Tag: 2013 AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) When Bob Dylan first sang, “The times, they are a-changin.” he wasn’t just whistling Dixie. Big changes in pop culture, politics, mores, and music arrived in a huge way in the 1960s. Dylan, the main icon of 60s folk music changed as well when he went… Continue reading Review: INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) Perhaps the perfect third title in Alexander Payne’s road trip trilogy, Nebraska is pure unadulterated Payne; and that is surprising considering that his latest script came not from his usual partner, Jim Taylor, but from new collaborator Bob Nelson. Still, Nebraska has all the right elements… Continue reading Review: NEBRASKA

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) Writer Matt Witten’s script was originally written as a stage play, but before audiences would see it performed in a theater, his intense, disturbing and thoughtful story was quickly made into a film. Director Rick Rosenthal and actors Eloise Mumford and Matt O’Leary do outstanding work… Continue reading AFF 2013 Review: DRONES

By Mark Saldana Two drone pilots, operating out of a trailer in a Nevada desert, have acquired a target in Afghanistan and are faced with a moral dilemma. They must follow their orders and terminate with extreme prejudice or face punishment for disobedience.  This is the premise of the AFF film entry title Drones.

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 2.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Call it perfect timing or strange coincidence, but just last week, I finally watched Walter Salles’ film adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s iconic book On the Road. As much as I liked the movie, I felt that it isn’t quite the adaptation that Kerouac’s novel deserves.  Still,… Continue reading AFF 2013 Review: BIG SUR

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) After the utter disappointment with Coffee, Kill Boss, I was so incredibly grateful that my next film turned out to be a fun, clever, witty and entertaining heist film in the vein of Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven.  The Art of the Steal obviously borrows some of… Continue reading AFF 2013 Review: THE ART OF THE STEAL

By Mark Saldana  Rating: 1.5 (Out of 4 Stars) My Austin Film Festival got off to a funky start with their opening night film that often left me exasperated and baffled.  I had initially planned to give this film a higher rating as it did occasionally make me laugh; however, I came to the conclusion… Continue reading AFF 2013 Review: COFFEE, KILL BOSS