2013 SXSW Review: HEY BARTENDER

By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) I watched my first documentary of SXSW Film 2013 very early, courtesy of a screener.  Writer/director Douglas Tirola educates his audience on the history of bartending and mixology, and showcases some modern masters of the art/science, as well as highlighting a simple bartender/bar owner who, in… Continue reading 2013 SXSW Review: HEY BARTENDER

News/Local Events: The 13th Annual Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards

Article and Pictures by Mark Saldana While the South by Southwest Film Festival doesn’t officially kick-off until today, March 8, the signature event which has always begun the fest is the Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards, hosted by the Austin Film Society, honoring Texans who have had successful careers in acting and filmmaking.

Review: OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Director Sam Raimi’s latest film, not only serves as a prequel to Victor Flemming’s 1939 classic, The Wizard of Oz, but also serves as an homage to the historical and iconic motion picture which has captured the hearts of several generations of movie viewers.  Raimi, cast… Continue reading Review: OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

Review: JACK THE GIANT SLAYER

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Based on the fairy tales Jack the Giant Killer and Jack and the Bean Stalk, director Bryan Singer and screenwriters Darren Lemke, Christopher McQuarrie, Dan Studney and David Dobkin bring to the big screen a fun and exciting reinterpretation of these stories.  Singer, his writers, cast… Continue reading Review: JACK THE GIANT SLAYER

Review: 21 & OVER

By Mark Saldana Rating: 2.5 (Out of 4 Stars) From Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, the writers of The Change-Up and The Hangover movies, comes their directorial debut, which actually feels like a college age version of The Hangover, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, and a lot of other intoxicated, debauchery tales that… Continue reading Review: 21 & OVER