Francis Ford Coppola

As Jay Gatsby drives him to Manhattan, Nick remarks: “The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time in its first wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world.” Unfortunately, I came in through Newark.

At the same time, though, “auteur theory” leads to a lot of films getting excluded from their respective director’s canon.

“The Beguiled” is a true testament to the woman behind the camera — a film with inspired visuals and masterful performances, and which imparts a needed feminist stamp on a story (the 1971 film starring Clint Eastwood, based on Thomas Cullinan’s novel of the same name) originally known for its pulp alone.

“When I wrote it, I wasn't thinking about today, but I was also thinking that nothing in it was dated,” Gray explained. “And unfortunately, I was right."

Though “Kong: Skull Island” isn’t perfect, its exhilarating visuals make the film’s flaws easy to overlook. The film is essentially a theme park ride in cinematic form, which isn’t a bad thing if done well.

By now, you've probably roamed through the streets of Chinatown and sat by the water at Fisherman’s Wharf. But perhaps you have yet to wander into the adjacent North Beach. North Beach is San Francisco’s Little Italy. It has historically been home to many Italian-Americans and used to be an actual beach before the city’s borders were extended. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing spot to read a book while sipping some high-quality espresso or simply looking to grab a hot slice of pizza, North Beach should definitely be your go-to spot.