http://www.smalltowncritic.com COOP COOPER is an independently syndicated film critic with a split personality. His "Southern Side" prints mainstream reviews that appear in various print publications across the mid-south. His "Dark Side" from Los Angeles befouls the site with reviews of horror and grindhouse flicks. Welcome to the site where COOP's two halves (and his contributors) review and debate the latest film/DVD releases... Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:00:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/11/29/coops-favorite-family-safe-holiday-season-films/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/11/29/coops-favorite-family-safe-holiday-season-films/#comments Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:40:47 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=3143 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/11/29/coops-favorite-family-safe-holiday-season-films/feed/ 3 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/10/12/best-new-primetime-tv-shows-of-the-2011-season/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/10/12/best-new-primetime-tv-shows-of-the-2011-season/#comments Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:35:47 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=3114 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/10/12/best-new-primetime-tv-shows-of-the-2011-season/feed/ 1 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/08/11/the-help-will-win-oscars-and-prestige-for-mississippi/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/08/11/the-help-will-win-oscars-and-prestige-for-mississippi/#comments Thu, 11 Aug 2011 22:01:29 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=3072 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/08/11/the-help-will-win-oscars-and-prestige-for-mississippi/feed/ 2 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/06/06/the-hangover-part-ii-fails-to-live-up-to-the-original/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/06/06/the-hangover-part-ii-fails-to-live-up-to-the-original/#comments Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:02:27 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=3048 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/06/06/the-hangover-part-ii-fails-to-live-up-to-the-original/feed/ 1 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/05/18/comediva-gender-specific-comedy-site-aims-for-world-domination/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/05/18/comediva-gender-specific-comedy-site-aims-for-world-domination/#comments Wed, 18 May 2011 07:00:30 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=3039 Comediva.com site out to me and suggested I take a look.  Since I contributed an article for Kat Hill and her Action Flick Chick website (click here to read my article "Why Manly-Men Love Action Flick Chicks"), I figure a good female comedy plug is in order... ]]> http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/05/18/comediva-gender-specific-comedy-site-aims-for-world-domination/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/05/04/may-6th-marks-the-beginning-of-the-summer-movie-season/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/05/04/may-6th-marks-the-beginning-of-the-summer-movie-season/#comments Wed, 04 May 2011 20:11:41 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=3033 by Coop Cooper As educational institutions gear down for their summer sabbatical, Hollywood gears up to release their highest-budgeted films. This tradition seems to arrive earlier each year, but the first of these mega-budget projects usually arrive in May. The May blockbusters are strategically placed in this month, often under the assumption the studio heads feel the films are weak, risky or may not compete against the reliable mid-summer releases. Sometimes the reason is simply beating other films to the punch and audiences occasionally find some some pleasant May surprises. Here's what's coming next month: CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE AT THE CLARKSDALE PRESS REGISTER WEBSITE]]> http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/05/04/may-6th-marks-the-beginning-of-the-summer-movie-season/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/02/15/the-8th-annual-oxford-film-fest-reviewed-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/02/15/the-8th-annual-oxford-film-fest-reviewed-by-coop/#comments Tue, 15 Feb 2011 09:22:35 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2949 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2011/02/15/the-8th-annual-oxford-film-fest-reviewed-by-coop/feed/ 2 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/09/27/micro-reviews-via-twitter-mother-monsters-the-killer-inside-me-intruder-drillbit-taylor-the-town-centurion/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/09/27/micro-reviews-via-twitter-mother-monsters-the-killer-inside-me-intruder-drillbit-taylor-the-town-centurion/#comments Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:11:12 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2877 Got a slew of them here. MONSTERS is currently available as a $10.oo rent on iTunes and THE KILLER INSIDE ME will be available on DVD/Blu-Ray tomorrow (Sept. 28)... MOTHER - Poor Korean mom turns detective in an attempt to free her alleged murdering, simple-minded son. Powerful cinema. 