All Film Reviews
Rated from 0.5 to 5 stars.
A Moment of Innocence (1996)
Mohsen Makhmalbaf
"Finally got around to watching this, and very thankful I did. This film is so meta, so pure, and such a beautiful breath of fresh air. The cinematography and camera movements are so natural and so particular. And what a beautiful ending."
Watched: April 23, 2026
Bullitt (1968)
Peter Yates
"The shots of San Francisco throughout, especially with the Bay in the background, are truly gorgeous. McQueen embodies this character so fully, and the car chases are, as everyone has said before me, indeed spectacular."
Watched: April 19, 2026
The Master (2012)
Paul Thomas Anderson
"Seeing this in the theatre was absolutely outstanding. Most of the issues I remembered having with the film from my previous viewings melted away. The acting is something else, and Philip Seymour Hoffman's best work."
Watched: April 18, 2026
Theatre: Alamo Drafthouse, Valley Fair
Project Hail Mary (2026)
Phil Lord & Christopher Miller
"I really enjoyed seeing this movie. Has been a while since I saw a good sci-fi space movie, and this one was pretty heartwarming. Obviously not a perfect film but good fun."
Watched: April 3, 2026
Theatre: Alamo Drafthouse, Mountain View
Twin Peaks: The Return — Parts 13–15 (2017)
David Lynch
"This show just doesn't stop building from the first episode. Once again amazing to rewatch in the theatre."
Watched: March 24, 2026
Theatre: Alamo Drafthouse, Mountain View
Universal Language (2024)
Matthew Rankin
"I finally found somewhere to watch this movie on an Air Canada flight to visit my old roommate. I'd been fascinated with the concept since I'd seen the first trailer, as it was so interesting to me — this notion of people in Winnipeg speaking only Farsi. The film is partly in Farsi and partly in French and I think some English as well? It is quite surreal, but also very cozy like a traditional old Persian movie. There is a vast warmth in the film as well as a great absurd sadness. While it is definitely not perfect and some parts left me wanting more, I really highly recommend a watch."
Watched: March 7, 2026
Twin Peaks: The Return — Parts 1–4 (2017)
David Lynch
"I loved seeing these in the theatre. The scale is just so much grander. It was also amazing to see this with my friend who was seeing it for the first time. It really lived up to the hype."
Watched: February 22, 2026
Theatre: Alamo Drafthouse, Mountain View
Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces (2014)
David Lynch
"It may be surprising for those of you who know what a big Lynch and Twin Peaks fan I am, but this was the first time I'd seen The Missing Pieces. These are a series of deleted scenes from the shoot of Fire Walk with Me and there are some that I really think should have made their way into the film. There are three scenes in particular: two were completely missing — one showing Annie and one with Ed and Norma — and one was a different version of the Phillip Jeffries scene (David Bowie). That scene really showed his version of the story in a much clearer way."
Watched: February 21, 2026
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)
David Lynch
"I love the world that Lynch creates in Twin Peaks. This movie sets up the whole atmosphere for the third season, and I watched it in preparation for seeing the Return in theaters the following day."
Watched: February 21, 2026
Fallen Angels (1995)
Wong Kar-wai
"Wow, what an experience. There may be no other movie that captures loneliness quite like this. The cinematography is truly excellent."
Watched: February 15, 2026
Meshes of the Afternoon (1943)
Maya Deren & Alexandr Hackenschmied
"Wow, what an interesting and truly original silent short. I read somewhere that this inspired Lynch for Twin Peaks and I can see its presence in Inland Empire as well. There is also a scene that looks a lot like a scene in Christopher Nolan's Inception. The way this film portrays time and perspective and its usage of doppelgangers is quite innovative. My, what a curious ending as well. Very impressive that the creators, a married couple, did everything for the project: producing, directing, editing, cinematography, and starring in it."
Watched: February 5, 2026
Hard Boiled (1992)
John Woo
"This was amazing to see. What a great 4k restoration, and what beautiful non-stop action. As John Woo himself said in the interview after, it was like choreographed dance."
Watched: January 25, 2026
Theatre: Cinemark Century 16, Mountain View
Twin Peaks: Episodes 10-13 (1990)
David Lynch & Mark Frost
"Season 2, Episodes 2-5. Watching in the theater is just spectacular."
Watched: January 24, 2026
Theatre: Alamo Drafthouse, Mountain View
Twin Peaks: Episodes 7-9 (1990)
David Lynch & Mark Frost
"Season 1, Episodes 7-8 and Season 2, Episode 1. Amazing to see this in the theaters."
Watched: January 17, 2026
Theatre: Alamo Drafthouse, Mountain View
Casablanca (1942)
Michael Curtiz
"A very enjoyable experience, though there are some cheesy parts of the movie. Regardless, what a classic."
Watched: January 16, 2026
Theatre: Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
On the Silver Globe (1988)
Andrzej Zulawski
"Wow have I been moved. The ending of this film and the narration throughout with the POV shots is really something else."
Watched: January 8, 2026
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair (2025)
Quentin Tarantino
"Seen on film in the midst of my finals season. His films are almost always strong, and I loved seeing these back to back. I originally didn't like Kill Bill 2 all that much and seeing it right after the first changed my mind completely. It's a very nice, slow burn after the first."
Watched: December 7, 2025
Theatre: Alamo Drafthouse, New Mission SF
Sentimental Value (2025)
Joachim Trier
"I saw this alone, and honestly it was probably good that I did. This film moved me very much, and as my friend mentioned when suggesting I watch it in the theatre, the film was filled with so many tender and human moments. I particularly disliked Joachim Trier's prior film, but this was a tremendously strong rebound."
