film criticism by maryann johanson | celebrating 25 years: 1997–2022
A British filmmaker documents the arrogance and disdain with which Donald Trump wields the power of his money… a warning for Americans come Election Day.
Easy Money is a smart, affecting, slow burn of a movie, a spectacular example of Nordic noir. The sequel suffers by comparison, though.
This gentle father-son(ish) tale about an expert surfer and his teen apprentice is a rare “family” movie that isn’t preachy or insipid.
A familiar story of sinister creature frights and psychological horror gets a little boost from a gloomy mood of urban decay and isolation.
By turns hilarious, absurd, offensive, and insulting, this is all rote action that will pique your interest only when it is being completely ridiculous.
Whatever your politics, you will find things to astonish and flabbergast and enrage you in this cool-headed examination of America’s War on Drugs.
Cuteness proximity alert! Cuteness proximity alert!
The magic is as modest as can be, and its aim is a bit off…
All its faults are forgiven thanks to our sheer joy in getting to watch Christopher Walken, Catherine Keener, and Philip Seymour Hoffman rattle around one another…
Such a simple little movie…but also sad and strange, and ironic and discomfiting.
