ECHO IN THE CANYON: There's Something Happening Here...

ECHO IN THE CANYON (2018)

Featuring Jakob Dylan, Tom Petty, Brian Wilson, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Stephen Stills, Roger McQuinn, Michelle Phillips, David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Lou Adler, John Sebastian, Beck, Fiona Apple, Norah Jones, Cat Power. Directed by Andrew Slater. (83 min)

ON BLU-RAY FROM MPI MEDIA GROUP

Review by Fluffy the Fearless😼

The canyon in-question is Laurel Canyon, the echo being the music genre known as the California Sound, made famous by a variety of influential and legendary musicians, most of whom apparently lived within walking distance of each other.

Echo in the Canyon is part documentary, part concert film, which gives us the history of the subgenre as told by its purveyors, along with peers who admired them. With Bob’s son Jakob Dylan sort-of serving as our guide, we get first-hand stories about the music’s origins, influence and popularity. Most of the film’s focus is on The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, The Mamas & the Papas and, of course, The Beach Boys. Surprisingly – and somewhat conspicuously - The Doors aren’t included or even discussed (perhaps they were the “scary neighbors” of Laurel Canyon).

"Wha...?"

Though there’s plenty of vintage footage, the candid interviews are the best part of the film. These guys are now senior citizens and a few seem to have indulged in the 1960s with more enthusiasm than their contemporaries (as some of Dylan’s bemused reactions will attest). Others come-across as a little sad those days didn’t last forever (probably because most of these bands were together only a few years). David Crosby is still pretty full of himself, however, while Michelle Phillips doesn’t apparently feel any remorse over cheating on husband John Phillips with bandmate Denny Doherty...maybe because the incident inspired one of their most enduring songs.

In his spare time, David Crosby moonlights as a Build-a-Bear model.

Less interesting is the concert footage featuring several modern artists – such as Dylan, Beck, Fiona Apple and Norah Jones - paying tribute to these bands by performing some of their best-known songs. While there’s nothing particularly wrong with their renditions, they’re comparatively unremarkable, like the work of a solid cover band. I think most longtime fans of this music would prefer performances by the original artists (even if most are decades past their prime). The closest we come to that are a few scenes of Dylan jamming in the studio with Brian Wilson and Stephen Stills.

Still, Echo in the Canyon paints a vivid picture of a short-lived movement and its long-lasting impact, both musically and culturally. Though I never really cared for the California Sound, the story behind it is pretty interesting and I felt an appreciation for the influence it had on music and artists I do care about. 

KITTY CONSENSUS:

PURR-R-R...LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS. 

Rest in Peace, Carol Lynley

Carol Lynley (1942-2019)

TRUE BELIEVER: A "Before" Movie

TRUE BELIEVER (1989)

Starring James Woods, Robert Downey Jr., Yuji Okumoto, Kurtwood Smith, Margaret Colin, Miguel Fernandes, Tom Bower, Charles Hallahan, Joel Polis, Luis Guzman. Directed by Joseph Ruben. (109 min).

ON BLU-RAY FROM

MILL CREEK ENTERTAINMENT

Review by Mr. Paws😸

True Believer is one of those ‘before’ movies.

Decades before being deified as Iron Man, little Robert Downey Jr was just starting to wear big-boy pants and still had his baby fat. Then there’s the always-great Kurtwood Smith, long before turning ‘dumbass’ into a catch-phrase. But the movie belongs to James Woods, the one-time A-lister who eventually torpedoed his own career by devolving into a paranoid right-wing nut-job (he's probably picking-out curtains with Jon Voight as we speak).

The meds are kickin' in.

In 1989, however, Woods’ patented brand of manic thespianism elevated more-than-a-few unremarkable films to something memorable. Case-in-point, True Believer is merely an average courtroom drama given a welcome turbo-boost by his presence. He plays Eddie Dodd, a once-idealistic lawyer who now spends his time smoking pot and defending drug-dealers. When young protege Roger Baron (Downey) suggests they represent a prison inmate who claims he was falsely charged, Dodd eventually takes the case, even though all the evidence suggests he’s guilty.

