handcrafted film criticism by maryann johanson | since 1997
Man, it’s been a bitch this week trying to catch up with everything, because I’m still sick — still weak from the food poisoning, and now I’ve got a bad head cold! unbelievable — and would rather be sleeping or at least just lying on the couch watching some comfort Doctor Who. Winter ills did … more…
Out February 9 in Region 2: • Burn After Reading [buy at Amazon U.K.]. From my green light review: Chad is one of those grand force-of-nature characters, like Chigurh, who cannot help but be at the center of something extraordinary — it just so happens that where he goes when he takes the reins is … more…
Just a quick look at the numbers while I’m off on the other side of the Atlantic: 1. He’s Just Not That Into You: $27.8 million (NEW) 2. Taken: $20.5 million (2nd week; drops 17%) 3. Coraline: $16.8 million (NEW) 4. The Pink Panther 2: $11.6 million (NEW) 5. Paul Blart: Mall Cop: $10.9 million … more…
Looks like even the big football game could not interrupt the mainlining of movies we’re all doing of late in an attempt to comfort and/or inebriate ourselves in these tough times: 1. Taken: $24.7 million (NEW) 2. Paul Blart: Mall Cop: $13.9 million (3rd week; drops 36%) 3. The Uninvited: $10.3 million (NEW) 4. Hotel … more…
It doesn’t quite live up to the promise of that most awesomest of trailers, but almost.
Taken (has come and gone from U.K. cinemas, and opens in the U.S. on January 23, 2009) has one of the most perfect trailers I’ve seen in a long time, teasing the movie without giving too much of it away — it’s makes me want to see the movie instead of making me feel like … more…
Take a break from work: watch a movie trailer… Liam Neeson is goin’ all badass on us. Cool. And I love that last line of the trailer. Actually, I love this trailer: it makes promises about what we’re gonna see without giving away the whole plot. Nicely done. Taken is now playing in the U.K., … more…
