Review: SIDE EFFECTS

By Laurie Coker Rating: B I like a good mystery, thriller – one that maintains my interest and keeps me guessing. Side Effects, starring Jude Law, Rooney Mara and Catherine Zeta-Jones, provides just enough excitement to satisfy. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, Side Effects appears to be a movie that aims to make people see and… Continue reading Review: SIDE EFFECTS

Review: Warm Bodies

By Laurie Coker Rating: B+ The idea of a teen zombie romance comedy didn’t impress me at first. I’ve had my fill of teen vampire romance, so I wondered whether I should even bother with Warm Bodies. Fortunately, because of a quality script, an engaging cast and excellent direction, Warm Bodies is a funny, smart,… Continue reading Review: Warm Bodies

Spanish Review: Quartet

Por Laurie Coker Clasificación: B+  Odio envejeciendo. Sin duda, hay algunos beneficios, como reducción de precios en teatros, membresía AARP, comidas senior de IHOP y otras ventajas, pero no estoy bastante aún. Todavía cierne. Quartet, protagonizada por el irreprimible Maggie Smith, hombre divertido Billy Connelly, adorable Pauline Collins y el veterano actor británico Tom Courtenay y… Continue reading Spanish Review: Quartet

Review: Quartet

By Laurie Coker Rating: B+ I hate getting older. Sure, there are some benefits, like reduced pricing at theatres, AARP membership, IHOP senior meals, and other perks, but I’m not quite there yet. Still it looms. Quartet, starring the irrepressible Maggie Smith, funny man Billy Connelly, lovable Pauline Collins and veteran British actor Tom Courtenay… Continue reading Review: Quartet

Review: Amour

By Laurie Coker Rating: B- I watched the critically acclaimed Amour over holiday break and afterward had an online discussion with a friend and former film critic about it and all the hype surrounding it. When he lived in Austin, our reviews of films rarely matched up. We have, at times, extremely diverse ideas about… Continue reading Review: Amour

Review: Broken City

By Laurie Coker Rating: C+/B- While not overtly revolutionary, Mark Wahlberg’s new film Broken City does entertain and surprisingly, in spite of its faults, does keep the audience guessing. Even with its pat plot, director Allen Hughes (the first time at the helm without brother Albert) and his strong cast manage to toss in a… Continue reading Review: Broken City

Two for ONE Reviews: Gangster Squad and Zero Dark Thirty

By Laurie Coker Rating: Gangster Squad C+ Zero Dark Thirty A- With time running away from me, yet again, I’ve decided to review two films in one this week. Zero Dark Thirty and Gangster Squad. Both star exceptional, versatile actors and both entertain – one more for the overblown almost comic book feel, the other… Continue reading Two for ONE Reviews: Gangster Squad and Zero Dark Thirty

Review: THE IMPOSSIBLE

By Laurie Coker Rating: A Ah, the randomness of nature, it never ceases to amaze and stupefy even experts. When in Japan a few years back, my cohort of twenty teachers on a seminar there had to be evacuated from Okinawa early because of an oncoming monsoon. As disappointed as I felt, having to miss… Continue reading Review: THE IMPOSSIBLE