Michael Marano

Film Commentary: A Trio of Terrific Films Turn 50

December 2, 2022
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Our critics salute three memorable films — anti-fascist (Cabaret), anti-capitalist (The Ruling Class), and anti-war (Slaughterhouse-Five) — that turned fifty this year. Perfect viewing for the holidays.

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Movie Review: “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” — Faith Restored

November 9, 2022
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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is miraculous, in that it’s a Marvel movie that doesn’t come across as a link of sausage plopped wetly out of the Disney grinder.

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Film Review: “My Best Friend’s Exorcism” — Wasted Bandwidth

September 30, 2022
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There’s no real engagement with the ’80s, so this attempt at horror/comedy is politically and emotionally inert, profoundly unfunny and pathetically un-scary.

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Film Review: “The Batman” — The Caped Crusader Battles Fascism

February 28, 2022
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Matt Reeves’ The Batman features villains who lose their shit when faced with an African American politician whose campaign slogan is centered on “Change.”

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Arts Reconsideration: The 1971 Project — Celebrating a Great Year in Film (Part Four)

October 25, 2021
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More homages to 1971’s magnificent bursts of cinematic iconoclasm, from McCabe & Mrs. Miller to The Music Lovers and Walkabout.

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Film Review: Getting “Dune” Right — Superheroes Critiqued

October 18, 2021
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One of the great strengths of this Dune is that it humanizes its protagonists. They are detailed human characters, which makes their assuming the mask of the White Savior all the more troubling.

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Film Review: “Annette” — A Rock Opera That Goes Backward in Order to Go Forward

August 5, 2021
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I want to gird you, readers, for the insanity and beauty of Annette

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Arts Reconsideration: The 1971 Project — Celebrating a Great Year in Film (Part Three)

May 29, 2021
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More homages to 1971’s magnificent bursts of cinematic iconoclasm.

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1971 Project Film Commentary: “The Andromeda Strain” — Science Is the Enemy?

May 1, 2021
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The Andromeda Strain’s anti-intellectualism is rooted in Cold War paranoia: a distrust of science, of academia, and of the press.

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Pop Culture Commentary: The Rise of the “Boomer Doomer”

March 18, 2021
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Hippie Boomers have morphed from being figures we were horrified to see victimized (think “Easy Rider”) to the kind of people that audiences are positively happy to see get their comeuppances.

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