By Laurie Coker Rating: D The Big Ugly has promise with its solid testosterone-driven cast, but it falls short in plot, creativity, and character. Writer/director Scott Wiper works hard, or so it seems, to create a film with thematic substance, but instead offers up a carbon-copy of dozens of revenge-based movies with no heart. While… Continue reading THE BIG UGLY
Category: MAIN
NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) To be completely honest and transparent, I feel the need to preface this review. I have known the film’s writer/director, Daniel Tucker, for several years now. He is a good friend and overall great person. Before pursuing a career as a filmmaker, Daniel used to review… Continue reading NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD
WE ARE LITTLE ZOMBIES
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Japanese filmmaker Magato Nagahisa makes his feature film debut with a movie that deals with grief and disappointment through the eyes and minds of children. That opening sentence might make this film sound like a dour and depressing affair, but Nagahisa channels his inner child well… Continue reading WE ARE LITTLE ZOMBIES
SUZI Q
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Prior to viewing this documentary, my knowledge about Suzi Quatro was mostly limited to the small series of appearances she made on television’s Happy Days durting the 1970s. I was also aware that she was a rock musician and singer, but I honestly had no idea… Continue reading SUZI Q
7500
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) “Just when you thought it was safer to take a flight,” could have easily been a corny tagline for this hijacking movie. It would’ve been appropriately corny, given that there have been plenty of entries already in this thriller subgenre. Still, I have to give some… Continue reading 7500
THE VAST OF NIGHT
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Retro sci fi meets indie, character/dialogue-driven drama in this exciting and riveting thriller. Though that might sound like an unusual mix to some people, cinephiles and science fiction enthusiasts should already know that some of the best genre movies and shows have exceptional writing and compelling… Continue reading THE VAST OF NIGHT
REWIND
By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) Filmmaking and videography has become a family tradition in Sasha Joseph Neulinger’s family for a few decades now. It began with Sasha’s father Henry who has a career as a film producer/videographer. At home, Henry definitely bought into home video movement when he purchased his first… Continue reading REWIND
SXSW 2020 Review: I’M GONNA MAKE YOU LOVE ME
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Brian Belovitch has lived a rather fascinating life. Through his childhood, he endured physical and verbal abuse by his father, in addition to feeling uncomfortable in his own skin, and feeling completely unloved and out of place. Brian would later spend his young, adult years in… Continue reading SXSW 2020 Review: I’M GONNA MAKE YOU LOVE ME
SXSW 2020 Review: GUNPOWDER HEART
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) From Guatemala comes this tremendously powerful film from writer/director Camila Urrutia who makes her feature film debut here. Urrutia tells the story of two girlfriends enjoying life and love in an impoverished country with few opportunities for prosperity. On one life-changing night, Claudia (Andrea Henry) and… Continue reading SXSW 2020 Review: GUNPOWDER HEART
SXSW 2020 Review: MY DARLING VIVIAN
By Mark Saldana Rating 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) For multiple decades, much has been said about the oft romanticized relationship between Johnny Cash and June Carter. James Mangold’s Johnny Cash biopic, Walk the Line, portrays the love affair as a fairy tale romance. Even I have to admit that I became a sentimental “sucker”… Continue reading SXSW 2020 Review: MY DARLING VIVIAN