Category: Festivals

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Some people often question why so many celebrities have so many problems and issues when they are obviously successful. What do they have to be sad about? These same people usually forget that celebrities were not always famous and that, regardless of their fame, they are… Continue reading DEMI LOVATO: DANCING WITH THE DEVIL

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) This year, I began my virtual festival a day early with a couple of screeners. The first of which was a screener for a lengthy and comprehensive documentary detailing horror cinema’s and television’s offerings in the subgenre of folk horror. While this film might seem like… Continue reading SXSW 2021: WOODLANDS DARK AND DAYS BEWITCHED: THE HISTORY OF FOLK HORROR

By Laurie Coker Rating: A Texas music has a life of its own. Whether born in the state or transplanted from elsewhere, stars like Townes van Zandt and Guy Clark left their mark on the industry beyond the Lone Star State’s borders. SXSW documentary, Without Getting Killed or Caught, takes a personal and bare look… Continue reading SXSW 2021: WITHOUT GETTING KILLED OR CAUGHT

By Laurie Coker Rating: A As a teacher who in her final two years of a long career found herself participating in active-shooter drills and watching the aftermath of school shooting, I hesitated to choose The Fallout as one of my SXSW Festival picks. A fellow critic encouraged me to take a look and it… Continue reading SXSW 2021: THE FALLOUT

By Mark Saldana Rating: 2 (Out of 4 Stars) The fact that the Bowie estate disavowed this movie and did not allow the use of David Bowie’s music was definitely a bad sign from the get-go. Nevertheless, the Austin Film Festival, a movie fest which celebrates and whole-heartedly supports the role of writing in filmmaking,… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2020 Review: STARDUST

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) From Iran comes a stressful and gripping drama that can has great writing, even greater direction and superb performances by the talented actors in the cast. Writer/director Kazem Mollaie uses a tension-filled abduction story to a make a commentary on the world today. This is actually… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2020 Review: THE BADGER

By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) We live in a sad and scary time when school shootings occur almost regularly. It seems like just when we are in the process of healing and recovering, another violent tragedy takes place. It is indicative of our inability to unite and help fight the causes… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2020 Review: PAPER TIGER