By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) My favorite Midnighter of the festival is an utterly disturbing film about an animal shelter employee named Seth (Dominic Monaghan) who becomes so obsessed with his former high school classmate Claire (Jeanette McCurdy) that he takes her prisoner. Keeping her locked up in a cage in… Continue reading SXSW Film 2016 Review: PET
Category: Festivals
SXSW Film 2016 Review: EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!!
By Liz Lopez Rating: B+ Directed and written by Richard Linklater, Everybody Wants Some!! is the SXSW Film Festival Opening Night film in the Headliners category and after a couple of more screenings during the festival, followed by a fundraiser for the Austin Film Society on March 26th, it opens in theaters nationwide on April… Continue reading SXSW Film 2016 Review: EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!!
SXSW Film 2016 Review: TRANSPECOS
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) The winner of the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature is a tense, nail-biting character-driven drama that takes place along the U.S./Mexico Border. A trio of Border Patrol agents are almost finished with their long, boring shift at a highway checkpoint in the desert. Young and… Continue reading SXSW Film 2016 Review: TRANSPECOS
SXSW Film 2016 Review: EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!!
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) I found it fitting that the opening night film of Austin’s largest and most recognized international film festival would feature the newest film by Austin favorite-son filmmaker Richard Linklater. Following the critical success of his twelve-year project Boyhood, Linklater decided to make what has been dubbed… Continue reading SXSW Film 2016 Review: EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!!
SXSW Film 2016 Review: MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
By Liz Lopez Rating: B+ Jeff Nichols’ Midnight Special supernatural thriller had a North American Premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in the Headliners category and now is in theatrical release. Writer/director Nichols’ fourth feature reunites him with actor Michael Shannon (Take Shelter, Mud, Shotgun Stories). The film may appear to be one story at… Continue reading SXSW Film 2016 Review: MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
SXSW Film Coverage 2016: PEE-WEE’S BIG HOLIDAY ROUNDTABLE INTERVIEWS
By Mark Saldana On Thursday night (March 17) of the festival I joined several excited fans at the Paramount Theater for the world premiere of Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday. The exuberant audience obviously had a fantastic time, laughing often and loudly. I too enjoyed the film which marks the cinematic comeback for the beloved character who… Continue reading SXSW Film Coverage 2016: PEE-WEE’S BIG HOLIDAY ROUNDTABLE INTERVIEWS
SXSW Film 2016 Review: HUSH
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Horror fans have seen similar slasher films, but this one has one major difference. The main protagonist of the film is hearing impaired and unable to speak or scream. This story/character choice for the main character only adds to the suspense and horror. Don’t get me… Continue reading SXSW Film 2016 Review: HUSH
SXSW Film 2016 Review: TOWER
By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) Most Austin residents and University of Texas alumni know the story, some of the facts, and may have heard the urban legends. However, not too many people have listened to the very personal accounts from the people who experienced that terrifying day when Charles Whitman went… Continue reading SXSW Film 2016 Review: TOWER
SXSW Film 2016 Review: PEE-WEE’S BIG HOLIDAY
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) is back with a new feature film full of adventure, excitement and intrigue. Pee-Wee may be just a simple, small-town boy living the quiet life, but a fateful encounter with a fascinating out-of-towner (Joe Manganiello) inspires him to hit the road and… Continue reading SXSW Film 2016 Review: PEE-WEE’S BIG HOLIDAY
SXSW Film 2016: FESTIVAL RECAP
By Mark Saldana Film Synopses Source: SXSW.com After nine days of film fest bliss, I must say that my SXSW Film 2016 may be one of the best ones I have ever experienced. Not only did I have the honor and pleasure of seeing legendary actors Burt Reynolds and James Caan in person, I also… Continue reading SXSW Film 2016: FESTIVAL RECAP