Author: Mark Saldana

SXSW Film 2016 Review: PEE-WEE’S BIG HOLIDAY

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars)  Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) is back with a new feature film full of adventure, excitement and intrigue.  Pee-Wee may be just a simple, small-town boy living the quiet life, but a fateful encounter with a fascinating out-of-towner (Joe Manganiello) inspires him to hit the road and… Continue reading SXSW Film 2016 Review: PEE-WEE’S BIG HOLIDAY

SXSW Film 2016 News: AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS

Source: SXSW Austin, Texas –  The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival announced the Audience Award winners today from the Narrative Feature Competition, Documentary Feature Competition, Headliners, Narrative Spotlight, Documentary Spotlight, Visions, Midnighters, Episodic, 24 Beats Per Second, SXGlobal, Festival Favorites and Design Award categories. Audience Award results for all categories were certified… Continue reading SXSW Film 2016 News: AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS

SXSW Film 2016 News: JURY AND SPECIAL AWARDS

Source: SXSW Austin, Texas –  The South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Film Conference and Festival announced the 2016 Jury and Special Award-winners at the SXSW Film Awards Presented by Panasonic at the historic Paramount Theatre. The awards were hosted by Mike Birbiglia, director of Don’t Think Twice, which debuted at SXSW on Sunday, March 13. Feature Films receiving Jury… Continue reading SXSW Film 2016 News: JURY AND SPECIAL AWARDS

Review: THE BRONZE

By Mark Saldana Rating: 1.5 (Out of 4 Stars) After watching this film, I felt the title Bad Gymnast would have been more appropriate.  Bad Santa, Bad Teacher, Bad Words, Bad Grandpa are all similar titles with nearly identical premises.  A nasty, foul mouthed person has a change of heart and gets an opportunity at redemption.… Continue reading Review: THE BRONZE

Review: KNIGHT OF CUPS

By Mark Saldana Rating: 2 (Out of 4 Stars) Terrence Malick is a filmmaker known for his artistically unique films and his latest film definitely falls into this category.  The problem, though, is that this film plays out rather messily and redundantly.  The disoriented look and feel of the movie may be meant to mimic… Continue reading Review: KNIGHT OF CUPS

Review: MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN

By Liz Lopez Rating: B+ The book by Christy Wilson Beam, Miracles from Heaven: A Little Girl and Her Amazing Story of Healing, is a memoir about her daughter, Annabel, and their family as they navigate their way through a medical ordeal that is life threatening. The production team of Heaven is for Real presents… Continue reading Review: MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN

SXSW Film 2016 Interview: Matt Ornstein, Daryl Davis, and Scott Shepard of ACCIDENTAL COURTESY

By Mark Saldana After having viewed this amazing documentary film, I was absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to speak with director Matt Ornstein and Daryl Davis of the film.  Ornstein is a documentary filmmaker whose last film project is a documentary short about the last mission of the Space Shuttle Atlantis.  Daryl Davis, of… Continue reading SXSW Film 2016 Interview: Matt Ornstein, Daryl Davis, and Scott Shepard of ACCIDENTAL COURTESY

SXSW Film 2016 Review: ACCIDENTAL COURTESY: DARYL DAVIS, RACE & AMERICA

By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) In a time when race relations in the United States are crumbling before our very eyes, a man by the name of Daryl Davis takes a bold approach that few people have the courage to even attempt.  Daryl is a talented piano player who has performed… Continue reading SXSW Film 2016 Review: ACCIDENTAL COURTESY: DARYL DAVIS, RACE & AMERICA