Reviews, Books—
Bridget’s Gambit: A Saga of Family Enterprise in Gold Rush California
Reviews, Indie & Arthouse Films—
Wild & Scenic Film Festival 2026: Best Day Ever
Honored to have served on the Film Review Committee for the 2026 Wild & Scenic Film Festival — and honestly, it left me awestruck.
This film was a favorite—inspiring, real, and an example of local action making an impact. Read the full review here.
Reviewing submissions for this festival is a rare privilege. Film after film, I found myself moved by the sheer diversity, beauty, and wonder that filmmakers are capturing from every corner of the natural world. These stories matter. The people telling them matter.
Original Phantom of the Opera film/live performance
The iconic moment when Mary Philbin removed Lon Chaney’s mask in “The Phantom of the Opera” remains one of cinema’s most enduring images. Now, 100 years later, The Invincible Czars bring their signature blend of eclectic instrumentation, adventurous arrangements, and emotional depth to this early American horror masterpiece. The performance is part of a 2025 U.S. and Canadian tour celebrating the film’s centennial.
Audiences may remember The Invincible Czars from their 2023 Onyx Downtown screening of “Nosferatu,” which played to a full house. Their return promises another unforgettable night where silent film, dramatic enactments, and live music combine for an experience unlike any other. As with “Nosferatu,” The Invincible Czars will feature a Foley artist, providing a wide range of live sound effects to enhance the performance.
This 90-minute film takes viewers deep into the heart of the Amazon, where Indigenous forest protectors risk everything to stand against illegal logging, land grabbing, and corporate destruction. We Are Guardians premiered in Los Angeles on June 6, 2025, and is now being shown in over 50 cities across the country to wide acclaim.
Executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio and Oscar-winner Fisher Stevens, the film is co-directed by Indigenous filmmaker Edivan Guajajara, Chelsea Greene, and Rob Grobman. This character-driven documentary is both intimate and urgent, blending personal narratives with scientific reporting and global context to spotlight the climate crisis through the lens of Amazonian resistance.
“We’re innovating, which is reforesting minds—it’s not only planting, but reforesting the mind, the thoughts, the heart, the unity and solidarity in the world.”
— Puyr Tembé, First Minister of Indigenous Peoples, State of Pará, Brazil
Born in China, Wong arrived in the United States at age nine, separated from his father while detained at Angel Island under the Chinese Exclusion Act. Overcoming poverty and discrimination, he built an extraordinary artistic career spanning fine art, commercial illustration, murals, greeting cards, dinnerware design, and handmade kites. His ability to fluidly move between creative disciplines is a testament to his remarkable artistry, captured through intimate conversations in this historically significant documentary.
Pamela Tom’s Tyrus has been praised for its elegant storytelling, rich archival footage, and Wong’s own humble, witty narration. The film is both a celebration of an unsung artistic genius and a moving meditation on resilience, immigration, and cultural contribution.
“Tyrus is more than a biography—it’s a vital part of American art history brought beautifully to life,” states Jeannie Wood of CATS. “We’re thrilled to share this film with our community, honor Tyrus Wong’s remarkable legacy, and bring filmmaker Pamela Tom to the audience virtually for a post-screening Q&A.”
Manzanar, Diverted: When Water Becomes Dust
When Jeannie Wood, CATS (Community Asian Theatre of the Sierra) ED, saw the documentary film “Manzanar, Diverted: When Water Becomes Dust,” she knew it was a perfect partner for CATS production of “Snow Falling on Cedars” at the Nevada Theatre.
Seeing both the” Snow Falling on Cedars” production, which was performed through May 18, and “Manzanar, Diverted,” will screen on May 26, offers a complementary and multidimensional perspective on several critical aspects of American history. Like bookends, we see the beginning exodus of tribes, incarceration, and where we are now with Manzanar in the Owens Valley. Read the full review.
In spite of its romcom status, “The Worst Person in the World” avoids trite formulas associated with romantic comedies and delivers something vivaciously fresh. We see Julie move through 12 discrete chapters in her life over four pivotal years through and beyond her twenties. Director Joachim Trier captures exploration and imperfect discovery as Julie seeks to find the life that she wants, rather than fulfilling the expectations of those around her. Does wanting your own life make you the worst person in the world? Maybe, maybe not, but either way, Renate Reinsve holds the screen delivering an engaging and totally relatable performance. Read the full review…
Pedro Almodovar’s Parallel Mothers
Almodovar never seems satisfied with just doing one thing well or expressing one simplistic idea. Rather, “Parallel Mothers” offers a great deal to consider, with a historical treatment of the Spanish Civil War, sexual orientation and cultural misogyny. All put together so cleverly that as the film moves with these layered story threads, we go with the journey, leaving behind a fair amount of rationalization along the way — which is a very good thing in terms of movie-making and entertainment. There is never a dull moment or predictable second-guessing as the plot develops, turns right, then left, then back to center — wait a minute! Is that center? Read the full review…
Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley
Characterized as a neo-noir thriller, “Nightmare Alley” provides a clear-eyed perspective on the bankruptcy of soul-starved wealth and its parallel to the less-privileged carnival life. Which, the viewer may be left to wonder, is more depraved? Read the full review…
Reviews, Indie Documentary —
Orion Magazine: If a Tree Falls_film review
A first person story on how green is the new red.
Sierra Club’s Green Life: Back to the Garden
A closer look at off the grid hippies 20 years later and the lessons they have learned.
Sierra Club’s Green Life: Revenge of the Electric Car
Checking with Tesla and Nissan as well as indie builders on the fast paced EV market.
Sierra Club’s Green Life: Sushi: The Global Catch
Learn why scientists see Blue Fin Tuna being extinct before fossil fuels.
Crosscut: SIFF_festival overview
Seattle International Film Festival is a very busy hub of cinematic creativity. Sort out the approaches that work for you in advance.
YubaNet.com: Dear_Governor_Brown
Film maker Jon Bowermaster examines the environmental record of California’s ‘green Governor’.