By Laurie Coker Rating: A Timothy Spall finds his niche in Mr. Turner a strangely mesmerizing, meandering movie about a lonely man, who moves lethargically through an extraordinary life – the life of British artist Joseph Turner, whose art is as significant and fascinating as the man. Director Mike Leigh and Spall manage pull us… Continue reading Review: MR. TURNER
Category: Film Reviews
A Non-Review: MORTDECAI
By Laurie Coker Rating: N/A A great deal can be said about a film that isn’t screened for the press. Perhaps the filmmakers believe it will draw audiences with its star power, as a sequel to a previously successful film, or as I am guessing is the case of Mordecai, starring Johnny Depp and Gwyneth… Continue reading A Non-Review: MORTDECAI
Review: THE WEDDING RINGER
By Mark Saldana Rating: 2.5 (Out of 4 Stars) The best thing about this comedy movie is that stars Kevin Hart and Josh Gad do offer charming and often funny performances. The problem is The Wedding Ringer is basically a hybrid of Wedding Crashers and I Love You, Man. For those who haven’t seen those… Continue reading Review: THE WEDDING RINGER
Review: INHERENT VICE
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) This movie actually left me with a lot of mixed feelings when it concluded. However, while I watched the crazy characters and the crazy events unfold on the big screen, I laughed often and heartily. I found it rather difficult to make sense of exactly what… Continue reading Review: INHERENT VICE
Review: AMERICAN SNIPER
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) The true story of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle is definitely the story of a courageous American patriot. Written by Jason Hall (based on Chris Kyle’s book of the same name) and directed by Clint Eastwood, American Sniper may honor the work of Kyle, a heroic military… Continue reading Review: AMERICAN SNIPER
Review: SELMA
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) As much as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has done for the civil rights movement of the 1960s, he had not received a feature film treatment until now. It is certainly long overdue that the iconic leader gets the cinematic tribute he surely deserves. Selma may… Continue reading Review: SELMA
Review: INHERENT VICE
By Laurie Coker Rating: D+/C- Inherent Vice is even more bizarre than Joaquin Phoenix’s Her. Phoenix, who has once retired from acting, likes to choose challenging, unusual roles. In his most recent movie Inherent Vice, his character Larry “Doc” Sportello, a pot smoking private eye, is outlandish – but not nearly as peculiar as the… Continue reading Review: INHERENT VICE
2014: A Year In Review
By Mark Saldana I had an incredible year at the cinema this year. 2014 proved to be a year filled lots of great films of different varieties, but it seemed like it was the year of the biting satires. In addition to my routine trips to the theater for the new releases, I had the… Continue reading 2014: A Year In Review
Review: THE GAMBLER
By Mark Saldana Rating: 2.5 (Out of 4 Stars) This sometimes thrilling and engaging remake of the 1974 movie does have some interesting differences from the original film. It has some bewildering changes as well. The 1974 Gambler movie, which stars James Caan, was written by James Toback who based the story on his experiences… Continue reading Review: THE GAMBLER
Review: UNBROKEN
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) For certain, Louis Lamperini’s story is a compelling, moving, and inspiring one. However, as a fascinating a story it is, the film adaptation of Lamperini’s experiences before and during World War II covers material that is all too familiar and does so working all of the… Continue reading Review: UNBROKEN