film criticism by maryann johanson | celebrating 25 years: 1997–2022
The most soulless of the live-action Disney remakes yet, weighted down by too many blah characters, too much convoluted plot, unconvincing CGI, and a message that doesn’t say what it thinks it does.
It’s tormented hotheads all around with a hero and villain who are almost indistinguishable and same-old spy stuff racing to a seen-it, been-there ticking-clock finale.
Thoroughly charming. Spider-Man’s signature light comedy works surprisingly well even as this story is uniquely steeped in the darker Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Rather brilliant and kind of inspiring until it turns frightening and even sinister. A dark tale of the beginning of end-stage capitalism as profit above all.
An elegy for old-school reportage and the people who pursue it, and a journalistic procedural with a snappy rush of urgent discovery and consequence.
It’s all a bit satirical. Or maybe not. Look, over there, Shakespeare in a superhero cape!
Now with winners indicated.
The Alliance of Women Film Journalists is one of the orgs for which I help choose year-end best-ofs.
The Online Film Critics Society is one of the orgs for which I help choose year-end best-ofs.
Thinks it’s poetical and epic, and the more dramatic it thinks it’s being, the more hilariously histrionic it all is.
