Skip to content
  • weekly digest email
  • Patreon (paid or free)
  • Substack (paid or free)
  • my books
  • about/contact
  • social media, etc
  • sponsorship
  • rss
FlickFilosopher.com

handcrafted by maryann johanson (human) | 100% free of AIs and algorithms

  • 21st-century sci-fi
  • movies for the resistance
  • classic film virgin
  • directed by women
    • Where Are the Women? project
  • in cinemas
    • US and Canada
    • UK and Ireland
  • watch at home
    • US and Canada
    • UK and Ireland
  • 2026’s films ranked
    • 2025’s films ranked
    • 2024’s films ranked
    • 2023’s films ranked
    • 2022’s films ranked
  • all recent posts
    • archives by month
  • all reviews
    • A–M
    • N–Z
    • Oscars Best Pix
    • Oscars Best Animated Pix
  • new comments

female protagonist

Orphan: First Kill movie review: not-so-little girl lost

Wed, Aug 17, 2022
no comments yet

The rare sequel better than the original, but that’s not saying much. Takes too long to get to its surprises, its adult star is unconvincing as a child, and its minimal cleverness feels like a cheat.

| Leave a comment

The Princess documentary review: look back in anger

Thu, Aug 11, 2022
6 comments

A portrait of Diana’s depiction in the press that is incendiary, incisive, and transfixing. A litany of horror, in retrospect, and an incredibly valuable look at how public stories are shaped by media.

| 6 Comments

Mrs Harris Goes to Paris movie review: a fashion for kindness

Fri, Jul 29, 2022
2 comments

This 60-year-old story of pursuing a dream with resolute kindness could not feel more fresh in its knowing class clash. Lesley Manville is an absolute treasure, her command of comedic pathos supreme.

| 2 Comments

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande movie review: come as you are

Fri, Jul 01, 2022
1 comment

Full of honesty and humanity, utterly lacking in shame over a basic human need, the female experience of which is almost universally ignored onscreen. Light, funny, diverting. So why was I bawling?

| 1 Comment

Nude Tuesday movie review: nonsense, not quite inspired (Tribeca Film Festival 2022)

Fri, Jun 17, 2022
3 comments

The wacky-yet-heartfelt comedy just about works; the gibberish dialogue, not so much. But this could be the makings of a crowdsourced cult fave, if playful viewers end up creating their own subtitles.

| 3 Comments

Men movie review: if it walks like misogyny and squawks like misogyny…

Fri, Jun 10, 2022
12 comments

A “critique” of misogyny that is outright misogynist, even before it goes down a gorefest rabbit hole of infuriating contempt for women. What the hell is going on with this would-be-mythic mishmash?

| 12 Comments

The Quiet Girl (An Cailín Ciúin) movie review: sweet summer child

Sun, Jun 05, 2022
7 comments

One of the most beautiful movies I’ve ever seen. It is impossibly small, and emotionally immense, full of the most bittersweet of pathos that the coming-of-age genre offers. A treasure, and a gift.

| 7 Comments

Happening (L’événement) movie review: the history about to repeat itself

Fri, May 06, 2022
no comments yet

An intense, intimate tale of historical illegal abortion, with a central performance of focused terror; a harrowing body horror that looms again. I cannot overstate the absolute urgency of this film.

| Leave a comment

Downton Abbey: A New Era movie review: should we improve society somewhat, or nah?

Fri, Apr 29, 2022
2 comments

Steady your heart palpitations: it’s the same old era for the nicest feudal hangover. The delusional reactionary fantasy of wealth and privilege for some, cheerful servitude for others remains intact.

| 2 Comments

The Yellow Wallpaper movie review: gaslight but no heat

Thu, Apr 28, 2022
4 comments

Stiflingly literal mounting of the classic feminist tale. Flat and stilted, with no cultural context and no visceral insight into its protagonist’s plight, and emptiness where there should be empathy.

| 4 Comments
Older posts
Newer posts
← Previous Page1 … Page4 Page5 Page6 … Page39 Next →

sf/f/h flash fiction by me

Cultural Artifacts cover
now on Kindle Unlimited!

try KU for free:
US Amazon
Can Amazon
UK Amazon

please help keep truly independent film criticism alive!
support my work at Patreon  support my work at Substack
Pledge your support now at Patreon or Substack.
FREE regular streaming recommendations via Substack and Patreon.
Or make a one-time or recurring donation via PayPal. (PayPal account not required; debit/credit card payment available.)

shop to support




Watch on Apple TV

When you purchase or rent almost anything from Amazon US, Amazon Canada, Amazon UK, and Apple TV, Books, and Music (globally), I get a small affiliate fee that helps support my work. Please use my links if you can! (Affiliate fees do not increase your cost.) Thank you!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
sample sponsored post (sponsored) - Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce quis risus odio.


member
Online Film Critics Society


member
Alliance of Women Film Journalists

Vuelio top-10 UK film blog


Tomatometer-approved critic on
Rotten Tomatoes


top critic
Movie Review Query Engine

Amazon US author page
Amazon UK author page


executive member
International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences
Copyright © 1997–2026 MaryAnn Johanson. All rights reserved.
No content appearing on this site may be reproduced, reposted, or reused in any manner without express written permission.
All images appearing on this site not created by me are utilized under fair-use doctrines.
No images or text appearing on this site may be used to train artificial intelligence.
privacy policy | hosted by Fused