East Bay Deputy Held in Drug Case Arrest Linked to Ongoing State Narcotics Agent Probe

Sunday, March 6, 2011

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TOP OF THE NEWS Insight Bay Area Magazine WikiLeaks — 1 Newsom: Concerns Spring adventure World rise over S.F. office deal 1 Libya uprising: Reb- How Europe with donor. C1 tours from the els capture a key oil port caves in to U.S. 1 Shipping: Nancy Pelo- Galapagos to while state forces un- si extols the importance leash mortar fire. A5 pressure. F6 of local ports. C1 South Africa. 6 Sporting Green Food & Wine Business Travel 1 Scouting triumph: 1 Larry Goldfarb: Marin The Giants picked All about falafel County hedge fund manager Special Hawaii rapidly rising prospect who settled fraud charges Brandon Belt, right, — with three stretched the truth about section touts 147th in the ’09 draft. B1 recipes. H1 charitable donations. D1 Kailua-Kona. M1 RECOVERY East Bay deputy held in drug case Arrest linked to ongoing state narcotics agent probe

By Justin Berton custody by agents representing CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER the state Department of Justice and the district attorney’s of- A Contra Costa County sher- fice. iff’s deputy has been arrested in Authorities did not elaborate connection with the investiga- on the details of the alleged tion of a state narcotics agent offenses, but a statement from who allegedly stole drugs from the Contra Costa County Sher- Michael Macor / The Chronicle evidence lockers, authorities iff’s Department said Tanabe’s Chris Rodriguez (4) of the Bay Cruisers shoots over Spencer Halsop (24) of the Utah Jazz said Saturday. arrest was the “result of the during a game of wheelchair basketball sponsored by a Bay Area sports outreach program. Stephen Tanabe, 47, an Ala- ongoing investigation into the mo resident, was booked Fri- state Department of Justice day night into Contra Costa Central Contra Costa Narcotics County Jail on suspicion of Enforcement Team (CNET).” possession and transfer of an “As soon as we learned of Full circle, with hoops assault rifle and conspiracy to Deputy Tanabe’s alleged in- possess and sell controlled volvement in the CNET case, we Hit by a stray bullet in 2008, he’s back in the game substances. He was taken into Deputy continues on A12

By Scott Ostler SAN BRUNO BLAST CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER

About halfway through his two-month stay at Children’s Hospital Oakland, 10-year- old Chris Rodriguez asked his father, “Daddy, will I be able to walk out of here?” Regulators’ decision Richard Rodriguez had been withholding the bad news. Initially, doctors told Chris’ parents he had a 50 percent chance to survive the internal injuries from a 40- due on PG&E pipes caliber handgun slug that sliced his spinal cord, so his father was desperate to keep Chris’ spirits up. But now was the time. By Jaxon Van Derbeken miles of transmission lines in “No,” Richard said. “You may not walk for a long time, maybe never.” CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER urban areas. That’s the dead- Three years later, Chris calmly recalls the moment. line for the company to pro- “I started crying, because I wanted to get back to my basketball season. I just joined Decision time is looming for duce documents proving to the the school team. I had played two games.” California regulators who are California Public Utilities under pressure from the feder- Commission that the lines can Sorry, no more basketball. al government to force Pacific withstand the pressure levels “Daddy,” Chris said in the hospital, “that’s going to be the greatest loss of my life.” Gas and Electric Co. to send at which PG&E operates them. less gas through pipelines that Besides cutting pressure, On Jan. 10, 2008, a 24-year-old Oakland through the wall of the Harmony Road Music the utility cannot prove are PG&E may have to shut down man on a violent crime spree held up a Chev- School and through the spleen, kidney and safe. lines for days at a time while it ron station on Piedmont Avenue in North spine of Chris Rodriguez as he sat on a piano Several weeks of cold weath- conducts high-pressure water Oakland. Jared Adams took $162, and when an bench waiting to take his lesson. er remain for Northern and testing — something the com- attendant tried to dial 9-1-1, Adams, who was The following Saturday morning, while most Central California, but after pany has always avoided do- drunk, fired three wild shots. people were struggling to process the random March 15, PG&E could be ing. It’s enlisted hundreds of One of the shots traveled across the street, Rodriguez continues on A14 forced to reduce its gas flow by employees to sift through tens 20 percent on hundreds of PG&E continues on A13

