film criticism by maryann johanson | since 1997
Not even the treasure that is Juliette Binoche can make this cynical romantic thriller palatable. Does not say the things about social media and the lives of older women that it thinks it does.
Aretha Franklin headlines concert documentary Amazing Grace; more… [This post is for Patreon patrons only for the first month.]
Taraji P. Henson costars in historical drama The Best of Enemies; more… [This post is for Patreon patrons only for the first month.]
Women get wide releases! Christina Hodson writes and Hailee Steinfeld stars in sci-fi action-adventure Bumblebee; Deborah Davis cowrites and Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, and Rachel Weisz star in historical dramedy The Favourite; more…
A marvelous paean to everything that goes into making great art: hard work, complicated humanity, taking risks, and trusting one’s own instincts. Anastasia Shevtsova is tremendous as a young woman with an indomitable spirit.
There are no new movies opening in wide release in the US today that are written or directed by women, and none about women. In limited release, Juliette Binoche, Rachel Weisz, Rachel McAdams, and Alia Shawkat are looking for love, with varying degrees of success.
Helen Mirren, Angourie Rice, Lily James, Juliette Binoche, Shirley Henderson, Maxine Peake, and Bel Powley headline in an unusually rich week for movies about women…
Juliette Binoche’s search for midlife love is drenched in ennui and punctuated by weary philosophizing. There’s not a lot of satisfaction in it, nor much by way of resolution. Very French.
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A missed opportunity to tell what should be a captivating real-life disaster tale that is instead plodding, scattershot, and lacking in dramatic impetus.
