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

Writing about noir stalwart Robert Ryan, critic David Thomson commented that just as some men grind their teeth, some men could be said to grind their eyes. Spike Lee's crazed, delightfully sick remake of Park Chan-wook's 2003 shocker Oldboy has Josh Brolin grinding his eyes impressively as he goes on the customary blood-soaked trail of vengeance. Give or take Michael Shannon, there may not have been an actor with such a clenched fist-like face since Ryan himself. » 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

So far, Bob Ray has had a good run. He worked as a producer on The Dating Game at age 16. In the 1970s, he was the morning drive guy on KLIV and also the PA announcer for the NASL incarnation of the San Jose Earthquakes, back when some of the world's greatest-ever soccer players came to Spartan Stadium. Oh, and he ran an advertising agency for 36 years. » Read More

Anyone considering writing a novel about Silicon Valley or a spy thriller set in the computer industry should forget about it. Why? Because the truth is often more entertaining, especially in the case of Fred Vogelstein's new book, Dogfight: How Apple and Google Went to War and Started a Revolution. The story contains many elements of an epic saga, with all the betrayal and ego-jockeying one finds in mainstream fiction. » Read More