SUNDAY PROFILE Brenda Way

Brenda Way, ODC/ Moving exploration of beauty Dance’s founder and artistic By Julian Guthrie built the floor for their stage and classical dance, about a director, CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER and formed seats from sand sharing of power and gender seeks to dunes. They lived in tents, and expectations. explore fe- Brenda Way’s first perfor- cooked on a stove rescued Now, Way is the artistic and male beauty mance space was outside on from the dump. executive director of San Fran- and power Martha’s Vineyard on land Through movement, the cisco’s ODC/Dance, the West through owned by a friend. It was the Oberlin Dance Collective, as Coast’s premier contemporary movement. summer of 1971 when Way and Way called the group, asked dance company, which is pre- Laura Morton / Special to The Chronicle 20 artists from Oberlin College questions about female beauty Way continues on A15

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A new vision New director’s fresh approach to Asian film festival Plus: Michelle Rodriguez, Clay Aiken, Tim Goodman on TV March 6–12, 2011 | San Francisco Chronicle and SFGate.com | Sunday Datebook 3 WELCOME

Cinema builds Pacific bridge G. Allen Johnson is known at The Chronicle as a bit of an Asian film expert — today’s cover stories mark the 13th time he has reported on the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. When I asked what drew him to the genre, he answered by e-mail — from the Philippines, where he CELEBRATE WITH is assisting on a documentary about the People Power revolution’s 25th anniversary. MTT AND THE “I couldn’t imagine life without Asian cinema, not since my parents took me to see Akira Kurosawa’s ‘Kagemusha’ in 1980, which exposed me to a wholly SAN FRANCISCO different worldview,” Johnson says. He first met new SFIAAFF Director Masashi Ni- wano, profiled on Page 12, in 2009, at a festival Niwa- SYMPHONY no ran in Austin, Texas. “I sensed a spirit of fun and risk-taking in his programming,” Johnson says, “and it appears he has brought that enthusiasm here.” Johnson’s coverage includes capsule reviews of 10 2011-12 SUBSCRIPTIONS films (Page 14), including “Emir.” “In this increasingly interconnected world, Amer- NOWONSALE! ican films and pop culture have great influence,” he says. “At the People Power concert here in Manila, I stood a few feet away as Frencheska Farr, star of the Filipino musical ‘Emir,’ danced to hip-hop tunes spun by DJ apl.de.ap of Black Eyed Peas. The cinema ThereturnofAmericanMavericks. near my hotel played all American films. Considering TheAmericanOrchestraSeries. that, the SFIAAFF is doing vitally important work.” HilaryHahn,LangLang,ItzhakPerlman, Next week: Get your Irish on. and many more. Sue Adolphson, Sunday Datebook Editor Thisistheseasonyouwon’twanttomiss. EDITORIAL Guaranteeyourplaceinthecentennialcelebration. David Wiegand, Executive Features Editor Sue Adolphson, Sunday Datebook Editor SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Leba Hertz, Arts and Entertainment Editor Walter Addiego, Movie Editor DESIGN Matt Petty, Art Director Elizabeth Burr, Design ADVERTISING Dave Leal, Manager, (415) 777-7281, [email protected] Joe Kaucheck, Account Representative, Film (415) 777-7428 Patricia Sheppard, Account Representative, Theatre and Performing Arts (415) 777-7021 Paul Fried, Account Representative, Restaurants, PERLMAN Nightclubs and Adult (415) 777-7735 HAHN Curt Young, Account Representative, Theatre, Performing Arts, Concerts and Sports (415) 777-7290 Alma Arpilleda, Account Representative, Travel, Theater and Entertainment (415) 777-7745 Lesley Trent, Account Representative, Events, Museums, LANG LANG Carmel-Monterey and Hotels (415) 777-7277 HOW TO REACH DATEBOOK PHONE: (415) 777-7052 FAX: (415) 495-2067 E-MAIL: [email protected] MAIL: 901 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94103

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N The Little Man, in all his poses, is a trademark of Hearst Communications Inc. March 6–12, 2011 | San Francisco Chronicle and SFGate.com | Sunday Datebook 5 CONTENTS 3.06-3.12 Essentials Ask Mick LaSalle: Is “Biutiful” a downer or just boring? 17

Industry Buzz: The author of “Eastwood on Eastwood.” 22

Pop Quiz: Catching up Movies with Clay Aiken. 32 18 Michelle Rodriguez takes on aliens in Letters to Datebook 4 “Battle: Los Angeles.” Fresh 9 This Week 10 DVD Reviews 23 CD Reviews 31 Radio Waves 33 All Over Coffee 40 Chronicle Classic 41 Wayback Machine 42 Puzzle answers 43 Horoscope 43 Cover story Dear Abby 44 Puzzles 45-47 Masashi Niwano takes Theater 12 the helm of the 29th San Playwright Rajiv Joseph premieres Francisco International Asian 29 “The North Pool” at TheatreWorks. Listings American Film Festival. Movies 22 Theater 34 Classical 36 Art 36 Nightlife 39 Events 41 Kids 42 Exhibits 44 Radio 44

