By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Two people, broken in different ways, from vastly different worlds, form an unlikely romance and offer each other what is missing from their lives in a gorgeous and emotional film by the director of 2009’s The Prophet, Jaques Audiard. Ali (Mattias Shoenaerts) and his son Sam… Continue reading Review: RUST AND BONE
Category: Film Reviews
Review: THE LAST STAND
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) The former “Governator” is officially back in his first lead role in several years, and though the film is often silly, dumb and a tad ridiculous, damn, it is so much fun! Despite some of the absurdities and asinine humor, director Kim Ji-Woon (I Saw the… Continue reading Review: THE LAST STAND
Two for ONE Reviews: Gangster Squad and Zero Dark Thirty
By Laurie Coker Rating: Gangster Squad C+ Zero Dark Thirty A- With time running away from me, yet again, I’ve decided to review two films in one this week. Zero Dark Thirty and Gangster Squad. Both star exceptional, versatile actors and both entertain – one more for the overblown almost comic book feel, the other… Continue reading Two for ONE Reviews: Gangster Squad and Zero Dark Thirty
Review: ZERO DARK THIRTY
By Renee’ Collins Rating: 3.5 (out of 5 Reels) Having recently seen Ben Affleck’s Argo, in a way, I expected another interesting and suspenseful film. The only problem is that I knew the outcomes for both movies. I am a regular watcher of CBS Sunday Morning and saw the story about the real life person, Tony… Continue reading Review: ZERO DARK THIRTY
Review: ZERO DARK THIRTY
By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) Two great thrillers about historical C.I.A. operations were released recently to much deserved acclaim. On one side of the coin is Ben Affleck’s Argo, an exciting, but more sensationalized movie account of the Canadian Caper which aided the U.S. embassy members trapped in Iran in 1979.… Continue reading Review: ZERO DARK THIRTY
Review: GANGSTER SQUAD
By Mark Saldana Rating: 2.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Gangster movies have come a long way since Paul Muni portrayed the title character in Howard Hawks’ Scarface and James Cagney chewed scenery aplenty in The Public Enemy and White Heat. In fact, those classic crime stories play out somewhat cartoonishly after Frances Ford Coppola and… Continue reading Review: GANGSTER SQUAD
Review: THE IMPOSSIBLE
By Laurie Coker Rating: A Ah, the randomness of nature, it never ceases to amaze and stupefy even experts. When in Japan a few years back, my cohort of twenty teachers on a seminar there had to be evacuated from Okinawa early because of an oncoming monsoon. As disappointed as I felt, having to miss… Continue reading Review: THE IMPOSSIBLE
Review: PROMISED LAND
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) Gus Van Sant directed this film as a favor to friend Matt Damon who co-wrote the screenplay with actor John Krasinsky and David Eggers. While Gus Van Sant does a fine job making this movie, the story and screenplay plays out like a typical morality tale… Continue reading Review: PROMISED LAND
Review: PROMISED LAND
By Laurie Coker Rating: C- I have followed Matt Damon’s career, along with Ben Affleck’s, since their coupling in Good Will Hunting. Both have grown wonderfully as actors and men. Affleck’s Argo sits near the top of my best of list this year, but alas, Damon’s offering, Promised Land hardly qualifies to sit anywhere near… Continue reading Review: PROMISED LAND