Author: Mark Saldana

ETERNALS

By Mark Saldana Rating 3 (Out of 4 Stars) As a movie critic living and working in the age of social media dominance, it is sometimes difficult to avoid spoilers and reviews from other critics and film analysts. This is especially true when it comes to major studio tentpoles that thrive on Rotten Tomatoes scores.… Continue reading ETERNALS

Cinejoy Film Festival 2021 Review: WOMAN ALIVE

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) From November 4 through 14, Cinejoy, a virtual film festival component of the Cinequest Film Festival, will bring films from all over the world to the homes of movie enthusiasts. This year I had the privilege of screening and reviewing a rather impressive entry from Israel.… Continue reading Cinejoy Film Festival 2021 Review: WOMAN ALIVE

THE FRENCH DISPATCH

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) As Wes Anderson has developed and honed his signature style of filmmaking and story-telling, it has become increasingly apparent that the director has much love and respect for French cinema, art and pop-culture. Some of his musical choices, his desired cinematography, his use of colors, as… Continue reading THE FRENCH DISPATCH

THE VELVET UNDERGROUND

By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) My first introduction to the music of The Velvet Underground was in 1991 when a couple of their songs played in the background of Oliver Stone’s musical biopic The Doors. Back then, I was such a huge fan of the movie that I was obsessed with… Continue reading THE VELVET UNDERGROUND

DUNE

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) After creating an incredible sequel with Blade Runner 2049, filmmaker Denis Villeneuve has taken on the challenge of adapting one of the more sucessful, iconic, and popular novels of science fiction. Upon hearing that Dune would be Villenneuve’s next project, I had little doubt that the… Continue reading DUNE

Film News: THE KILLING OF KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN

HBO Max Acquires Morgan Freeman & Lori McCreary’s THE KILLING OF KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN For Streaming Starting November 19 “Flat-out brilliant.” -Josh Kupecki, Austin Chronicle “Frankie Faison could earn an Oscar nom…the entire cast breathes life into characters in ways that will haunt audiences long after the film ends.” -Dwight Brown, NNPA News Wire “Faison portrays the character… Continue reading Film News: THE KILLING OF KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN

Film Trailer: THE DRUMMER

THE OFFICIAL TRAILER HAS BEEN RELEASED FOR THE UPCOMING FEATURE FILM “THE DRUMMER” STARRING DANNY GLOVER, PREMA CRUZ AND SAM UNDERWOOD RELEASING ON DIGITAL PLATFORMS ON NOVEMBER 9TH IN HONOR OF VETERANS DAY Directed by ERIC WERTHMAN Produced by by ERIC WERTHMAN AND VLADAN NIKOLIC Executive Produced by DANNY GLOVER “My brother was a Vietnam vet,… Continue reading Film Trailer: THE DRUMMER

Film News: AT THE READY Now Available On Demand

A still from At the Ready by Maisie Crow, an official selection of the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute. All photos are copyrighted and may be used by press only for the purpose of news or editorial coverage of Sundance Institute programs. Photos must be accompanied by a credit to the photographer and/or 'Courtesy of Sundance Institute.' Unauthorized use, alteration, reproduction or sale of logos and/or photos is strictly prohibited.

By Liz Lopez Rating: A The documentary At the Ready has been in the festival circuit starting with Sundance Film Festival 2021 and went to three other festivals before screening at the Cine las Americas International Film Festival here in Austin followed by the Bentonville Film Festival this summer. The film now has a release… Continue reading Film News: AT THE READY Now Available On Demand