Author: Laurie Coker

I feel like little surprises me these days, but Bottoms, a high school coming-of-age film with a twist, did. Bottoms, directed by Emma Seligman, opened at SXSW this year and nationwide this week, making many teen angst movies seem pale regarding vulgarity and brutality. Produced by Elizabeth Banks, Bottoms’ takes girl empowerment to an entirely… Continue reading Bottoms – A Rauncy, Coming-of-Age Comedy

Shrapnel, starring Jason Patric suffers from a stock, overused storyline that is only saved by Patric himself. Director William Kaufman takes a basic missing child story and, along with Patric, creates a decent if not a bit slow and predictable, tale of a father’s determination to find his daughter. While it could be better, Shrapnel… Continue reading Shrapnel – Jason Patric Can’t Save this Tired Tale

There are two simple reasons why a film company doesn’t offer critic or fan pre-screenings – the franchise creators feel no need and expect to make millions easily, OR the filmmakers want to sell as many tickets as they can before word gets out that the movie sucks. Ironically, Meg 2: The Trench falls somewhere… Continue reading Meg 2: The Trench – So Ridiculous, It Entertains!

Like movies based on children’s books, those based on amusement park rides can be hits (like Pirates of the Caribbean) or misses (like Polar Express). Disney’s new movie Haunted Mansion, based on the well-known Disney attraction of the same name, falls somewhere in between. Geared more toward children, director Justin Simien’s, with a script from… Continue reading THE HAUNTED MANSION – A Bit Dark for the Kids and a Tad Modest for Adults

The beauty of directors Riley Keough (Elvis’ granddaughter) and Gina Gammell’s debut film War Pony lies in its non-commercial, non-professional cast and the vivid and subtle storytelling. The screenplay, co-written by Keough, Gammell, Bill Reddy, and Franklin Sioux Bob, provides a slow-burn character study that mesmerizes from start to finish. It’s a realistic, bleak, gritty… Continue reading War Pony – A Stark Telling of Life on a Reservation

I wasn’t much of a doll person as a little girl, but I did like my Barbies. I had several, and my grandmother nurtured in me a love for the fashionista figurine with a perfect figure and blond hair. She and I even made Barbie clothes. I remember being so excited when the pull-string talking… Continue reading BARBIE – A Colorful, Fun Ride with Stereotypical Barbie

Director Christopher Nolan’s penchant for historical accuracy shows up in spades in Oppenheimer, starring Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., and Matt Damon.  Nolan’s movie biopic isn’t laid out linearly, but rather, it marches out in chunks of Oppenheimer’s troubled life, as the theoretical physicist placed in charge of the Manhattan Project. The film’s… Continue reading Oppenheimer – A Stunning Historical Blockbuster

Sure, Hollywood has proven time and time again that even the most stellar cast cannot save a bad or mediocre movie. But The Miracle Club, directed by Irishman Thaddeus O’Sullivan and starring Kathy Bates, Maggie Smith, Laura Linny, and Agnes O’Casey, proves that an exceptional cast can elevate a simple story to extraordinary. O’Sullivan lucks… Continue reading The Miracle Club – What a cast!

I am used to seeing films geared toward every possible audience. As a critic, it’s part of the job, but I find it more pleasurable to see a movie with someone in the target demographic. Disney’s new family comedy, a coming-of-age story starring Manny Magnus in a breakout role, entertained me and my 12-year-old granddaughter… Continue reading World’s Best – Now Streaming on Disney +