By Mark Saldana Rating: 2 (Out of 4 Stars) This film has to be my least favorite “Midnighter” that I saw this year. Though not completely horrible, Plus One seems to lack a true purpose, or is at least terrible in conveying its purpose through the story and characters. The movie has an interesting starting… Continue reading 2013 SXSW Review: PLUS ONE
Category: Festivals
2013 SXSW Review: THE RAMBLER
By Mark Saldana Rating: 1.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Writer/director Calvin Reader’s dark, sometimes hypnotic film about a drifter recently released from prison and his journey to visit his brother is a bizarre hallucinogenic mess. Dermot Mulroney, who portrays the title character, does a fantastic job as do the other members of the cast. I… Continue reading 2013 SXSW Review: THE RAMBLER
2013 SXSW Review: REALITY SHOW
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Last year, Showtime aired Adam Rifkin’s insane and wildly satirical television series about a family unknowingly recorded for a reality show. The first season was then edited and re-cut with a darker tone and is now packaged as a feature film. I have to hand it… Continue reading 2013 SXSW Review: REALITY SHOW
2013 SXSW Review: A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF WAYNE’S PHONE
By Mark Saldana Rating: 2.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Well, at least the title is truthful. This documentary feature literally consists of video clips taken from the iPhone of Wayne Coyne, lead singer and guitarist of The Flaming Lips. These clips really have little rhyme or reason to them, other than that they are glimpses… Continue reading 2013 SXSW Review: A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF WAYNE’S PHONE
2013 SXSW Review: GROW UP, TONY PHILLIPS
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Austin’s filmmaking wunderkind, Emily Hagins (My Sucky Teen Romance) has definitely matured as a writer/director and her latest work, a delightful and heartfelt teen comedy is a clear indicator of this maturity. This year at SXSW Film, not only were Austin filmmakers well represented, so was… Continue reading 2013 SXSW Review: GROW UP, TONY PHILLIPS
2013 SXSW Review: BIG ASS SPIDER
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) Mike “Madman” Mendez’s ode to monster movies is an absolute entertainment blast that had me grinning from ear to ear throughout most of the screening and laughing quite often. If anything, my only criticism would be that not all of the jokes win, some of them… Continue reading 2013 SXSW Review: BIG ASS SPIDER
2013 SXSW Review: ZERO CHARISMA
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Scott Weidemeyer (Sam Eidson) lives for writing and developing role playing games. As the “Master” of his weekly gaming group, Scott takes his games way too seriously. So when a new member of the group challenges the master’s authority and game scenarios bringing an element of… Continue reading 2013 SXSW Review: ZERO CHARISMA
SXSW 2013 Review: MALADIES
By Laurie Coker Rating: D+/C- The term maladies refers to illnesses of sort, sicknesses mental or physical. In the film Maladies starring Catherine Keener and James Franco, the title Maladies refers to broken people, in particular three odd, quirky, damaged people who live in the same house and suffer from varying mental defects. The problem,… Continue reading SXSW 2013 Review: MALADIES
2013 SXSW Review: MALADIES
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) This film really won my heart because of the genuine attempt to realistically portray people with mental illnesses and those suffering from oppression due to these illnesses and other non-traditional behavior. Taking place during the 1960s, Maladies tells a fictional story of a small group of… Continue reading 2013 SXSW Review: MALADIES
Review: SPRING BREAKERS (SXSW 2013)
By Laurie Coker Rating: D+ From 1973 to 1986, every year (yes, starting in high school), my friends and I traveled to South Padre Island (only 100 miles from home) for spring break. I know firsthand and all too well, having held many a head over the toilet, the decadence and pandemonium typical of this… Continue reading Review: SPRING BREAKERS (SXSW 2013)