“Pow Wow Highway” (1989), starring A Martinez, Gary Farmer, Wes Studi and Graham Greene with music by Robbie Robertson. Based on the novel by David Seals and directed by Jonathan Wacks who was, at one time, the head of the film program at the College of Santa Fe and produced by HandMade Films, a George Harrison company. Filming locations in New Mexico include Santa Fe. Underlying this comedic road movie is a search of what it means to be a…
“The Leopard Man” (1943), directed by Jacques Tourneur, produced by Val Lewton, filmed at RKO Studios and Santa Fe. In an era where slasher films and computer-generated imagery dominate the scary movie genre, “The Leopard Man,” based on the novel “The Black Alibi” by Cornell Woolrich, is an excellent argument for “less is more” as a horror film technique. There is little overt violence here but the suspense is unrelenting, made all the more visceral by the strong contrasts of…
“Tortilla Heaven” (2007), starring George Lopez, Del Zamora, Olivia Hussey, filming locations include Dixon and Picuris Pueblo, New Mexico. Images of religious figures appearing on mundane items of everyday life are common, but often the outcome is to denigrate believers or to elevate, downplay or dissect the event itself. Sometimes what is construed by the cynical as overly wishful thinking can serve as the basis of a critique of the criticism itself and, in the case of “Tortilla Heaven,” comments…