film criticism by maryann johanson | since 1997
This sci-fi dreadfest immerses you into a shocking mystery, punches you in the gut, then grips you with a wisdom that transcends its obviousness, daring you to deny that its open savagery is our own.
That mind-blowing moment when the Doctor realizes what’s going on! And the next mind-blowing moment when you realize none of it hangs together!
Bland and generic beyond the small pleasures of its theme-park-ride-esque thrills and its half-intriguing, half-infuriating mystery.
In The Night Chronicles: Devil, a group of hapless folks are trapped in an elevator with Satan. This flick sprang from (among other films)…
U.S. AND CANADA/OPENING WIDE Salt: Angelina Jolie’s CIA agent goes on the lam after she is accused of being a double agent for a cadre of Russians who miss the Cold War. Cuz the Cold War was so much fun. If you can’t make it to the multiplex, try: • The Fugitive (1993): Harrison Ford’s … more…
I debated with myself for quite a while: Should I endure *The Human Centipede (First Sequence)*? I knew I wouldn’t be able to unwatch it afterward…
U.S. AND CANADA/OPENING WIDE Get Him to the Greek: Rock stars (ie, Russell Brand) are a mess, and the normal people who are their fans (ie, Jonah Hill) are only slightly less a mess. Such is the plight of humanity. If you can’t make it to the multiplex, try: • Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008): Which … more…
What if there were realms in which *woman* was not meant to meddle? It’s not as progressive as it sounds. But you knew that already.
We know how it is: You’d like to go to the movies this weekend, but you’re still hung over from celebrating the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. But you can have a multiplex-like experience at home with a collection of the right DVDs. And when someone asks you on Monday, “Hey, did you see Taking Woodstock … more…
I tell ya, if ‘reality TV’ was like this, I’d actually watch it. Let’s put some real bite into *Survivor.* If some unknown, untalented schmuck wants to be an instant celebrity *and* take home a million bucks, he should have to gnaw his own foot off and put a bullet in some other fame-whore first.
