film criticism by maryann johanson | celebrating 25 years: 1997–2022
This should be salacious! We should revel in the seething jealousy and simmering resentments! But there’s not much suspense or engagement in waiting for someone to die, nor in finding out whodunnit.
I correctly guessed 15 out of the 24 categories, which is one of my better showings ever, I think.
Doubly dated, lacking in humor and subtext, its impressive cast deliberately underutilized, this is little more than an exercise in gorgeous production design.
Visually, this dying future world is immersively hellish. Intellectually, though, its ideas haven’t kept up with the rapidly evolving science-fictional conversation.
A rote disappointment. There is nothing shocking or even mildly unexpected here. But there is an ironic weakening of the power of the xenomorphs to terrify.
“Let’s get these pants off and fly some planes.” –Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds)
I am consumed by the aubergine power of muddled confusion and despair.
