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…

In 1994, the long-standing South African Apartheid had dissolved; the country held its first multi-racial elections and Nelson Mandela became the first black African president of the nation. Knowing full well the transition of power would cause bitterness and distrust among the country’s affluent and powerful Caucasian minority, Mandela wisely realized that the two cultures must find common ground in order for the shattered country to unite. One unlikely way he chose to achieve this goal was to vocally and fervently support the country’s flagging rugby team. Lead by team captain Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon), the South African “Springbok” (antelopes) rugby team was so hated…

I didn’t laugh until about 40 minutes into this artsy, awkwardly-styled independent film. There, if that didn’t scare you off, then you might enjoy this light and quirky story by Steven Soderbergh. You won’t be rolling in the aisles, but if you can wait for the tension to build, the laughs will come. It’s too bad Soderbergh couldn’t kick the humor off to an early start because a less patient audience would either fall asleep or walk out…

Some would credit Director Michael Mann as the undisputed king of cop vs. robber crime epics. Creating TV shows like “Miami Vice” and “Crime Story,” plus his perfect opus “Heat” gives him all of the street cred needed to tackle the true-life story of notorious bank robber John Dillinger and the G-Men commissioned to take him down. An apparent slam-dunk for the maestro of modern shoot-em ups. After coming off his lousy remake of “Miami Vice,” I would’ve expected Mann to step his game. As they say in the 1930’s gangster movies of old: No dice…

I once had a roommate/friend in college who flat-out refused to come to visit me and my family in Mississippi. He thought the south had such a bad reputation that he was bound to experience something so offensive to his beliefs that he would not be able to keep a civil tongue. We were in Dallas, Texas, at the time, mind you. I suddenly became self conscious when I learned that people from parts of Texas or even other parts of the South regarded Mississippi as backwards, unfriendly to outsiders, racist and dangerous. Was my home state that bad? Sure, history played a part in the…

Both of these deserve your intense scrutiny. They involve real-life controversial (anti-heroes, if you will) figures who set out to impact the world and did so in their unique way. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, they sure are interesting:

The movies in this list fully expected and possibly depended upon offending certain religions in order to succeed. Sometimes the film in question preys upon longstanding fears and prejudices in order to make a point. Here are 10 movies designed to offend your (or someone else’s) religious beliefs (Note: The Small Town Critic does not endorse or defend any of the viewpoints these films present)…

Terrence Howard is Macbeth. That’s not a typo. The “Hustle and Flow” star recently announced plans to not only bring the seminal Shakespearean tragedy to the big screen but to set it in the Caribbean confines of Puerto Rico and cast himself in the title role. No start date has as yet been set for “Macbeth, Mon” but I’ll wager it’ll be a favorite of the Sundance set come 2010. Oh, and Eddie Murphy has decided to reinvent the wheel by taking “Romeo and Juliet” and shifting the focus of the story to Mom and Pop Montague and Capulet; thereby turning the treasured tale of unrequited love into “Meeteth the Fockers”…

Jewish resistance fighters during WWII, surviving and fighting despite insurmountable odds. You couldn’t ask for a higher profile property for a producer to latch on to. Add 007 Daniel Craig to the cast and you can’t lose. Or can you? How can a reliable Hollywood powerhouse like Edward Zwick blow such a procedural slam-dunk? Probably [...]

In every scene in this film Tom Cruise’s character wears a uniform with a swastika on the lapel. One might think he’s taking a risky career move with his role in “Valkyrie.” In fact, he’s not. Here he plays a character so morally incorruptible and so zealously anti-Nazi, you can’t mistake him for one of [...]

If it hadn’t actually happened, many would dismiss this story as unbelievable. “Changling” is a California tragedy that turned into an epic battle for justice during the “Roaring 1920’s.” Few people remember the story that gave the Los Angeles Police Department one of the worst black eyes in its history, but director Clint Eastwood and [...]

I have an affinity for underdog stories. I also like films where those some underdogs succeed despite their race, gender or oppressive circumstances. “The Great Debaters” fits this category, yet I consider it a lesser effort despite the high profile celebrities involved.
Oprah produced it. Denzel Washington directed and starred in it. Forrest Whitaker co-starred. It’s [...]

Adapted from the best selling book and based on a true story, “The Perfect Storm” proved to be one of the most anticipated movies of the summer season. The harrowing tale of a fishing boat, caught in the “Storm of the Century,” may have been fascinating as a book, but the story doesn’t hold water [...]

“Braveheart” set during the Revolutionary War. That’s what the creators of “The Patriot” seem to be associating their new summer blockbuster with… and it’s no mistake. Mel Gibson’s on board as another larger-than-life man, motivated by revenge and ultimately, fighting for freedom. It may be exciting, but falls short on originality and genuine sentiment.
Gibson plays [...]

There hasn’t been a good Roman Empire/gladiator movie in awhile and Hollywood does take advantage of a good opportunity when it sees it. “Gladiator” is a prime example of good marketing and timing, making it the first entertaining epic of the 21st century.
“Gladiator” seems much like a remake of the 1964 film, “The Fall of [...]

Everyone remembers their childhood dogs and the impact they’ve had on their life. Perhaps one dog in particular sticks out in your mind… A special dog that was there for you in the toughest or best years of your life. That is what this screen adaptation of Willie Morris’ “My Dog Skip” conveys in a [...]

Can a film depicting the true-story events of a tobacco industry snitch and the producer of the TV news/magazine, “60 Minutes”, be more exciting than it sounds? Definitely in the case of the “The Insider”, a powerful docudrama adapted from the Vanity Fair article, “The Man Who Knew Too Much”. This film has grabbed up [...]