By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) Some of the better films this year have dealt with the human challenge of grief. Manchester By the Sea, Arrival, and Jackie have adult characters coping with grief in their lives, but A Monster Calls is different in that its protagonist is young boy who must… Continue reading Review: A MONSTER CALLS
Category: Reviews
Review: SILENCE
By Laurie Coker Rating: A- Martin Scorsese’s ambitious film Silence, starring Liam Neeson, Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver, delves into Christian ministries to Japan in the 15th century. Scorsese, who co-wrote Silence with Jay Cocks, took nearly three decades to get this visually passionate epic journey to screens. The emotional impact of Silence resonates long… Continue reading Review: SILENCE
BEST FILMS OF 2016 (A Work Still In Progress)
By Mark Saldana 2016 may have been the craziest, strangest and one of the most tragic years in news, but in cinema, 2016 has to be one of the all time best in terms of quality, progression and relevance. Race relations may have suffered setbacks. Tolerance may be quite low with hate on the rise;… Continue reading BEST FILMS OF 2016 (A Work Still In Progress)
Review: LION
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Based on the nonfiction book, A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley and Larry Buttrose, Lion tells the true story of Saroo, a native of India who, as a child, gets separated from his poor, but loving family. Saroo (Sunny Pawar), while looking for his older brother,… Continue reading Review: LION
Fantastic Fest 2016 Review: ELLE
By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) Paul Verhoeven, the mad, ingenious Dutch filmmaker who directed such films as Robocop, Total Recall (1990), Basic Instinct, and Starship Troopers, is back with a very controversial thriller which deals with rape, psychological trauma, and how one woman copes with these intense issues. Isabelle Huppert stars as… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2016 Review: ELLE
Review: WHY HIM?
By Mark Saldana Rating: 2 (Out of 4 Stars) Why Him?, the new movie by writer/director John Hamburg (I Love You, Man, Along Came Polly) takes an overused plot of boyfriend versus girlfriend’s father and hopes to reinvigorate it with wild, zany, and over-the-top humor. The film does have a talented cast, but Hamburg and co-writer… Continue reading Review: WHY HIM?
Review: FENCES
By Laurie Coker Rating: A- A fine line exists between creating an outstanding film from a stage production – be it a musical or standard play. Many have accomplished it successfully – consider Chicago, Pygmalion (aka My Fair Lady), Barefoot in the Park, Casa Blanca and the list goes on and on. It’s more difficult,… Continue reading Review: FENCES
Review: FENCES
By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) In a year where it seems that advances in race relations have made a complete 180, films like Fences and Moonlight are more important than ever. From a non-African-American perspective, it can be easy to point fingers and make accusations judging Black America for some of the… Continue reading Review: FENCES
Review: PASSENGERS
By Laurie Coker Rating: D+ It’s happening – the end of year, holiday, and pre-Oscar rush to entertain audiences of all ages. From sci-fi spectaculars to singing animals and serious drama to trashy comedy, it is all in theaters this week and next. Filmmakers vie to make it on critics’ list whether it is the… Continue reading Review: PASSENGERS
Review: SING
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) With the holidays and the end of the year comes the push by movie studios to promote some of their best films to make the cut for the awards season. This works out well for adult cinephiles, as most of these movies are intended for mature… Continue reading Review: SING