Category: Reviews

By Liz Lopez Rating: B- Since we have had catastrophic hurricanes in Texas and Puerto Rico recently, as well as earthquakes and other extreme weather events around the world, the feature film “Geostorm” certainly appears to be a timely story about climate change as the trailer indicates. The film is produced and directed by Dean… Continue reading Review: GEOSTORM

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) On August 8, 1974, US President Richard M. Nixon announced on television his resignation from office.  As most people know, the Watergate break in, its investigation by the FBI and the coverage by the press led to the downfall of the 37th president.  Key to this… Continue reading Review: MARK FELT: THE MAN WHO BROUGHT DOWN THE WHITE HOUSE

By Mark Saldana Rating: 2 (Out of 4 Stars) Based on the novel by Jo Nesbø, The Snowman introduces movie audiences to the character of Harry Hole, a Norwegian detective working on a serial murder case.  Tomas Alfredson, the acclaimed director of Let the Right One In, helms this problematic adaptation that apparently was plagued by… Continue reading Review: THE SNOWMAN

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) On June 30, 2013, the Granite Mountain Hotshots fire department fought hard, but suffered a tremendous loss during the Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona.  Nineteen members of the elite firefighting team were killed and this tragedy is considered the greatest loss of US firefighters since the… Continue reading Review: ONLY THE BRAVE

By Renee’ Collins Rating: 4.5 (Out of 5 Reels) The story of Mark Felt (Liam Neeson), who under the name “Deep Throat” helped journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncover the Watergate scandal in 1974 (IMDB). Neeson is spectacular in his role as Felt. It is hard to believe that one or two persons, namely… Continue reading Review: MARK FELT: THE MAN HOW BROUGHT DOWN THE WHITE HOUSE

By Renee’ C. Rating: 1 (Out of 5 Reels) Detective Harry Hole (Michael Fassbender) investigates the disappearance of a woman whose pink scarf is found wrapped around an ominous-looking snowman (IMDB). I was cautiously optimistic about seeing this film because I have enjoyed roles Fassbender has previously portrayed. Unfortunately, his acting talents could not save… Continue reading Reviews: THE SNOWMAN

By Renee’ C. Rating: 3.5 (Out of 5 Reels) A humble businessman, Quan Ngoc Minh (Jackie Chan) with a buried past seeks justice when his daughter, Fan (Katie Leung) is killed in an act of terrorism. A cat-and-mouse conflict ensues with a government official (Pierce Brosnan), whose past may hold clues to the killers’ identities… Continue reading Review: THE FOREIGNER

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Noah Baumbach might be one of the best filmmakers who can tell stories about individual and familial dysfunction and make them not only poignant and emotional, but also hilarious and fun.  Baumbach has returned with a new film, but one that is not opening in theaters. … Continue reading Review: THE MEYEROWITZ STORIES (NEW AND SELECTED)

By Mark Saldana Rating: 2.5 (Out of 4 Stars) After Groundhog Day, Edge of Tomorrow and Before I Fall, does cinema really need another movie where the protagonist repeats the day over and over until he or she does it correctly? Is cinema falling into a self-prophetic vicious cycle of repeated plots?  I would have to answer… Continue reading Review: HAPPY DEATH DAY

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) The list of revenge flicks in existence may run for miles, but there’s a good reason for this.  This type of movie, when executed well, makes for compelling cinema.  Usually, the protagonist is portrayed as a sympathetic character for whom audiences can cheer, and when the… Continue reading Review: THE FOREIGNER