Watched: November 20, 2025
Theatre: AMC Mercado 20, Santa Clara
Train Dreams (2025)
Clint Bentley
"The cinematography of this film was gorgeous. Having read the novella, I was very excited to see this. While it is incredibly hard for any movie to live up to such magnificent prose, I thought it was quite strong. However, there were some stark variations from the novella that seemed both out of place and only put in to satisfy certain audience members. Those variations made the film weaker, but I still enjoyed it despite those faults."
Watched: November 6, 2025
Theatre: Alamo Drafthouse, Mountain View
Duel in the Sun (1946)
King Vidor
"Walked out early. Technicolor is always great but it was terrible otherwise. The story doesn't make sense and the characters are unlikable. Went back in after a little bit to see the end, made it even worse."
Watched: October 18, 2025
Theatre: Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
Wages of Fear (1953)
Henri-Georges Clouzot
"This is not what I expected at all, but I really enjoyed this film. The way this captures what individuals in need and in desperation are willing to do for some money was beautifully haunting. There's no words that do this film justice, and it just needs to be seen. I also need to see Sorcerer now, the remake."
Watched: October 14, 2025
La Haine (1995)
Mathieu Kassovitz
"Such an intense, beautiful movie. Ages better than a fine wine."
Watched: October 10, 2025
Theatre: Alamo Drafthouse, Valley Fair
One Battle After Another (2025)
Paul Thomas Anderson
"Seeing this in IMAX was insane. The film was a lot funnier than I expected, and it exceeded my expectations. A few problems with it here and there, but overall very well written, great acting, fitting score, and fantastic direction."
Watched: September 26, 2025
Theatre: AMC Metreon 16 (70mm IMAX), San Francisco
In the Mood for Love (2000)
Wong Kar-wai
"25th anniversary remaster felt even more intense than the original. The score was dominant and so moving, and the acting was amazing as it always is. Wong Kar-wai captures unspoken emotions so well."
Watched: September 12, 2025
Theatre: Alamo Drafthouse, Valley Fair
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
Howard Hawks
"What a peculiar and outlandish movie, but quite heartwarming and good fun."
Watched: September 6, 2025
Theatre: Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
Citizen Kane (1941)
Orson Welles
"Wow I loved seeing this on film at the Stanford Theatre. Not much to say, besides that it still holds up."
Watched: August 24, 2025
Theatre: Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
Weapons (2025)
Zach Cregger
"Pretty funny, and well written with decent acting. I really disliked the villain though, and her acting didn't sell me at all. Film started off well, and I liked the pacing with the switches between which character it focused on, but then the ending and the villain all threw me off."
Watched: August 24, 2025
Theatre: Alamo Drafthouse, Mountain View
Rebecca (1940)
Alfred Hitchcock
"This is such a classic Hitchcock I can't believe I hadn't seen yet. It was so creepy in the best way. Enjoyed a lot."
Watched: June 14, 2025
Theatre: Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
The Phoenician Scheme (2025)
Wes Anderson
"So overwritten, and way too peculiar for my liking. It just kept dragging on and on and the premise was so boring. Celebrity cameo one after the other as is norm for Anderson's films also is quite overplayed. There was no real substance, though the film started off so well."
Watched: June 5, 2025
Theatre: AMC Mercado 20, Santa Clara
Charade (1963)
Stanley Donen
"I love seeing Audrey Hepburn at the Stanford Theatre. Always fun."
Watched: May 16, 2025
Theatre: Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
Warfare (2025)
Alex Garland & Ray Mendoza
"One of the greatest starts to a movie in a long time. Perhaps the greatest start to a war movie. Just the pure juxtaposition immediately. This film was intense, with very good action and acting throughout. Incredibly realistic, and a great representation of modern war in cinema."
Watched: April 19, 2025
Theatre: AMC Mercado 20, Santa Clara
Inland Empire (2006)
David Lynch
"It just gets better every damn time."
Watched: March 30, 2025
Theatre: Alamo Drafthouse, New Mission SF
Docks of New York (1928)
Josef von Sternberg
"Such a funny silent film. Great live organ accompaniment too by Dennis James."
Watched: March 22, 2025
Theatre: Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
I'm Still Here (2024)
Walter Salles
"This was a very enjoyable film, shot beautifully, and with fantastic music and acting throughout. However, there were issues I had with the pacing in the middle of the film and the time jumps at the ending."
Watched: January 31, 2025
Theatre: AMC 14, Saratoga
It Happened One Night (1934)
Frank Capra
"I loved seeing this at the Stanford Theatre. Such a fun watch, well written and great acting."
Watched: January 26, 2025
Theatre: Stanford Theatre, Palo Alto
Seed of the Sacred Fig (2024)
Mohammad Rasoulof
"This is not at all what I expected this movie to be about. I thought it would be a lot more about the man's job as a judge, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was more about the women in his life and his changing relationship with them. The cinematography was gorgeous, and Rasoulof's use of real footage from the Women Life Freedom protests in Iran evoked a lot of emotions in me. While the ending was a little bit predictable, it was still accomplished successfully."
Watched: December 22, 2024
Theatre: AMC Kabuki, San Francisco
Anora (2024)
Sean Baker
"Special screening with Q&A with Director Sean Baker and Producer Samantha Quan."
Watched: October 22, 2024
Theatre: Alamo Drafthouse, New Mission SF