Corporations, cable, consumers, and the broadband conundrum

In the craven new world of entertainment on demand, a strange landscape stretches before us. And it isn’t just the idea that in the not-too-distant future we’ll be acce... Read More

Movie Reviews

Close to the madding crowd

By Michael Snyder

There’s something extremely attractive about the tried and true when contemporary movie companies are deciding to green-light projects. As far as the suits are concerned, the... Read More

Coastal Commuter

When roaches are your dining companions

By Michael Snyder

The destruction of Candlestick Park to make way for new development — shopping, corporate, residential, whatever — brought back many great memories of Giants and Niners games I... Read More

A & E

58th S.F. International Film Festival

By Michael Snyder

These days, it seems like there’s an annual film festival in every town, village, and glen. Some of the fests are designed to have a major impact on the movie business, with ... Read More

Coastal Commuter

Not-so-grand theft

By Michael Snyder

When you take the leap and decide to commute great distances for business or personal reasons, and one of the twin poles in your sphere is a freeway-laced, car-obsessed place like ... Read More

Television

Serials make a killing

By Michael Snyder

After a marathon viewing of all eight episodes of the charming and clever comedy series Mozart in the Jungle, I have one more reason to acknowledge the astonishing rise in quality ... Read More

Coastal Commuter

Begging for answers to the disparity between classes

By Michael Snyder

A couple of evenings ago, something struck me hard while walking through my ostensibly upscale neighborhood in San Francisco — and I’m lucky it wasn’t a blunt object.... Read More

Movie Reviews

What’s up, doc?

By Michael Snyder

One is about the founding of the modern women’s movement for liberation and equality; one concerns the historically successful Red Army hockey team; and one investigates the ... Read More

Coastal Commuter

At the Pan-Pacific buffet

By Michael Snyder

So a kid from the East Coast megalopolis moves out to California after college, and shortly thereafter, he learns that Asian cuisine is considerably different from the gooey, over-... Read More

Coastal Commuter

A little resolve

By Michael Snyder

I’ve always been amused by the concept of New Year’s resolutions. That whole charade where people use the turn of the calendar as an excuse or a line in the metaphorica... Read More

Movie Reviews

Preview of 2015 films and best 2014 films

By Michael Snyder

A new year can mean rebirth and renewal, although in today’s movie business, those words tend to actually mean resuscitation, regeneration, and retread. The concept of “... Read More

Coastal Commuter

A Question of Auto or Not

By Michael Snyder

Since deciding that my career and personal endeavors would be enhanced by sharing my time between San Francisco and Los Angeles, my life has been much more auto-centric than itR... Read More

Movie Reviews

Stocking up on DVD gifts for the holidays

By Michael Snyder

It’s a video-on-demand world, or it will be soon. And yet, here’s a column about purchasing DVDs as Christmas presents in 2014. Although digital information delivered i... Read More

Coastal Commuter

Eatsgiving

By Michael Snyder

The holidays are growing closer, which means that many of us will be growing larger, because holiday time is traditionally feasting time. Who among us would turn down a good meal �... Read More

Movie Reviews

Foodie films on the menu

By Michael Snyder

Contrary to what a rabid football fan might tell you, the focal point of the Thanksgiving celebration is the big dinner when family and friends gather to share in the abundance on ... Read More

Michael Snyder