film criticism by maryann johanson | since 1997
Banal, lazy filmmaking that cannot even be bothered to be cheerfully cheap and cheesy. Jennifer Lawrence is trapped in something that is constitutionally unable to allow her to be the strong, competent young woman she arrived as.
Even Jennifer Lawrence cannot escape the fate of pretty blonde young actresses…
Yes, the protagonist is a teenaged girl. Yes, there are two teenaged boys who divide her affections and attentions. Yes, there is a movie adaptation of the first book coming next year. But no, this ain’t another Twilight.
Here’s an at-a-glance look at my picks for Sunday night’s Academy Awards — projected winners are Xed. Keep in mind: this isn’t a list of whom I think should win Oscars but whom I think will win…
I’ve been meaning forever to watch FX’s series Justified because I love actor Timothy Olyphant and I despair that he never seems to get enough work, or the right kind…
Lots of love for The Social Network, Black Swan, and The Kids Are All Right…
I have some stuff to say about how women were depicted onscreen this year, and how women made movies this year, over at Women and Hollywood…
The AWFJ is one of the critics’ groups I belong to; my input helped determine these nominees, and I will vote in the final balloting to narrow it down to the winners. I still have to watch a few of these nominees…
The OFCS is one of the critics’ groups I belong to; my input helped determine these nominees, and I will vote in the final balloting to narrow it down to the winners. I still have to watch a few of these nominees…
Plus, Tyler Perry, misunderstood genius; from Winter’s Bone to X-Men; cable subscribers flee; more…
