Beth Accomando studied film at UCSD and had her student film Writer’s Notebook screened as part of the Museum of Contemporary Art’s "Forty-Two Emerging Artists" showcase in 1981. She has edited the sequels to The Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and video documentaries on Billy Wilder and roller hockey. She is currently the President and Education Chairperson for the San Diego Film Critics Society and festival director of Film School Confidential: A Showcase of San Diego Student Filmmaking. In the past she has served on the film selection committee for the San Diego State University Student Film Festival, San Diego International Film Festival and San Diego Latino Film Festival. She has been a film critic for 20 years (she began at KPBS in 1987). For the past six years she has been covering independent and international cinema for National Public Radio’s Morning Edition and Public Radio International’s The World. She has received numerous Society of Professional Journalist Awards and San Diego Press Club Awards for her radio and web site work at KPBS. She has also received 11 southwestern area Emmy Awards in the categories of producing, writing and sound design for promotional spots as well as national Pro Max and Telly Awards. She has a passion for Hong Kong cinema, Japanese monster movies, horror and film noir. She collects movie posters and toys and loves putting on a haunted house for her son’s school every year.
Recent Stories
Midnight Madness: John Carpenter's The Thing
Remakes usually aren't worth seeking out but John Carpenter's 1982 remake of "The Thing From Another World" (1951) is definitely worth a look. Carpenter's "The Thing" plays tonight at midnight at Landmark's Ken Cinema.
From Paris With Love
In 2008, “Taken” was a surprise hit at the box office and it marked the American feature debut of French cinematographer-turned-director Pierre Morel. Now he directs “From Paris With Love” (opening February 5 throughout San Diego) and will wait to see if lightening will strike twice at the box office.
Mobile Ticketing
Mobile Ticket is the newest way to get tickets from Fandango, and this new process is being test marketed in San Diego starting this weekend.
Film Club: The Last Station
On this month's edition of the Film Club, we discussed "The Last Station" (opening February 5 at Landmark's La Jolla Cinemas), which just garnered acting nominations for Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer. You can listen to our discussion.
Film Club: 44 Inch Chest
I'm hoping that our discussion of "44 Inch Chest" (ending its engagement at Landmark's Ken Cinema tonight) on the Film Club will inspire you to seek out this film on its last night in San Diego.
A Town Called Panic
There’s a new animated film from Belgium that has no computer generated effects and no 3D. Instead "A Town Called Panic” (opening February 5 at Landmark's Ken Cinema) uses little plastic toys and stop motion animation. You can listen to my Film Chat and to the Film Club discussion about the film.
Oscar Noms And '44 Inch Chest'
On this edition of the Film Club of the Air, we'll talk about the recently announced Oscar nominations, a British film called "44 Inch Chest," Helen Mirren's acclaimed performance in "The Last Station," and Romanian New Wave latest "Police, Adjective."
82nd Academy Award Nominations
This years marks the start of the Academy's new expansion of the Best Picture nominees from five to ten and the nominees reflect a mix of mainstream pop entertainment and rt house fair. The 82nd Oscars will be broadcast on Sunday March 7 on ABC with Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin as hosts. See the complete list of nominees.
Trailer Tuesday: Not Quite Hollywood
I'm sure everyone's already seen the latest "Clash of the Titans" and "Iron Man 2" trailers so I want to highlight a film you may never have heard of: "Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation!" This 2008 documentary chronicles exploitation cinema from Down Under.
Edge of Darkness
As I film critic it’s not really my place to criticize Mel Gibson for all his off screen behavior and opinions. But I feel it’s well within my jurisdiction to take him to task for delivering yet another bad formula film with “Edge of Darkness” (opened January 29 throughout San Diego).