5 out of 5 stars. MONSTERS - Immigration statement thinly disguised as arthouse sci-fi. Watchable for critics, unsatisfying for mainstream. 3 out of 5 stars THE KILLER INSIDE ME - C. Affleck plays a psycho lawman in 1960's TX. Brilliant, brutal and one of the best of the year. 5 out of 5 stars INTRUDER - Sam Raimi & crew try to survive a slasher attack in a supermarket. Nice camerawork but lame considering the talent. 2 - 5 stars DRILLBIT TAYLOR - Innocuous comedy where 3 nerds hire a homeless buffoon to protect them from a bully. Cute but hollow. 2&1/2 out of 5 stars THE TOWN - A guilt-ridden Boston bank robber falls in love with a former hostage. Affleck remakes HEAT with kick-ass results. 4 out of 5 stars CENTURION - Spec fiction about what may have happened to the 9th Roman Legion. Sloppy pacing/high watchability. Bloody brutal! 3 out of 5 Thy Twitter has spoken... -Coop ]]> http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/09/27/micro-reviews-via-twitter-mother-monsters-the-killer-inside-me-intruder-drillbit-taylor-the-town-centurion/feed/ 1 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/09/07/the-rise-of-the-hoaxumentary-are-filmmakers-crossing-the-line-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/09/07/the-rise-of-the-hoaxumentary-are-filmmakers-crossing-the-line-by-coop/#comments Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:00:57 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2855 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/09/07/the-rise-of-the-hoaxumentary-are-filmmakers-crossing-the-line-by-coop/feed/ 2 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/08/18/micro-reviews-via-twitter-the-best-of-the-feel-good-film-festival-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/08/18/micro-reviews-via-twitter-the-best-of-the-feel-good-film-festival-by-coop/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 02:24:43 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2844 Coop’s most recent MICRO REVIEWS (via Twitter): I got to conduct some great Q & A's for some terrific films at the FEEL GOOD FILM FESTIVAL this past weekend. I met some truly gifted filmmakers and inspirational people. I'd like to thank these special guests for affecting me the most: Cheryl Hines for her big intro, Shirley Jones for classing up the joint with her presence, Marty Ingles for reminding us what this festival is really about, Leeza Gibbons for singling me out with a nice compliment, writer/director Lexi Alexander for the lively discussion, producer/actor Googy Gress for his sincere enthusiasm, the League of S.T.E.A.M. for entertaining us all weekend and motivational speaker/actor Nick Vujicic for the sheer inspiration he gave to us all with his fantastic short film The Butterfly Circus (watch here!). I'd also like to give big high-fives to all of the coordinators and volunteers for making the festival such a fun and engaging experience. I had a great time bonding with you all. Finally a big congratulations to producer/actor Joe Russell and writer/actress Casey Strand from the short film "Strawberries" whose engagement I helped orchestrate during one of the more memorable Q & A's. I wish I had seen them all but of the ones I did see, here are the films that I felt were the best (in no particular order)... ]]> http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/08/18/micro-reviews-via-twitter-the-best-of-the-feel-good-film-festival-by-coop/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/08/02/coop-is-introducing-movies-and-conducting-q-as-at-the-feel-good-film-festival-aug-13-15/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/08/02/coop-is-introducing-movies-and-conducting-q-as-at-the-feel-good-film-festival-aug-13-15/#comments Mon, 02 Aug 2010 23:04:09 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2831 Feel Good Film Festival. I've been asked to introduce some of the features/short films and run the questions & answers session after each. This will be my first year to attend the festival, so I'm excited to get out there and meet the filmmakers, press and organizers involved with the event which will take place at the American Cinematheque’s Egyptian Theater in downtown Hollywood. The festival, which apparently has grown significantly since its beginnings, has quite an impressive indie film line up. Come by, check it out and find me on the red carpet!... Here's the official Press release with details on each film being screened...]]