By Laurie Coker Rating: C+/B- Certainly, there are methods for stretching the truth and still creating a story that is at its core believable and engaging. The Book of Henry engages, but more because of its cast than its tale. Director Colin Trevorrow and writer Gregg Hurwitz play on every emotion possible but go far… Continue reading Review: THE BOOK OF HENRY
Author: Laurie Coker
Review: ALIEN: COVENANT (SXSW 2017)
By Laurie Coker Rating: D I often wonder about the “critics” opinions versus my opinion. I am after all a professional film critic myself, but when I look at critic ratings of films and I find that often I sit on the polar opposite side of popular opinion. I can’t help but think – “whaaaaaaaaaaat?”… Continue reading Review: ALIEN: COVENANT (SXSW 2017)
Review: SNATCHED
By Laurie Coker rating: B- Amy Schumer can be worrisome. Her devil may care attitude and trash talking potty mouth works for some, but is offing putting for others. Her new film, co-starring the delightful Goldie Hawn, Snatched allows her to be funny without too much over-the-top nastiness. Her pairing with Hawn is what makes… Continue reading Review: SNATCHED
Review: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2
By Laurie Coker Rating: B+ Guardians of the Galaxy 2 will constantly be compared to its predecessor, but even if it stood alone, it entertains wittily and with visually stunning zeal. Writer-director James Gunn knows how to draw the finest out of his characters and make the best of his special effects. Staying for three… Continue reading Review: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2
Review: THE DINNER
By Laurie Coker Rating: D Writer-director Oren Moverman’s The Dinner starring Steve Coogan, Laura Linney, Rebecca Hall and Richard Gere starts nowhere and ends in precisely the same place. Touted as a drama, mystery, suspense film, it is none of the above. Instead, it is a dark, muddled mess of nonsense and dysfunction. Based on… Continue reading Review: THE DINNER
SXSW 2017 Review: FITS AND STARTS
By Laurie Coker Rating: B Having enjoyed Sally Fields’ quirky little comedy, Hello My Name is Doris, seeing another film by writer/director Laura Terruso seemed a good option at SXSW this year. Indie films make for some of the best and yes, sometimes, the worst of the festival. Fits and Starts follows a struggling novelist… Continue reading SXSW 2017 Review: FITS AND STARTS
Review: THE CIRCLE
By Laurie Coker Rating: D When a film doesn’t screen for press, red flags fly. The Circle starring Tom Hanks and Emma Watson did not, at least not in Austin. It is not difficult to understand why. Riding on the heels of Beauty and the Beast, Watson even coupled with Hanks is given little with… Continue reading Review: THE CIRCLE
Review: GOING IN STYLE
By Laurie Coker Rating: B- It just feels good to watch Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Alan Arkin interact, even if the story in their new Going in Style, feels familiar, forced and a bit muddled. These charming veteran actors fill the screen with their palpable personalities, and we are the luckier for it. Director… Continue reading Review: GOING IN STYLE
Review: THE BOSS BABY
By Laurie Coker Rating C+/B- I skipped all of The Boss Baby screenings offered for critics so that I could take my grandkids to the film when we all had time. I paid for three tickets on opening day and posted on Facebook that I was sure my grandkids should know how much I love… Continue reading Review: THE BOSS BABY
Review: LIFE
By Laurie Coker Rating: C- Life — a condition that includes the capacity for growth, reproduction, function and change — and the subject of the latest sci-fi thriller, Life, starring Ryan Reynolds and Jake Gyllenhaal. Director Daniel Espinosa creates a visually stunning environment and an interesting enough creature, but Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese’s story… Continue reading Review: LIFE