Author: Mark Saldana

SXSW 2025 Movie Review: THE MAKINGS OF CURTIS MAYFIELD

Musical artist Curtis Mayfield first hit my radar when I finally watched the film Superfly, and ever since, I have relished his incredible soundtrack for the movie. Besides that contribution, I didn’t know much about his other contributions to music or his life and background. I made it a point to watch this documentary because… Continue reading SXSW 2025 Movie Review: THE MAKINGS OF CURTIS MAYFIELD

Movie Review: WARFARE Is Possibly The Closest One Can Get To Witnessing Real Combat On The Big Screen

From writer/director Ray Mendoza (an actual war veteran) and Alex Garland (Civil War) comes an incredible film that offers the audience an immersive experience of what it feels like to be in wartime battle. This movie is not feel-good, patriotic, or jingoist material. The film gives its audience a realistic glimpse into the harrowing experience… Continue reading Movie Review: WARFARE Is Possibly The Closest One Can Get To Witnessing Real Combat On The Big Screen

Movie Review: THE AMATEUR Is A Decent Revenge Flick That Would’ve Benefitted From A Better Lead Actor

Based on the 1981 novel of the same name by Robert Littell, the film adaptation of The Amateur has plenty of solid storytelling and assured writing and direction, but the casting of Rami Malek as the titular character fails to give this movie the necessary gravity it needs. It isn’t that Malek is horrible in… Continue reading Movie Review: THE AMATEUR Is A Decent Revenge Flick That Would’ve Benefitted From A Better Lead Actor

SXSW 2025 Movie Review: THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND Is A Lovable Slice Of Comedic Indie Cinema

As it was challenging to get into the big headliners of this year’s SXSW Film & TV Festival, I focused on some of the more low-key films the fest had to offer. One delightful surprise is a film that shows how fandom can sometimes be a positive thing for musical artists coping with their own… Continue reading SXSW 2025 Movie Review: THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND Is A Lovable Slice Of Comedic Indie Cinema

A WORKING MAN Never Truly Knows What It Wants To Be

The latest action thriller from director David Ayer and actor Jason Statham begins with one style and then embarks on something completely different. With a screenplay written by Sylvester Stallone and Ayer (based on the 2014 novel Levon’s Trade by Chuck Dixon), A Working Man starts as a straight action-thriller but then decides it is a campy, over-the-top… Continue reading A WORKING MAN Never Truly Knows What It Wants To Be

SXSW 2025 Movie Review: HOLLAND Is Fun, But Never Truly Delivers

At this year’s SXSW film festival, I didn’t get to attend a lot of headliners. However, I managed to get into one with a fantastic cast and promises to deliver an intriguing mystery story, while also promising to give its audiences a remarkable film filled with palpable tension and suspense. Sadly, this new film by… Continue reading SXSW 2025 Movie Review: HOLLAND Is Fun, But Never Truly Delivers

Movie Review: ON BECOMING A GUINEA FOWL Is Powerful Enough With Its Attempt To End A Cycle Of Trauma

A young Zambian woman comes across the dead body of her uncle. As she and her family prepare for and have a funeral intended to honor him, some terrible secrets are revealed. On Becoming a Guinea Fowl is a genuinely fascinating and powerful film dealing with abuse and the resulting trauma. It also attempts to… Continue reading Movie Review: ON BECOMING A GUINEA FOWL Is Powerful Enough With Its Attempt To End A Cycle Of Trauma

Movie Review: SNOW WHITE Is Not An Iconic Live Action Remake, But Is Not An Abomination

Disney insists on continuing its plan to make live-action remakes of its animated films. That is a strategy they refuse to stop, so we simply have to sift through it all and hope that these new movies have something exciting to offer that wasn’t already delivered in the first place. So, with Marc Webb’s remake… Continue reading Movie Review: SNOW WHITE Is Not An Iconic Live Action Remake, But Is Not An Abomination