> http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/08/02/coop-is-introducing-movies-and-conducting-q-as-at-the-feel-good-film-festival-aug-13-15/feed/ 5 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/07/27/micro-reviews-via-twitter-the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-pecker-watching-the-detectives-salvage-2006-salvage-2009-2012-apaches/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/07/27/micro-reviews-via-twitter-the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-pecker-watching-the-detectives-salvage-2006-salvage-2009-2012-apaches/#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:15:23 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2802 Coop’s most recent MICRO REVIEWS (via Twitter): Nothing brand new here, but I just can't get the energy up to go see WANTED II... I mean, SALT... THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO: Quirky autistic hacker chick fights crime and has a lot of sex in Sweden. High brow yet boring. 2 out of 5 PECKER: Photog's quick fame ruins lives of loved ones. Semi-autobio of John Waters. Clever allegory for artistic expression. 3&1/2 out of 5 WATCHING THE DETECTIVES: A girl (Lucy Liu) uses wild pranks to woo a nerdy boy (Cillian Murphy). Well-written indie rom-com. 3&1/2 out of 5 SALVAGE (2006): Girl relives her death at the hands of a serial killer over and over. Above par indie horror with a great twist. 3 out of 5 SALVAGE (2009): Mother searches for daughter during invasion by soldiers hunting a murderous mutant. Good tension, lame BBC plot. 2 out of 5 2012: John Cusack tries to save family from the apocalypse. Worst disaster movie ever. Roland Emmerich should take up bowling. 1 out of 5 APACHES: Sinister 1977 British public service film about irresponsible brats dying in farming accidents. Brutal and brilliant. 4 out of 5 Thy Twitter has spoken.]]> http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/07/27/micro-reviews-via-twitter-the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-pecker-watching-the-detectives-salvage-2006-salvage-2009-2012-apaches/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/06/21/micro-reviews-via-twitter-get-him-to-the-greek-bitch-slap-the-calamari-wrestler-tales-from-the-script-uwe-bolls-rampage/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/06/21/micro-reviews-via-twitter-get-him-to-the-greek-bitch-slap-the-calamari-wrestler-tales-from-the-script-uwe-bolls-rampage/#comments Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:47:37 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2779 Coop’s most recent MICRO REVIEWS (via Twitter): Got some high-rated exploitation (and one documentary) this time around! All of these movies are terrific, especially Uwe Boll's surprisingly powerful RAMPAGE (who would have expected that one?)... RAMPAGE: Uwe Boll knocks one out of the park. Hyperviolent domestic terrorist shocker delivers. Hell freezes over. 4 out of 5 BITCH SLAP: Fun, hyper violent, tongue-in-cheek exploitation about 3 sex bombs killing each other over loot. 3&1/2 out of 5 THE CALAMARI WRESTLER: Japanese wrestler dies and reincarnates in a mansized rubber squid suit. New camp classic. 4 out of 5 TALES FROM THE SCRIPT: A little bitter, but a must-see doc for anyone even remotely interested in screenwriting. 4 out of 5 GET HIM TO THE GREEK: Russell Brand = comedic genius. Best drug freak out scene of all time. Can't stop giggling. 4 out of 5]]> http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/06/21/micro-reviews-via-twitter-get-him-to-the-greek-bitch-slap-the-calamari-wrestler-tales-from-the-script-uwe-bolls-rampage/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/05/27/strategies-for-women-to-convince-their-men-to-go-see-chick-flicks-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/05/27/strategies-for-women-to-convince-their-men-to-go-see-chick-flicks-by-coop/#comments Thu, 27 May 2010 16:43:15 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2755 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/05/27/strategies-for-women-to-convince-their-men-to-go-see-chick-flicks-by-coop/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/05/19/micro-reviews-via-twitter-the-crazies-rec2-from-paris-with-love-how-to-train-your-dragon-shes-out-of-my-league-ninja-assassin-legion/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/05/19/micro-reviews-via-twitter-the-crazies-rec2-from-paris-with-love-how-to-train-your-dragon-shes-out-of-my-league-ninja-assassin-legion/#comments Wed, 19 May 2010 16:54:55 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2748 Coop's most recent MICRO REVIEWS (via Twitter): THE CRAZIES (2010): Great first half, effective scares (pitchfork!) but ignored much of what worked in the original. 