The story of a man in a mess in more ways than one dropped film on day two of the festival. Written, produced, directed by, and starring Jake Johnson, Self Reliance screened at SXSW in a packed Paramount Theatre. Johnson’s effort is gallant and decently paced, but his final act falters with disjointed events and missing pieces. Again,… Continue reading SXSW: Self-Reliance Not All It Could Be
Author: Laurie Coker
SXSW: Going Varsity in Mariachi – a winning documentary
I grew up in South Texas in a blend of cultures – my home and my mostly Hispanic community. I went to pachangas, attended quinceaneras, and had pinatas at birthday parties, and we listened to mariachis almost as much as rock n roll. Not really, but for sure, I am almost as familiar with the… Continue reading SXSW: Going Varsity in Mariachi – a winning documentary
CHANG CAN DUNK
Teenage angst, ahh, how it rears its confusing head, happens to pretty much every kid on the planet. Some might argue that the transition between freshman year and sophomore is the pinnacle of coming of age. Director/writer Jingyi Shao focuses on one teen’s plight to go from a nobody band geek to a popular student.… Continue reading CHANG CAN DUNK
MARLOWE
I grew up reading mystery and detective novels. Raymond Chandler and Agatha Christie’s works were commonplace on my bookshelf. I was weaned on these books by my mother, which led to my love for all things “who-done-it.” Liam Neeson takes on the role of Philip Marlowe in Marlowe, where the down-on-his-luck detective takes on the… Continue reading MARLOWE
SOMEBODY I USED TO KNOW
Dave Franco typically performs in front of the camera, but his sophomore directorial effort brings audiences a quirky rom/com starring Alison Bree and Jay Elis. Somebody I Used to Know, written by husband and wife team Franco and Bree, is a fun, thoughtful film about self-discovery and love. Franco has a keen eye behind… Continue reading SOMEBODY I USED TO KNOW
OCEAN BOY
Surfing appeals to me, and I gravitate to films where surfing is a focus. Ocean Boy, starring Luke Hemsworth and young pro surfer Rasmus King, isn’t about surfing, but King shows off his prowess in the waves. The story by director Tyler Atkins (along with Drue Metz) isn’t as engaging or fluid as King’s (and… Continue reading OCEAN BOY
THE STALKING FIELDS
Our military is invaluable – preserving our rights, protecting our freedoms, and keeping us safe. The soldiers who volunteer to put themselves in harm’s way deserve our respect. We know the stories of the horrors of war, even if we don’t personally experience them, and we have become more keenly aware of the reassimilation issues,… Continue reading THE STALKING FIELDS
SHOTGUN WEDDING
Hollywood tends to rehash things – similar stories, sequels, and remakes seem to be the norm. Perhaps there is a generational thing that makes this acceptable. Remakes of stories like television’s Wonder Years or of foreign films like 2016’s A Man Called Ove – from a novel – into Hollywood’s version A Man Called Otto… Continue reading SHOTGUN WEDDING
WOMEN TALKING
Women Talking is an excellent film. Writer/Director Sarah Polley uses her stark, limited sets and a stellar cast to tell a powerful character-driven story that gives pause for thought. After years of abuse, women in a staunchly religious community decide that they must make a choice for their future and their children’s future. What Polley… Continue reading WOMEN TALKING
A MAN CALLED OTTO
In 2016, one of my favorite films of the year was an international movie called A Man Called Ove, based on a novel of the same name by Fredrik Backman. Starting off 2023, director Marc Forester and screenwriter David Magee have adapted Backman’s book into an American version of the story starring Tom Hanks. While… Continue reading A MAN CALLED OTTO