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FlickFilosopher.com

film criticism by maryann johanson | celebrating 25 years: 1997–2022

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GenX

Top Gun: Maverick movie review: we’re well into the danger zone

Sat, May 28, 2022
22 comments

With its melancholy regret and bittersweet nostalgia, this is far superior to the 1986 blockbuster. But as the sun goes down on American imperialism here, the last-gasp celebration of it unsettles.

| 22 Comments

classic film virgin: The Outsiders: The Complete Novel (4K restoration)

Mon, Nov 22, 2021
6 comments

The deep, honest emotion undercutting the performative toxic masculinity of these young men is beyond charming and vitally essential, but the melodramatic randomness of the plot ultimately lost me.

| 6 Comments

Bill & Ted Face the Music movie review: not-so-strange things are afoot…

Sat, Aug 29, 2020
18 comments

The chill zen and goofy charm of GenX’s philosopher-fools remains intact, but their latest adventure is too familiar a retelling. Still, “Be excellent to each other” won’t ever not be worth heeding.

| 18 Comments

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker movie review: the galaxy isn’t far far away, it’s just very small

Thu, Jan 09, 2020
no comments yet

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.

| Leave a comment

Blinded by the Light movie review: bend it like The Boss

Sat, Aug 10, 2019
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Seriously adorkable teen is saved, in 1987, by the rock poetry of Bruce Springsteen. The Boss is still relevant today, as is, alas, the harsh political and economic setting of Thatcher’s Britain.

| Leave a comment

Destination Wedding movie review: reality bites

Thu, Aug 30, 2018
12 comments

A dark, bitter bonbon of an anti-romcom: so marvelously unromantic, so beautifully catty and witty. Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder were born to play these roles.

| 12 Comments

Game Night movie review: triumph of the nerds

Tue, Feb 27, 2018
21 comments

Absolutely hilarious, full of smart snarksters, comedic suspense, and gleeful smashing of action-movie clichés. Part screwball comedy, part romantic adventure, all pure movie-movie joy.

| 21 Comments

T2 Trainspotting movie review: GenX running out of steam but chugging on

Wed, Mar 22, 2017
1 comment

The sparse, cold satisfaction that could be wrung from Trainspotting’s punk insolence has been replaced by an exhausted cynicism. Which is exactly right.

| 1 Comment

While We’re Young movie review: 40 is the new 14

Thu, Apr 02, 2015
no comments yet

This stinging GenX midlife meltdown is a bit strained in its plot, but that’s balanced out by lots of melancholy wisdom and bittersweet wit.

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most popular posts on FlickFilosopher week of Aug 17-23 2013

Sat, Aug 24, 2013
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Most clicked this past week…

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