There’s a moment in Heads of State when the President of the United States tries to use choreographed fight moves from his action movie past during a real brawl—and it doesn’t go well. That pretty much captures the delightful absurdity of this buddy-action comedy, which leans into its ridiculousness with glee and never looks back.… Continue reading Heads of State – A High-Speed, Low-Logic, All-Fun Thrill Ride
Author: Laurie Coker
M3GAN 2.0: More Glitches Than Upgrades
Two years after M3GAN’s first rampage, her creator Gemma (Allison Williams) is forced to bring the infamous AI doll back to life in order to defeat a new threat: Amelia, a sleek, military-grade killer robot built using stolen tech from M3GAN’s original design. The premise suggests an epic battle between two rogue AIs, but M3GAN… Continue reading M3GAN 2.0: More Glitches Than Upgrades
F1: Speed, Spirit, and the Drive to Redemption
As someone who genuinely enjoys sports dramas—especially underdog stories about characters closer to my age—I found F1 not just entertaining, but surprisingly resonant. Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick), this high-speed, high-stakes racing film may follow familiar narrative roads, but it does so with such style, energy, and heart that it’s easy to overlook… Continue reading F1: Speed, Spirit, and the Drive to Redemption
Pins & Needles: an intense, claustrophobic thriller
Pins & Needles Pins & Needles is an intense, claustrophobic thriller that caught me off guard in the best way. Directed and written by James Villeneuve in his feature debut, the film delivers a taut blend of suspense, survival, and horror with a unique premise that sets it apart from more conventional thrillers. At just under… Continue reading Pins & Needles: an intense, claustrophobic thriller
Movie Review: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING
Attending an early screening of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, directed by Christopher McQuarrie, stirred a wave of nostalgia. The original Mission: Impossible debuted in 1996, and realizing nearly three decades have passed feels almost unreal. The reunion of the core cast—Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell, Simon Pegg as… Continue reading Movie Review: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING
SXSW 2025 Movie Review: FRIENDSHIP – When Weird Goes Off the Rails
I walked into Andrew DeYoung’s Friendship at its U.S. premiere at SXSW 2025, not quite knowing what to expect. The premise—a suburban dad desperate for a new friend whose enthusiasm spirals into chaos—seemed ripe for uncomfortable laughs and maybe even some quietly incisive social commentary. To its credit, the film delivers flashes of both. But… Continue reading SXSW 2025 Movie Review: FRIENDSHIP – When Weird Goes Off the Rails
Nonnas — A Comfort Dish Served with Heart
Some movies sneak up on you, offering not spectacle or suspense, but warmth. Nonnas, Netflix’s new feel-good feature, did just that for me this Mother’s Day. It’s the kind of film you settle into with a blanket and a cup of tea—or maybe a bowl of pasta—grateful for a story that’s more nourishing than flashy.… Continue reading Nonnas — A Comfort Dish Served with Heart
Clowns in a Cornfield – isn’t awful, but it’s aggressively average
I’m not typically a horror fan by nature, but I occasionally dip into the genre when something feels odd or offbeat enough to catch my attention. That was the case with Clowns in a Cornfield. I missed it during its SXSW 2025 screening—my usual movie buddy had no interest in seeing a killer clown in… Continue reading Clowns in a Cornfield – isn’t awful, but it’s aggressively average
SXSW 2025 Review: Another Simple Favor – a follow up film that works!
Opening night at the Paramount Theater during SXSW 2025 was electrifying, with audiences eagerly anticipating the follow-up to ‘A Simple Favor.’ This sequel immerses us once again in the glamorous world of Stephanie Smothers, portrayed by Anna Kendrick, and her enigmatic friend Emily Nelson, played by Blake Lively. Set against the stunning backdrop of Capri,… Continue reading SXSW 2025 Review: Another Simple Favor – a follow up film that works!
Pink Floyd at Pompeii – A Journey Beyond Time and Sound
In theaters April 24 Some films document music, and then films that become music. Pink Floyd at Pompeii is the latter—a hypnotic, transcendent experience that dissolves the line between concert and cinema, performance and meditation. As it returns to theaters in a stunning restoration, this is the version to see: immersive, powerful, and finally given the scale it always… Continue reading Pink Floyd at Pompeii – A Journey Beyond Time and Sound