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
Author: Laurie Coker
Oppenheimer – A Stunning Historical Blockbuster
Director Christopher Nolan’s penchant for historical accuracy shows up in spades in Oppenheimer, starring Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., and Matt Damon. Nolan’s movie biopic isn’t laid out linearly, but rather, it marches out in chunks of Oppenheimer’s troubled life, as the theoretical physicist placed in charge of the Manhattan Project. The film’s… Continue reading Oppenheimer – A Stunning Historical Blockbuster
The Prisoner’s Daughter – a Shining Cast in the Capable Hands of Hardwick
Catherine Hardwick’s indie-style filming of her latest film, The Prisoner’s Daughter, elevates the plot from a tired tale to slow-burn and engaging. Her stars, Kate Beckinsale and Brian Cox, create connectable characters that warrant our attention. Although the storyline is hardly fresh, Hardwick’s keen eye and naturalistic style make it engaging. Hardwick shows Vegas’s more… Continue reading The Prisoner’s Daughter – a Shining Cast in the Capable Hands of Hardwick
The Miracle Club – What a cast!
Sure, Hollywood has proven time and time again that even the most stellar cast cannot save a bad or mediocre movie. But The Miracle Club, directed by Irishman Thaddeus O’Sullivan and starring Kathy Bates, Maggie Smith, Laura Linny, and Agnes O’Casey, proves that an exceptional cast can elevate a simple story to extraordinary. O’Sullivan lucks… Continue reading The Miracle Club – What a cast!
World’s Best – Now Streaming on Disney +
I am used to seeing films geared toward every possible audience. As a critic, it’s part of the job, but I find it more pleasurable to see a movie with someone in the target demographic. Disney’s new family comedy, a coming-of-age story starring Manny Magnus in a breakout role, entertained me and my 12-year-old granddaughter… Continue reading World’s Best – Now Streaming on Disney +
Wildflower: Coming of Age With Intellectually Challenged Parents
I don’t make comparisons between films often, but when a movie like Are You There, God, It’s Me Margaret does such an amazing job as a coming-of-age story, those that follow have a high bar to reach. Despite its excellent ensemble cast, Wildflower does not rise to the same level. Based on a true story,… Continue reading Wildflower: Coming of Age With Intellectually Challenged Parents
SXSW – Raging Grace – a tepid thriller
I love mystery thrillers, so I was drawn to Raging Grace, a film touted as just that, and yet, I was not thrilled, and I found the mystery transparent. Regardless, director Paris Zarcilla manages, with the help of a solid cast, a creepy, slightly suspenseful flick. She pulls out all the necessary elements – crazed… Continue reading SXSW – Raging Grace – a tepid thriller
SXSW: A Small Light – Disney’s WWII Drama shines Brilliantly
Having had the opportunity to attend a few SXSW screenings with my granddaughter was a real treat, but when we ventured into the screening of A Small Light, it wasn’t until an abrupt non-end to the story that I realized we were seeing a TV series preview. A Small Light is a somber, engaging retelling… Continue reading SXSW: A Small Light – Disney’s WWII Drama shines Brilliantly
Are you there, God? It’s me, Margaret: Sure to become a TIMELESS CLASSIC
Adapting beloved books to the screen can daunt many. While there are some apparent successes, few please all of the people all of the time. Are you there, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume has touched the lives of many young girls since its first edition in the 1970s. Blume’s novel is one of… Continue reading Are you there, God? It’s me, Margaret: Sure to become a TIMELESS CLASSIC
SISU: Grit and Determination Don’t Describe it!
SISU is a Finnish word that doesn’t have an exact translation. After watching writer/director Jalmari Helander’s film SISU, I can see why it’s difficult to pinpoint what the word actually means – grit, guts, courage, strength (and the like) – don’t sum it up. A great deal is to be said about determination and grit… Continue reading SISU: Grit and Determination Don’t Describe it!