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/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/2010/07/27/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/2010/05/27/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/2009/06/24/oh-no-you-didnt-4-mcconaughey-gary-oldman-playing-his-dwarf-twin-brother-tiptoes-review-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/06/24/oh-no-you-didnt-4-mcconaughey-gary-oldman-playing-his-dwarf-twin-brother-tiptoes-review-by-coop/#comments Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:23:18 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=2107 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/06/24/oh-no-you-didnt-4-mcconaughey-gary-oldman-playing-his-dwarf-twin-brother-tiptoes-review-by-coop/feed/ 1 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/04/07/adventureland-2009-12-movie-review-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/04/07/adventureland-2009-12-movie-review-by-coop/#comments Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:06:09 +0000 admin http://www.smalltowncritic.com/?p=449 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2009/04/07/adventureland-2009-12-movie-review-by-coop/feed/ 0 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2008/12/21/ive-been-saying-it-all-along-romantic-comedies-are-screwing-up-our-love-lives-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2008/12/21/ive-been-saying-it-all-along-romantic-comedies-are-screwing-up-our-love-lives-by-coop/#comments Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:00:00 +0000 Coop http://smalltowncritic1.wordpress.com/2008/12/21/ive-been-saying-it-all-along-romantic-comedies-are-screwing-up-our-love-lives-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2008/12/21/ive-been-saying-it-all-along-romantic-comedies-are-screwing-up-our-love-lives-by-coop/feed/ 84 http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2008/10/07/nick-and-norahs-infinite-playlist-2008-movie-review-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2008/10/07/nick-and-norahs-infinite-playlist-2008-movie-review-by-coop/#comments Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:58:00 +0000 Coop http://smalltowncritic1.wordpress.com/2008/10/07/nick-and-norahs-infinite-playlist-2008-movie-review-by-coop/ http://www.smalltowncritic.com/2008/10/07/nick-and-norahs-infinite-playlist-2008-movie-review-by-coop/feed/ 1