Author: Laurie Coker

We never forget certain things, like when Kennedy was shot, towers went down, and each of the NASA Space shuttles exploded. Events such as these stay in our collective memories, and we pass those memories on to our children. A Million Miles Away doesn’t follow one of these ill-fated events; rather, it reminds us of… Continue reading A Million Miles Away – Shoots for the Stars

I first fell in love with mysteries as a child with The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, but Agatha Christie lit the fire that keeps me reading, watching, and writing mysteries. It is a passion I used to share with my mom. Director Kenneth Branagh and screenwriter Michael Green adapt (changing many aspects of the… Continue reading A Haunting in Venice – Not True to Christie, but Close

When a film does decently at the box office, filmmakers often consider sequels. Sometimes, the sequel pays off, and other times not. If a second film bombs, it’s best to let the series lie, but despite abysmal reviews, for number two, the makers of the My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise have made a third… Continue reading My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3: Unnecessary but CUTE

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