Dodd is self-serving, fast-talking, cynical, overly cocky and just a bit sleazy. In other words...a character Woods was born to play. He doesn’t simply chew the scenery...he gobbles it up and spits out the bones while the supporting cast struggles to keep up. Smith and Downey have their moments and you’ll probably wanna pinch the latter’s chubby little cheeks, but it’s Woods’ show all the way and his performance is easily the best part of the entire film. Whoever did his hair, however, should have been strung-up.

Since James Woods was at his Woodsiest during this era, True Believer is a fitting addition to Mill Creek Entertainment’s ongoing Retro VHS series. As usual, this release has no bells or whistles besides the throwback slipcase, but the film itself is entertaining, not-to-mention an interesting look back at a few careers before they took drastically different paths.

KITTY CONSENSUS:

PURR-R-R...LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS.

THE POOP SCOOP: Crimefighters Edition

CLICK THE PIC TO CHECK OUT AN AMUSING BONUS CLIP.

SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME on Digital 9/17 and on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray & DVD 10/1

Tom Holland returns as everyone’s favorite web-slinger in SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME, the next chapter after Spider-Man: Homecoming. Our friendly neighborhood wall-crawler decides to join his best friends Ned, MJ, and the rest of the gang on a European vacation. However, Peter’s plans to leave super heroics behind for a few weeks are quickly scrapped when he begrudgingly agrees to help Nick Fury uncover the mystery of several elemental creature attacks! Spider-Man and Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) join forces to fight the havoc unleashed across the continent but all is not as it seems.

  

The Original ROBOCOP, Limited Edition & Steelbook Blu-rays Coming 11/26

PART MAN, PART MACHINE, ALL COP. RoboCop, from Orion Pictures, marked director Paul Verhoeven's (Flesh + Blood) Hollywood debut and instantly became an enduring sci-fi/action classic when it landed in theaters in the summer of 1987. Verhoeven's peerlessly exciting and kinetic visuals were matched by a sharp script, iconic cast and exceptional special effects by Rob Bottin (The Thing) and Phil Tippett (The Empire Strikes Back). The film takes place in Detroit in the not-too-distant future. Heroic cop Alex Murphy (Peter Weller, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai) is gunned down in the line of duty, only to be resurrected as RoboCop - a cybernetic mix of spare human parts and Motor City steel, and the latest defense against crime designed by the all-powerful OCP Corporation. As RoboCop's memories of his former life as Murphy resurface, only his ex-partner (Nancy Allen, Dressed To Kill) stands beside him to fight against the vicious thugs responsible for his death, as well as a nefarious top-level OCP executive orchestrating the chaos from above. Unsurpassably thrilling, unexpectedly moving and unforgettably hilarious in equal measure, the future of law enforcement is back in a definitive Blu-ray presentation packed with hours of brand new bonus features. 

STUBER on Digital 10/1 & 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD 10/15

When a mild-mannered driver named Stu (Kumail Nanjiani; “Silicon Valley”) picks up a passenger (Dave Bautista; Guardians of the Galaxy) who turns out to be a cop hot on the trail of a brutal killer, Stu is thrust into a harrowing ordeal in which he desperately tries to hold onto his wits, his life and his five-star rating. Loaded with gut-busting laughs and visceral action that reframes the timeless buddy-comedy genre for modern audiences, the all-star cast includes Betty Gilpin (“GLOW”), Iko Uwais (The Raid: Redemption), Mira Sorvino (Mighty Aphrodite), Jimmy Tatro (“American Vandal”), Natalie Morales (“Abby’s”) and Karen Gillan (Guardians of the Galaxy).  Bonus features include deleted scenes, a hilarious gag reel, audio commentary with director Michael Dowse (Goon) and Kumail Nanjiani and more!

OUR EARLY OSCAR PICK

CLOWNADO on DVD 9/17

A troupe of murderous circus clowns are trapped in a tornado by a witches' spell and travel the midwest destroying everything and everyone in their path while seeking revenge on the woman who imprisoned them. And hey...Linnea Quigley!

 

Oh My, DARLIN’

DARLIN’ (2019)

Starring Lauryn Canny, Cooper Andrews, Pollyanna McIntosh, Nora-Jane Noone, Bryan Batt, Lauren Ashley Carter, Eugenie Bondurant. Directed by Pollyanna McIntosh. (101 min)

ON BLU-RAY FROM DARK SKY FILMS

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat🙀

The biggest compliment I can give Darlin’ is that I found it quite enjoyable without ever realizing it’s actually a sequel.

