By Laurie Coker Rating: A Texas music has a life of its own. Whether born in the state or transplanted from elsewhere, stars like Townes van Zandt and Guy Clark left their mark on the industry beyond the Lone Star State’s borders. SXSW documentary, Without Getting Killed or Caught, takes a personal and bare look… Continue reading SXSW 2021: WITHOUT GETTING KILLED OR CAUGHT
Author: Laurie Coker
SXSW 2021: THE FALLOUT
By Laurie Coker Rating: A As a teacher who in her final two years of a long career found herself participating in active-shooter drills and watching the aftermath of school shooting, I hesitated to choose The Fallout as one of my SXSW Festival picks. A fellow critic encouraged me to take a look and it… Continue reading SXSW 2021: THE FALLOUT
SXSW 2021: THE END OF US
By Laurie Coker Rating: C All joking aside, during this pandemic, many people found themselves “locked-down” with people with whom they already had shaky relationships. We have yet to discover the magnitude of the emotional toll this situation has taken on relationships. The End of Us, the feature film debut by directors Henry Loevner and… Continue reading SXSW 2021: THE END OF US
COMING 2 AMERICA
By Laurie Coker Rating: B- We need humor, especially now. I decent, belly laugh can raise spirits and is priceless to the soul. Over thirty years after the Coming to America had us rolling in the aisles, the cast is back, and then some in Coming 2 America. This newest film offers up culture-clash comedy… Continue reading COMING 2 AMERICA
HOPELESS ROMANTIC
By Laurie Coker Rating: D+ Rarely does a film host six directors. But Hopeless Romantic, a film about treading through the ups and downs of romance does. Directed by a group of women from the East Coast of Canada, Deanne Foley, Martine Blue, Stephanie Clattenburg, Latonia Hartery, Ruth Lawrence, and Megan Wennberg, Hopeless Romantic has… Continue reading HOPELESS ROMANTIC
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
By Laurie Coker Rating: A An exceptional cast can make almost any movie good, but when given a remarkable and timely story in which to play, the result can be near perfection. Such is the case with Judas and the Black Messiah, a Vietnam Era biopic that shines a glaring light on racial issues as… Continue reading JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
BLISS
By Laurie Coker Rating: F There is nothing blissful about Bliss, a convoluted sci-fi drama starring Salma Hayek and Owen Wilson. Writer/director Mike Cahill’s overly dark – thematically and visually – story of one man’s life in and out of reality plays out like a bad LSD trip and a messy rom-com simultaneously. A truly… Continue reading BLISS
A PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
By Laurie Coker Rating: A Doing effective wickedly dark comedy takes talent and writer-director, Emerald Fennell does it with a devilish flourish. Starring Carrey Mulligan, a Promising Young Woman, is a provocative, bleakly realistic revenge tale that digs deeply into serious issues. A clearly passionate lead actress and an excellent ensemble cast, coupled with Fennell’s… Continue reading A PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
PALMER
By Laurie Coker Rating: A- Justin Timberlake has talent and in Palmer, his latest dramatic venture, he creates a brilliant blend of damaged, hardened, and compassionate. Director Fisher Steven brings out the best in his cast in the story of mistakes, redemption, acceptance, and love. Written by Cheryl Guerriero, Palmer draws up rich characters in… Continue reading PALMER
NEWS OF THE WORLD
By Laurie Coker Rating: A+ Tom Hank’s News of the World blends relevant themes, rich storytelling, and remarkable characters into an awe-inspiring Western for the ages. Written by director Paul Greengrass and Luke Davies from Paulette Jiles’s novel, News of the World demonstrates what true storytelling can provide in more ways than one. There are… Continue reading NEWS OF THE WORLD