Author: Mark Saldana

By Mark Saldana Two drone pilots, operating out of a trailer in a Nevada desert, have acquired a target in Afghanistan and are faced with a moral dilemma. They must follow their orders and terminate with extreme prejudice or face punishment for disobedience.  This is the premise of the AFF film entry title Drones.

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 2.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Call it perfect timing or strange coincidence, but just last week, I finally watched Walter Salles’ film adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s iconic book On the Road. As much as I liked the movie, I felt that it isn’t quite the adaptation that Kerouac’s novel deserves.  Still,… Continue reading AFF 2013 Review: BIG SUR

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) After the utter disappointment with Coffee, Kill Boss, I was so incredibly grateful that my next film turned out to be a fun, clever, witty and entertaining heist film in the vein of Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven.  The Art of the Steal obviously borrows some of… Continue reading AFF 2013 Review: THE ART OF THE STEAL

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 1.5 (Out of 4 Stars) My Austin Film Festival got off to a funky start with their opening night film that often left me exasperated and baffled.  I had initially planned to give this film a higher rating as it did occasionally make me laugh; however, I came to the conclusion… Continue reading AFF 2013 Review: COFFEE, KILL BOSS