By Laurie Coker Rating: A+ The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling, the newest Disney version goes beyond what I imagined. I grew up with the original Disney animated cartoon, shared it with my son and then his children. Directed by Jon Favreau, the latest Jungle Book excites, engages and explores Kipling’s original themes with astonishing… Continue reading Review: THE JUNGLE BOOK
Category: Reviews
SXSW Film 2016 Review: HUSH
By Liz Lopez Rating: B+ There is plenty of home invasion horror films that I have seen during the several years that I have been writing about films and just when I think they can be predictable, another one arrives that leaves me a little bit unsettled when the story is tweaked a bit from… Continue reading SXSW Film 2016 Review: HUSH
SXSW Film 2016 Review: DEMOLITION
By Liz Lopez Rating: B+ Losing a loved one is not easy, and the grieving process is very different for each individual. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as a cocky Wall Streeter, Davis Mitchell, married to Julia (Heather Lind) in his latest film, Demolition. At the beginning of the film, this couple is having what appears to… Continue reading SXSW Film 2016 Review: DEMOLITION
Review: THE BOSS
By Laurie Coker Rating: D Actress Melissa McCarthy churns out movies like a machine. Her talent for comedic timing is impeccable, but unfortunately, her choice of scripts, many written and directed by her husband Ben Falcone, leaves little to be desired in many cases. Foul language, filthy gags and silly pratfalls make for dull, dull… Continue reading Review: THE BOSS
SXSW FILM 2016 Review: HARDCORE HENRY
By Liz Lopez Rating: C- I am not a fan of roller coaster rides, but yet the feature film, Hardcore Henry, gives the audience a feeling of being on one huge carnival ride of some sort. It is as if you are mounted on the shoulders of the protagonist that is having some limbs replaced… Continue reading SXSW FILM 2016 Review: HARDCORE HENRY
SXSW Film 2016 Review: 9 RIDES
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Not since the movie King Kelly (SXSW Alum, 2012) have I seen a more modern style of filmmaking, besides the often frustrating found-footage horror film. 9 Rides takes place on a New Years Eve in the car of an Uber driver working the eventful night to… Continue reading SXSW Film 2016 Review: 9 RIDES
SXSW Film 2016 Review: DEMOLITION
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Close to two years ago, acclaimed director Jean-Marc Vallée (Dallas Buyers Club) offered audiences the true story of Cheryl Strayed and how she overcame her grief for her deceased mother and her subsequent drug abuse in the amazing film Wild. This year Vallée and screenwriter Bryan Sipe brought to… Continue reading SXSW Film 2016 Review: DEMOLITION
Review: THE BOSS
By Mark Saldana Rating: 1.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Melissa McCarthy is a tremendously talented actress and comedian currently working in television and film. However, if she continues making comedy films that range from mediocre to exasperatingly bad, she will soon wear out her welcome. McCarthy has starred in good movies (Spy, St. Vincent,… Continue reading Review: THE BOSS
SXSW Film 2016 Review: THE GOOD NEIGHBOR
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) My second favorite Midnighter film of the festival is a suspenseful and edgy thriller that would make Alfred Hitchcock proud. Ethan (Logan Miller) and Sean (Keir Gilchrist) are two high school boys conducting a “social experiment.” They attempt to convince their grouchy neighbor Harold Grainey (James… Continue reading SXSW Film 2016 Review: THE GOOD NEIGHBOR
SXSW Film 2016 Review: PET
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) My favorite Midnighter of the festival is an utterly disturbing film about an animal shelter employee named Seth (Dominic Monaghan) who becomes so obsessed with his former high school classmate Claire (Jeanette McCurdy) that he takes her prisoner. Keeping her locked up in a cage in… Continue reading SXSW Film 2016 Review: PET