Category: Reviews

By Liz Lopez Rating A   Pawel Pawlikowski (the Polish auteur of the 2015 Oscar-winning “Ida”) returns with the black-and-white film, “Cold War” (original title: “Zimna wojna”), that was competing in the Cannes Film Festival last May. Director Pawlikowski co-wrote the screenplay with Janusz Glowacki and the collaboration of Piotr Borkowski. Pawlikowski’s jazz-infused romantic drama received… Continue reading Review: COLD WAR

“Serenity” stars McConaughey, Hathaway and other Great Cast, but the Story Spins. By Liz Lopez Rating B-/C+ Although all efforts will be made to not reveal all there is to writer/director Steven Knight’s latest film, “Serenity” starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jason Clarke, Diane Lane and Djimon Hounsou. Several other reviews online spill so much… Continue reading Review: SERENITY

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) For my second film, I selected one that has a more serious tone and explores a different culture in Iran. Hendi & Hormoz takes place on the Iranian island of Hormuz where a very impoverished, third world group of people struggle to thrive. The film follows… Continue reading Iranian Film Festival NY 2019 Review: HENDI & HORMOZ

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) From January 10 through 15, the first annual Iranian Film Festival New York took place. Though I was unable to attend the event, I was given the opportunity to cover some of the films which screened during the festival. The first of which was a delightful… Continue reading Iranian Film Festival NY 2019 Review: I WANT TO DANCE

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Redemption takes many forms, and like the protagonist of the neo-noir film Destroyer, sometimes one has to get downright dirty to accomplish it.  The new film from director Karyn Kusama (The Invitation) is a prime example of this nasty, regressive process.  Nicole Kidman’s character, Erin Bell,… Continue reading Review: DESTROYER

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) After France’s The Intouchables received acclaim from both critics and the general public, it was only a matter of time before Hollywood would make an American version, and after eight years, The Intouchables redo is finally seeing the light of day.  Dubbed, The Upside, the US… Continue reading Review: THE UPSIDE

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) A form of amusement which has grown in popularity over the past few years is “The Escape Room.”  A group of people enters a facility where they are supposedly tapped and must use their wits, evade threats, and overcome challenges and obstacles to get out.  I… Continue reading Review: ESCAPE ROOM

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been in the news lately, but sadly, this been due to some health problems.  Still, there is no denying her amazing contributions to social justice–particularly her work in advancing women’s rights.  This new movie by director Mimi Leder attempts… Continue reading Review: ON THE BASIS OF SEX

AFF’s “Shoplifters” (Manbiki Kazoku) from Director Hirokazu Koreeda Takes Your Heart   By Liz Lopez Rating: A Director/writer/editor Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Shoplifters” (original title, Manbiki Kazoku) is one of those films that grabs your attention from the onset and then takes your heart to add this emotional and moving story about a Japanese “family” that survives… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2018 Review: SHOPLIFTERS

By Mark Saldana 2018 was another fantastic year for cinema, but it was a particularly exciting year for me.  In addition to reviewing hundreds of films this year, and attending my four usual film festivals, I was accepted into the Austin Film Critics Association.  With this honor comes even more access to films before their… Continue reading Mark Saldana’s Best Films of 2018