Cover Music Photo of Masashi Niwano Yoshi’s spices up its jazz roster with by Liz Hafalia / Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle 30 hip-hop acts such as De La Soul. The Chronicle

March 12 March 19 March 20 March 21 March 23 March 24 March 25 AN EVENING GRETCHEN STEVEN TALKING BASEBALL: AN EVENING BIG BAD ALWAYS... MARK IBANEZ, OF CLASSIC WILSON CURTIS WITH LOS VOODOO PATSY CHAPMAN RAY RATTO, LOBOS LILY TOMLIN SCOTT OSTLER DADDY CLINE WITH JON MILLER March 27 April 1 April 15 April 21 April 23 April 29 May 26 TAJ LISA AN EVENING STEPHEN TOMMY OZOMATLI BOZ MAHA L LAMPANELLI WITH CURTIS CASTRO AND SCAGGS LEO KOTTKE CHAPMAN MARCIA BALL 12 Sunday Datebook | San Francisco Chronicle and SFGate.com | March 6–12, 2011 COVER STORY Asian American Film Fest heads in new direction

By G. Allen Johnson CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER

When Masashi Niwano was growing up in Campbell, he was a latchkey kid. “My parents worked late hours; my mom’s a waitress, still is,” Niwano said. “They didn’t hire babysitters; they just told me to rent movies. Anything I wanted. “When I was 9 years old, I got a video camera. All my friends had bikes; I wanted a camera. I started making short films as a kid. I was really into horror films. I still am.” At 29, Niwano has come home to his dream job. He is the new festival and exhibitions director of the San Francis- co International Asian American Film Festival, which unspools its 29th edition beginning Thursday night at the Castro Theatre with the opening-night film, “West Is West.”

Part of the Center for Asian American The 29th San Francisco International Gong envisions SFIAAFF as more than Media (CAAM), the SFIAAFF is the larg- Asian American Film Festival: March 10-20. a film festival, but a multimedia festival est Asian film festival in the United States. San Francisco, Berkeley and San Jose venues. with film as its centerpiece. Niwano takes over from Chi-hui Yang, who www.caamedia.org. “We’ve redefined what we’re doing so headed the festival for more than a decade. that all of our programs move in that stra- Niwano might have grown up in the tegic direction, giving voice to experiences South Bay and interned at the SFIAAFF base of the festival, is quite a bit different. in a broad number of ways, not just in film, years earlier, but what made him a perfect “The thing with Austin was it was my but on different platforms,” Gong said. fit to run the festival was the four years he vision,” Niwano said. “I didn’t really have a spent running the Austin, Texas, Asian team — I picked the films. The difference A three-year plan festival. here is we have 600 submissions, a screen- Niwano said he and festival Managing “When I first got there, I was freaking ing committee, processes, and that’s defi- Director Christine Kwon have a three-year out, because I had come from San Francis- nitely a different beast.” plan for SFIAFF. co,” Niwano laughed over a post-lunch But eventually, SFIAAFF will be Niwa- “Three years from now we want music coffee in downtown San Francisco. “I no’s vision, too. That’s what CAAM was to be very influential, a big part of the festi- didn’t have the budget to compete with looking for when Executive Director Ste- val,” Niwano said. “Now, we’re adding CAAM, so I thought, ‘What can I do to phen Gong and Public Broadcasting and musical elements. The closing-night film make something unique?’ Austin’s all Productions Director Don Young were (“Surrogate Valentine”) has (lead actor) about being weird, so I wanted to play with searching for Yang’s replacement. Niwano Goh Nakumura singing live, ‘Upaj’ (the San that. We played at the legendary Alamo hadn’t applied for the position, so they Jose opening-night film on March 18) has a Drafthouse, had live music every night. picked up the phone. live dance performance. We have a shorts Karaoke bar screenings “Austin is the site of a well-established program called ‘Suite, Suite Chinatown,’ independent filmmaker community, and and we have local musicians performing a “We projected films on walls. We used the kind of festival South by Southwest is, live score.” karaoke bars. We screened Dave Boyle’s that’s definitely the direction we’re moving Eventually, Niwano said, he’d like to first film, ‘Big Dreams, Little Tokyo,’ at a toward,” Gong said by phone. “The idea partner with foreign film festivals to have karaoke bar.” that Masashi spent four years running his simultaneous screenings via a satellite Boyle’s latest film, “Surrogate Valentine,” own festival was a real strength. To have to linkup. will close this year’s SFIAAFF, but it won’t do everything — from programming to “A screening here and in Tokyo, with be at a karaoke bar. The big auditorium at management to outreach and filmmaker Q&As from two different audiences,” Ni- the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, the home contact — that was the key thing.” wano mused. “There are two ways to look

