film criticism by maryann johanson | celebrating 25 years: 1997–2022
A “critique” of misogyny that is outright misogynist, even before it goes down a gorefest rabbit hole of infuriating contempt for women. What the hell is going on with this would-be-mythic mishmash?
U.S. AND CANADA/OPENING WIDE Despicable Me: “It’s so fluffy I’m gonna die!” is my new go-to phrase for when I’m excited about anything. If you can’t make it to the multiplex, try: • The Incredibles (2004): the last great animated movie about supervillains (and the superheroes who thwart them). • 101 Dalmatians (1961): For one … more…
U.S. AND CANADA/OPENING WIDE The Twilight Saga: Eclipse: A girl with no personality is unable to choose between the vampire she loves and the werewolf she loves. The invisible man was heartbroken. If you can’t make it to the multiplex, try: • Hard Candy (2005): For a much better exploraton from director David Slade of … more…
The sparkly vampire guy and the shirtless werewolf guy, they’re still fighting over perfect, perfect Bella, whose perfection extends to a delicate and supposedly adorable feminine idiocy…
We know how it is: You’d like to go to the movies this weekend, but all those zombies roaming the land aren’t gonna kill themselves. 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 Zombieland this weekend?” … more…
I always knew Drew Barrymore could be this cool: her directorial debut is a simultaneously sweet and kickass story about one girl’s finding her bliss, a movie that works within Hollywood conventions of storytelling to handily demonstrate that just because a tale is familiar doesn’t mean it can’t be fresh and funny and edgy, too.
Men and women are gonna have a lot to say to one another about this movie.
