film criticism by maryann johanson | since 1997
Kudos to J.J. Abrams for doing something extraordinary: he has made me not care about Star Wars for the first time ever. I’m kind of relieved that it’s over, because it has stopped being fun.
Francesca Hayward costars in Cats; more… [This post is for Patreon patrons only for the first month.]
Daisy Ridley costars in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker; more… [This post is for Patreon patrons only for the first month.]
Kasi Lemmons cowrites and directs Harriet, starring Cynthia Enrivo; more… [This post is for Patreon patrons only for the first month.]
Lila Avilés directs and cowrites drama The Chambermaid (La Camarista), starring Gabriela Cartol; more… [This post is for Patreon patrons only for the first month.]
Tosses out the very sentiments that make Beatrix Potter’s work so beloved and so enduring in favor of the sullen bratty championing of cruelty and disenchantment. Nihilistic money-grubbing garbage.
Upends expectations, demythologizes the mythos, and takes an iconic series in a bold new direction with a story full of humor, courage, and dazzling imagery.
The stars, that is: Daisy Ridley interviews Brooklynn Prince, who couldn’t be happier to meet her idol.
Doubly dated, lacking in humor and subtext, its impressive cast deliberately underutilized, this is little more than an exercise in gorgeous production design.
Problems with authenticity don’t detract from the power of a story about a teen girl pursuing a challenging sport amongst beautiful Mongolian landscapes.
