Category: MAIN

By Laurie Coker Rating: D Scores read the Fifty Shades novels and scores flocked to the theater for the first disappointing film installment of the wildly popular, super-soft-porn novels. Grey and Steel are back in Fifty Shades Darker. While the sex scenes are more frequent, the story is still as lackluster as, um, the color… Continue reading Review: FIFTY SHADES DARKER

By Laurie Coker Rating: A “Everything is awesome” about the new Lego Batman movie! Director Chris McKay and a slew of writers give audiences a classic spoof film that delights viewers of all ages. It pays homage to every batman version (ever) and does so with flourish and impressive animated flare. The Lego Batman movie… Continue reading Review:THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE

By Laurie Coker Rating: A+ I’m Not Your Negro is perhaps one of the best films of its kind and is positively one of the best of the year. James Arthur Baldwin was an American novelist, essayist, playwright, poet, and social critic, brings to theaters a moving look at the poignant and stormy account of… Continue reading Review: I’M NOT YOUR NEGRO

By Laurie Coker Rating: D+/C- Dog lovers will flock to see A Dog’s Purpose, based on the 2010 best-selling novel written by American humorist W. Bruce Cameron, but most will leave the theater disappointed. Top-billed veteran Dennis Quaid and actress Peggy Lipton (of Mod Squad fame) star alongside a variety of dogs in this overly… Continue reading Review: A DOG’S PURPOSE

By Laurie Coker Rating: C- Night Shyamalan wowed us all with The Sixth Sense, amused us with Signs, and some will say impressed viewers with Unbreakable, but since then, he has failed to offer anything in the way of shock and awe in storytelling. His latest film, Split, starring James McAvoy, does little to improve his… Continue reading Review: SPLIT

By Laurie Coker Rating: A Many things delineate a generation – years, decades, the culture and the people. 20th Century Women manages to perfectly depict a period in the past, all the while making its themes feel 21st century relevant. Starring Annette Bening in an award-worthy performance, director Mike Mills’ semiautobiographical story is a showcase… Continue reading Review: 20th CENTURY WOMEN

By Laurie Coker Rating: B+ The Boston Marathon bombing is one of those events that embed themselves in the collective memory, like the shuttle explosions (the first in 1986), the Oklahoma City (1994) bombing and the twin towers going down (2001). We remember the good too, but the bad seems to burn far more deeply.… Continue reading Review: PATRIOTS DAY

By Laurie Coker Rating: A- Martin Scorsese’s ambitious film Silence, starring Liam Neeson, Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver, delves into Christian ministries to Japan in the 15th century. Scorsese, who co-wrote Silence with Jay Cocks, took nearly three decades to get this visually passionate epic journey to screens. The emotional impact of Silence resonates long… Continue reading Review: SILENCE

By Laurie Coker Rating: A- A fine line exists between creating an outstanding film from a stage production – be it a musical or standard play. Many have accomplished it successfully – consider Chicago, Pygmalion (aka My Fair Lady), Barefoot in the Park, Casa Blanca and the list goes on and on. It’s more difficult,… Continue reading Review: FENCES

By Laurie Coker Rating: D+ It’s happening – the end of year, holiday, and pre-Oscar rush to entertain audiences of all ages. From sci-fi spectaculars to singing animals and serious drama to trashy comedy, it is all in theaters this week and next. Filmmakers vie to make it on critics’ list whether it is the… Continue reading Review: PASSENGERS