Author: Mark Saldana

Fantastic Fest 2023: ENTER THE CLONES OF BRUCE

At this year’s festival, I only watched one documentary feature. Enter The Clones of Bruce caught my eye because, after reading the title, I knew what this film is about. During the 1960s and early 1970s, Bruce Lee significantly impacted martial arts, kung fu cinema, and television. However, before he could genuinely attain superstar status,… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023: ENTER THE CLONES OF BRUCE

Fantastic Fest 2023 News: Festival Award Winners

The 2023 edition of Austin’s beloved genre festival, Fantastic Fest, began on Thursday, September 21. TVR’s Laurie Coker, Liz Lopez and yours truly have been in attendance from the beginning. All three of us have partaken from the variety of cinematic offerings in the genres of horror, science-fiction, action, and international movies programmed by the… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023 News: Festival Award Winners

A HAUNTING IN VENICE Finally Scores A Win For Branagh in His Poirot Series.

Kenneth Branagh has devoted several of his recent career years to adapting some of Agatha Christie’s mysteries, which only means he loves the source material. While I moderately liked Murder on the Orient Express but was not impressed with his take on Death on the Nile, I attended this screening with tempered expectations. Thankfully, this… Continue reading A HAUNTING IN VENICE Finally Scores A Win For Branagh in His Poirot Series.

Published
Categorized as MAIN, Reviews

SITTING IN BARS WITH CAKE

Based on the cookbook of the same name by Audrey Shuhlman, this charming and bittersweet film adaptation is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime. And that is fine. Nothing about this movie begs to be watched on the big screen. This type of film is tailor-made for streaming on television, and I don’t mean… Continue reading SITTING IN BARS WITH CAKE

MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 3 Is A Scattershot Attempt At Filmmaking

(L to R) Nia Vardalos stars as "Toula" and John Corbett stars as "Ian" in writer/director Nia Vardalos' MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 3, a Focus Features release. Courtesy of Yannis Drakoulidis / Focus Features

I love the very first movie in this franchise. It skillfully tells a cultural story of familial love with an albeit predictable story, but its heart is undeniable. The second installment comes across as a weak idea, further derailed by lazy rehashes of attempted humor from the first film, and has no real, tangible stakes.… Continue reading MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 3 Is A Scattershot Attempt At Filmmaking

Published
Categorized as MAIN, Reviews

THE GOOD MOTHER Is Not a Very Good Movie

The Fentanyl addiction crisis is genuine, but unlike this film’s inspiration for its story, this situation is portrayed very poorly. Despite the movie’s solid cast, The Good Mother suffers from poor writing and comes across as a rushed production. The undercooked script does a great disservice to what this movie aspires to accomplish, but the… Continue reading THE GOOD MOTHER Is Not a Very Good Movie

GRAN TURISMO Benefits From a Winning Underdog Story

Filmmakers have gotten away with claiming that their supposed biographical movies are based on actual events for so long. As we have learned recently (The Blind Side), these claims should always be taken carefully. Liberties are taken regularly. I only know part of the story behind Jann Mardenborough’s experiences as a skilled Gran Turismo player-turned-professional… Continue reading GRAN TURISMO Benefits From a Winning Underdog Story

GOLDA Features a Great Performance by Helen Mirren

This slice-of-an-era film about Golda Mier features a masterful performance by lead Helen Mirren but ultimately lacks scope. It is a good movie. Is it an excellent, awards-worthy movie? It is not precisely that. I could see some future love for Mirren’s acting come awards season, but the film needs to catch up in most… Continue reading GOLDA Features a Great Performance by Helen Mirren