James Rocchi, one of the best-dressed critics in San Francisco, is not from around here. But the Canadian-born film writer, blogger, radio and television critic is instantly recognizable among his peers. His is a unique voice -- literally, it booms with the spirit of the Golden Age of radio; in practice, it lends his film reviews a terribly clever wit and knowledge.

You may have seen Rocchi doing film and festival coverage for Netflix, where he was head critic, or delivering reviews as CBS-5's resident pundit in San Francisco. He might even look familiar to fans of Jeopardy! who saw him compete in 2000. "I was on exactly one show," he recalls. "Bob, the returning champion, and I were tied going into Final Jeopardy. The category was 'Historic Names.' we both got it right, but he bet more."

"The irony is that one of the categories was 'Movie Quotes,'" he continues. "I did alright in that, but I also did startling well in 'Third Party Presidential Candidates' and 'Famous Nebraskans.'"

Rocchi currently writes for Cinematical.com, for whom he'll continue writing when he moves to Los Angeles in April. He writes a blog for The Huffington Post (The Moviegoer) and also contributes a weekly column, Rocchi's Retro Rental, to the San Francisco Chronicle's SF Gate website. Minneapolis residents can still catch his film reviews and pop culture insights on 93X radio.


Name: James Rocchi

Age: 38

Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario

Years reviewing film: 10


Why and how did you become a critic?

James Rocchi: I'd been writing about movies and pop culture since university; after school, I found myself doing freelance work. After moving to America in 1996, I got a part-time, freelance job wrangling copy for a plucky start-up in Santa Cruz ... called Netflix. That became a full-time job, and then I became one of Netflix's reviewers, and then I became Netflix's only reviewer, writing up theatrical films and doing TV and Radio reviewing movies on Netflix's behalf. After leaving Netflix in October 2005, I came on board at Cinematical.com, and did TV for CBS-5 San Francisco 2005 to 2008. I also write a regular column for the San Francisco Chronicle's website, 'Rocchi's Retro Rental,' a review of an older film based on whatever may be going on in the world of movies, and I also just began a new column for The Huffington Post, 'The Moviegoer.'

Fill in the blank: "If I wasn't a professional film critic, I'd be a...:"

JR: My dad wanted me to be a lawyer, and I've read just enough Ed McBain books to find the idea of working prosecution fascinating.

What is your favorite film?

JR: The answer to that's not a simple as you'd think. I mean, I admire and adore The Godfather I and II; then again, Singin' in the Rain is brilliant and fun. But, The Battle of Algiers is gripping and fascinating and thrilling; then again, The Wizard of Oz is a dream of a dream ...

Who is your favorite director?

JR: Working today? I think a lot of people are doing amazing work, but the person whose career is the most interesting to me -- because you never quite know what he'll do next, but it's guaranteed it'll be fascinating -- is Steven Soderbergh.

What's the worst movie you've ever seen?

JR: I don't know about 'worst,' but like any film critic I have a mental list of movies whose reception by the public and many critics mystifies me: the top two are Forrest Gump, and Million Dollar Baby. They're both horrible cheats, and I find the level of adulation they receive undeserved and off-putting.

What was the biggest Oscar surprise last weekend?

JR: In retrospect, Marion Cotillard seemed like the obvious winner -- a big, showy role with lots of disfiguring makeup in a movie about how hard it is to be an artist? Come on, how is that NOT going to win? At the same time, I was, in fact, rooting for Julie Christie, as that's a truly impressive performance not held up by makeup and lip-syncing.

What was the most interesting film you've seen lately?

JR: I still have to go back and see There Will Be Blood on the big screen again; I can't quite get it out of my head. And The Diving Bell and the Butterfly was, in the best sense of the phrase, pure cinema -- an artistic and emotional experience you couldn't recreate in any other medium. And I finally saw Michael Haneke's The Time of the Wolf -- a tough sit, but brilliant and harsh and hopeful.