It is, in fact, the third film in a series that began in 2009 with Offspring, followed a few years later by The Woman, the latter directed by Lucky McKee (he of May fame). While Darlin’ didn’t compel me enough to go back and see what I’ve been missing, the film does an admirable job telling a fairly self-contained story where prior knowledge isn’t a prerequisite.

Twister just isn't as much fun without the mat.

This one is written & directed by Pollyanna McIntosh, who starred in the first two films as a feral & cannibalistic family’s mud-covered matriarch. However, her character takes a backseat to ‘adopted’ daughter Darlin’ (Lauryn Canny), now a teenager. After being hit by an ambulance, she’s cared for by kindly nurse Tony (Cooper Andrews). She’s later sent to a Catholic parish run by a Bishop (Bryan Batt), who sees the financial and promotional benefits in attempting to civilize her. Meanwhile, The Woman (McIntosh) wants Darlin’ back, slaughtering her way through a variety of poor rubes along the way.

Catholic cage-match.

Greedy, egocentric and ultimately lecherous, The Bishop represents a none-too-subtle swipe at the questionable practices of the Catholic church. That probably means Darlin’ won’t show up on the Pope’s watchlist anytime soon, but it does have one hell of a despicable villain. While there’s plenty of blood and nastiness – The Woman’s horrific killing spree, in particular - the film is also about Darlin’s transformation from a wild child to one displaying ‘proper’ behavior. Since she’s ultimately the film’s most sympathetic character, we’re definitely concerned over the values she’s being conditioned to embrace.

Darlin’ throws in a few twists along the way, some of which are surprising, others which don’t seem all that plausible. More importantly, it provides just enough exposition of past events for it to be appreciated on its own terms. The denouement feels too calculated - leaving the door open for yet-another possible sequel - but still wraps things up nicely. All-in-all, it’s a tidy little horror film laced with timely social commentary.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTE – Includes interviews from the cast & crew, plus behind-the-scenes footage.

AUDIO COMMENTARY – By writer-director Pollyanna McIntosh.

DELETED SCENE

TRAILER

KITTY CONSENSUS:

PURR-R-R...LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS.

The "Fine" Line in LADYWORLD

LADYWORLD (2019)

Starring Ariela Barer, Annalise Basso, Ryan Simpkins, Odessa Adion, Maya Hawke, Tatsumi Romano, Zora Casabere, Atheena Frizzel. Directed by Amanda Kramer. (94 min)

ON DVD FROM MVD VISUAL

Review by Fluffy the Fearless😾

Ladyworld is an all-female spin on Lord of the Flies in which a gaggle of teenagers at a birthday party become trapped inside a house after a cataclysmic event. We’re led to believe it’s an earthquake, though it’s never made quite clear, which is fine because it’s the survival scenario that matters.

And I guess I can overlook the fact that even though the house has sunk a bit, there's clearly still plenty ‘o room to climb out through the windows. But hey, it’s obvious writer-director Amanda Kramer has loftier ambitions than plausibility or realism. That’s fine, too. Perhaps Ladyworld will instead tell us something about human nature and social breakdown under dire circumstances.

"Homer! You've got it set on 'whore'!"

And indeed, the group breaks into to factions. One is led by Olivia (Ariela Barer), who’s more level-headed and empathetic. Conversely, bitchy & cruel Piper (Annalise Basso) is perpetually antagonistic and eventually rallies a few of the others around her. The other characters, including one played by Maya (Stranger Things) Hawke, are mostly window dressing. Even that’s fine, since a film’s underlying theme sometimes takes precedent over traditional story elements.

Unfortunately, the film is stuck with a drab setting, underdeveloped & unlikable characters, superficially-abstract dialogue and – hands down - the most grating, obnoxious “music” score I’ve ever heard (human voices grunting, screeching, chirping and wailing). Once it’s established they’re trapped, the plot descends into a series of vignettes that are self-consciously performed ("look at me act!") and grow increasingly pretentious, to say nothing of tedious.

Some viewers might find the girls’ surrealistic descent into savagery disturbing. But for the most part, Ladyworld succumbs under the weight of its own arty ambitions. That, dear readers, is not fine.

