By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) Writer Matt Witten’s script was originally written as a stage play, but before audiences would see it performed in a theater, his intense, disturbing and thoughtful story was quickly made into a film. Director Rick Rosenthal and actors Eloise Mumford and Matt O’Leary do outstanding work… Continue reading AFF 2013 Review: DRONES
Month: October 2013
AFF 2013 Interview: RICK ROSENTHAL AND ELOISE MUMFORD OF DRONES
By Mark Saldana Two drone pilots, operating out of a trailer in a Nevada desert, have acquired a target in Afghanistan and are faced with a moral dilemma. They must follow their orders and terminate with extreme prejudice or face punishment for disobedience. This is the premise of the AFF film entry title Drones.
AFF 2013 Review: BIG SUR
By Mark Saldana Rating: 2.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Call it perfect timing or strange coincidence, but just last week, I finally watched Walter Salles’ film adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s iconic book On the Road. As much as I liked the movie, I felt that it isn’t quite the adaptation that Kerouac’s novel deserves. Still,… Continue reading AFF 2013 Review: BIG SUR
AFF 2013 Review: THE ART OF THE STEAL
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) After the utter disappointment with Coffee, Kill Boss, I was so incredibly grateful that my next film turned out to be a fun, clever, witty and entertaining heist film in the vein of Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven. The Art of the Steal obviously borrows some of… Continue reading AFF 2013 Review: THE ART OF THE STEAL
AFF 2013 Review: COFFEE, KILL BOSS
By Mark Saldana Rating: 1.5 (Out of 4 Stars) My Austin Film Festival got off to a funky start with their opening night film that often left me exasperated and baffled. I had initially planned to give this film a higher rating as it did occasionally make me laugh; however, I came to the conclusion… Continue reading AFF 2013 Review: COFFEE, KILL BOSS
Movie Trailer: X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST
The first teaser trailer for the upcoming epic X-Men motion picture has been revealed. X-Men: Days of Future Past opens in theaters May, 2014.
AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2013 SCREENPLAY & TELEPLAY COMPETITION WINNERS AND JURY AWARD WINNERS FOR ITS 20th ANNIVERSARY YEAR
AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2013 SCREENPLAY & TELEPLAY COMPETITION WINNERS AND JURY AWARD WINNERS FOR ITS 20th ANNIVERSARY YEAR Competition Winners Awarded alongside Distinguished Awardees Vince Gilligan, Jonathan Demme, Callie Khouri, Barry Josephson, and Susan Sarandon AUSTIN, Texas—Oct. 26, 2013— Austin Film Festival (AFF) is pleased to… Continue reading AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2013 SCREENPLAY & TELEPLAY COMPETITION WINNERS AND JURY AWARD WINNERS FOR ITS 20th ANNIVERSARY YEAR
Review: THE COUNSELOR
By Laurie Coker Rating: D+ I’ve grown tired of pointless plots and tired tales. Casting excellent actors in a film doesn’t matter when the stuff of the story flows with flaws, holes and inconsistencies. Ridley Scott’s latest showing, The Counselor, falls into this well-cast, aimless narrative category perfects. Having liked all but the ending of… Continue reading Review: THE COUNSELOR
Review: I AM DIVINE
By Laurie Coker Rating: A SXSW always offers gems in the documentary category, and I try my best to see at least a few, because I too often focus more on the narrative categories. I did, however, find a true tale Divine, on one trip to the screening library. I thoroughly enjoyed I am Divine … Continue reading Review: I AM DIVINE
Review: JACKASS PRESENTS BAD GRANDPA
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) Most people either love or loathe Jackass and their wild, often puerile and sometimes off-color pranks. I fall somewhere in the middle. Some of their practical jokes and stunts are so smartly planned and performed that they deserve high praise for their comic timing and for… Continue reading Review: JACKASS PRESENTS BAD GRANDPA