By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Writer/director Paul Schrader definitely has a dark side, and every film he contributes is a testament to this prominent facet. His latest film, The Card Counter, wears this dark, tormented soul on its sleeve for the most part, but also comes across as a reflection of… Continue reading THE CARD COUNTER
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EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Prior to watching this film, I was totally unaware of the stage play that inspires this remarkabe and lovable movie. After enjoying it, however, I would absolutely love to see a wonderful stage production as this story is truly meant to be experienced. That is not… Continue reading EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE
aGLIFF 2021 Capsule Reviews: Boulevard! A Hollywood Story and Firebird
aGLIFF (All Genders, Lifestyles, and Identities Film Festival) has many films available to view as it takes place through September 6, 2021 via the virtual lineup. Here are two films from the festival featured in the capsule reviews from the festival. Boulevard! A Hollywood Story The aGLIFF has varied categories of films, among them the… Continue reading aGLIFF 2021 Capsule Reviews: Boulevard! A Hollywood Story and Firebird
Bentonville Film Festival 2021 Review: Noor & Layla
By Liz Lopez Rating: B+ Noor & Layla is a 13-minute short that shows how the relationship developed between two Muslim women but it is told in reverse chronological order from what may be the end (as the film begins). Written and directed by filmmaker Fawzia Mirza (Signature Move), starring actors Nicole Nwokolo (as Noor)… Continue reading Bentonville Film Festival 2021 Review: Noor & Layla
SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) The Marvel Cinematic Universe expands its world further to include a back story that it has only been previously touched upon, but now finally explains its true origins. In previous films, Iron Man and Iron Man III, the legend of The Mandarin and the Ten Rings… Continue reading SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS
YAKUZA PRINCESS
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) Brazilian director Vicente Amorim presents a film full of style and some panache that looks great on the big screen. It is obivious that filmmaker has drawn from various inspirations and does so in some dynamic visual ways. Unfortunately, the writing that went into this screenplay… Continue reading YAKUZA PRINCESS
Fantasia 2021: ALIEN ON STAGE
Imagine, if you will, a world where the movie Alien is re-imagined for a stage play where an amateur play director and amateur actors decide that this story this iconic movie story deserves a stage production. You haven’t actuallly crossed into the Twilight Zone, but the real world. This remarkable documentary shows what exactly could… Continue reading Fantasia 2021: ALIEN ON STAGE
Fantasia 2021 Review: THE RIGHTEOUS
Written and directed by and starring Mark O’Brien, this haunting psychological horror film deals with guilt (particularly Catholic guilt) and how that feeling can eat away at one’s soul. Henry Czerny stars as Frederic Mason, an ex-priest who lives with his beloved wife Ethel (Mimi Kuzyk) in a quiet and mostly uneventful life away from… Continue reading Fantasia 2021 Review: THE RIGHTEOUS
Fantasia 2021 Review: KING CAR
From Brazil, comes a strange and almost visionary movie with good intentions, but not exactly a great realization and execution. The film presents a world where the cars are the world (or at least this world) are sentient beings totally misunderstood and abused by humanity. The protagonist Uno has been endowed with the gift to… Continue reading Fantasia 2021 Review: KING CAR
THE GATEWAY
By Laurie Coker Rating: D+ Well-crafted, slow-burn character-driven dramas can entertain more effectively than those riddled with nonstop action. Still, under the hand of an ineffective director, slow-burn can turn to listless and dull. ‘The Gateway,’ starring Shae Whigham and Oliva Munn, smolders so sluggishly and somberly that the story gets lost in the shadows… Continue reading THE GATEWAY