Masashi Niwano, right, is the new director of the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, which will open its 29th season Thursday. March 6–12, 2011 | San Francisco Chronicle and SFGate.com | Sunday Datebook 13

at a film festival. One is to look at it as a film purist, with the very best in cinema. The other side of that might be an event like South by Southwest. More live events, more engagement, more community, and for me it’s how to merge the two together.” “Having a conversation with Musician, director and editor five, six or seven filmmakers Niwano knows both sides of that argu- onstage is something I ment. He plays musical instruments, and a decade ago you might have seen him cherish a lot and I think is playing guitar in a band called Ponytail. very helpful for emerging He has made short films as both a director and editor. filmmakers.” “Seeing a film is one thing, but having a Masashi Niwano conversation with five, six or seven filmmakers on stage is something I cherish a lot, and I think is very helpful for emerging filmmakers,” Niwano said. “Giving more opportunities to filmmakers to make their films, to support them, to really be the point for Asian American filmmakers to come up and say, ‘How do I have a sus- tainable, successful career,’ and have us be a stronger resource in that aspect.” Getting his feet wet For now, Niwano is just getting his feet wet. He’s still in transition from Austin — his partner still lives there, and he visits once a month. After SFIAFF 29, he and Kwon will immediately begin planning for the pull-out-all-the-stops 30th festival. So big plans are best realized a little at a time. Nevertheless, there’s one distinctive part of this year’s festival that bears Niwa- no’s stamp: a three-film horror sidebar. “Disney films freaked me out,” Niwano said. “Horror films are what I like.” A E-mail G. Allen Johnson at [email protected].

Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle 14 Sunday Datebook | San Francisco Chronicle and SFGate.com | March 6–12, 2011 MOVIES

