Author: Mark Saldana

From writer/director Jonathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest is an incredibly outstanding movie but is challenging to endure. The film takes place in Auschwitz during World War II. That sentence alone should raise some red flags about the troubling subject matter. It did for me when I sat down for this press screening late last… Continue reading THE ZONE OF INTEREST Is an Extraordinary Film, But Is A Very Difficult One to Watch

From writer/director Jeymes Samuel, musical artist and filmmaker behind The Harder They Fall, comes a comedic and satirical take on the Gospel stories of Jesus Christ. Going into this film, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The trailers made the film seem like an edgy satire on the concept of religion, particularly Christianity. This movie… Continue reading THE BOOK OF CLARENCE is a Fresh and Entertaining Take on the Jesus Story

If life is a dream, our memories of our past are like a dream within a dream. This best describes my incredible experience watching this new phenomenal film by writer/director Andrew Haigh. All of Us Strangers is a surreal, beautiful, and haunting journey into the heart of a man who is coping with the untimely… Continue reading ALL OF US STRANGERS Is An Incredible Dream-Like Experience

People, particularly those who do not know how to swim, often fear water. Whether it is a fear of drowning within a natural body of water or in a swimming pool, this particular type of death has fueled the fears of people for centuries. This new horror film by Bryce McGuire, in his feature directorial… Continue reading NIGHT SWIM Delivers Scares and Thrills, But Left Me Wanting More

The year 2023 was a very interesting one in film. It marked a turning point for comic-book superhero movies. While I liked and enjoyed some of the offerings from both Marvel Studios and Warner Bros/DC, most other critics did not feel the same way. I am not saying I completely adored all these movies and… Continue reading Mark’s Review of Cinema in 2023

From acclaimed filmmaker Michael Mann (Thief, Heat, The Insider) comes a fascinating character study of Enzo Ferrari, a former race car driver-turned-car designer/entrepreneur. Not a comprehensive biopic, Ferrari follows Enzo in 1957 as he obsesses over remaining a viable and competitive brand in the racing circuit while attempting to juggle his business problems and personal… Continue reading FERRARI Depicts Both the Enigmatic Genius and Weaknesses of the Legendary Car Designer

During the 1980s, I was introduced to Texas wrestling by older teenage cousins. They were big fans of two late-night wrestling shows aired on Fridays and Saturdays. The Saturday night program was the Dallas-based World Class Championship Wrestling. It was on this show that I first witnessed the wrestling matches of the Von Erichs. The… Continue reading THE IRON CLAW Tells the Tragic True Story of the Von Erich Family

Warner Bros’ DCEU concludes with the second installment of the Aquaman saga. I have mixed feelings about the DCEU and felt disappointed by James Wan’s initial Aquaman film. So, I went into this movie with low expectations and hoped it would be fun. Thankfully, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is not only a fun movie,… Continue reading AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM IS MORE FUN AND ADVENTUROUS THAN THE FIRST FILM