By Laurie Coker Rating: C- Since I have grown to dislike the typical verbal diarrhea of Vince Vaughn, when given a choice, I opted to see Ethan Hawke in the violent thriller The Purge instead, a genre that I usually pass off to a different critic. Director James DeMonaco offers plenty of thrills, suspense and… Continue reading Review: THE PURGE
Category: Reviews
Review: STORIES WE TELL
By Mark Saldana Rating: 4 (Out of 4 Stars) Most people have entertained the idea that they are not the true biological offspring of their parents, mainly for humor sake. This highly candid documentary by acclaimed actress/filmmaker Sarah Polley (The Sweet Hereafter, Go) uncovers the truth behind Polley’s parentage. Blending interviews with her family and… Continue reading Review: STORIES WE TELL
Review: KINGS OF SUMMER
By Laurie Coker Rating: B+ In my opinion, it is becoming increasingly more and more difficult for writers and directors to come up with fresh takes on coming of ages tales. Films like Rob Reiner’s Stand by Me come around only once in a while, and John Hughes cornered the market on his style of… Continue reading Review: KINGS OF SUMMER
Review: STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS
By Renee’ Collins Rating: 5 (Out of 5 Reels) To say I am a Star Trek fan is an understatement because I have seen every television episode and movie over the years (classic Trek in re-runs, not to date myself too much). I was absolutely elated when I saw J.J. Abrams revamp the franchise with… Continue reading Review: STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS
Review: KON-TIKI
By Renee’ Collins Rating: 4 (Out of 5 Reels) Legendary explorer Thor Heyerdal (Pal) convinces five Norwegian colleagues to help prove his theory that South Americans settled in Polynesia in pre-Columbian times. Heyerdal comes to this conclusion by years of fieldwork and study in native areas. The film does take a while to set the… Continue reading Review: KON-TIKI
Review: KON-TIKI
By Laurie Coker Rating: A My sister lived on a boat of some kind for well over twenty years, more than ten of those she spent with her co-captains sailing or motoring down the Pacific coast, through the Panama Canal at one point, and eventually, she ended up in Florida, after longs stints in Mexico,… Continue reading Review: KON-TIKI
Review: FRANCES HA
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) Writer/director Noah Baumbach’s latest collaboration with his girlfriend, writer/director/actress Greta Gerwig proves to be a successful one. Their collaboration, a film titled Frances Ha, takes mumblecore and channels it through the aesthetics of Woody Allen, cinematographer Gordon Willis (Manhattan), and French New Wave cinema, particularly the… Continue reading Review: FRANCES HA
Review: KON-TIKI
By Mark Saldana Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) This Norwegian film received an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language film this year. So it came as a bit of a surprise to me when all of the characters in the movie spoke English. As part of my usual research prior to writing reviews, I… Continue reading Review: KON-TIKI
Review: NOW YOU SEE ME
By Laurie Coker Rating: A- Once in NYC, I fell prey to a street magician and since then I have a bit of an aversion to the trade, but not the talent. I remember loving David Coppefield and sat in awe at one of his shows, years ago. Like many magic tricks, perhaps all in… Continue reading Review: NOW YOU SEE ME
Review: SCATTER MY ASHES AT BERGDORFS
By Laurie Coker Rating: C+ New York City, a place like no other, and one I have visited every year for over fifteen years now. I love it! In spite of these annual visits, Bergdorf’s of New York has never been on my must see list. In fact, to be honest, while I have made… Continue reading Review: SCATTER MY ASHES AT BERGDORFS