Michael Marano

Film Review: “Melania” — An Aggressively Dull Travesty

February 2, 2026
Posted in , ,

As a dick-waving demonstration of fascist corporate and political power, “Melania” would make a great double bill with Pasolini’s “Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom.”

Film Review: “Send Help” — A Grotesque Satire of Corporate Survival

January 29, 2026
Posted in , ,

The sitcom tropes encourage director Sam Raimi to unleash his utterly demented black humor sensibilities.

Film Review: “Die My Love” — A Film of Disturbing Brilliance

November 7, 2025
Posted in , ,

“Die My Love” is a healthy bitch-slap, its shock encouraging young folks to dismiss the bullshit about relationships too many other movies have hawked over the past decade and a half or so.

Film Review: “Bugonia” — A Delightfully Warped Night at the Movies

October 23, 2025
Posted in , ,

There’s a profound catharsis in watching “Bugonia,” one that echoes the catharsis articulated by those who attended the ‘No Kings’ protests on the 18th.

Film Review: “Tron: Ares” — It Might Have Been a Contender

October 9, 2025
Posted in , ,

 Tron: Ares  hurries from one spectacular concept and one spectacular set piece to another. But it doesn’t take the time to let any of those remarkable things sink in.

Film Review: “Fantastic Four: First Steps” — Deliciously Self-Contained

July 24, 2025
Posted in , ,

My reviewing this movie is like Proust reviewing a tea-dipped madeleine, but I think even old Marcel could spot when bits of the sponge cake were stale or too soggy.

Film Review: “Superman” — It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s a Mess

July 9, 2025
Posted in , ,

“Superman” is overstuffed and bloated — so much so that it’s impossible to get an emotional toehold in the story being told.

Film Review: “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” — Of Clickbait and Global Armageddon

May 22, 2025
Posted in , ,

“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” is an honest piece of grand entertainment, not as great as “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,” but still pretty great.

Film Review: “Thunderbolts*” — A Great Time at the Movies

May 6, 2025
Posted in , ,

It’s pretty interesting that we live in a moment in which our comic-book obsessed culture is creating a number of antagonists based on the premise of, “Hey, what if Superman were emotionally stunted and really evil?”

Film Review: “Sinners” — Next to Godliness

April 19, 2025
Posted in , ,

It takes spine to mash things up this boldly, and the bravery of auteur director Ryan Coogler’s storytelling is breathtaking.

Recent Posts

Popular Posts

Categories

Archives