SFAAFF photos ‘Almost Perfect’ ‘Anna May Wong: ‘The Break-Up Club’ ‘Clash’ ‘Emir’ In Her Own Words’ 1 USA, romantic comedy, 104 1 Hong Kong, romantic comedy, 1 Vietnam, action, 100 minutes. 1 Philippines, musical, 128 min- minutes. 104 minutes. utes. 1 USA/South Korea, documen- 1 6:30 p.m. March 13, Castro. 1 1 p.m. March 13, Clay; 6:45 tary, 58 minutes. 1 9:20 p.m. Friday, PFA; 9 p.m. 1 3 p.m. March 13, Kabuki; 9:30 1 “Clash” doesn’t break new p.m. March 15, Kabuki; 6 p.m. March 13, Clay; 8 p.m. March 20, p.m. March 14, Kabuki. 1 12:45 p.m. Saturday, Kabuki; ground in the action genre, but it March 19, Camera. Camera. 3:30 p.m. March 13, PFA; 2 p.m. breaks heads, arms, teeth and 1 The journey of a migrant work- 1 The best reason to see Bertha March 16, Kabuki. 1 Writer-director Barbara Wong about any other body part you er to work as a nanny in a Moroc- Bay-Sa Pan’s romantic comedy/ 1 Yunah Hong takes an interest- has leading-lady looks, but this can name. It’s a fantastic, ener- can prince’s palace as the coun- family crisis film is the actors. ing approach to her lovingly NYU-trained filmmaker has getic piece of entertainment very try prepares for war wouldn’t The normally underused Kelly produced portrait of the Chinese been directing since 2003, and skillfully made by director Le seem like the stuff of musicals, Hu gets a great chance to shine American actress (1905-61) who her skill is evident in this reality- Thanh Son; action choreograph- but here it is. What we really as Vanessa, who’s just met the broke color barriers and carved show-like romantic confection er, co-writer, co-producer and have here is a Filipina Cinderella, perfect guy in Dwayne (Ivan out a significant career that is that has more on its mind than it star Johnny Tri Nguyen; and his singing Andrew Lloyd Webber- Shaw), but that’s a relationship only recently becoming fully first appears. Wong plays herself leading lady onscreen and off, esque tunes in Tagalog, in a seriously challenged by Va- appreciated. She gives us the — a film director who is making a Ngo Thanh Van. Van is a female superbly entertaining — and nessa’s messed-up brother Andy usual film clips and still pho- documentary about breakups assassin who recruits a team, financially successful — movie (Hong Kong star Edison Chen), tographs, but to speak Wong’s and relationships. She finds her including Nguyen, to steal a by director Chito S. Roño. Filmed the breakup of her parents (Tina words — culled from letters and reality stars in Joe (Jaycee Chan, laptop from some dangerous on location in the Philippines Chen, Roger Rees) and the emo- interviews — she casts actress son of Jackie) and Flora (Fiona French thugs as part of a deal to and Morocco, and presumably, tional ups and downs of her best Doan Ly as Wong. As talented as Sit), and hands Joe the camera. get her kidnapped daughter on lavish sets on a Manila friend/sister Charlene (Christina Ly is (she’d be excellent casting Just when you think “The Break- back. What follows is a series of soundstage, it has a great, tal- Chang). Pan hasn’t made a film in a Wong biopic), the strategy Up Club” is going nowhere — Joe eye-popping set pieces, kick-ass ented cast led by newcomer in nine years, since her suc- doesn’t ring true, especially and Flora seem like empty- martial arts and gunbattles with Frencheska Farr as the young cessful 2002 debut “Face.” when the real thing appears in a headed twentysomethings — plenty of reloading. What makes OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) Some of her plotting doesn’t rise film clip. Still, Hong’s film is a Wong gives it some dimension. it click, though, are the charac- who looks for a better life, and above the level of sitcom, but good way to learn about one of While Joe is a slacker, Flora finds ters — you care about the pro- finds a roadblock at every turn. she gives her attractive cast the great Asian American actors, direction when she is assigned tagonists, a reminder of the Incredible as it might seem, plenty of room to emote. Hu has whose work in Hollywood (“Toll to assist a Japanese artist “heroic bloodshed” Hong Kong “Emir” is based on a true story. toiled in big-budget films (“The of the Sea,” “Shanghai Express”) (Hayama Hiro) and discovers films of the 1980s and ‘90s. Don’t let that stop you from Scorpion King,” “X-Men 2”) and and Europe (“Piccadilly”) has she is good at organizing and “Clash” and Nguyen and Ngo’s enjoying the toe-tapping tunes. on the small screen (We love her stood the test of time. One won- managing a major exhibition. Joe previous film, “The Rebel,” are in San Francisco for “Nash Brid- ders where her career would is, of course, jealous. Will Flora among Vietnam’s biggest all- ges”), but she shows a gift for have gone had she not been leave Joe for the artist? Or is it time box-office hits, and it’s easy comedy. Likewise, Edison Chen, turned down for the lead role in even about romance for Flora? to see why. a fine young talent, has been “The Good Earth,” an Oscar- Wong cleverly morphs her ro- effectively banned from Hong winning classic that instead mantic comedy into the internal Kong films because of a nude starred the white Louise Rainer. awakening of a bright young photo scandal; their loss is our Surely it would have meant woman. gain, at least for this feel-good better roles, and it might have indie film. staved off her alcoholism, which eventually took her life at 56. March 6–12, 2011 | San Francisco Chronicle and SFGate.com | Sunday Datebook 15

