By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) Written and directed by Noah Baumbach, this phenomenal movie is not only my favorite film of this year’s AFF, it is definitely one of the top films of the year. I went into this film preparing myself for a thoroughly heart wrenching, sorrowful affair, but was… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2019 Review: MARRIAGE STORY
Category: Reviews
Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: KNIVES OUT
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) This year’s Fantastic Fest closed with a delightfully smart, mystery thriller which would possibly impress Agatha Christie herself. Writer/director Rian Johnson has taken the classic “whodunnit” and offers an engrossing and entertaining twist on the genre. With a talented ensemble cast, intelligent writing and superb direction,… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2019 Review: KNIVES OUT
Review: QUEEN & SLIM
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Director Melina Matsoukas makes her feature film debut with a gorgeously- shot portrait of unwitting outlaws involved in a violent killing. Matsoukas takes the tropes of outlaws-on-the-run and utilities them to make a bold stance against prejudice and police corruption. Her film, though not superbly executed,… Continue reading Review: QUEEN & SLIM
Knives out
By Laurie Coker Rating: A+ Nothing beats a good murder mystery and Knives Out starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Christopher Plumber, Don Johnson, Michael Shannon, Chris Evans, Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas and a host of other awesome actors keeps the audience guessing like an old-style Agatha Christie novel. Writer/director Rian Johnson plays every trick in… Continue reading Knives out
Review: A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) Last year’s documentary, Won’t You Be My Neighbor? opened up my eyes, heart, and mind to realize what a truly extraordinary human Fred Rogers was. As a child, I grew up occasionally watching Mr. Rogers, not truly appreciating his unusual approach to children’s television or the… Continue reading Review: A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Austin Film Festival 2019 Review: WAVES
By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) As usual, this year’s Austin Film Festival featured an exciting lineup of movies, but definitely offered some great headliners which may be considered for accolades at the year’s end. The one film which seriously blew me away came from writer/director Trey Edward Shults. Shults originally caught… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2019 Review: WAVES
Review: HONEY BOY
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) To anyone who has wondered what the deal is with Shia LeBeouf, the actor who has written this rather personal statement of who he is and why he’s had his share of personal turmoil. I suppose it has become easy to dismiss the actor as just… Continue reading Review: HONEY BOY
Review: FROZEN II
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf return in a new adventure that amuses and entertains, but lacks a solid story as its foundation. It is a simple case of sequelitis that keeps this new installment from achieving the same heights of greatness and passion, but it is… Continue reading Review: FROZEN II
Review: 21 BRIDGES
By Mark Saldana Rating: 2.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Television director Brian Kirk makes his cinematic debut with a movie that shows much talent behind its tense beats and action sequences, but is held back by a thin story and lackluster character development. 21 Bridges, with all of its talent in front of its lenses,… Continue reading Review: 21 BRIDGES
Review: BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON
By Laurie Coker Rating: B From the trailers, the debut from the writer-director Paul Downs Colaizzo, Brittany Runs and Marathon looks like a goofy, body-shaming film in line with those by Amy Schumer, but it is far more. Colaizzo gives a little film with a big heart and Jillian Bell serves up a subtly touching… Continue reading Review: BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON