Review: GEMINI MAN

By Mark Saldana Rating: 2.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Though it has taken a long journey to get here, Gemini Man, for better or worse is now in theaters. On the plus side, the film features an inventive science fiction premise, but on the negative end, also features a somewhat predictable plot. In addition director… Continue reading Review: GEMINI MAN

Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: DOLEMITE IS MY NAME

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) As always, the Fantastic Fest lineup this year featured two secret screenings for their eager attendees. Given that Netflix had such a formidable presence at the film festival this year, it wasn’t too surprising that one of their more highly anticipated entries was the first secret… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: DOLEMITE IS MY NAME

Review: LUCY IN THE SKY

Zazie Beetz and Natalie Portman in the film LUCY IN THE SKY. Photo by Hilary B. Gayle. © 2019 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation All Rights Reserved

By Liz Lopez Rating: C+ Noah Hawley (“Legion” and “Fargo” TV series) makes his feature directing debut with “Lucy In the Sky,” based on a screenplay he wrote with Brian C. Brown and Elliott DiGuiseppi and despite any revisions he made to the script, the storytelling is still lacking. This is sad to say, but… Continue reading Review: LUCY IN THE SKY

Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: THE DEEPER YOU DIG

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) From writers/directors/actors Toby Poser and John Adams comes a chilling thriller which basically takes elements from Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart and sets it in modern times. Thought it isn’t an exact adaptation, Poser and Adams, instead, take the theme of guilt and utilizes it to tell… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: THE DEEPER YOU DIG

Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: IRON FISTS AND KUNG FU KICKS

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Australian director Serge Ou’s comprehensive documentary tells the vast history martial arts cinema and does so with great style and aplomb. It is a rather daunting task to pull this off, as the filmography of martial arts movies is quite extensive. Still, Ou manages to condense… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: IRON FISTS AND KUNG FU KICKS

Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: KNIVES AND SKIN

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Though not a true musical, Jennifer Reeder’s Knives and Skin uses music and song in some inventive and powerful ways. This film, which tackles the scary years of high school, focuses on a group of teenage girls struggling with identity amidst the aftermath a classmate’s disappearance.… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: KNIVES AND SKIN

Review: HOTEL MUMBAI

By Laurie Coker Rating: A+ Had the events of 9/11 never happened incidents like the one that occurred at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai, India would have been little more than a few segments the evening news. Horrific actions on foreign soil had nothing to do with us. Director Anthony Maras who shares writing credit… Continue reading Review: HOTEL MUMBAI

Review: JUDY

By Laurie Coker Rating: C + Gearing up for or towards Oscar season, viewers can expect to see excellent films and excellent actors just not necessarily together. Renee Zellweger comes to the screen again in Judy, a movie based on the late, talented Wizard of Oz star, Judy Garland. Missing for a bit of time… Continue reading Review: JUDY

Review: JOKER

By Laurie Coker Rating: C Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of the Joker feels, at the same time, both disgusting and admirable. Joker’s director and co-writer, with Scott Silver, Todd Phillips explores the dingiest, darkest, and most disturbing aspect of the character and still, he disappoints with his dismal, in-your-face social commentary.  Were it not for its… Continue reading Review: JOKER