By Laurie Coker Rating: C- Some thirty-one years after their “excellent adventure” and nearly thirty years post “bogus journey”, Bill and Ted are back facing the music. Reprising their roles as goofy rockers, Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter stop at nothing to be Bill and Ted – awkward and seemingly clueless and they do an… Continue reading BILL AND TED FACE THE MUSIC
Author: Laurie Coker
THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD
By Laurie Coker Rating: A Dev Patel seems an unlikely choice as Charles Dicken’s famous David Copperfield, but director/cowriter (with Simon Blackwell) Armando Iannucci finds gold with his star. Set in first person, we see Copperfield fight for his place in the world as a writer and gentleman. The Personal History of David Copperfield plays… Continue reading THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD
TESLA
By Laurie Coker Rating: B- Most hear the name Tesla and think of electric cars or perhaps the Tesla vehicle that Elon Musk launched into space as part of his SpaceX project. Behind the name is story. Ethan Hawke stars as Nikola Tesla, the brilliant inventor who played with electricity, in Tesla, written directed by… Continue reading TESLA
THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN
By Laurie Coker Rating: B+ I love traveling with my grandchildren and together we enjoy listening to audiobooks. On one trip, my granddaughter and I, both huge animal lovers, listened to The One and Only Ivan, the story of a silverback ape raised in captivity. Disney+ brings the book, based on a true story, to… Continue reading THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN
UNHINGED
By Laurie Coker Rating: B Academy Award winner Russell Crowe graces the screen as an utterly detestable and completely deranged man filled with rage and hatred. Director Derrick Borte with a script written by Carl Ellsworth, delivers an intense, shocking thriller, that speaks to the festering issues that silently plague people until all rationale leaves… Continue reading UNHINGED
BOYS STATE
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
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