Author: Mark Saldana

Fantastic Fest 2024 Review: ANORA Is Not Only My Favorite Of The Fest, It Is One Of The Top Films Of The Year

When Fantastic Fest announced that Anora would get screened at this year’s festival, I knew I had to attend. Not only did the film’s trailer hook me, but I also had to be there because this is Sean Baker’s latest work (Tangerine, The Florida Project, Red Rocket). This fantastic film lives up to my anticipation.… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2024 Review: ANORA Is Not Only My Favorite Of The Fest, It Is One Of The Top Films Of The Year

WE LIVE IN TIME Delivers A Relationship Drama That Feels Genuine And True

For cinephiles with soft spots in their hearts for romantic dramas like Love Story, We Live In Time is definitely for you. The film depicts an initially charming relationship between a man and woman whose meeting begins rather disturbingly. I will let my readers discover that on their own, but once the two connect, the… Continue reading WE LIVE IN TIME Delivers A Relationship Drama That Feels Genuine And True

SMILE 2 Is Actually More Entertaining Than Its Predecessor

Naomi Scott stars in Paramount Pictures Presents A Temple Hill Production A Parker Finn FIlm "SMILE 2"

I went into this film thinking this sequel would be another dour and sad extension of the first installment. Thankfully, that is not the case. Writer/director Parker Finn now has a sense of humor about his franchise, making this next chapter a more entertaining and fun experience, despite the film’s dark elements. Finn also wants… Continue reading SMILE 2 Is Actually More Entertaining Than Its Predecessor

Fantastic Fest 2024: MR. CROCKET

For the closing night film of this year’s Fantastic Fest, the programmers have chosen an unusual horror flick that offers up the premise, what if Mr. Rogers was a psychotic killer that preyed upon the parents of his most ardent fans, children? Writer/director Brandon Espy and co-writer Carl Reid have concocted an imaginative nightmare for… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2024: MR. CROCKET

Movie Review: PIECE BY PIECE Takes An Inventive Approach To Documentary/Biopic Filmmaking

Pharrell Williams has made a name for himself as a musical artist in his own right. Still, he is also a significant contributor to the advancement of the careers of other musical artists. His story is worth telling through film, and the artist himself wishes to reveal his story. However, Williams wants to tell his… Continue reading Movie Review: PIECE BY PIECE Takes An Inventive Approach To Documentary/Biopic Filmmaking

Fantastic Fest 2024 Movie Review: SATURDAY NIGHT

The programmers of this year’s film festival decided to up the ante by scheduling a record number of “Secret Screenings.” In past years, the festival usually only offered two or three of these mystery offerings, but this year, four was the magic number. The first of these was the new film by Jason Reitman, Saturday… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2024 Movie Review: SATURDAY NIGHT

Fantastic Fest 2024: TEACUP

TEACUP -- "Think About the Bubbles" Episode 101 -- Pictured: (l-r) Luciano Leroux as Nicholas Shanley, Emilie Bierre as Meryl Chenoweth— (Photo by: Mark Hill/Peacock)

In recent years, Fantastic Fest has opened its lineup to include television series that fall under its genre label. This year, I attended screenings for two TV shows, one of which was Teacup. One thing that caught my attention about Teacup was that one of the executive producers is James Wan (Saw, Insidious, The Conjuring).… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2024: TEACUP

Fantastic Fest 2024 Review: WILL & HARPER

Comedian/actor Will Ferrell met writer Andrew Steele when he got his big break as a performer on Saturday Night Live. The two entertainers not only became creative partners, but they also became the best of friends. This relationship would endure the tests of time and a major change that Andrew undertakes with his life. Andrew… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2024 Review: WILL & HARPER