film criticism by maryann johanson | 25 years: 1997–2022
I’m gonna go with Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings. Wood doesn’t spring to mind when thinking about action heroes, and even within the context of the story, a homebody hobbit is the last person anyone expects to be an action hero.
“You can never go home again. But I guess you can shop there.”
U.S. AND CANADA/OPENING WIDE Jonah Hex: Josh Brolin is a disfigured half-zombie gunfighter in the weird Old West. And it’s kinda not a comedy. [trailer] review to come If you can’t make it to the multiplex, try: • The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.: The Complete Series (1993): The sadly short-lived Fox TV series is … more…
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…
We know how it is: You’d like to go to the movies this weekend, but you’ve been turned into a frog and know you won’t be able to see over the seat in front of you, not even with a kiddie booster seat. But you can have a multiplex-like experience at home with a collection … more…
Has there been a generation more misunderstood and maligned than Generation X?
An enjoyable 90 minutes, but it never approaches the so-beautiful-you-have-to-cry sequences that have become Disney’s trademark.