‘It’s a Wonderful ‘M/F Remix’ ‘One Kine Day’ ‘One Voice’ ‘Surrogate Afterlife’ Valentine’ 1 USA, experimental, 78 min- 1 USA, drama, 100 minutes. 1 USA, documentary, 84 minutes. utes. 1 Britain, comedy, 100 minutes. 1 6:30 p.m. Friday, Kabuki; 4 1 USA, comedy-drama, 75 minutes. 1 12:15 p.m. Saturday, Clay; 1 4 p.m. Saturday, Viz; 9 p.m. p.m. March 14, Viz. 1 6:30 p.m. March 13, Clay; 4:45 March 15, Kabuki; 7 p.m. March p.m. March 16, Kabuki; 2:15 p.m. 7:30 p.m. March 20, Camera. 1 Chuck Mitsui’s slickly made 1 7 p.m. March 17, Kabuki; 3:30 16, PFA. March 20, Camera. p.m. March 20, Camera Cinemas 1 Gurindher Chadha cuts loose and good-looking film is about a 1 1 with a comedy about an Indian It doesn’t seem like a good skateboarder/slacker whose Sort of a Hawaiian version of 1 The closing-night film of the mother in London who doubles idea to use a classic Jean-Luc mother (Julia Nickson, once the “Glee,” this beautifully made San Francisco portion of the as a serial killer — removing Godard film as acknowledged star of “Rambo: First Blood Part documentary is about the Ka- festival is a world premiere of anyone who stands in the way of inspiration, but San Diego Kore- II”) is constantly on his case. One mehameha Schools Song Con- Dave Boyle’s latest quirky movie, marrying off her only daughter, an American director Jy-Ah Min day, his girlfriend says she’s test, a nearly century-old annual filmed partially in San Francisco an overweight but independent has done it. “Masculin-Feminin” pregnant and he loses his job in tradition in which high school and entirely in black and white, woman who is caught between (1966) starred ’60s French icons a skateboard shop. He’s got to choral groups sing traditional which serves as a vehicle for S.F. two cultures. For greater comic Jean-Pierre Leaud and Chantal find cash somehow, so he hooks Hawaiian folk songs in their musician Goh Nakamura. Play- effect, her victims appear in Goya in a jarring, disconnected up with a friend and journeys original language. Director Li- ing himself (or at least, a guy ghostly form as a sort of Greek love story that spoofed/com- through the underbelly of Oahu, sette Marie Flanary, who bills named Goh Nakamura), the chorus to help the woman get mented on media, contemporary filled with cockfights, skate- herself as a “filmmaker and a musician is asked by a friend to married — and thus remove the society and cinema to create a boarding and drug dealers. Nat- hula dancer,” follows student teach the star of the film, an curse that bars them from a portrait of “the children of Marx urally, his try at an easy score “song directors” over the obnoxious TV star (Chadd proper afterlife. Chadha is being and Coca-Cola.” In “M/F Remix,” goes bad, and very quickly a monthslong process of practice Stoops), how to play the guitar honored at this festival, and that Min liberally uses clips from drug dealer is on his tail. Mean- and performance, and even gets for her indie film. Nakamura includes a screening of the 2002 “Masculin-Feminin,” inter- while, his girlfriend is making a to know their families. What’s agrees, finds it a pain, and con- crowd-pleaser “Bend It Like spersed with her own take on few bad decisions of her own as great about the movie is it pro- tinues his West Coast tour (driv- Beckham,” a film that spawned modern society, circa 2004, she contemplates whether to vides a valuable glimpse into ing to L.A. and Seattle, staying in a cultural catchphrase and re- from the point of view of a keep the child or not. Mitsui’s Hawaiian history and traditions, low-budget motels, playing in mains her biggest box-office hit. young woman and her possible film debut — breathtakingly and shows how the current tiny nightclubs) while reconnect- boyfriend. Like Godard, she uses filmed in a widescreen format on generation of native Hawaiians ing — or failing to reconnect — jump cuts, jarring uses of music a small budget — incorporates are, if anything, more culturally with an old friend (Lynn Chen). and titling, and other cinematic his extensive knowledge of aware than their proud parents. Boyle (“White on Rice,” “Big non sequiturs. Whether you skateboarding and “Jawaiian” The parents grew up in an age Dreams, Little Tokyo”) is known consider the result genius, fiend- music (Jamaican reggae and where assimilation was empha- for his loopy comedies; this is ishly clever, arrogant or simply Hawaiian hip-hop) to provide a sized, and as a result speak only more of a slacker/mumblecore intellectually obnoxious, it is as fresh twist on a time-honored English. Their children have film. One hopes the real Nakam- advertised: an experimental plot. grown up in Hawaiian immersion ura isn’t as much of a bonehead remix made by a smart young schools, and many can fluently when it comes to romance as his filmmaker. speak Hawaiian. There’s no onscreen persona, but he’s an McGarrett or 5-0 in sight; this is engaging figure underneath all the real Hawaii, and it’s populat- that lethargy and “Surrogate ed by bright, energetic young Valentine” achieves its own people and some beautiful unique rhythm. songs. 16 Sunday Datebook | San Francisco Chronicle and SFGate.com | March 6–12, 2011

