It's narratively fractured, and only in moments does the familiar WWII metaphor emerge. That happens when raffish boatman Bard (Luke Evans, proving that a mullet can be workable) tries to warn the medieval-Baltic city of Laketown of the flying wrath to come. (He gets no help from the city's poncy, gouty Master, played by Stephen Fry.) Yet The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is a huge improvement over An Unexpected Journey—it's a well-filled smorgasboard without much starch. » Read More

The Belgian import The Broken Circle Breakdown, originally titled Alabama Monroe, has death as its subject matter, and the soundtrack is full of songs in the key of (the end of) life. It earns its title reference to the Carter Family's tune, about the contraction of the family circle. The movie tries to be euphemism-free—it often shows Flemish skill in warts-and-all depiction: the disjointed scenes are connected with lively bluegrass, while showing sex as a pale, two-backed beast with elbows, butt and the soles of indifferently washed feet. » Read More

The weather outside may be somewhat frightful-at least by Bay Area standards-but the December edition of South First Fridays offers some holiday cheer, and even some chances to get some holiday shopping done. Galleries, shops and restaurants host art shows, receptions and art activities throughout the SoFA district and other downtown neighborhoods. Here's a small sampling of shows and activities going on around downtown » Read More

As the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) goes on the road during its own phase of inner-reconstruction, its collections are appearing at various partner institutions throughout the Bay Area. One such collaboration has emerged at Stanford University's Cantor Arts Center, where students helped curate "flesh and metal." » Read More

As you read this, a transition is occurring on multiple levels. On the macro level, the San Jose State University Art Department is celebrating its centennial. That is, through various institutional moniker changes at the university level, college level, department level and concentration level, a 100-year continuous milestone of instruction has now been reached. » Read More

Freakin' hipsters. I've only just met him, but already Hamilton is so over me. When I walk in, he's sitting near his "study"-an armchair, desk, globe and house plant. I reach out to pet him, but he arches back and hisses before darting behind the fake ficus tree. Only after I ignore him for a beat and retreat to the couch does he spring up to his mini navy-and-white polka dot armchair and drape a paw over the armrest. He glances at me, the intruder, with his patented more-dapper-than-thou gaze. Fine. » Read More