By Laurie Coker Rating: C+ After this bizarre election year, nothing should surprise us, not even the arrival of aliens from another planet. While communication and unity seem to be eluding us of late, Arrival, starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner, plays on these premises that we, flawed humans, need to stop, look within and must… Continue reading Review: ARRIVAL
Category: Reviews
Review: THE PICKLE RECIPE
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) Occasionally I am offered the opportunity to review independent films released in markets other than Austin. Indie movies need much more support than major releases, and I am always willing to help little films find audiences, if they do meet certain standards of course. Opening on… Continue reading Review: THE PICKLE RECIPE
Review: TROLLS
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) In an age of cynicism and pessimism, it is often refreshing to see a film brimming with themes of optimism and happiness. With all of the ugliness and hate in the world, people of all ages need cheerful messages of love, and reminders that the world… Continue reading Review: TROLLS
Review: HACKSAW RIDGE
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) In 1945, President Harry S. Truman presented Army medic Desmond Doss with the Congressional Medal of Honor for going above and beyond the call of duty and rescuing 75 infantrymen during the near-catastrophic Battle of Okinawa in World War II. That is tremendously amazing for a… Continue reading Review: HACKSAW RIDGE
Review: MOONLIGHT
By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) “At some point you’ve got to decide for yourself who you gonna be. And let nobody make that decision.” Although that advice (as delivered by one of the characters in Moonlight) seems simple and true enough, life has a way of making this path a challenge. This… Continue reading Review: MOONLIGHT
Review: DOCTOR STRANGE
By Renee’ Collins Rating: 4 (Out of 5 Reels) A former neurosurgeon (Benedict Cumberbatch) embarks on a journey of healing only to be drawn into the world of the mystic arts (IMDB). Doctor Strange is the latest superhero character addition (as well as a few sidekicks) to the film genre from the Marvel Comics world.… Continue reading Review: DOCTOR STRANGE
Review: DOCTOR STRANGE
By Laurie Coker Rating: A Starting out this fall season, Doctor Strange, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, is a virtual cornucopia of visually stunning imagery and seamless CGI. Director Scott Derrickson, along with a plethora of writers, including Austin’s own C. Robert Cargill, give us a droll comic book hero with more arrogance and issues than Tony… Continue reading Review: DOCTOR STRANGE
Review and Interview: WE ARE X
By Liz Lopez Rating: B+ I attended the SXSW Film Festival this past March and viewed numerous music documentaries, but the one that I unfortunately missed is “We Are X” directed by Stephen Kijak (“Scott Walker – 30 Century Man,” “Backstreet Boys: Show ‘Em What You’re Made Of”). The feature documentary won the audience award… Continue reading Review and Interview: WE ARE X
Review: INFERNO
By Mark Saldana Rating: 2 (Out of 4 Stars) Much like Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code before it, Inferno utilizes a wealth of European history, art and literature, blends it with real world issues, and spins it into a conspiracy-laden, mystery-thriller. And much like its predecessors, the pacing and intensity of the… Continue reading Review: INFERNO
Review: INFERNO
By Laurie Coker Rating: D+/C- Dan Brown is a pedestrian writer – there I said it. Even with the exceptionally popular DaVinci Code, he lumbered insipidly and laboriously through a speculative tale of covert intrigue involving Christian convention and conspiracies, after which he produced two more mediocre novels. They’ve made millions and the first turned… Continue reading Review: INFERNO