EXTRA KIBBLES

IMAGE SLIDESHOW

2 TRAILERS

KITTY CONSENSUS:

BLEH! LIKE COUGHING UP A HAIRBALL.

Mr. Biscuits’ ADVENTURES IN THE BUDGET BIN: 7-Eleven Edition

For Mr. Biscuits, it’s the thrill of the hunt...digging for discounts wherever they may be. Sure, you could order from Amazon or spend your hard-earned kibbles on something already used, but what’s the fun in that? So if you’re a movie collector on a tight budget, let Mr. Biscuits’ show you some of his latest Blu-ray bargains.

In this edition, he pays a few visits to that bastion of quick convenience, 7-Eleven.

CONTAGION (2011)

Steven Soderbergh’s timely and disturbing thriller about a lethal pandemic that threatens to spread around the globe. With an all-star cast and various subplots, it plays like a classic disaster movie, only smarter, which is also what makes it scary as hell. As an added bonus, we get the vicarious pleasure of seeing Gwyneth Paltrow’s scalp pulled over her face (serves her right for naming her fucking kid Apple). I found this little gem at 7-Eleven for $4.99 while grabbing a Big Gulp.

AIRPORT (1970)

Airport wasn’t the first disaster movie, but sure as hell made the genre popular throughout the ‘70s. Yeah, it plays more like a soap opera than an action movie, but if not for Airport’s runaway success, it’s possible we wouldn’t have gotten real disaster epics like The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno. In that context, the film has a certain amount of historical importance, and at $4.99, is cheaper than what Amazon’s currently asking for it.

SPARTACUS (1960)

I wonder what Hollywood legends Stanley Kubrick and Kirk Douglas would think if they knew one of the most critically-lauded classics in their filmographies would someday end-up on a convenience store shelf right above the toilet paper and pine tree air fresheners. This one was a bit more expensive – a whopping five bucks. But hey, for that extra penny, I got the loaded 50^th Anniversary Edition!

HANG ‘EM HIGH (1968)

Here’s a fistful of Clint Eastwood for the price of a chili cheese dog and a Double Gulp. Hang ‘Em High isn’t in the same league as the Dollar’s Trilogy, of course, but it’s one of Eastwood’s more enjoyable American westerns of the era and a satisfying tale of revenge. It’s sort-of plays like a TV movie, but has a hell of a supporting cast that includes Bruce Dern, Dennis Hopper, Ben Johnson and the Skipper himself, Alan Hale Jr.

APOCALYPSE...Wow

APOCALYPSE NOW FINAL CUT

Starring Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Frederic Forrest, Albert Hall, Sam Bottoms, Laurence Fishburne, Dennis Hopper, Harrison Ford, G.D. Spradlin, Scott Glenn, Christian Marquaind, Aurore Clement. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola. (183 min).

ON 4K ULTRA COMBO PACK FROM

LIONSGATE

Review by Mr. Paws😺

I didn’t come up with that review headline. It was the title of a segment from the news show, 20/20, when they did a feature on Apocalypse Now just as it was first being released. While I personally have an ongoing love/hate relationship with the film, 'wow' certainly applies to this massive 6-disc release.

Apocalypse Now Final Cut features yet-another edit of the Francis Ford Coppola classic, newly remastered in 4K and overseen by the director himself. While this cut alone makes the set indispensable for any cinephile, the original theatrical version and 2001’s extended Apocalypse Now Redux are thrown in for good measure.

"We've searched the entire perimeter, sir, and still can't find your shirt."

I’ve always viewed the theatrical version as a flawed masterpiece, a film loaded with astounding moments and striking imagery, but the whole never quite equaling the sum of its parts. There was always something about it that felt incomplete, particularly the final act. Coppola apparently agreed, since Apocalypse Now Redux restored nearly an hour of deleted footage. Some of the new stuff was interesting, even humorous, but the lengthy plantation & Playmate scenes bloated Willard’s already-lengthy journey down the Nung River without adding anything substantial to the narrative.

