Mel Valentin

San Francisco

Film Critic and Content Editor at Freelance

Writer-for-hire: Cinapse, Screen Anarchy, That Shelf. 🍅meter-approved critic. Member: SFBAFCC, OFCS. He/Him. Progressive. #LGBTQ+ Ally #ReproRights

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Articles

The Amateur Review: Rami Malek and Cast Elevate Routine Revenge Tale

1 week ago | thatshelf.com | Mel Valentin

After winning an Academy Award for Best Actor in 2018 for Bohemian Rhapsody, Rami Malek’s appearances onscreen have been conspicuous by their virtual infrequency. His odd track record results from several factors, including the COVID pandemic, the writers and actors strikes, and Malek’s desire to find a lead role commensurate with his talents, skill set, and interests.
Warfare Review: Futility in War, Professionalism in Action

1 week ago | thatshelf.com | Mel Valentin

Officially, the Second Gulf War, which started with the invasion and occupation of Iraq, ended in 2011. However, the United States, once again leading a coalition of Western European countries and their allies, returned to Iraq in 2014, albeit in reduced numbers.
THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND Review: Delightful Oddball Musical Drama

2 weeks ago | screenanarchy.com | Mel Valentin

Win the national lottery once and you’d be considered one of the luckiest people currently alive.
Ash Review: Sci-Fi-Horror Sticks to Familiar Terrain

3 weeks ago | thatshelf.com | Mel Valentin

Although it was far from the first film to cross genres, Alien redefined the combo science-fiction/horror movie. It became the template for any filmmaker eager to wade in its ready-made tropes, like derelict ships, monstrous aliens, and labyrinthine haunted house mechanics. But Alien had more than trend-setting tropes on its side.
Death of a Unicorn Review: Eat the Rich Satire Has No Meat on Its Bones

3 weeks ago | thatshelf.com | Mel Valentin

As income inequality in the United States and elsewhere in the Western world approaches an inevitable inflection point, “Eat the Rich” stories have become, if nothing else, more prevalent, reflecting changing cultural attitudes about the wealthy elites who seem to control everything, from politics to media and in the case of writer-director Alex Scharfman’s middling horror-satire, Death of a Unicorn, a profit-first, people-last pharmaceutical company headed by a dying CEO and his casually...
JULIE KEEPS QUIET Review: Tennis Phenom, Insightful, Incisive Character Study

3 weeks ago | screenanarchy.com | Mel Valentin

Among major professional sports played around the world, tennis stands out for its unique set of demands on its respective athletes. Unlike team sports or even doubles tennis, singles tennis places the full weight and responsibility for success or failure on the individual players themselves.
SNOW WHITE Review: Disney's Latest Live-Action Remake Delivers Frustratingly Uneven Results

1 month ago | screenanarchy.com | Mel Valentin

Disney’s latest exercise in brand management and IP (intellectual property) extension, Snow White, arrives in theaters clouded by unwanted controversy.
THE FISHBOWL Review: Freedom, Fate, and Family Collide

1 month ago | screenanarchy.com | Mel Valentin

The history of Puerto Rico is the history of colonialism. The history of Vieques, an island off the coast of Puerto Rico, is the history of American imperialism. During World War II, the United States forcibly expropriated most of the island, turning it into not just an extension of the nearby naval base, but as a testing ground for live munitions.
CONTROL FREAK Review: Kelly Marie Tran Elevates Psychological Horror

1 month ago | screenanarchy.com | Mel Valentin

Eight years ago, toxic fandom of the Star Wars kind almost derailed Kelly Marie Tran’s career.
THE ELECTRIC STATE Review: A Triumph of Robotic Design, A Failure in Everything Else

1 month ago | screenanarchy.com | Mel Valentin

In the U.S. of A., a cool $300M can not only buy you the presidency, but give you untold access to every federal agency, government servers, and private records. Another $300M (plus) can buy you the rights to The Electric State, Simon Stålenhag’s popular, 2018 illustrated novel; mid-level, name-brand stars (Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Stanley Tucci); not one, but two Oscar winners (Holly Hunter, Ke Huy Quan); and a dual Tony and Emmy award winner (Jason Alexander).