Author: Laurie Coker

SXSW 2026 – Forbidden Fruits: frustrating, shallow, and nowhere near clever

Credit: Coker

I saw Forbidden Fruits at SXSW 2026 and walked out feeling genuinely disappointed. It sets itself up like it’s going to be bold, edgy, and maybe even a little subversive, especially with its all-female coven operating inside a suburban mall. Directed by Meredith Alloway and featuring a strong cast led by Lili Reinhart, Victoria Pedretti,… Continue reading SXSW 2026 – Forbidden Fruits: frustrating, shallow, and nowhere near clever

Project Hail Mary: humor, tension, and a surprising amount of warmth

Ryan Gosling in 'Project Hail Mary.' Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

I skipped the closing film at SXSW this year and instead attended the screening of Project Hail Mary. Honestly, I was skeptical at first—how could a story about one guy and a rock-like alien carry an entire movie without becoming boring or losing its heart? It seemed like the kind of idea that might look… Continue reading Project Hail Mary: humor, tension, and a surprising amount of warmth

SXSW 2026: that’s a wrap

Now that SXSW 2026 has wrapped, the overall experience felt both familiar and noticeably different. I went in expecting some changes, but the shortened schedule and the absence of the Austin Convention Center shaped the festival’s rhythm more than I anticipated. The core of SXSW—film, creativity, and discovery—was still very much there, but the way… Continue reading SXSW 2026: that’s a wrap

SXSW 2026 – Chili Finger: bold, strange, and undeniably fun

I saw Chili Finger at its world premiere during SXSW 2026, and it’s one of those films that makes me laugh, wince, and then think a little longer than I expected. Directed by Edd Benda and Stephen Helstad, the movie takes a bizarre real-life premise and pushes it into dark, chaotic, and surprisingly thoughtful territory.… Continue reading SXSW 2026 – Chili Finger: bold, strange, and undeniably fun

SXSW 2026 – I Love Boosters: too chaotic to land solidly

With his SXSW 2026 opening night film, Boots Riley’s latest swings big — and I found myself both admiring aspects of it and shaking my head in equal measure. From the beginning, it’s clearly a Boots Riley film: bold, highly stylized, and full of color. The imagery is vivid and creative, almost intoxicating at times,… Continue reading SXSW 2026 – I Love Boosters: too chaotic to land solidly

SXSW 2026: Anticipation

Opening day at SXSW always carries a certain electricity—an energy that hums through Austin before the first panel begins or the first note is played. There’s the familiar ritual of scanning the lineup, mapping out impossible schedules, and wondering how it will all come together. This year, though, that anticipation feels slightly different. SXSW 2026… Continue reading SXSW 2026: Anticipation

FANTASTIC FEST 2025: Sirāt – draws you in and refuses to let go

Some films don’t just unfold before you — they draw you in and refuse to let go. Premiering at Fantastic Fest 2025, Sirāt, the latest from director Óliver Laxe, is one of those rare, compelling cinematic experiences. Shot with hypnotic beauty by cinematographer Mauro Herce, the film follows Luis (Sergi López, in one of his… Continue reading FANTASTIC FEST 2025: Sirāt – draws you in and refuses to let go

Wuthering Heights: visually sumptuous, boldly acted, yet deeply disappointing

As a retired literature teacher who read and later introduced students to Emily Brontë’s only novel, I approached the 2026 adaptation of Wuthering Heights with anticipation—and, I admit, protectiveness. Directed and written by Emerald Fennell and starring Margot Robbie as Catherine and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, the adaptation is visually sumptuous and boldly acted. Yet… Continue reading Wuthering Heights: visually sumptuous, boldly acted, yet deeply disappointing