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
Author: Laurie Coker
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
SXSW 2025 Movie Review: MERMAID – A Misguided Fantasy That Missed the Mark
I’ll be honest: Mermaid was my least favorite film of SXSW 2025. Despite its intriguing premise, it left me cringing more than laughing, and I had to force myself to sit through it. Directed by Tyler Cornack, the film follows Doug (played by Johnny Pemberton), an awkward, down-and-out drug addict in Florida who’s lost his… Continue reading SXSW 2025 Movie Review: MERMAID – A Misguided Fantasy That Missed the Mark
SXSW 2025 Movie Review: AGE OF DISCLOSURE
I went into this SXSW 2025 documentary more curious than skeptical. After all, it’s not every day you get a film that promises revelations from over thirty senior U.S. government, military, and intelligence officials about a secret 80-year cover-up involving non-human intelligent life. The idea of a global race to reverse-engineer alien technology sounds like… Continue reading SXSW 2025 Movie Review: AGE OF DISCLOSURE
SXSW 2025 Movie Review: ON SWIFT HORSES
There’s something intoxicating about On Swift Horses, a film that practically hums with longing from its opening frames. I saw it at SXSW 2025, where it screened in the Festival Favorites section, and from the moment the lights dimmed, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a gentle ride. The film opens not with… Continue reading SXSW 2025 Movie Review: ON SWIFT HORSES