Author: Laurie Coker

By Laurie Coker Rating: A Starting out this fall season, Doctor Strange, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, is a virtual cornucopia of visually stunning imagery and seamless CGI. Director Scott Derrickson, along with a plethora of writers, including Austin’s own C. Robert Cargill, give us a droll comic book hero with more arrogance and issues than Tony… Continue reading Review: DOCTOR STRANGE

By Laurie Coker Rating: D+/C- Dan Brown is a pedestrian writer – there I said it. Even with the exceptionally popular DaVinci Code, he lumbered insipidly and laboriously through a speculative tale of covert intrigue involving Christian convention and conspiracies, after which he produced two more mediocre novels. They’ve made millions and the first turned… Continue reading Review: INFERNO

By Laurie Coker Rating: B- Ben Affleck is perhaps as comfortable behind the camera as he is in front of it, if not more so. Regardless, he finds his rhythm as the titular character in his latest turn as a leading man in The Accountant. Director Gavin O’Connor, from a screenplay by Bill Dubuque, makes… Continue reading Review: THE ACCOUNTANT

By Laurie Coker Rating: A- Few who watched the news about the huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, especially those affected by the disaster, will ever forget the catastrophe on the off-shore oil rig the Deepwater Horizon. Director Peter Berg (Lone Survivor) gives viewers a taut, tense tale of that fateful day when… Continue reading Review: DEEP WATER HORIZON

By Laurie Coker Rating: B+ Riding gallantly into theatres is the newest Magnificent Seven, starring Denzel Washington, Haley Bennett , Chris Pratt, Vincent D’Oonfrio, Lee Byung-hun, Ethan Hawke, Peter Sarsgaard, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and an entertaining ensemble cast. When a film follows the likes of a cult classic, iconic actors like Yul Brenner, Eli Wallach and… Continue reading Review: THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

By Laurie Coker Rating: B There is no fine line between “based on a true story” and reality in movie making. In fact, more often than not, embellishing rules out. Hollywood has a field day on adding elements to enhance the story for a film. War Dogs starring Miles Teller and Jonah Hill, much like Wolf… Continue reading Review: WAR DOGS

By Laurie Coker Rating: A Kubo and the Two Strings should be seen in 2D. Of course, this is a simple opinion, but the 3D aspect did little to enhance the exceptional animation from the director of Box Trolls and Paranorman, Travis Knight and LAIKA studios. Writers Marc Haimes and Chris Butler weave a visually… Continue reading Review: KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS

By Laurie Coker Rating: C We have all had “bad mom” moments – some we admit and some we will take to our grave. With that in mind, three moms (of varying ages), a soon-to-be mom and I attended an Alamo Draft House screening of the new film Bad Moms, starring Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell,… Continue reading Review: BAD MOMS

By Laurie Coker Rating: A Nice Guys can finish first when it comes to guys like Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling in particular. Their new buddy film works on a variety of entertaining levels because of their delightful onscreen chemistry, excellent comedic timing and an excellent ensemble cast. Co-writer/director Shane Black’s perfect 1977 period piece… Continue reading Review: THE NICE GUYS

By Laurie Coker Rating: D+/C- An all-star voice cast leads the charge in The Angry Birds Movie, based on the popular app game of the same name. For years, Angry Birds has challenged young and old alike. Birds of various shapes, sizes and hues are sling-shot with a drag and release of a single finger… Continue reading Review: THE ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE