Men write the overwhelming majority of film reviews in the nation’s top newspapers. In Fall 2007, men penned 70% and women 30% of all reviews. Furthermore, of the newspapers featuring film reviews, 47% had no reviews written by women critics, writers or freelancers. In contrast, only 12% had no reviews written by men critics, writers or freelancers. Read more »

This March I left my job as a film critic for the Bay Area-based Contra Costa Times, Oakland Tribune and San Jose Mercury News. Along with 101 colleagues, I took a buyout. It was a clear and obvious choice. If I hadn’t leapt then, with at least a small landing pad of cash, I have little doubt I would have been pushed this month, when Media News laid off 29 of my former newsroom colleagues, all of them deemed unnecessary by the company. Read more »

Man On Wire’s cinematic tension equals the tension in the wire that supported Philippe Petit’s space walk between the twin towers. We know the outcome but, still, we hold our breath. If you weren’t around to see the real deal, this is a compelling reconstruction. It’s also a poignant memorial to the hallowed twin towers, which served as an icon for Petit, and continue to do so for us today. Read more>>

AWFJ highlights films made by and about women: Read more »

Even now, several days after seeing the thing, I still can’t decide if this is 1. a disaster of astounding proportions or 2. a hoot and a half. Read more »

While Streep, Firth and Baranski (the musical theater veteran’s rendition of “Does Your Mother Know” is the film’s highlight) shine in their numbers, Brosnan should limit his singing to karaoke night. Read more>>

The comedy and romance should appeal even to non-ABBA fans. Only those with the hardest of hearts will be able to resist “Mamma Mia!” Read more>>

Meryl Streep is amazing! There is nothing this gifted actress cannot do – and she’s a sensational choice to bring ABBA’s irresistible frolic to the screen. Read more »

By current superhero blockbuster standards, A Man Named Pearl, a quiet film about a real life hero, may seem lackluster. No conflicts, no special effects and its subject isn’t a big star-studded attention-getting costumed character. But this is little documentary will inform and inspire, and quietly amaze you. Read more>>

Even without Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker, Christopher Nolan’s pitch-black sequel to BATMAN BEGINS (2005) would be a tour de force. But Ledger’s mesmerizingly damaged agent provocateur is the film’s dark heart, a presence so malevolently unpredictable that it remains palpable even when he’s not on screen. Read more>>