2015

Posted on January 30, 2015 by bofca

PROJECT ALMANAC

” …it doesn’t quite work, but the young teen audience this movie is being pitched to probably won’t mind.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“PROJECT ALMANAC attempts and mostly succeeds at taking something weary in cinema and breathing an EDM-laden breath directly onto the screen.” – Sam Cohen, Under the Gun Review

“I can’t completely rip PROJECT ALMANAC apart since there are a few interesting features that I think are decent, but I do wish they could have cleaned it up a bit while giving us more to get excited about.” – Jaskee Hickman, The Movie Picture Show

BLACK SEA

“BLACK SEA is a leaky ship.” – Sam Cohen, Sumo Skinny

“While it’s hard to legitimately recommend BLACK SEA to people, it wouldn’t hurt to check it out if you may be interested in something like this.” – Jaskee Hickman, The Movie Picture Show

THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY

“DUKE OF BURGUNDY is the BDSM masterpiece that we didn’t know we needed, but we can sure marvel at its beauty.” – Max Covill, Fresh From the Theatre

“The film is exquisitely framed and composed and moodily lit by cinematographer Nic Knowland, who has an eye for texture, be it ranks of butterfles pinned up in museum-quality mounts, or frilly underthings swimming delicately in soap suds.” – Killan Melloy, Edge Boston

“THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY will have an impact on you whether or not its constituent components are taken literally.” – Kristofer Jenson, Dig Boston

“Just don’t call it a love story.”. – Jake Mulligan, Movie Mezzanine

MOMMY

“While I feel MOMMY was unjustly overlooked when it came to being nominated for any Oscars, it certainly is a film that’s worth paying attention to.” – Jaskee Hickman, The Movie Picture Show

BOFCA MID-WEEK ROUNDUP 1/28/2015

Posted on January 28, 2015 by bofca

BOFCA Members are at Sundance! Follow Monica Castillo, Charlie Nash and Sean Burns on Twitter for updates from the year’s biggest indie film-festival!

Spoilerpiece Theatre is all over CAKE, THE BOY NEXT DOOR, STILL ALICE and more!

Jared Bowen remembers Boston artist John Wilson

Bob Chipman covers Marvel’s Secret Wars announcement

Monica Castillo offers 14 Things That Only Happen At A Latin Club for Cosmo

Kristofer Jenson interviews the director of OUT OF PRINT

John Black caught up with TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT

Andy Crump reviews R100 and SONG ONE

This week’s AGENT CARTER was recapped by both Andy Crump & Bob Chipman

David Riedel caught up with A MOST VIOLENT YEAR

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 01/23/2015

Posted on January 23, 2015 by bofca

MORTDECAI

“It isn’t one of the worst movies you’ll ever see, but Mortdecai certainly has a long way before it can be seen as a respectable piece of cinematic art.” – Jaskee Hickman, The Movie Picture Show

“A snicker here, a polite chuckle there, but not a belly laugh in sight.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

THE BOY NEXT DOOR

“Few movies actually live up to that notion of a movie that is so hilariously awful they it is perversely entertaining. “The Boy Next Door” does. It is–at least unintentionally–the laugh-riot of the year.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“I didn’t pay and I still want my money back.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT

“…part of what makes Two Days, One Night miraculous is the restraint the Dardennes display.” – Sean Burns, Movie Mezzanine

“In shifting their usual point of view and placing their unflinching gaze squarely on the face of a seasoned professional, the Dardennes have captured one of the most naturalistic performances in a directing career known for cultivated kitchen-sink realism. ” – Brett Michel, The Improper Bostonian

“Fragility is a tough thing to sell on the big screen, but Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose) gives a masterclass on the art of how to do it.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

STILL ALICE

“It’s tasteful to a fault, exploring a terrifying subject with the utmost decorum. You feel bad when it’s over, but not too bad.” – Sean Burns, Movie Mezzanine

SONG ONE

“SONG ONE isn’t bad; it is, however, disjointed as a melancholy testament to music’s ability to heal all wounds and as a love story about disaffected souls set against the backdrop of New York City’s modern folk scene.” – Andy Crump, Movie Mezzanine

BELOVED SISTERS

“Even the parts that are meant to feel light and silly seem muted and too heavy.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

BOFCA MID-WEEK ROUNDUP – 1/21/15

Posted on January 21, 2015 by bofca

Norm Schrager reviews STARRED UP

Evan Crean looked at IN A WORLD

Jared Bowen talked embargos, art and geopolitics with the owner of Boston’s Galeria Cubana

