ANTLERS

Rating: B+ This is a horror film. Perhaps not so much because of the creature itself, but what the two elementary school aged boys endure in the film. It could give parents and/or grandparents nightmares. To be very honest, in the first five minutes of the film (or so) when I saw the younger child… Continue reading ANTLERS

Austin Film Festival 2021 Review and News: HOLIDAYS AT ALL COST

Rating: A The French comedy, Holidays At All Cost, world premiered at Dances With Films 24 in Los Angeles, followed by screenings at festivals in New York City, Montreal and Germany, and recently won awards in Marbella (Best Story), Edmonton (Jury Award for Best International Feature – Dramatic) and Austria (Best Feature – Austrian Indie… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2021 Review and News: HOLIDAYS AT ALL COST

Austin Film Festival 2021 Review: TIME NOW

Rating: B – Writer/director Spencer King’s Time Now is one of the major marquee titles premiering at the Austin Film Festival. The new mystery-thriller stars Eleanor Lambert (daughter of acclaimed actors Diane Lane and Christopher Lambert) and Claudia Black (“Farscape”, “The Nevers”). Lambert stars as Jenny, who grew up in Detroit, but is married and… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2021 Review: TIME NOW

THE FRENCH DISPATCH

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) As Wes Anderson has developed and honed his signature style of filmmaking and story-telling, it has become increasingly apparent that the director has much love and respect for French cinema, art and pop-culture. Some of his musical choices, his desired cinematography, his use of colors, as… Continue reading THE FRENCH DISPATCH

THE VELVET UNDERGROUND

By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) My first introduction to the music of The Velvet Underground was in 1991 when a couple of their songs played in the background of Oliver Stone’s musical biopic The Doors. Back then, I was such a huge fan of the movie that I was obsessed with… Continue reading THE VELVET UNDERGROUND

DUNE

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) After creating an incredible sequel with Blade Runner 2049, filmmaker Denis Villeneuve has taken on the challenge of adapting one of the more sucessful, iconic, and popular novels of science fiction. Upon hearing that Dune would be Villenneuve’s next project, I had little doubt that the… Continue reading DUNE

MASS

Rating: B Actor Fran Kranz makes his feature filmmaking debut with the drama Mass. When the film begins, it is not clear why a lady in a church is so anxious about getting the meeting room prepared for guests, nor is it clear what the meeting is about. If anyone is very tired or impatient… Continue reading MASS

HALLOWEEN KILLS

By Laurie Coker Rating: C- Jamie Lee Curtis still draws viewers and apparently, the makers of ‘Halloween Kills’ know it. They tout her as the star of the latest in the Michael Myers slasher saga and yet, she has fewer than fifteen minutes of screen time. Co-writer/director David Gordon Green, along with Danny McBride and… Continue reading HALLOWEEN KILLS