Author: Mark Saldana

Romantic relationships are challenging. When emotional baggage is involved, this further complicates matters. Writer Seth Reiss and director Kogonada (Columbus, After Yang) tackle this problem with a film that uses surreal fantasy to pair a couple of people who have struggled to have a good, solid, romantic relationship. The movie has many inspired ideas that,… Continue reading A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY Takes A Novel Approach To Relationships With Baggage

I caught the trailer for Him when I went to the movies for a film that wasn’t screened for press. The trailer had me instantly intrigued and hopeful for an incredible horror experience that takes place in the world of professional sports. Though the visuals are often striking, the editing, the writing, and sometimes the… Continue reading HIM: The Devil Wants A Star Football Quarterback, Apparently

Violence begets violence is the big takeaway from The Long Walk, a film adapted from Stephen King’s novel of the same name by director Francis Lawrence and screenwriter JT Moliner. The Long Walk is the very first novel he wrote as a professional writer, but it would not be published until later, under the pseudonym… Continue reading THE LONG WALK: A Bleak, But Emotional Stephen King Story Realized Superbly For Cinema

James Sweeney is a filmmaker with whom I am not at all familiar. However, after watching Twinless, I would love to see what this talented filmmaker and actor have to offer. This movie boldly combines awkward, dark humor with just the right amount of humanity, examining how some people can connect in profound ways, despite… Continue reading TWINLESS: A Poignant, And Often Hilarious Film

Even though filmmaker Darren Aronofsky achieved recognition during the late 1990s and early 2000s as a movie director, he never attempted to capitalize on the success of pulpy criminal films that resulted from the pop cultural impact of Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, which often permeated cinema during this era. However, in 2025, Aronofsky, captivated by… Continue reading CAUGHT STEALING: A Movie That Brings Back Late 1990s And Early 2000s Pulp Cinema

Before receiving the invitation to this screening, I had never heard of the Chinese animated movie Ne Zha. However, after reading the synopsis of the film, I was definitely intrigued. One day before the Ne Zha 2 screening, I watched Ne Zha, the first installment of this Chinese fantasy saga, and fell in love. The… Continue reading NE ZHA 2 Is A Sequel With A Tad Too Much Ambition

Some filmmaking pairs need both members to be present to pull off great work. The perfect example of this is the Coen Brothers. For whatever reason, the Coen Brothers have decided to part ways and make movies on their own. However, Joel and Ethan Coen have yet to deliver something exciting and remarkable individually, despite… Continue reading HONEY, DON’T! Begs For Better Writing

Akira Kurosawa’s film, High and Low, was a movie I had never watched. That is, until I knew I would be covering Highest 2 Lowest, filmmaker Spike Lee’s interpretation of the same story that inspired one of Japan’s more iconic filmmakers to adapt it for cinema. While watching High and Low, I was absolutely riveted.… Continue reading HIGHEST 2 LOWEST

As much as I like a wide variety of music, Jeff Buckley’s music has managed to escape my hunger for the genre for decades. Though I was familiar with his name and had heard his version of “Hallelujah,” that was all I had to work with going into this screener for this documentary. After experiencing… Continue reading IT’S NEVER OVER, JEFF BUCKLEY

In 2022, filmmaker Zach Cregger blew me away with his horror-thriller Barbarian. His direction, storytelling, and ability to deliver surprises showed that he is a director who deserves more opportunities to show his talents. So, it was with much excitement that I attended the screening of his new film, Weapons, a movie I, thankfully, knew… Continue reading WEAPONS Is Another Amazing Cinematic Offering From Zach Cregger