Author: Mark Saldana

By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) Steven Spielberg reimagines one of Hollywood’s and Broadway’s most beloved musicals and delivers another masterful film. I am sure there are plenty of people who absolutely adore either the 1961 version of West Side Story or experienced a stage production of the musical that is near… Continue reading WEST SIDE STORY (2021)

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) Based on the tumultuous relationship between television sweethearts Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz and a scandal regarding Ball’s political leanings, writer/director Aaron Sorkin depicts a particularly rough week for everyone working on the I Love Lucy sitcom. Sorkin, who is known for his dialogue-heavy scripts, delivers… Continue reading BEING THE RICARDOS

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Always an evocateur, Dutch filmmaker Paul Verhoeven takes on Catholicism in a film that empowers women and challenges its audience to think critically about the conventions that often prevent Christian religions from remaining relevant to the people they are supposed to serve. Verhoeven, who utilizes exploitation… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2021 Review: BENEDETTA

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Life, as seen through the perspectives of adults and children, are usually very different things. While grownups are more knowledgeable and often jaded by what the world has to offer, the youth sometimes have more hopeful and promising outlooks on their future. This new film by… Continue reading C’MON C’MON

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Lin-Manuel Miranda has worked with Disney previously in multiple ways. He has previously contributed songs, and has made different appearances in some of their movies, and his latest contribution to “The House of the Mouse” once again proves to be a great success. In Encanto, Miranda… Continue reading ENCANTO

By Liz Lopez Rating: B+ Directed by Ridley Scott, House of Gucci is a very entertaining (albeit very long) story about the Gucci empire and the family drama full of greed, backstabbing – oh and I cannot forget to mention murder. Scott works from a script by Becky Johnston and Roberto Bentivegna, based on Sara… Continue reading HOUSE OF GUCCI

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Jason Reitman has obviously chosen a career that follows in his father’s footsteps in cinema. This has never been more apparent until he chose to make a sequel to his father’s (Ivan Reitman) iconic Ghostbusters movies. Though not as overtly comedic as his Ivan Reitman’s first… Continue reading GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE

By Mark Saldanay Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Now playing in some theaters, as well as available for streaming via Netflix is a wonderful musical that tells the story about the humble beginnings of the acclaimed late playwright Jonathan Larson. Larson, who is best known for his successful musical play Rent, struggled as a… Continue reading TICK, TICK…BOOM!