Hollywood’s loss is Vietnam’s gain

By G. Allen Johnson Clash screens at 6:30 p.m. next CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER Sun. at the Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St., San Francisco. www. It’s kind of a damnation of caamedia.org. Stars Johnny Tri Hollywood that there’s no Nguyen and Thanh Van Ngo will prominent place for Johnny Tri attend. The film opens in San Nguyen. He was Spider-Man, Jose on March 18. after all, plus he spent most of his formative years in Los An- Van Ngo, is the female star of geles. both films (they’re Vietnam’s The Vietnamese immigrant version of Brangelina). even won a gold medal repre- Nguyen visited Vietnam with senting the United States with a purpose when he was filming his martial arts prowess in the “The Protector” in Thailand. 1998 Pan Am Games. His uncle, actor Chanh Tin But then again, what’s the big Nguyen, helped get him in the deal? You see Nguyen in non- door in Hanoi. stop action in his current film “I just took the opportunity “Clash,” which plays next Sun- to go back to Vietnam because day at the San Francisco In- it’s only an hour flight, and I go ternational Asian American back and see how it is, and I Film Festival and opens March thought I could make a movie 18 in San Jose, and Netflix his there.” previous hit, “The Rebel,” and One reason is he learned you’ll agree he’s where he needs many styles of filmmaking and to be: Vietnam. kung fu. “I learned all I needed “I did find limited opportu- to know about wire works in nity in Hollywood in terms of the ‘Spider-Man’ movies. I the roles that are available,” learned about working with Nguyen said via Skype from explosives in war films (“We India, where he’s working in a Were Soldiers”). I went to Thai- Bollywood action film. “It’s land to see how they did the more difficult to get meaningful action scenes over there. In a roles. There’s a lot of Asian way, if I go back to Hollywood actors out there, but the roles now, I can apply some of what I aren’t challenging.” learned. Nguyen isn’t just your typical “In Hollywood we’re very kick-ass action star. He’s light when we hit each other — worked his way up in the film barely touching each other. But industry, starting as a produc- on ‘The Protector’ we wear tion assistant in small Amer- pads, and kick each other pret- ican films in the 1990s and ty hard, almost full power. That working his way up as a stunt- impact shows onscreen.” man, a cinematographer and Nguyen is quick to point out now as a screenwriter, produc- he’s not aching to get back to er and actor. Hollywood. He’s enjoying his He was Tobey Maguire’s celebrity in Asia and is a box- stunt double in “Spider-Man office force. 2,” and was a villain in the Thai “I don’t really have a big actioner “The Protector.” problem living up to that at all,” “The Rebel” (2007) is the Nguyen said. “Everything’s highest-grossing film in Viet- going pretty well for me. I don’t namese history. The second is have a long-term plan. I’m more “Clash,” from 2009. Nguyen is like, whatever comes, comes.” A the martial arts hero, screen- Dienanh writer and co-producer in both, E-mail G. Allen Johnson at Johnny Tri Nguyen, who went to school in Los Angeles, has become a movie star in Vietnam. and his real-life love, Thanh [email protected]. The former stuntman has starred in the two highest-grossing films in the country’s history. 22 Sunday Datebook | San Francisco Chronicle and SFGate.com | March 6–12, 2011 NOW PLAYING MOVIES

