Tag: Austin Film Festival

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Based on the novel of the same name by Jonathan Lethem, Motherless Brooklyn has acclaimed actor Edward Norton pulling triple duty as screenwriter, director, and lead. If one knows even just a little bit about the process of feature film production, then it is clear that… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2019 Review: MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) On the opening night of the festival Austin Film Festival Executive Director Barbara Morgan talked about this year’s lineup of films and mentioned that there are several titles which could qualify as “Oscar bait.” I definitely have to applaud the programmers this year for assembling a… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2019 Review: HARRIET

By Liz Lopez Rating: A There is nothing to soften the blow of what happened to Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. in his own home almost eight years ago. The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain film does not spare any punches and it made me feel as if I was present and watching the real events and actions… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2019 Review: THE KILLING OF KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN

By Liz Lopez Rating: B+ Andrea Casaseca has written and directed the family drama short film, “It’s Me” (Era Yo), and in the 11 minute 30 seconds that I viewed the film, I could not help but want to know more of this family’s story. The three main characters are created such that the audience… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2019 Short Film Review: IT’S ME (ERA YO)

By Liz Lopez Rating: B- If you need a swift change from the Dark Matters films, or the very sad films based on true events, Man Camp may be the choice at the Austin Film Festival. Nate James Bakke directs the film from a script written by Daniel Cummings, Scott Kruse and Josh Long. The… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2019: Review: MAN CAMP

Austin Film Festival’s Closing Night Film “Chappaquiddick” Arrives in Theaters Now   By Liz Lopez Rating; B+ Before anyone decides to avoid viewing the new feature film, “Chappaquiddick,” please stop and reconsider. There might be varied reasons individuals may choose to dismiss it; because it is about politics, or it is just another story about… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2017 Review: CHAPPAQUIDDICK

By Mark Saldana Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars) On July 18, 1969,   Mary Jo Kopechne, a member of the Boiler Room Girls staff who worked on Senator Ted Kennedy’s campaign, died by drowning just off of Chappaquiddick Island.  The Senator had hosted a party for some of his friends, colleagues and campaign staff on the… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2017 Review: CHAPPAQUIDDICK

By Liz Lopez Rating: B+ Despite remarks made by others about multiple Winston Churchill or Dunkirk related films that have been released, this year director Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk” and Joe Wright’s “Darkest Hour” relates a part of history with a different story and each has value. I viewed the highly successful “Dunkirk” twice in the… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2017 Review: DARKEST HOUR