By Laurie Coker Rating: B- Some people are born natural leaders, while others are fine tuned into leaders and Boys State, a documentary by Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss highlights the roots of some of our most prominent leaders. The pair chronicles the experiences of a thousand 17-year-old boys from across Texas as they gather… Continue reading BOYS STATE
Author: Laurie Coker
Creem: America’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll Magazine
By Laurie Coker Rating: B+ Like so many others, music played a huge role in my life growing up. Important milestones, memories, and miseries are measured by the bands and singers who topped the charts and made their way into our world. I perhaps remember magazines like Rolling Stone and Billboard best, but CREEM, published… Continue reading Creem: America’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll Magazine
THE BIG UGLY
By Laurie Coker Rating: D The Big Ugly has promise with its solid testosterone-driven cast, but it falls short in plot, creativity, and character. Writer/director Scott Wiper works hard, or so it seems, to create a film with thematic substance, but instead offers up a carbon-copy of dozens of revenge-based movies with no heart. While… Continue reading THE BIG UGLY
Review: LITTLE WOMEN
By Laurie Coker Rating: A+ Director Gretta Gerwig has a knack for capturing the essence of women – beyond femininity and frills. In Little Women, the beloved novel by Louisa May Alcott, the titular women are vivid and beautiful, and their story has seen many film adaptations. Gerwig’s version has a current feel and while… Continue reading Review: LITTLE WOMEN
Review: JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL
By Laurie Coker Rating: C+/B- Welcome to Jumanji a game where anything can happen and it does in the latest film starring Dwyane Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, and Jack Black. Our avatar heroes return, joined by others in this unnecessary sequel to the 2017 reboot of the original Jumanji starring Robin Williams. Like its… Continue reading Review: JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL
Review: THE AERONAUTS
By Laurie Coker Rating: C- Women have made their marks in history, and many wonderful films have shared their stories. In spite of these real-life stories of powerful women, Hollywood seems to feel the need to add heroines where there were none. Such is the case of Amelia Wren (Felicity Jones), a plucky, daredevil ballooning… Continue reading Review: THE AERONAUTS
Knives out
By Laurie Coker Rating: A+ Nothing beats a good murder mystery and Knives Out starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Christopher Plumber, Don Johnson, Michael Shannon, Chris Evans, Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas and a host of other awesome actors keeps the audience guessing like an old-style Agatha Christie novel. Writer/director Rian Johnson plays every trick in… Continue reading Knives out
Review: BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON
By Laurie Coker Rating: B From the trailers, the debut from the writer-director Paul Downs Colaizzo, Brittany Runs and Marathon looks like a goofy, body-shaming film in line with those by Amy Schumer, but it is far more. Colaizzo gives a little film with a big heart and Jillian Bell serves up a subtly touching… Continue reading Review: BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON
Ford v Ferrari
By Laurie Coker Rating: A+ My father raced cars – this was back in Model A cars and I wasn’t alive – but he taught me how to drive – fast. I love speed and I love the film Ford V. Ferrari, starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon. Director James Mangold offers up the story… Continue reading Ford v Ferrari
Review: PLAYING WITH FIRE
By Laurie Coker Rating: C- Children, like fire, are completely unpredictable. Unfortunately, John Cena’s new movie, Playing with Fire, is blatantly predictable. Relying more on sight gags and pratfalls than on quality writing or acting, director Andy Fickman and co-writers Matt Lieberman and Dan Ewen miss their marks completely. With a cast as entertaining as… Continue reading Review: PLAYING WITH FIRE