film criticism by maryann johanson | celebrating 25 years: 1997–2022
I like the Tom Hanks persona. I like the Will Smith persona. I like the Kristin Chenoweth persona. Helen Mirren could just stand around being Helen Mirren and I would love her for it. Is that so wrong?
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…
green light (definitely check it out): The International: Clive Owen versus cheating banksters: it’s Bailout: The Revenge. [Amazon U.K.] [now available at Amazon U.S.] Marley & Me: Please to have some fuzzy cute puppies to make you forget why Clive Owen needs to kick some bankster ass. [Amazon U.K.] [now available at Amazon U.S.] Doctor … more…
It didn’t have to compete with Terminator Salvation in Britain, but it still didn’t do quite as well as in North America: 1. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian: £4.2 million (NEW) 2. Angels & Demons: £2.5 million (2nd week; drops 59%) 3. Star Trek: £1.6 million (3rd week; drops 53%) 4. X-Men … more…
Ahhh! It’s a giant 3D movie! 1. Monsters vs. Aliens: £4.3 million (NEW) 2. The Boat That Rocked: £1.8 million (NEW) 3. Knowing: £.97 million (2nd week; drops 61%) 4. Marley & Me: £.82 million (4th week; drops 51%) 5. The Haunting in Connecticut: £.75 million (2nd week; drops 33%) (actual numbers, not estimates) I … more…
The end of the world is always good for box-office business: 1. Knowing: £2.5 million (NEW) 2. Marley & Me: £1.7 million (3rd week; drops 2%) 3. The Haunting in Connecticut: £1.1 million (NEW) 4. Paul Blart: Mall Cop: £1 million (2nd week; drops 21%) 5. The Damned United: £.6 million (NEW) (actual numbers, not … more…
Here’s what’s newly available on DVD this week on both sides of the Atlantic. Out March 30 in Region 2: green light (definitely check it out): • Waltz with Bashir: read my review/buy at Amazon U.K./preorder in Region 1 at Amazon U.S. • Body of Lies: read my review/buy at Amazon U.K./already available in Region … more…
Puppies! 1. Marley & Me: £2.2 million (2nd week; drops 51%) 2. Paul Blart: Mall Cop: £1.3 million (NEW) 3. Duplicity: £.8 million (NEW) 4. Lesbian Vampire Killers: £.6 million (NEW) 5. Watchmen: £.6 million (3rd week; drops 58%) (actual numbers, not estimates) Okay, so the language of moist noses and wagging tails and unconditional … more…
The cute-puppy movie proves it doesn’t need a holiday weekend to win: 1. Marley & Me: £4.4 million (NEW) 2. Watchmen: £1.4 million (2nd week; drops 57%) 3. Gran Torino: £.82 million (4th week; drops 33%) 4. Slumdog Millionaire: £.76 million 5. The Young Victoria: £.63 million (2nd week; drops 38%) (actual numbers, not estimates) … more…
Here are the most quotable movie lines of the year 2008. I didn’t mean to hold these till the movie year was over — it just sort of happened that way. I’ll return to posting quotes as I hear them for 2009. No ranking — quotes are posted in reverse order of movie release dates, … more…
