Skip to content
FlickFilosopher.com

film criticism by maryann johanson, not an AI | since 1997

  • on Netflix
  • movies for the resistance
  • classic film virgin
  • directed by women
    • Where Are the Women? project
  • cinemas
    • US and Canada
    • UK and Ireland
  • dvd/vod
    • US and Canada
    • UK and Ireland
  • 2023’s films ranked
    • 2022’s films ranked
    • 2021’s films ranked
    • 2020’s films ranked
  • all recent posts
    • archives by month
  • all reviews
    • A–M
    • N–Z
    • Oscars Best Pix
    • Oscars Best Animated Pix
  • new comments

Handmaid’s Tale

Emma. movie review: this queen bee has a bitter sting

Fri, Feb 14, 2020
1 comment

A sly, penetrating zing and a frisson of Insta-influencer horror — of the oppression of performative perfection against a marzipan backdrop — renders Austen’s fluff and nonsense deadly serious.

| 1 Comment

The Rhythm Section movie review: out of tune

Wed, Jan 29, 2020
no comments yet

Poor Blake Lively does her de-glammed best in this poor Xerox of much better Turn The Urchin Into A Spy thrillers. But there isn’t a single human interaction in this hamfisted movie that rings true.

| Leave a comment

I’m on BBC World Service’s “The Arts Hour” again, Saturday, September 7th

Fri, Sep 06, 2019
no comments yet

They like me — they really like me! — at “The Arts Hour” on the BBC World Service radio experience.

| Leave a comment

The First Purge movie review: a ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ for #BlackLivesMatter

Thu, Jul 05, 2018
38 comments

This shrewd sci-fi horror franchise is as sharp as ever as it reaches yet further down into the unpleasant flipside of the American myth. A rare prequel that doesn’t feel superfluous.

| 38 Comments

curated: hot guys of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’

Tue, May 16, 2017
no comments yet

*lolsob*

| Leave a comment

The Purge review: good, decent, patriotic violence

Thu, May 30, 2013
25 comments

Asks us to look anew — and askance — at conventions of cinematic horror while also engaging in startling satire of America’s culture of violence. (new DVD/VOD UK; also US/Can)

| 25 Comments

compulsory science fiction — like something out of science fiction

Tue, Apr 23, 2013
37 comments

What a great idea! Until someone wants to teach The Handmaid’s Tale or The Left Hand of Darkness…

| 37 Comments

the Onion just makes me cry these days (and other adventures in social networking)

Sun, Feb 19, 2012
no comments yet

What my followers on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ saw today…

| Leave a comment

sf/f/h flash fiction by me

Cultural Artifacts cover
now on Kindle Unlimited!

try KU for free:
US Amazon
Can Amazon
UK Amazon

please help keep truly independent film criticism alive!
support my work at Patreon  support my work at Substack
Pledge your support now at Patreon or Substack.
FREE weekly digest and daily streaming recommendations via Substack.
Or make a one-time donation via Paypal.

shop to support




Watch on Apple TV

FlickFilosopher.com does not accept ads, guest posts, link placements, or sponsored content.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

member
Online Film Critics Society


member
Alliance of Women Film Journalists

Tomatometer-approved critic on
Rotten Tomatoes



top critic
Movie Review Query Engine

Amazon US author page
Amazon UK author page


executive member
International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences
Copyright © 1997–2023 MaryAnn Johanson. All rights reserved.
No content appearing on this site may be reproduced, reposted, or reused in any manner without express written permission.
privacy policy | hosted by Fused