Sean Burns offers a Michael Mann retrospective

Bob Chipman joined an Oscar Podcast and talked the proliferation of superhero movies

John Black reviews a slew of new-release DVDs including BOYHOOD, WETLANDS and JESSABELLE

Spoilerpiece Theatre aims at AMERICAN SNIPER and more

Andy Crump talked controversial GHOST IN THE SHELL casting and praised the career of Scarlett Johansson

Kris Jenson interviewed FISH & CAT director Shahram Mokri

A NOTE FROM BOFCA:

The advent of a new year brings with it many changes, and The Boston Online Film Critics Association is no exception to this. BOFCA would like to officially welcome Max Covill and Sam Cohen as the newest members of our fine organization. You’ll now find their reviews, writings and other offerings right here on this site.

In addition, BOFCA also extends its gratitude and wishes of good luck to departing member Inkoo Kang, who may have left Boston and the Boston-area media behind for sunny San Francisco but will be fondly remembered here for her unique perspective on all things cinematic and spirited, thoughtful contributions to the Boston film-criticism scene. We wish her good luck in future endeavors and as part of the San Francisco Film Critics Circle.

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 01/16/2015

Posted on January 16, 2015 by bofca

BLACKHAT

“The film repeatedly lulls the audience into a sense of comfort just before yanking the rug out from under their theater seats.” – Deirdre Crimmins, All Things Horror

“BLACKHAT is not the worst movie I’ve ever seen, but it’s just a monotonous affair that ends up being a waste for a handful of reasons.” – Jaskee Hickman, The Movie Picture Show

“Shut up, whatever. Look cool.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“…Mann takes on us a wild, labyrinthine and, as usual, visually stunning journey that leaves one, once again, awestruck by this director’s skill at constructing a compelling thriller…” – Tim Estiloz, Boston Examiner

“BLACKHAT is silly, explosive, gorgeous, thrilling, and we should all be thankful, as viewers, to be blips of data on Mann’s digitally rendered canvas.” – Sam Cohen, Sumo Skinny

“…Mann’s idea of following data through computer systems leaves you thinking he’s worn out his VHS tape of TRON.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

AMERICAN SNIPER

“AMERICAN SNIPER strips down and rearranges Chris Kyle’s best-selling, self-aggrandizing autobiography into something far more troubled and unsettling.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“In spite of my complaints, AMERICAN SNIPER is actually a decent movie overall.” – Jaskee Hickman, The Movie Picture Show

“It’s wisest to leave one’s personal politics outside the multiplex when viewing AMERICAN SNIPER.” – David Riedel, Santa Fe Reporter

“…there’s much flag-waving during the newsreel footage of the real Kyle’s funeral that runs under the end credits, but this is Eastwood at his most apolitical, no matter what chair he prefers talking to.” – Brett Michel, The Improper Bostonian

“For a film that opens with the chanting of the Muslim call to prayer, AMERICAN SNIPER never bothers to venture into understanding any other point of view than Navy Seal hero, Chris Kyle’s (Bradley Cooper).” – Sam Cohen, Sumo Skinny

“AMERICAN SNIPER is a mature film of the toll war takes on its warriors, and you should see it, regardless of your politics.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“Keeps firing shots heard round the world.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

THE WEDDING RINGER

“Listen carefully: between the barking of bad behavior and the hand-wringing of male anxiety, you’ll hear the braying of barnyard animals.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

A MOST VIOLENT YEAR

“A MOST VIOLENT YEAR plays out more like an exercise in ambition.” – Norm Schrager, Paste Magazine

“Was heating oil really the accelerant that almost burned New York City to the ground in 1981? Watching A Most Violent Year, you’d never even know.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“”…A MOST VIOLENT YEAR stands toe-to-toe with the films it tries to emulate.” – Max Covill, Fresh From the Theater

“It’s not entirely successful, but it’s more diverting than watching a bunch of goons shoot each other.” – David Riedel, San Antonio Current

Boston Online Film Critics Association

The Boston Online Film Critics Association was established in May of 2012 to foster a community of web-based film critics.

Monthly Archives: January 2015

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 01/30/2015

BOFCA MID-WEEK ROUNDUP 1/28/2015

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 01/23/2015

BOFCA MID-WEEK ROUNDUP – 1/21/15

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 01/16/2015