Loosely based on the true story of a real Civil War era slave who escaped and eventually served as a soldier in the war, Antoine Fuqua’s Emancipation is a movie that obviously makes some embelishment’s on this slave’s harrowing journey to the occasional points of disbelief. The movie sometimes plays out like a tall tale… Continue reading EMANCIPATION
Author: Mark Saldana
SPOILER ALERT
Based on Michael Ausiello’s personal memoir, Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies, director Michael Showalter and screenwriters David Marsall Grant and Dan Savage present the true story of television journalist Ausiello and his romance with photographer Kit Cowan. Even though there have been other, similar stories and movies with similar journeys, the characters and their personality… Continue reading SPOILER ALERT
EMPIRE OF LIGHT
This week I screened two movies that promise to pay tribute to the magic of cinema by offering glimpses into its history. One particular film goes so hard that it goes over-the-top in moments and overplays the filmmaker’s love and passion for the medium. The other which is this movie, Empire of Light, actually falls… Continue reading EMPIRE OF LIGHT
Austin Film Festival 2022: NANNY
An immigrant’s experience in America is just as unique as anyone’s life is anywhere. And that is the main takeaway I drew from watching this unique and sometimes bewildering film by writer/director Nikyatu Jusu. Jusu’s Nanny paints a portrait of a character struggling with her new life in America, working as a domestic, while clinging… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2022: NANNY
Fantastic Fest 2022: BONES AND ALL
From acclaimed director Luca Guadagnino comes his adaptation of the 2015 horror/romance novel of the same name. Though I have not read Camile DeAngelis’ book, Bones and All, and knew absolutely nothing about the story, I attended this Fantastic Fest screening simply because it was directed by Guadagnino. After having much admiration for some of… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2022: BONES AND ALL
THE FABELMANS
Steven Spielberg, arguably America’s most seminal filmmaker, has chosen his newest movie to tell his most personal story–the story of how he became a filmmaker. While The Fabelmans is supposedly a semi-autobiographical story of his upbringing, as a Jewish-American child living in America, and how he became a celebrated and acclaimed film director, so much… Continue reading THE FABELMANS
Austin Film Festival 2022: GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY
For the closing night film of this year’s Austin Film Festival comes the excitedly-awaited sequel to Rian Johnson’s acclaimed murder mystery Knives Out. Well, as most people expect, sequels are not usually as good as the first movie that preceded them. And that is actually the case with Glass Onion. However, Rian Johnson has lots… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2022: GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY
STRANGE WORLD
From Walt Disney Studios comes an animated adventure which definitely wears its influences like a badge of pride and admiration. And that’s totally fine. The filmmakers behind Strange World know that their movie is not a complete work of originality, but obviously have much love for better similar adventures such as Journey to the Center… Continue reading STRANGE WORLD
DEVOTION
Even though I very much enjoyed Top Gun: Maverick, there are two inspiring movies about military service that genuinely my heart this year. The first is The Inspection, which tells the true story of a gay man serving in the Marine Corps, despite the prejudice and adversity he faces. The other is another true story… Continue reading DEVOTION
Austin Film Festival 2022: THE INSPECTION
Writer/director Elegance Bratton uses his first narrative feature film to tell his true story. Bratton, who had a rough life as a gay man raised by an ultra-conservative mother, found himself homeless and struggling to survive as a young adult. Totally lost and not knowing what to do with his life, he decides to enlist… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2022: THE INSPECTION