film criticism by maryann johanson | since 1997
An entirely entertaining murder-mystery jape; dryly funny, deliciously retro yet decidedly modern. Whenever you think you’ve got it figured out, it trips you up again… and you love it for doing so.
A miraculous blend of grief and humor. Big, bold, brash, then sneakily meta. I am only starting to get my head around the emotional and creative right-hook of it. A fitting end (for now) to the MCU.
Ten years of Marvel superheroism culminates in a battle for the universe itself. Exhausting, bitterly humorous, and gripped in a stunning finality, it’s almost too much to take in, yet somehow not enough.
Tough, unanswerable human questions frame spectacular, innovative action sequences that are like superhero ballets. This series just keeps getting better.
I’m mystified that some people are upset by how Snowpiercer ends. Because anything else than what we get would be a tragedy on every level.
Hauntingly grim, full of appalling ironies and awful truths. This is most definitely not the feel-good movie of the summer.
If you could add one thing to Steve’s list that he absolutely must catch up with in order to be considered a with-it 2010s kind of guy, what would it be?
Stuns me with its scathing commentary on the real world today, wrapped up in what is some of the most delicious, most comic-booky fantasy ever.
Though based on copious interviews mob killer Richard Kuklinski gave from prison, this barely broaches the great mystery of his life…
Could I dare to hope that another Jo Nesbo film would be as wickedly funny and as sharply pointed as Headhunters? Alas…
