DEAR FRIENDS,

There is still time to get the greatest gift for the movie lovers in your life. The Balboa’s “I’d Rather Be at the Movies” is a great bargain but the recipient need not know you got it at a deep discount. Comes with a free popcorn and movie themed gift card. And don’t forget yourself.
Gift cards available at the Balboa box office or online.
Check it out at: balboamovies.com

FINAL WEEK

There is nothing more exciting for us than when audiences come out of movies buzzing about them. Both films in our double feature, A SERIOUS MAN and THE MAID generate lively discussions as audience's agree to disagree.

Thank you to all those who have helped make LA DANSE a success. We booked it for one week and it is going into its 3rd week. But all good things must end…in this case because we have two terrific movies opening on Dec. 25: Robert Downey Jr. as SHERLOCK HOLMES and IT’S COMPLICATED starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. Streep and Downey Jr. are sort of our patron saints as we have had successes with their previous films and both of these are terrific holiday entertainment.

TELLURIDE SPECIALS

As many of you know the dream job that I have is co-director of the Telluride Film Festival (I do not take a salary for the Balboa…it is a labor of love to keep this neighborhood theater alive).

The Festival has just opened its first shop outside of the actual festival. Cinephiles the world over will love our hats, shirts, pens, posters, and other collectible items featuring the poster art designed by William Wegman and featuring his Weimaraner, Doris. Don't let Santa bring all the surprises this year! Click here to treat the film lovers in your life. Sales benefit the festival’s Education programs.

FOR KUROSAWA FANS – A Great Deal!

To celebrate the centenary of the birth of Akira Kurosawa, the Criterion Collection has created the gorgeous collector's set AK 100: 25 Films by Akira Kurosawa. For a limited time, you can save money on your purchase while supporting the Telluride Film Festival.

Buy AK 100: 25 Films by Akira Kurosawa at criterion.com, enter the code TFF at the prompt, and you'll not only save 25% off the already discounted price of $319.00, you'll be making a $25 contribution to the Telluride Film Festival.

This deluxe, linen-bound set includes timeless masterpieces from one of cinema's greatest directors, films like Rashomon, Ikiru, Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, and High and Low. Featuring twenty-five of the films he made over the course of his fifty years in movies—from samurai epics to postwar noirs to Shakespeare adaptations—AK 100 is the most complete set of his works ever released in this country, and includes four rare films that have never been available on DVD.

To take advantage of this special offer, shop at criterion.com and enter the code TFF at checkout. Criterion will take 25% off your order and send $25 to the Telluride Film Festival.

What a beautiful gift for the passionate cinephile!

EARLY PASSES AND CHANCE TO WIN AK BOX SET

This year’s Telluride audiences were the first to see UP IN THE AIR, THE ROAD, BAD LIEUTENANT, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, THE LAST STATION, BRIGHT STAR, THE WHITE RIBBON and much more including meeting directors and actors who created these films. For the full schedule and interviews: www.telluridefilmfestival.org

The Telluride Film Festival’s general passes go on sale in March 2010 but an early bird offer for Patron’s Passes can be found at: www.telluridefilmfestival.org/show/passes

There are a limited number so be sure to act early! If you secure your pass before the end of the year, you can take advantage of your tax contribution in 2009. Click here to order your passes online. Or send an email at mail@telluridefilmfestival.org and you’ll get a downloadable form to return by post. All passes will go on sale to the general public in March.

Early Birds get more than a worm. If you purchase your patron pass by February 1, 2010, your name will be entered to win a Criterion Collection Box set of 25 of Akira Kurosawa's amazing films, valued at $400 dollars. This is a prized collection, make sure you are a part of the drawing. The winner will be announced February 15.

We’ll see you at the movies…the perfect break from holiday craziness.

Sincerely,
Gary and the Balboa Staff

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About This Week's Films

LA DANSE

Visit Website

Wiseman’s Zipporah Films Site

"One of the finest dance films ever made, but there's more to it than that."
- A.O. Scott, New York Times

For more Reviews and Interviews: Click Here

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A SERIOUS MAN (R)

Rated R for language, some sexuality/nudity and brief violence – 105 minutes

Official Website

"See this film immediately."
- -Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out

"Four Stars! Have I mentioned A Serious Man is so rich and funny? This isn't a laugh-laugh movie, but a wince-wince movie. Those can be funny too."
- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times

For more Reviews and Interviews: Click Here

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THE MAID (NR)

Not Rated. 117 minutes.

