Review and news hub for movies, music and video games

The San Francisco International Film Festival opens today for yet another two weeks of great films from all over the world: Bulgaria, Ecuador, Philippines and even all the way from San Francisco! It’s the festival’s 52nd year and it looks like it’s shaping up to be an exciting one, pointed by the number of big guests in attendance. There are a couple of screenings of great oldies, as well, particularly two westerns I hold dear.

I will, of course, be going to as many films as my body would allow me. I have seen a few in advance, though, and here are some of the highlights that would be paramount to try and get into.

Atom Egoyan's newest film Adoration is the best one I've seen so far. The story of an orphaned boy who reimagines his dead parents as players in a terrorist bombing plot, this intriguing film combines technology and post-9/11 hate into a searing examination of cultural identity. So heavy with things to say about the future that it dwarfs its own plot, but Egoyan makes it work beautifully. Fans of The Sweet Hereafter wouldn't want to miss this one.

The one with the big hype is Duncan Jones' Moon, already making waves earlier this year at Sundance for being a low-budget indie Sci-Fi film. This movie's heartbreaking, but it's the cool spot of the fest. Another must-not-miss.

If those two sound too heavy, there are comedies to look at, as well. In the Loop is an absolutely hilarious fictionalized account of how we got to war. Imagine The Office set in the world of US and British politicians who make things happen. Then there's also Rudo y Cursi, the oddball football—sorry, I don't call it soccer—dramedy that reunites Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna for the first time since their breakout debut together in Y Tu Mama Tambien back in 2001. Rudy y Cursi's showing at the festival also marks its US premiere.

The fest's opening night film tonight will be La Mission, appropriately set in San Francisco's Mission District. Benjamin Bratt team up with brother Peter Bratt to tell the story of the Latino neighborhood they grew up in. The film debuted at this year's Sundance Film Festival to fairly positive reviews. Also coming down from Sundance is the much buzzed-about 500 Days of Summer, which will be showing on May 2nd as a centerpiece film, followed by an after-party at hotel Clift.

But not all the movies being shown by the fest is brand new. In fact, the one I'm most excited to see is Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West, which will be showing one time only at the historic Castro theater on Sunday, May 3rd. I own the movie on DVD, but there's no way I'm missing this screening. Another classic being shown is Michelangelo Antonioni's Le Amiche, as well as a new print of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, which will have its world premiere following an evening awarding Robert Redford.

Speaking of awards, this Saturday will see Evan Rachel Wood and Elijah Wood being spotlighted at the Midnight Awards, part of the festival's efforts to honor young actors and actresses who have made significant contributions to independent and Hollywood films. Then there's next Friday's Directing Award honoring of the city's resident movie godfather Francis Ford Coppola, who will bring with him the trailer for his new film Tetro.

Those are just the big fishes, of course. There are plenty of hidden gems that I can't wait to unearth. For more info on the festival and the films being shown, head over to the official site.