3 stars [REC]2: Creative continuity/action/camerawork, but "Exorcist" twist undermines the mythology of original. 2&1/2 stars FROM PARIS WITH LOVE: Travolta = over the top and action scenes = outrageous, a must see for action fans. 3&1/2 stars HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: Better than AVATAR in story and intent. Total pleasant surprise. Take kids now. 4&1/2 stars SHE'S OUT OF MY LEAGUE: Sub-par comedy. Baruchel unlikably insecure. Cop-out ending. Title ironically true. 2 stars. NINJA ASSASSIN: Good gore. Bad CGI shurikens. Rain = ok. Lead actress sucks. Sho Kosugi rocks. Lame plot. 2 stars. LEGION: Amazing concept. Angels + weapons = BOOM. Weak execution. All characters unlikable. Wings clipped. 2&1/2 stars.]]> http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/05/19/micro-reviews-via-twitter-the-crazies-rec2-from-paris-with-love-how-to-train-your-dragon-shes-out-of-my-league-ninja-assassin-legion/feed/ 2 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/02/24/oscar-mine-are-weeners-a-hopeless-slackass%e2%80%99-guide-to-handicapping-the-academy-awards-by-jay/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/02/24/oscar-mine-are-weeners-a-hopeless-slackass%e2%80%99-guide-to-handicapping-the-academy-awards-by-jay/#comments Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:28:56 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2644 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/02/24/oscar-mine-are-weeners-a-hopeless-slackass%e2%80%99-guide-to-handicapping-the-academy-awards-by-jay/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/01/07/up-in-the-air-2009-movie-review-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/01/07/up-in-the-air-2009-movie-review-by-coop/#comments Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:26:58 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2625 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2010/01/07/up-in-the-air-2009-movie-review-by-coop/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/10/16/belated-zombieland-2009-movie-review-by-dark-side/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/10/16/belated-zombieland-2009-movie-review-by-dark-side/#comments Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:10:09 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2575 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/10/16/belated-zombieland-2009-movie-review-by-dark-side/feed/ 1 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/09/25/the-informant-2009-movie-review-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/09/25/the-informant-2009-movie-review-by-coop/#comments Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:27:22 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2520 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/09/25/the-informant-2009-movie-review-by-coop/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/09/05/boondock-saints-ii-all-saints-day-finally-has-a-trailer-i-still-cant-believe-it-actually-got-made-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/09/05/boondock-saints-ii-all-saints-day-finally-has-a-trailer-i-still-cant-believe-it-actually-got-made-by-coop/#comments Sat, 05 Sep 2009 16:25:10 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2468 (NOTE: I'm delaying the next installment of HAIR METAL MOVIE MADNESS #11 for another week. Partially due to this week's technical difficulties but also so I can save up some of the good horror ones for the month of October. Plus, this news was too juicy and I had to jump on it ASAP...) My love for Boondock Saints (5 out of 5 stars!) has no bounds. Which is why with a heavy heart I still feel that a sequel should've never been made. Why? Because writer/director Troy Duffy didn't deserve one. For those of you unfamiliar with the story, Saints involve a pair of illegal immigrant Irish twins, the McManus brothers (Sean Patrick Flannery and Norman Reedus) who get in a scrap with some local Russian mobsters in a Boston slum. After killing the mobsters in self defense, the brothers simultaneously get a divine vision instructing them to...]]> http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/09/05/boondock-saints-ii-all-saints-day-finally-has-a-trailer-i-still-cant-believe-it-actually-got-made-by-coop/feed/ 2