Mark Johnson

Mark Johnson Awards Watch Sep 3, 2025 B+ Tuner is Daniel Roher’s narrative feature debut, but his Oscar win for directing Navalny (2022) foreshadowed his skill as a filmmaker. His eye for humor and dramatic detail makes Tuner one of the year’s most charming, sweet films. Go to Full Review Tuner (2025) 94% - -

Mark Johnson Awards Watch Sep 3, 2025 B+ Cover-Up is a provocative portrait of passion, principles, and perseverance. Go to Full Review Cover-Up (2025) 98% - -

Mark Johnson Awards Watch Sep 3, 2025 B+ The performances carry the film’s heart. Servillo is magnetic, his weathered face a canvas of grief and stubborn pride, while Milvia Marigliano, as his fiery lifelong friend Coco, steals scenes with her vibrant defiance. Go to Full Review La Grazia (2025) 88% - -

Mark Johnson Awards Watch Sep 3, 2025 B Ballad of a Small Player is a trippy, psychedelic anxiety attack held together by Farrell’s extraordinary performance and Berger’s precise eye. Go to Full Review Ballad of a Small Player (2025) 49% - -

Mark Johnson Awards Daily Sep 6, 2024 Danielle Deadwyler delivers a remarkable performance... a strong directorial debut (for Malcolm Washington) Go to Full Review The Piano Lesson (2024) 88% - -

Mark Johnson Awards Daily Sep 6, 2024 Audiard’s film is nothing short of groundbreaking, blending campy melodrama with unsettling, fever-dream tension. Go to Full Review Emilia Pérez (2024) 70% - -

Mark Johnson Awards Daily Sep 6, 2024 Mikey Madison delivers the breakthrough performance of the year. She is nothing short of transformative. Go to Full Review Anora (2024) 93% - -

Mark Johnson Awards Daily Sep 6, 2024 Maria is a testament to Larraín’s skill in drawing out profound performances and crafting a visually stunning film. Jolie’s portrayal is immaculate. Go to Full Review Maria (2024) 75% - -

Mark Johnson Awards Daily Sep 6, 2024 September 5 is a heart-pounding examination of journalistic ethics, laying bare the high-stakes clash between urgency and accuracy. It’s a masterful film. Go to Full Review September 5 (2024) 92% - -

Mark Johnson Awards Daily Sep 2, 2024 Saturday Night is a whirlwind of a film and a resounding triumph of stellar writing, acting, editing, and directing. It is absolutely hilarious and a thrilling experience. Go to Full Review Saturday Night (2024) 77% - -

Mark Johnson Awards Daily Sep 2, 2024 The story’s message, which feels like a tired rehash of themes we’ve been inundated with recently, fails to make any sort of impact. Unfortunately, the film just didn’t resonate on any level. Go to Full Review The End (2024) 57% - -

Mark Johnson Awards Daily Sep 2, 2024 A Real Pain is a beautifully crafted emotional journey cloaked in sharp, witty humor. I adored this film and cannot wait to see it again. Go to Full Review A Real Pain (2024) 96% - -

Mark Johnson Awards Daily Sep 2, 2024 Nickel Boys is undeniably unique, and avant-garde filmmaking often elicits mixed reactions. The film’s grandiose stylistic choices overshadowed the compelling story, resulting in a work that ultimately felt like it prioritized style over substance. Go to Full Review Nickel Boys (2024) 92% - -

Mark Johnson Awards Daily Sep 2, 2024 The parallels between the papal election and our own American Presidential elections are striking, making Conclave a film that may resonate with the zeitgeist more powerfully than any other this year. Go to Full Review Conclave (2024) 93% - -

Mark Johnson Awards Daily Sep 2, 2024 Piece by Piece is so full of love – a thunderstorm of electrifying colors brimming with infectious energy. It delivers uplifting messages: trust in yourself, work diligently, spread joy, and venture into new horizons. Go to Full Review Piece By Piece (2024) 83% - -

Mark Johnson Awards Daily Aug 21, 2024 Supporters praise Trap’s tongue-in-cheek humor, claiming that’s what makes it work. But as my mom used to remind me of the proverbial lesson: two wrongs don’t make a right, similarly, an intentionally bad movie is still just a bad movie. Go to Full Review Trap (2024) 57% - -

Mark Johnson Awards Daily Aug 21, 2024 Galo Olivares cinematography is stunning, using light and shadow to create moments of eerie beauty. Combined with Naaman Marshall’s meticulously crafted set pieces, Alvarez and his team masterfully recapture the mood and atmosphere of the original classic Go to Full Review Alien: Romulus (2024) 80% - -

Mark Johnson Awards Daily Aug 21, 2024 Although the film occasionally glosses over the serious reasons for these men’s incarceration, it powerfully highlights the effects of growing up without a father. Go to Full Review Daughters (2024) 100% - -

Mark Johnson Awards Daily Aug 21, 2024 Sing Sing gradually works its way under your skin and into your heart, becoming one of the year’s most touching and reaffirming films. Go to Full Review Sing Sing (2023) 97% - -

Mark Johnson Awards Daily Jul 29, 2024 Dan Stevens’ performance brought a shred of excitement to the film, but overall, Abigail tried too hard to be funny and felt inconsistent in tone throughout. Go to Full Review Abigail (2024) 83% - -