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
Category: Reviews
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
Fantastic Fest 2021: KNOCKING
By Liz Lopez Rating: B The Swedish film Knocking started its festival run at Sundance early this year and continued to multiple film festivals internationally before arriving at Fantastic Fest. I found the film very intriguing, despite having viewed stories that feature a woman who is trying very hard to have people believe her about… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2021: KNOCKING
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
Fantastic Fest 2021 Review: THE TRIP
By Liz Lopez Rating: A+ It was a nice return to attend Fantastic Fest 2021 with both the in person and virtual screenings. It started off great with very good films to put us back in the festival mood that is unique to this one here in Austin. The one film that made me feel… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2021 Review: THE TRIP
HALLOWEEN KILLS
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) The Halloween slasher saga continues, and does so with an interesting, but not as solidly conceived sequel as the previous installment. Director David Gordon Green’s approach to his follow-up movie seems like it aims to please the gore and stylized killing fans, but can’t quite seem… Continue reading HALLOWEEN KILLS
THE LAST DUEL
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Ridley Scott’s newest movie tells a compelling true story that takes place in 14th century France, but certainly has some relevance in the modern world, as it deals with the repercussions of sexual assault. In this era, when men are being held more accountable for misogyny… Continue reading THE LAST DUEL
SURVIVE THE GAME
By Liz Lopez Rating: C+ Directed by James Cullen Bressack and written by Ross Peacock, this action crime thriller is ambitious in its efforts to tell another story about the law enforcement efforts to pull off a drug bust. The intention is there, but the script really lacks anything new that hasn’t been done in… Continue reading SURVIVE THE GAME