By Liz Lopez Rating: B+ Every year I look forward to the SXSW Film Festival, and among my many favorite films offered are the ones screened in the 24 Beats Per Second category. Each documentary provides details about the musicians I already know of or am familiar with, but then I learn so much about… Continue reading SXSW 2021 Review: The Sparks Brothers
Category: Reviews
HITMAN’S WIFE’S BODYGUARD
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) Even though I moderately enjoyed The Hitman’s Bodyguard, I felt that the writing and direction withheld the movie from hitting “11” on all cylinders. To its benefit, the comic timing of both Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson, along with their lovely chemistry, make it a… Continue reading HITMAN’S WIFE’S BODYGUARD
HITMAN’S WIFE’S BODYGUARD’S
By Renee’ C. Rating: 4.5 (Out of 5 Reels) The bodyguard Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) continues his friendship with assassin Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) as they try to save Darius’s wife Sonia (Salma Hayek) (IMDB). This is the first film in person at the theater in over a year because of COVID. Luckily for… Continue reading HITMAN’S WIFE’S BODYGUARD’S
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: THE FALLOUT
By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) The Fallout won the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award Prize in the Narrative Feature Competition, as well as the Brightcove Illumination Award at this year’s festival. Quite truthfully, I cannot think of a more deserving film. Of the films that I watched and enjoyed… Continue reading SXSW 2021 Review: THE FALLOUT
SXSW 2021 Review: LANGUAGE LESSONS
By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) By now I have seen a good handful of “computer screen” films, most of which have been entries in either the horror or suspense-thriller genres. Given that computers and technology play such major roles in the lives of real people now, it makes perfect sense that… Continue reading SXSW 2021 Review: LANGUAGE LESSONS
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