Final Cut finds the sweet spot between the two. The additional Playmate segment plopped into Redux is gone, while the plantation sequence is mercifully shortened, leaving just enough to expand on the film’s themes and shed more light on Willard’s character. Elsewhere, various scenes are expanded or streamlined, and I’m happy to say my favorite addition to Redux  – where Willard and his crew steal one of Kilgore’s precious surfboards – is still here, providing a rare moment of levity. While still running three-hours, Final Cut is faster-paced then Redux and a richer experience than the original, arguably making it the definitive version.

Disney's latest water show.

Though I’m still not all-in on 4K Ultra HD, Apocalypse Now’s striking aesthetics are undoubtedly conducive to the format. This set includes 4K, Blu-ray and digital copies of all three cuts. Technically speaking, the film has never looked or sounded better. Also included on Blu-ray is Hearts of Darkness, Eleanor Coppola’s critically-acclaimed documentary on the film’s tumultuous production. It’s part of two discs’ worth of new and vintage bonus features (outlined below), the best of which is a recent Q&A session between Coppola and director Steven Soderbergh, which was filmed at Apocalypse Now Final Cut’s 2019 4K premiere. In a word...wow.

For a classic film that continues to be extensively discussed, debated and written about, Apocalypse Now Final Cut adds more fuel to the fire. This author feels the new version is as close to perfect as the film will ever get (I still have issues with the ending, though I’ve learned to appreciate it). Opinions vary, of course, which is part of the fun of having all three cuts collected as evidence. For that reason, this beautifully-packaged set is a must-own even for those who’ve already purchased the film several times. 

Just...wow.

EXTRA KIBBLES

4K, BLU-RAY & DIGITAL VERSIONS – Of Apocalypse Now Final Cut, Apocalypse Now Redux and Apocalypse Now (original theatrical cut).

HEARTS OF DARKNESS: A FILMMAKER’S APOCALYPSE – The acclaimed documentary, with optional commentary by Francis & Eleanor Coppola.

APOCALYPSE NOW REDUX AUDIO COMMENTARY – By Francis Ford Coppola

ARCHIVAL FEATURES (included with previous Blu-ray releases):

"An Interview with John Milius”; “A Conversation with Martin Sheen and Francis Ford Coppola”; “Fred Roos: Casting Apocalypse”; “The Hollow Men”; “The Birth of 5.1 Sound”; “Ghost Helicopter Flyover” (sound effects demonstration); “A Million Feet of Film: The Editing of Apocalypse Now”; “The Music of Apocalypse Now”; “Hear Any Good Movies Lately?” (sound design); “The Final Mix”; “Apocalypse Then and Now”; “2001 Cannes Film Festival: Francis Ford Coppola”; “PBR Streetgang”; “The Color Palette of Apocalypse Now”; “Destruction of the Kurtz Compound End Credits” (with commentary by Coppola)

"MERCURY THEATRE ON THE AIR: HEART OF DARKNESS” - Radio broadcast from 1938.

"THE SYNTHESIZER SOUNDTRACK” - An archival article from Keyboard Magazine by Bob Moog.

STORYBOARDS

PHOTO ARCHIVE

MARKETING ARCHIVE – Trailers, radio spots, the original theatrical program, poster gallery, lobby cards and press kits.

NEW FEATURES:

TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL Q&A – A 45 minute conversion with Coppola and director Steven Soderbergh. Coppola’s lost some weight.

FEATURETTES - “Dutch Angle: Chas Gerresten & Apocalypse Now” (Gerresten was an on-set photographer); “Apocalypse Now: Remastering in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos”; “Sensual Sound Technology from Meyer Sound”; “Apocalypse Now: A Forty Year Journey” (home video image comparisons from VHS to 4K...pretty cool).

JOHN MILIUS SCRIPT EXCERPT

KITTY CONSENSUS:

MEE-OW! LIKE TAUNTING A MOUSE TO DEATH.

THE POOP SCOOP: JOHN WICK Road Trip Hits the Road in August and September

TAP JOHN WICK'S FOREHEAD (if you dare) FOR FURTHER DETAILS

Get set for pedal-to-the-metal excitement as the John Wick Road Trip hits the road in August and September. On display will be John Wick’s hottest rides (including the Ford Mustang from the first two movies and a Zero DSR motorcycle from John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum), a traveling museum of John Wick memorabilia, and much more – all specially curated to create a unique and unforgettable fan experience.

