By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) As always, the Fantastic Fest lineup this year featured two secret screenings for their eager attendees. Given that Netflix had such a formidable presence at the film festival this year, it wasn’t too surprising that one of their more highly anticipated entries was the first secret… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: DOLEMITE IS MY NAME
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Concert Review: Austin City Limits New Tapings of Season 45 features groundbreaking singer/songwriter Rosalía
By Liz Lopez Austin City Limits announced new tapings of their Season 45, featuring artists who are highlights of the namesake ACL Festival this year. Among them making her ACL debut is the groundbreaking singer/songwriter Rosalía from Spain.
Review: LUCY IN THE SKY
By Liz Lopez Rating: C+ Noah Hawley (“Legion” and “Fargo” TV series) makes his feature directing debut with “Lucy In the Sky,” based on a screenplay he wrote with Brian C. Brown and Elliott DiGuiseppi and despite any revisions he made to the script, the storytelling is still lacking. This is sad to say, but… Continue reading Review: LUCY IN THE SKY
Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: THE DEEPER YOU DIG
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) From writers/directors/actors Toby Poser and John Adams comes a chilling thriller which basically takes elements from Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart and sets it in modern times. Thought it isn’t an exact adaptation, Poser and Adams, instead, take the theme of guilt and utilizes it to tell… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: THE DEEPER YOU DIG
Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: IRON FISTS AND KUNG FU KICKS
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Australian director Serge Ou’s comprehensive documentary tells the vast history martial arts cinema and does so with great style and aplomb. It is a rather daunting task to pull this off, as the filmography of martial arts movies is quite extensive. Still, Ou manages to condense… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: IRON FISTS AND KUNG FU KICKS
Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: KNIVES AND SKIN
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Though not a true musical, Jennifer Reeder’s Knives and Skin uses music and song in some inventive and powerful ways. This film, which tackles the scary years of high school, focuses on a group of teenage girls struggling with identity amidst the aftermath a classmate’s disappearance.… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: KNIVES AND SKIN
Review: HOTEL MUMBAI
By Laurie Coker Rating: A+ Had the events of 9/11 never happened incidents like the one that occurred at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai, India would have been little more than a few segments the evening news. Horrific actions on foreign soil had nothing to do with us. Director Anthony Maras who shares writing credit… Continue reading Review: HOTEL MUMBAI
Review: JUDY
By Laurie Coker Rating: C + Gearing up for or towards Oscar season, viewers can expect to see excellent films and excellent actors just not necessarily together. Renee Zellweger comes to the screen again in Judy, a movie based on the late, talented Wizard of Oz star, Judy Garland. Missing for a bit of time… Continue reading Review: JUDY
Review: JOKER
By Laurie Coker Rating: C Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of the Joker feels, at the same time, both disgusting and admirable. Joker’s director and co-writer, with Scott Silver, Todd Phillips explores the dingiest, darkest, and most disturbing aspect of the character and still, he disappoints with his dismal, in-your-face social commentary. Were it not for its… Continue reading Review: JOKER
Review: ABOMINABLE
By Laurie Coker Rating: A- In the hit and miss world of animated features, Abominable is far more hit than miss. In a mixed-up world of mix-ups, an unlikely buddy story evolves between a trio of teens and an abominable snowman. Universal Pictures has created a cuddly cute character in “Everest” and kids will love… Continue reading Review: ABOMINABLE