INDUSTRY BUZZ By Hugh Hart Book focuses on Eastwood the director, not Eastwood the personality When French film historian and like Ford, Raoul Walsh, William documentary maker Michael Wellman — deliberately did as Henry Wilson spoke to Clint few takes as possible so the studio Eastwood for the first time 26 could not screw up their film later years ago, he differentiated himself on. From them, Clint learned that from most other interviewers by you have to edit in your head, on ignoring the director’s personal the set, because you don’t want the life and political views. Instead, studio to re-edit the film.” Wilson focused on film. Eastwood stands in stark con- “While everybody else asked trast to Martin Scorsese, whom S.F. International Film Festival personal questions, I was the first Wilson also covers in next fall’s The documentary “Garbo the Spy,” about a one to talk to Clint as though he interview collection “Scorsese on Spanish double agent nicknamed after film star were heir to the John Ford or Scorsese.” Greta Garbo, opens Friday at Bay Area theaters. Howard Hawks tradition,” Wil- “Marty allows actors to inject son says. “I think he enjoyed that.” their own lives to rework the The Adjustment Bureau (At movie loses momentum, but Over the ensuing decades, Wil- scenes,” Wilson says. “He shot Bay Area theaters) the director’s effort to capture son has visited Eastwood at his Phaidon Press ‘New York, New York’ as if it were N This is an exciting the experience of one man’s action film with an conscious life through cine- office on Warner Bros.’ Burbank Wilson’s book on Eastwood. a John Cassavetes psychodrama, imaginative premise — about matic means is persuasive and lot or his Carmel home to talk bringing his own marital difficul- a rising politician (Matt Da- inspired. Rated R. 147 minutes. movies on a near-annual basis. than one take. ties to the script. That’s something mon) who discovers a su- In Spanish with English subti- Those interviews, published next Eastwood absorbed his less-is- Clint would never do.” pernatural organization ded- tles. — M. LaSalle month in the coffee table book more method from an older gener- Wilson says that Eastwood, 80, icated to orchestrating the Black Swan (At the Roxie and divine plan. But it’s also very Kabuki 8) Excessive “Eastwood on Eastwood” (Phai- ation of Hollywood action auteurs, and Scorsese, 68, bring different much a love story, and a and vulgar in its violent don Press), chronicle a remarkably Wilson says. generational attitudes to the film- particularly effective one, M imagery, this latest efficient approach to filmmaking: “In the old days, once a film had making process. about two people whose from Darren Aronofsky (“The attraction causes them to The Oscar-winning filmmaker been shot, producers or studio “Marty uses every fiber of his Wrestler”) is a psychologically virtually never asks for script executives controlled the nega- body and soul,” the author says. want to defy their destiny. rich film, featuring a strong Rated PG-13. 99 minutes. performance from Natalie rewrites and rarely shoots more tive,” he says. “Great directors — “Clint is much more detached.” — M. LaSalle Portman, as a ballet dancer Barney’s Version (At the whose career, personal life Opera Plaza Cinema) and neuroses all come to a M Paul Giamatti stars as head when she is cast as the Asian American fest A rags-to-riches, dishwasher-to-director tale the title character, a Swan Queen in “Swan Lake.” curmudgeonly womanizer, in Rated R. 110 minutes. has touch of horror Corey Adams was washing called the Baron (James Faulk- this 40-year saga of one — M. LaSalle dishes in the kitchen of a Vancou- ner). man’s emotional life. Based Blue Valentine (At the 4 The South Korean horror film “I ver, British Columbia, restaurant Adams says he and his Scottish on the novel by Mordecai Star) This is a rare Saw the Devil,” opening Friday, when he got the telephone call that co-director Alex Craig specifically Richler, it’s strangely engaging portrait of a marriage throughout, with a strong cast N belongs to a long tradition of grisly would change his life forever: A chose to avoid gritty realism when that doesn’t purport to including Dustin Hoffman, make a statement about movies from the Pacific Rim. For a television network executive in- filming. Rosamund Pike and Minnie marriage itself or to assign refresher course in Asian-style formed the self-taught filmmaker “There have been a few Holly- Driver. Rated R. 132 minutes. blame to one of the parties — M. LaSalle horror flicks, the San Francisco that he’d just won $100,000 to wood attempts at doing movies but rather to show the com- International Asian American make a short film about a skate- Beastly (At the AMC East- plexity of marital disintegra- about skateboarding before, but ridge 15, AMC Van Ness tion. The movie intercuts Film Festival presents Thailand’s board artist. they always fail,” the filmmaker O 14 and Century 20) between the courtship phase top-grossing scarefest, “Nang Just a few months later, the Fuel explains. This teen romance set and collapse of a marriage Nak” (Saturday), based on a Thai TV Experiment decided to pay “On film, you can’t really cap- in New York is an updated between two young people folk legend about a soldier who Adams $1 million to produce a ture the feeling of riding a skate- version of “Beauty and the (Michelle Williams and Ryan Beast.” With Alex Pettyfer, Gosling, who are remarkable), wreaks havoc when he returns to full-length feature on the same board; you just have to do it. Go- Vanessa Hudgens, Mary-Kate and by the end you don’t his village and discovers his wife subject. ing into this movie, we realized Olsen. Rated PG-13. 95 min- blame anyone, just feel an with a newborn baby. Also on the The resulting movie, “Macho- there was no way we could set it utes. acute sense of coming to bill is the Malaysian thriller “His- taildrop,” shot primarily in Buda- in the real world. When it comes know two people thoroughly. Biutiful (At the San Francisco teria” (March 19), which follows pest on 16mm film, offers an un- to skateboarding, if you try to Centre 9, Kabuki 8 and This is easily one of the best Stonestown) Director films that came out last six schoolgirls who summon de- likely blend of skateboard action show it as a real thing or why M year.Rated R. 114 minutes. Alejandro González mons after a school prank goes and fairy tale-like fantasy as a people are doing it, it doesn’t Iñárritu (“Babel”) reaches for — M. LaSalle bad; and “Living in Seduced Cir- 17-year-old Vancouver skateboard- work.” A the artistic brass ring in this Carmen in 3-D (At the AMC cumstances” (Saturday), hosted by er (played by real-life skateboard downbeat story about a shady Van Ness 14, Century Filipino director Ian Gamazon. champion Anthony Amedori) operator (Javier Bardem) M 20 and San Francisco coping with the stresses of his Centre 9) This highly The festival runs Thursday travels to the Apesnake theme Hugh Hart is a Chronicle life while dealing with a seri- through March 20. See details in park populated by castles and correspondent. E-mail him at ous illness. As a story, the List continues on page 23 cover stories beginning on Page 12. ruled by a tyrannical entrepreneur [email protected].