film criticism by maryann johanson | celebrating 25 years: 1997–2022
Leonard Pierce, a writer at the AV Club, ”reviewed” a book that isn’t even finished yet, and he’s got a whole helluva lotta people dissmissing his actions as no big deal…
Blondes can’t be surly and wisecracking? Surly wisecracking girls can’t be conventionally pretty? There are no pretty, blond geek girls? WTF?
Just the other day, I asked whether the likes of Casey Affleck and his is-it-real-or-is-it-fake documentary I’m Still Here was contributing to the loss of trust in our institutions. Turns out, he is.
There is no way in hell I could ever look like Christina Hendricks, unless I agreed to go under the knife of some mad-scientist plastic surgeon who would warp my body into something it cannot naturally be…
…you people who hate his films more and more with each passing release. At least that’s how it sounds from a bizarre exchange at a recent press conference to promote The Last Airbender, as reported by Chicago Now’s Marcus Leshock. First came the question from a journalist: You had a very strong start of your … more…
So, Armond White is a troll, after all. I debated not posting anything about this at all. I keep hearing my mom’s voice, her advice on what to do about bullies when I was kid: “Just ignore them. They’re only looking for attention.” That’s White in a nutshell: He says crazy things, he gets linked, … more…
Sony Pictures Entertainment cochair Amy Pascal talked TheWrap’s Sharon Waxman, and something she said made me choke: AP: To be fair to all of us, nobody sets out to make a crappy movie. Nobody says, “Let’s make this one bad.” You’re always trying to make it good. Now, sometimes you succeed in making it good, … more…
The Los Angeles Times suddenly notices that two of Hollywood’s would-be blockbusters for Summer 2010 are full of white actors playing nonwhite characters: So when Disney studios announced plans for a live-action adaptation of Prince, Dar held out hope it would be a “serious story that would dispel a lot of stereotypes and misconceptions.” Then … more…