Official website

"The Maid has that particular gift of leaving you off balance in the best possible way, and whenever something like that comes around you owe it to yourself to check it out."
- Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

For more Reviews and Interviews: Click Here

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FREE POPCORN WITH YOUR "I’D RATHER BE AT THE BALBOA" DISCOUNT CARD! NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

Now, as an added treat for our most regular movie-goers, each discount card gets you one free complimentary size popcorn per card. You choose the visit that you would like to redeem it--just bring your card to the concession stand to receive your free popcorn on us. Thank you.

For a limited time through the holidays, the Balboa Discount Card can be purchased online! The “I’d Rather Be At The Balboa” Discount Card admits the holder to five shows and costs $32.50 (plus Brownpapertickets fees of $1.74); for a gift value of $45.00! That is a savings of nearly $12.50!

And we’ll also give you a movie greeting card to go with your gift.

For full details: CLICK HERE

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THE HARD NUT is Mark Morris’ hilarious take on "The Nutcracker".
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SEE THE AMAZING AURELIA’S ORATORIO
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MURDER, MYSTERY, MAYHEM & LAUGHS! Just in Time for the Holidays!
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SAN FRANCISCO FOOD BANK

At this time of year we usually are thinking about those less fortunate than ourselves. Unfortunately people are homeless and hungry all year. But it is during the holidays that the San Francisco Food Bank has collection barrels available for us to place in our lobby.

Donations of money can even go farther than foods as the Food Bank can buy food in bulk at wholesale rates.

For more information: www.sffoodbank.org

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PHOTOS IN THE LOBBY
QUANG-TUAN LUONG’S NATIONAL PARKS

Quang-Tuan Luong celebrates the splendor and variety of the natural and human heritage with his photography. He has been privileged to travel through an immense geographic range, from the top of the coldest mountain on earth to under tropical seas.

For More Information:

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BALBOA THEATRE INFO

3630 Balboa Street (37th Ave)
San Francisco 94121
(415) 221-8184
www.BalboaMovies.com

Bike Rack in front of the Balboa
Muni Bus #31 Balboa or #18 46th Ave stop at Balboa &37th., Also #5 Fulton and all 38 Geary Street buses stop two (long) blocks from Balboa.
Relatively easy Parking

San Francisco's Favorite Neighborhood Theatre
Voted by the Bay Guardian, SF Weekly, SF Gate's A List and San Francisco Magazine

General Admission: $9.00
Seniors (60+) and Children (11-) $6.50
Bargain Matinees: All Seats $6.50 for shows in ( )

SCHOOL NIGHT - Mondays are School Days and Nights. With proof of being a student, faculty or staff member, your admission is only $6.50 on Mondays.

The Balboa is Wheelchair and Handicapped Accessible

On Your Birthday, You Are Our Guest.

YOUR FAVORITE SNACK BAR

Great Snack Bar selection at reasonable prices. Your favorite candies including Dove, Toberlerone, and Ghirardelli chocolates.

We serve Caffe Trieste Coffees, fine Tazo teas, chai, hot chocolate, hot dogs, Aidells' poultry Sausages, Veggie Dogs, Dreyer's Dibs, and Delicious Cookies.

And of course fresh popcorn made with sunflower oil and real butter.

No More Naked Popcorn.

Have you tried our complimentary popcorn seasonings?

We have a wide assortment from Kernel Seasonings.

Try White Cheddar, Caramel, Parmesan, Garlic and more...

We also have Nutritional Yeast that has proven to be one of our most popular toppings. And now hot sauce!

NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANTS

One of the strengths of the Balboa is our neighborhood. Other than the bank, all the businesses are family owned and operated. The restaurants are especially wonderful. On the outer Balboa strip there are 24 eating establishments by my count. You can eat Chinese, Japanese, Egyptian, Italian, American, Mexican, Seafood and Vietnamese cuisines. The foods are fresh, distinctive and all reasonably priced. The media food critics have only discovered a few of them but the locals know a good thing. We encourage you to enjoy a meal at one of these fine eateries while visiting the Balboa. All are within easy walking distance. And please send us reviews and recommendations we can share with our other guests. Send reviews to balboafans@yahoo.com

We love it when you send us a review of a neighborhood restaurant you've enjoyed. We encourage you all to write about your culinary adventures in the Outer Richmond.

Check out the Menu Book in our lobby and our COMPLETE NEW RESTAURANT LIST.

PoppinMedia.com