Author: Mark Saldana

STRANGE WAY OF LIFE Is A Short Film Deserving of A Feature Length Treatment

The new short film by acclaimed Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar is a film that leaves its audience wondering why this story was not made into a feature-length movie. With much attention to its aesthetics and exceptional character development, Strange Way of Life leaves us wanting so much more from these compelling and intriguing characters. In… Continue reading STRANGE WAY OF LIFE Is A Short Film Deserving of A Feature Length Treatment

FAIR PLAY Is More Stressful Than Erotic

Currently playing in select theaters and available for streaming on Netflix on Friday, October 6, is a film labeled as an erotic thriller; however, I feel this label is a misnomer. Perhaps my idea of an erotic thriller doesn’t give the subgenre enough credit because I was expecting a softcore erotic movie that had very… Continue reading FAIR PLAY Is More Stressful Than Erotic

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

Fantastic Fest 2023: THE TOXIC AVENGER

I was initially bewildered by the idea of “remaking” the Troma cult classic, The Toxic Avenger when it was first announced that it would open this year’s Fantastic Fest. As a fan of all kinds of cinema, my first reaction is normal. I am sure several fans of the original film currently feel this way,… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023: THE TOXIC AVENGER

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.

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

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