Category: Reviews

By Mark Saldana Rating: 2.5 (Out of 4 Stars) In 1971, writer/director Don Siegel’s The Beguiled opened in theaters, but despite the critical acclaim it received, it did not do well at the box office.  Siegel’s steamy and disturbing adaptation of Thomas P. Cullinan’s novel A Painted Devil came at a time where filmmakers had started… Continue reading Review: THE BEGUILED (2017)

By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) The new movie by Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) is a beautiful example of precision filmmaking and thrilling storytelling.  Wright has not only chosen the perfect soundtrack for his film, he and his crew have also exceptionally choreographed… Continue reading Review: BABY DRIVER

By Renee’ Collins Rating: 5 (Out of 5 Reels) After being coerced into working for a crime boss, a young getaway driver (Ansel Elgort) finds himself taking part in a heist doomed to fail (IMDB). This film is one of the best I have seen this year. The writing, acting and cinematography are excellent and… Continue reading Review: BABY DRIVER

By Renee’ Collins Rating: 2 (Out of 5 Reels) Legendary lawman and gunslinger, Wild Bill Hickok (Luke Hemsworth), is tasked with taming the wildest cow-town in the west. While delivering his own brand of frontier justice, the infamous gunfighter’s reputation as the fastest draw in the west is put to the test (IMDB). I was… Continue reading Review: HICKOK

By Liz Lopez Rating: A Director Brett Haley co- wrote the screenplay for “The Hero” with Marc Basch, starring Sam Elliott who has had fans as far back as 1969 with “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” several roles as a cowboy on television and most recently to the 2015 feature film, “I’ll See You… Continue reading Review: THE HERO

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) Last month I received a couple of special invitations to review films not yet released in theaters and still seeking distribution.  The first one was Bloodlands, an Albanian-Australian production from Aussie filmmaker Steven Kastrissios.  The other was an Austin, Texas production titled Six Pack Sam, which I… Continue reading Special Review: BLOODLANDS

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) So far, 2017 has been a good year for the romantic comedy.  I have seen three films this year that have renewed my enthusiasm for a genre whose entries in recent decades have often left me bored or frustrated.  The Big Sick, Signature Move and now,… Continue reading Review: BAND AID

By Renee’ Collins Rating: 2.5 (Out of 5 Reels) Humans and Transformers are at war and Optimus Prime is gone. The key to saving our future lies buried in the secrets of the past, in the hidden history of Transformers on Earth (IMDB). Mark Wahlberg is back as Cade Yeager helping the few remaining good… Continue reading Review: TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT

By Mark Saldana Rating: 2.5 (Out of 4 Stars) There have been plenty of films about bachelor parties-gone-wrong, but not really any about bachelorette party mayhem.  Rough Night promises to put an end to that disparity and do it with the same amount of crude, lewd, and wild humor.  The movie does offer plenty of… Continue reading Review: ROUGH NIGHT

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) As Jean-Jacques Rousseau once claimed that a “great princess” made the infamous statement, “Let them eat cake.” artists and philosophers have often criticized the wealthy for being completely oblivious to the real needs of the impoverished and only concerned with their selfish greed.  This has been… Continue reading Review: BEATRIZ AT DINNER