By Laurie Coker Rating: C+ Finding freshness in a film genre made memorable by films like Raging Bull and Rocky works against most directors, if for nothing more than the “been there, seen that” element. Having an exceptional cast can and does make up for a great deal, and having Jake Gyllenhaal as a leading… Continue reading Review: SOUTHPAW
Author: Laurie Coker
Review: ANT-MAN
By Laurie Coker Rating: B- “Big things come in small packages.” True of many things and definitely true of Paul Rudd’s titular character Ant-Man. However, although it is highly entertaining, Ant-Man directed by Peyton Reed, is a good deal of what we have already seen in the super-hero genre – eminent world destruction, a reluctant… Continue reading Review: ANT-MAN
Review: TRAINWRECK
By Laurie Coker Rating: B+ Trainwreck the title says it all, and much of Judd Apatow’s new film plays out like watching a human train wreck, but not necessarily in a bad way. A delightfully witty cast, with excellent comedic timing makes Trainwreck’s less than fresh storyline pop. Even with its all too long running… Continue reading Review: TRAINWRECK
Review: MINIONS
By Laurie Coker Rating: C An entire film centered around yellow, tater-tot looking characters who speak a little more than gibberish seems a bit of a stretch, especially for adults, and I am afraid it is. Minions, a prequel to the Despicable Me movies, tells the story of how the minions became henchmen for Gru.… Continue reading Review: MINIONS
Review: TED 2
By Laurie Coker Rating: F Seth MacFarlane seems to love foul language and nasty crotch and potty humor. He masters the art of disgusting and try harder and harder in each of his film to shock his audiences. In is latest, the sequel to Ted, a story about a man and his teddy bear that… Continue reading Review: TED 2
Review: INSIDE OUT
By Laurie Coker Rating: A+ Growing up is hard to do – no doubt. Middle school is particularly difficult and if you add to that a big life changes, like a big family move. Pixar takes viewers in to the preteen mind of Riley, an adorable, hockey loving young girl whose life is turned upside… Continue reading Review: INSIDE OUT
Review: JURASSIC WORLD
By Laurie Coker Rating: B It is easy to get cynical and discouraged about sequels and remakes after writing reviews for over 15 years and seeing thousands of movies. Enter Jurassic World – roll eyes. No sequel or remake can capture the same spectacle, awe and surprise of a film like Jurassic Park, any more… Continue reading Review: JURASSIC WORLD
SXSW Review: TWINSTERS
By Laurie Coker Rating: A Twinsters premiered at SXSW this year and I happened on it almost accidently. It is a heart-warming looks at twins, separated at birth and reunited years later. Co-director (with Ryan Miyamoto’s)and documentarian Samantha Futerman raised money via Kickstarter, so she could make and bring her film, her own personal story… Continue reading SXSW Review: TWINSTERS
Review: SPY (SXSW)
By Laurie Coker Rating: A+ An all-star cast graces the big screen with Melissa McCarthy at the center of the new, hilariously funny summer comedy, Spy, that screened at SXSW this year. Jude Law and Rose Byrne and the ever macho Jason Statham join McCarthy in a fun spoof of espionage films. McCarthy, who walked… Continue reading Review: SPY (SXSW)
SXSW Review: WESTERN
By Laurie Coker Rating: F Never have I been as painfully bored in a movie, especially at SXSW, until I sat and squirmed through Western, a documentary about the border towns of Eagle Pass and its Mexican neighbor Piedras Negra. I truly wish I had better things to say, but I just don’t. Having grown… Continue reading SXSW Review: WESTERN