Category: Festivals

Stanley Tucci’s “Final Portrait” Arrives in Austin Theaters By Liz Lopez Rating: C+           There is not much that can be said about a feature film that has a very thin premise – an artist painting his subject – but writer/director Stanley Tucci’s work in “Final Portrait” manages to make the limited material into an engaging… Continue reading SXSW 2018 Review: FINAL PORTRAIT

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) Stanley Tucci’s fifth feature film as a writer/director details writer James Lord’s experiences in Paris as a model for artist Alberto Giacometti’s last painting.  Based on Lord’s memoir, “A Giacometti Portrait,” Tucci offers a mildly entertaining and interesting glimpse of an artist at work and the… Continue reading SXSW 2018 Review: FINAL PORTRAIT

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Writer/directer Abner Benaim hopes to reveal more about the famous actor and legendary musician Ruben Blades with this love letter of a documentary.  Some people only know Ruben Blades for his acting in movies and television, while others know him mostly for his politically-charged contribution to… Continue reading SXSW 2018 Review: RUBEN BLADES IS NOT MY NAME

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Actor Bill Murray not only is a talented and accomplished actor who has received acclaim for both comedic and dramatic performances, he has also developed a reputation as an outgoing and highly spontaneous person who loves reaching out to his fans in the general public.  Not… Continue reading SXSW 2018 Review: THE BILL MURRAY STORIES: LIFE LESSONS LEARNED FROM A MYTHICAL MAN

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Based on the 2016 short film by the same name,  writer/director Jim Cummings, this feature film went on to win the Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature.  This Austin-based production delighted, amused and touched audience members as well.  Cummings stars as Police Officer Jim Arnaud, a… Continue reading SXSW 2018 Review: THUNDER ROAD

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Since the 1970s, precocious teen boys and horny men have dominated cinema with their wild, raunchy and funny tales of sexual pursuits.  Now that the human race has entered 2018, it is about time that women had a voice in this type of cinema.  Well this… Continue reading SXSW 2018 Review: BLOCKERS

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) John Krasinsky is probably best known as Jim Halpert in The Office, but has dabbled in directing feature films as well.  So far, Krasinsky has directed two indie comedy/dramas (Brief Interviews With Hideous Men, The Hollars), both of which have received little attention and have left… Continue reading SXSW 2018 Review: A QUIET PLACE

By Liz Lopez                                              Rating: B- This year’s SXSW Film Festival offered several films in the Headliners category to choose from and this includes “Blockers” from Universal Pictures, the highly anticipated comedy featuring both… Continue reading SXSW 2018 Review: BLOCKERS

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Every year, the SXSW film festival offers its attendees either a secret screening or a last minute, surprise screening.  This year, the film to fall under these categories happened to be Steven Spielberg’s adaptation the popular Ernest Cline novel Ready Player One.  A few days prior… Continue reading SXSW 2018 Review: READY PLAYER ONE