Gina Rodriguez Stands Out in the Drama “Miss Bala’’ By Liz Lopez Rating B Actress Gina Rodriguez has shown audiences what work she is capable of in both drama and comedy productions, as noted in her performances in “Annihilation (2018),” “Jane the Virgin” TV series (2014), and “Filly Brown (2012),” among her other work to… Continue reading Review: MISS BALA
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Review: THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) There are war documentaries and there is Peter Jackson’s They Shall Not Grow Old. Though other war documentaries often include footage from other sources, Jackson’s movie almost solely consists of material from the Imperial War Museum’s archives. Jackson molds, shapes and restores to tell some very… Continue reading Review: THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD
Iranian Film Festival NY 2019 Review: PIG
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) From writer/director Mani Haghighi comes this often hilarious and surreal satire that pulls few punches when it comes to social commentary and the very human obsession with fame. I was somewhat taken aback with this film which presents some seriously violent content, but seems to ably spin… Continue reading Iranian Film Festival NY 2019 Review: PIG
Review: THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING
By Liz Lopez Rating B+ Director Joe Cornish (2011 cult favorite “Attack the Block”) returns with “The Kid Who Would Be King” a contemporary King Arthur legend screenplay he wrote featuring pre/young teens saving England from complete doom by someone who wants the sword after it is pulled from the stone. The story is pretty… Continue reading Review: THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING
Review: COLD WAR
By Liz Lopez Rating A Pawel Pawlikowski (the Polish auteur of the 2015 Oscar-winning “Ida”) returns with the black-and-white film, “Cold War” (original title: “Zimna wojna”), that was competing in the Cannes Film Festival last May. Director Pawlikowski co-wrote the screenplay with Janusz Glowacki and the collaboration of Piotr Borkowski. Pawlikowski’s jazz-infused romantic drama received… Continue reading Review: COLD WAR
Review: STAN & OLLIE
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) From the 1920s through the 1930s, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were a popular and thusly, highly successful comedy duo making high profile Hollywood movies. Their film career as a pair would eventually get derailed by personal differences, the changing state of the business, and the… Continue reading Review: STAN & OLLIE
Review: SERENITY
“Serenity” stars McConaughey, Hathaway and other Great Cast, but the Story Spins. By Liz Lopez Rating B-/C+ Although all efforts will be made to not reveal all there is to writer/director Steven Knight’s latest film, “Serenity” starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jason Clarke, Diane Lane and Djimon Hounsou. Several other reviews online spill so much… Continue reading Review: SERENITY
Austin Entertainment News: “Waitress” to play Bass Concert Hall from January 22 – 27, 2019
By Liz Lopez [Source: TPA/BAA – see below] Lexus Broadway in Austin presented by Texas Performing Arts is host to “Waitress” from January 22 – 27, 2019 (Tuesday – Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Sunday at 1 p.m. & 7 p.m. at the Bass Concert Hall, 2350 Robert Dedman… Continue reading Austin Entertainment News: “Waitress” to play Bass Concert Hall from January 22 – 27, 2019
Iranian Film Festival NY 2019 Review: HENDI & HORMOZ
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) For my second film, I selected one that has a more serious tone and explores a different culture in Iran. Hendi & Hormoz takes place on the Iranian island of Hormuz where a very impoverished, third world group of people struggle to thrive. The film follows… Continue reading Iranian Film Festival NY 2019 Review: HENDI & HORMOZ
Iranian Film Festival NY 2019 Review: I WANT TO DANCE
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) From January 10 through 15, the first annual Iranian Film Festival New York took place. Though I was unable to attend the event, I was given the opportunity to cover some of the films which screened during the festival. The first of which was a delightful… Continue reading Iranian Film Festival NY 2019 Review: I WANT TO DANCE