Month: January 2019

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Redemption takes many forms, and like the protagonist of the neo-noir film Destroyer, sometimes one has to get downright dirty to accomplish it.  The new film from director Karyn Kusama (The Invitation) is a prime example of this nasty, regressive process.  Nicole Kidman’s character, Erin Bell,… Continue reading Review: DESTROYER

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) After France’s The Intouchables received acclaim from both critics and the general public, it was only a matter of time before Hollywood would make an American version, and after eight years, The Intouchables redo is finally seeing the light of day.  Dubbed, The Upside, the US… Continue reading Review: THE UPSIDE

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) A form of amusement which has grown in popularity over the past few years is “The Escape Room.”  A group of people enters a facility where they are supposedly tapped and must use their wits, evade threats, and overcome challenges and obstacles to get out.  I… Continue reading Review: ESCAPE ROOM

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been in the news lately, but sadly, this been due to some health problems.  Still, there is no denying her amazing contributions to social justice–particularly her work in advancing women’s rights.  This new movie by director Mimi Leder attempts… Continue reading Review: ON THE BASIS OF SEX

AFF’s “Shoplifters” (Manbiki Kazoku) from Director Hirokazu Koreeda Takes Your Heart   By Liz Lopez Rating: A Director/writer/editor Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Shoplifters” (original title, Manbiki Kazoku) is one of those films that grabs your attention from the onset and then takes your heart to add this emotional and moving story about a Japanese “family” that survives… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2018 Review: SHOPLIFTERS