli-Hamas war continues without any ceasefire, the 44th San Francisco Jewish Film Festival (July 18-August 4) finds itself "at a time of devastating international conflict and humanitarian crisis in Israel and Gaza."

'Light Light Light' - Inari Niemi's Finnish queer film

'Light Light Light' - Inari Niemi's Finnish queer film

  • by Joshua Polanski
  • Jul 16, 2024

In 1986, Eastern Europe changed forever with the explosion of Chernobyl. In the Finnish film "Light Light Light" ("Valoa Valoa Valoa"), so does the life of fifteen-year-old girl Mariia (Rebekka Baer) when a new girl, Mimi (Anni Iikkanen) arrives.

'National Anthem' - Queer patriotism flies its own flag

'National Anthem' - Queer patriotism flies its own flag

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Jul 9, 2024

Luke Gilford's 'National Anthem' comes at an opportune moment, bringing much needed fresh air in a story about sexual outsiders finding sanctuary among themselves in rural America's LGBTQ rodeo subculture.

'A Quiet Place: Day One' - Silence is golden in the scary prequel

'A Quiet Place: Day One' - Silence is golden in the scary prequel

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Jul 2, 2024

The first thing you're going to want to know about "A Quiet Place: Day One" (Paramount) is that the cat survives. You know it's been on your mind since you saw the first of several trailers months ago.

'Queen of the Deuce' - Biopic of yesteryear porn theater mogul

'Queen of the Deuce' - Biopic of yesteryear porn theater mogul

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Jul 1, 2024

If you loved Rachel Mason's 2019 documentary, "Circus of Books," then Valerie Kontakos's "Queen of the Deuce" (Greenwich Entertainment) will be right up your alley.

'Janet Planet' - Mother/daughter angst in Annie Baker's indie film

'Janet Planet' - Mother/daughter angst in Annie Baker's indie film

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Jul 1, 2024

Julianne Nicholson plays the single mother character in "Janet Planet," but the star turn belongs to Zoe Ziegler, who plays her daughter in her big screen debut.

Richard Hunt, the gay Muppeteer: 'Funny Boy,' Jessica Max Stein's biography, reveals his vibrant brief life

Richard Hunt, the gay Muppeteer: 'Funny Boy,' Jessica Max Stein's biography, reveals his vibrant brief life

  • Jun 25, 2024

In "Funny Boy: The Richard Hunt Biography," Jessica Max Stein intimately covers the professional career and private life of the affable, talented, and friendly man who was quick to make friends in his Muppets career.

'The AIDS Show' - Documentary about historic play

'The AIDS Show' - Documentary about historic play

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Jun 25, 2024

When it premiered 40 years ago in September 1984, few realized how groundbreaking "The AIDS Show: Artists Involved with Death and Survival," a theatrical production produced by Theatre Rhinoceros, would be. A new documentary proves its relevance today.