Sam Fragoso

‘Monuments Men’ fails on grand scale

The Monuments Men, unfortunately, is a monumental misstep in the wrong direction.

10 years ago

Hollow ‘Awkward Moment’ strikes out

That Awkward Moment is neither romantic nor comedic. Just idiotic.

10 years ago

Sam’s Best Movies of 2013

Moviegoers were treated to new films from some of today’s most illuminating filmmakers.

10 years ago

Virtueless ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ captivates

Virtuousness is not a concern for Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio), the centerpiece of Martin Scorsese’s latest magnum opus.

10 years ago

Chance the Rapper electrifies Regency Ballroom

Chance the Rapper took San Francisco by storm Wednesday night at the Regency Ballroom.

10 years ago

Thrilling ‘American Hustle’ finishes flat

Walking the tightrope between emulation and imitation is a hard feat to pull off.

10 years ago

Stale Vince Vaughn fires blanks in ‘Delivery Man’

I no longer believe Vince Vaughn when he delivers his customary long-winded, sentiment-dripping monologues.

10 years ago

Genuine ‘Nebraska’ connects father and son

Alexander Payne's Nebraska is a black and white journey through some of the most barren lands of Middle America.

10 years ago

‘The Armstrong Lie’ offers fair portrait of fallen hero

Lance Armstrong’s story has enough tragedy and duplicity that any viewer -- sports fan or otherwise -- will get wrapped…

11 years ago

’12 Years a Slave’ shines through the pain

When we thought we’ve seen all the pain and bigotry of the slavery era, Steve McQueen shows us otherwise.

11 years ago

Aging jokes grow old in ‘Last Vegas’

Last Vegas is a perfectly serviceable film bound to help air travelers ease their minds and fall asleep.

11 years ago

Hazy ‘Counselor’ spares the details

The Counselor isn’t so much a movie as it is a eulogy, linking together unintentionally hilarious monologues.

11 years ago

‘A.C.O.D.’ a clever exploration of divorce

When half of marriages end in divorce, what becomes of A.C.O.D., or "Adult Children of Divorce?"

11 years ago

Ten reasons to skip ‘Runner Runner’

Brad Furman's lastest film Runner, Runner is an emotionless cinematic experience based on a dated script about online gambling.

11 years ago

Immersive ‘Gravity’ dazzles, terrifies in space

Gravity is the rare cinematic experience that requires and deserves to be enjoyed in an enormous theater.

11 years ago

A guide to the 36th Mill Valley Film Festival

Few film festivals have the prestige and reputation that Mill Valley has built over the past three decades.

11 years ago

SF cinema gets extra steamy this weekend

A trio of sexually charged films, including the newly released Don Jon, heats up San Francisco's silver screens.

11 years ago

Drab ‘Haute Cuisine’ looks delicious

As an ode to French cuisine, Haute Cuisine is splendid. But it sacrifices story for delectable dishes we tragically can’t…

11 years ago

Uninspired ‘Rush’ skids along the surface

Where films like Apollo 13 flourished in its detail and intimacy, Rush fails as a rudimentary examination of the past.

11 years ago

‘Salinger’ suffers in vacuum of praise

Salinger, Shane Salerno's doc on J.D. Salinger, fatally falls into the camp that has mythologized the author for decades.

11 years ago

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