ON 4K, BLU-RAY & DVD 9/10

The iconic Mustang from the first two installments of the John Wick franchise, as well as the motorcycle from John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, will travel across the Midwest and East Coast from August 31 to September 18 to visit select Best Buy Stores, NASCAR events, and the Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings NFL game. Fans will have the opportunity to take a photo with the Mustang, escape an army of assassins with a John Wick motorcycle green screen, check out real props from the films, and experience the John Wick universe in person. They’ll even be given a chance to win fun John Wick swag. Full details and location information can be found at JohnWickRoadTrip.com
 
  JOHN WICK ROAD TRIP ROUTE

• NASCAR Darlington Raceway Series (8/31 – 9/1 - Darlington, SC)
• Best Buy (9/3 - Alpharetta, GA)
• Best Buy (9/4 - Buford, GA)
• NASCAR Indianapolis Motor Speedway Series (9/6 – 9/8 - Indianapolis, IN)
• Best Buy (9/10 - Minneapolis, MN)
• Best Buy (9/12 - Burbank, IL)
• Best Buy (9/13 - Downers Grove, IL)
• NFL: Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings (9/15 - Green Bay, WI)
• Best Buy (9/17 - Mayfield Heights, OH)
• Best Buy (9/18 - Reynoldsburg, OH)
  

THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO: Where Went the Neighborhood?

THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO (2019)

Starring Jimmie Fails, Jonathan Majors, Finn Wittrock, Mike Epps, Danny Glover, Jamal Trulove, Tichina Arnold, Rob Morgan. Directed by Joe Talbot. (121 min).

ON BLU-RAY FROM LIONSGATE

Review by Fluffy the Fearless😸

When not working menial jobs, Jimmie (Jimmie Fails) is gradually remodeling the old house where he grew up. The problem is that his family no longer lives there and he doesn’t actually own the place. The current owners don’t appreciate him repeatedly showing up to work on the house, while he’s unhappy that they’ve let it slip into disrepair.

Somewhat estranged from his own parents, Jimmie himself is essentially homeless, living with his best friend, Mont (Jonathan Majors), who also takes care of his blind grandfather (Danny Glover). But when the house is suddenly vacated and its ownership is in limbo, Jimmie and Mont decide to further explore inside. The two eventually move in without permission, adorning rooms with some of the same furniture Jimmie’s family used before they were evicted.

But The Last Black Man in San Francisco isn’t quite so straightforward. Despite being presented as a series of vignettes, there’s a timely underlying theme throughout the film. The house is in the trendy Fillmore district, which was once an ethnically diverse section of the city. Most of the black community has-since been displaced, many now living in an industrial area where homes are dilapidated and the nearby bay is polluted. Others continue to be evicted - legally or otherwise - as old neighborhoods grow increasingly gentrified. Jimmie is nostalgic for the way things used to be...at least as he remembers them. And though he appears quite knowledgeable about the house and its history, he’s also naively possessive of a property he doesn’t have a chance in hell of ever owning.

"Get the hell off my lawn!!"

The Last Black Man in San Francisco is inspired by Fails’ own experiences and he co-wrote the screenplay with director & childhood friend Joe Talbot. Charming and bittersweet, the film is both a love-letter to their hometown and requiem for what it used to be. More or less playing himself, Fails delivers an affecting performance. Sort-of an oddball even within his own eccentric circle, he’s outwardly congenial and hopelessly optimistic, though we suspect part of him is aware the happiness he feels inside his childhood home is probably temporary.

Majors is also endearing as Mont, an aspiring writer concerned over his friend’s obsession with the house, eventually going to great lengths to try and pull Jimmy’s head out of the clouds. Elsewhere, the film is filled with a variety of interesting, empathetic characters. Based on how well-drawn they are, one can assume most of them have real-life counterparts.

Though deliberately paced, The Last Black Man in San Francisco is an engaging film with a poignant and haunting resolution. Once-diverse communities in other major cities have likewise met similar fates as Fillmore, but Jimmie’s story personalizes it in a way that the viewer can’t help but feel the same sense of loss.

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTE - “Ode to the City: Finding The Last Black Man in San Francisco”

AUDIO COMMENTARY – By Director/Co-Writer Joe Talbot

KITTY CONSENSUS:

PURR-R-R...LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS.