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
Author: Mark Saldana
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
Guillermo Del Toro’s PINOCCHIO
Guillermo del Toro and co-director Mark Gustafson have decided to adapt one of the more legendary fairy tales that has fueled the imaginations of children since it was first published in 1883. Now while Disney has reigned as what was previously considered the definitive version of the story for decades, that doesn’t mean that it… Continue reading Guillermo Del Toro’s PINOCCHIO
BARDO, FALSE CHRONICLE OF A HANDFUL OF TRUTHS
Alejandro G. Inarritu is perhaps one of the more interesting filmmakers Mexico has ever produced. In fact I have enjoyed several of his movies. Amorres Perros, 21 Grams, Babel, and Birdman are all films I regard highly. The Revenant is actually the first of his features where he slightly began to love me. And now… Continue reading BARDO, FALSE CHRONICLE OF A HANDFUL OF TRUTHS
Fantastic Fest 2022: THE MENU
The Menu is an impeccable work of art. It is an experience that tantalizes its audiences in ways that only they can comprehend after savoring its deliciousness days and months after it has been tasted. Now, I know that sounds rather pretentious, but that isn’t actually the case here. Or at least in my case,… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2022: THE MENU
SHE SAID
All The President’s Men, Spotlight, The Post. All of these are films I hold in high regard about real stories where journalism makes a difference in matters that concern us. She Said comes pretty damn close in its telling of the story of how two journalists of the New York Times helped bring to light… Continue reading SHE SAID
Austin Film Festival 2022: SAM & KATE
If one were to look upon the poster for this film, it would be easy to assume that Sam & Kate tells a lengthy story of two lovers/spouses through the course of their relationship. How can anyone not expect that? Casting Dustin Hoffman, Sissy Spacek, Hoffman’s son Jake, and Spacek’s daughter Schuyler should easily deceive… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2022: SAM & KATE
BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER
Much of the world was floored by the death of gifted actor Chadwick Boseman. As he was so well loved and respected, his loss has been a major blow to not only the hearts of his fans, but also to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Originally, the producers and filmmakers behind the Black Panther segment of… Continue reading BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER
Austin Film Festival 2022: GOOD NIGHT OPPY
During this year’s Austin Film Festival, I was only able to watch a couple of documentary films, as opposed to narrative feature movies. Still, both of the entries I watched succeeded in appealing to very different facets of my mind and emotions. The first of which, actually captured my heart in ways I had not… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2022: GOOD NIGHT OPPY
Austin Film Festival 2022: ARMAGEDDON TIME
From writer/director James Gray, comes what is obviously his most personal film so far. Based on his childhood in 1980s Queens. New York, Armageddon Time is a gorgeous looking and sometimes powerful time capsule movie that does of solid job of capturing the emotions, problems, in addition to the good times experienced by Gray and… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2022: ARMAGEDDON TIME