IN THE HEIGHTS

By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) Playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda is currently best known as the creative mind and lead performer behind the critically acclaimed musical Hamilton. However, before he achieved accolades and massive success with his historically-inspired musical, Miranda did receive some respect and adoration for his stage musical adaptation, In The… Continue reading IN THE HEIGHTS

12 MIGHTY ORPHANS

By Mark Saldana Rating: 2 (Out of 4 Stars) Underdog stories can be a wonderful source of joy and inspiration, but they can also fulfill that human need to feel good. And though this movie has a lovable and winning story inspiring it, the film falls and mostly fails due to cliche story telling and… Continue reading 12 MIGHTY ORPHANS

SXSW 2021 Review: THROUGH THE PLEXI-GLASS: THE LAST DAYS OF THE SAN JOSE

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Directors Liz Lambert tells her remarkable true story in this documentary which serves as a time capsule of the city of Austin, Texas, during the late 1990s. During this particular time, Austin is on the verge of some major changes. Lambert decides to invest in some… Continue reading SXSW 2021 Review: THROUGH THE PLEXI-GLASS: THE LAST DAYS OF THE SAN JOSE

SXSW 2021 Review: THE LOST SONS

By Jan Hamilton Director: Ursula Macfarlane, Producer: Gagan Rehill1960s Chicago, a baby is kidnapped from a hospital. Fifteen months later, a toddler is abandoned. Could he be the same baby? In a tale of breathtaking twists and turns, two mysteries begin to unravel and dark family secrets are revealed. (World Premiere) When Paul Fronczak was… Continue reading SXSW 2021 Review: THE LOST SONS

SXSW 2021 Review: THE FEAST

By Jan Hamilton Director: Lee Haven Jones, Screenwriter/Producer: Roger WilliamsOver an evening a wealthy family gathers for a sumptuous dinner with guests in their ostentatious house in the Welsh mountains. Served by a mysteriously disturbing young woman, the assembled party do not realize they are about to eat their last supper. Cast List: Anne Elwy, Nia… Continue reading SXSW 2021 Review: THE FEAST

SXSW 2021 Review: SWAN SONG

By Jan Hamilton Director/Screenwriter: Todd Stephens, Producers: Todd Stephens, Eric Eisenbrey, Tim Kaltenecker, Stephen IsraelAn aging hairdresser (Udo Kier) escapes his nursing home and embarks on an odyssey across his small town to style a dead woman’s hair for her funeral, rediscovering his sparkle along the way. Cast List: Udo Kier, Jennifer Coolidge, Linda Evans, Michael… Continue reading SXSW 2021 Review: SWAN SONG