BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 06/12/2015

Jurassic World

JURASSIC WORLD

“Spectacularly silly, as though tweaking the noses of genre-fans who demand every last franchise tumble down into Gritty Realism Land was a Priority 1 note pinned to the screenwriter’s monitor.” – Bob Chipman, MOVIEBOB

“…harebrained but never boring, and unlike the last two sequels, it has a proper if overstated reverence for Steven Spielberg’s original classic. ” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“While it clearly (and predictably) fails to come close to JURASSIC PARK, JURASSIC WORLD does manage to provide a great deal of entertainment for those of us who are interested.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“The plotting and characterization is about an inch deep, but it does raise some interesting points along the way to its mega-dinosaur smackdown finale.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“If CGI creature fighting, close-call moments upended by heroic feats and spurts of nostalgia callbacks are your bag, then you might enjoy this scaleless attempt at carrying on a brand name instead of a unique film series.” – Sam Cohen, Substream Magazine

“As pure escapist popcorn spectacle, JURASSIC WORLD hits its intended mark of throwing lots of action onto the screen; but beyond the chaos, there’s little meat on the bone for this story.” – Tim Estiloz, El Mundo Boston

“Fleeting glimpses of joy are the strongest segments of JURASSIC WORLD, a theme park and movie that is about filling seats and crunching numbers.” – Max Covill, Impassioned Cinema

“There’s a high level of craft going on here but also a cynical shrug.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“…predictability stunts the narrative from becoming anything that would inspire Spielberg-esque awe.” – Monica Castillo, International Business Times

“The plot is as fossilized as the bones that paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) was digging up in the desert at the beginning of JURASSIC PARK way back in 1993, but so what?” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

 

The-Connection-reviewTHE CONNECTION

“Jimenez hasn’t exactly broken the period-crime/thriller mold, but he’s built a solid entertainment, with techniques well absorbed from the American movie tradition.” – David Riedel, Santa Fe Reporter

 

 

heaven-knows-whatHEAVEN KNOWS WHAT

“Cinema lets us engage with difficult subject matter through a veneer of security. But something like HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT pierces that veil. By its very nature, it pushes the boundaries of our personal comfort.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT may not be a pleasant viewing experience, but it is an enormously compelling one, and with exceptional artistry forced me to look at and consider people from whom on the street I too often look away.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“This is a movie made up of the places, the actions, and the people that we look away from.” – Jake Mulligan, Dig Boston

 

LIVE FROM NEW YORK!

LIVE FROM NEW YORK!

“…there is a story to be told here about how these rebels became the establishment, but it’s not one Nguyen nor any of the (surprisingly few) participants have any interest in telling.” – Sean Burns, Movie Mezzanine

“There are murmurs here of SNL having lost its edge, and it’s true that there have been periods of stagnation in that long four-decade run, but that essential, transgressive aura remains bright and intact.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

 

farewellTHE FAREWELL PARTY

“Don’t think about THE FAREWELL PARTY as a movie about anything in terms of your own personal stand – pro or con – about assisted suicide; think of it, instead, as a beautifully rendered tale about friendship and the lengths friends will go to for each other.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

 

 

BOFCA MID-WEEK ROUNDUP 6/10/2015

Jake Mulligan interviews Andrew Bujalski

Bob Chipman looks back at EQUILIBRIUM

Sean Burns looks back at JACKIE BROWN and reviews RESULTS

Monica Castillo reports on Daniel Radcliffe, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, SEINFELD, EMPIRE, Nichelle Nichols, SHARKNADO 3, The Tony Awards, SANDMAN, MASTERS OF SEX, STAR WARS, DOCTOR WHO and X-FILES

Jaskee Hickman interviews Mark Ruffalo for INFINITELY POLAR BEAR

Andrew Crump looks at the CREEP trailer, DOOMSDAYS and SET FIRE TO THE STARS

Kilian Melloy looks at PROJECT ALMANAC on Blu-ray and the Boston Gay Mens Chorus Middle East Tour

Joyce Kulhawik reviews ALL THE TERRIBLE THINGS I DO

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 06/05/2015

maxresdefault (15)ENTOURAGE

“If you think missing ENTOURAGE means you’ll miss out on chance of seeing an insightful inside look at the workings of a Hollywood studio, then watch the 1992 Robert Altman classic THE PLAYER. It’s a much better movie in every respect.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“As a satire of the movie industry, ENTOURAGE is Hollywood Lite.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“…this pack of bratty wolves crying to moon about their rich white male problems is just annoying enough to call to animal control.” – Monica Castillo, International Business Times

“…so celebratory of its wickedness that it feels like the cinematic equivalent of partying within the nine consecutive circles of Hell.” – Charlie Nash, Cinematic Essential

 

melissa-mccarthy-spy-movie-trailer-poster6SPY

“Thank goodness for SPY, which is funny, empowering, and avoids the slippery slope of mean comedy.” – Deirdre Crimmins, Cinematic Essential

“With the release of SPY, it seems that McCarthy has finally found a role that fits her like a glove.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“Melissa McCarthy is at the top of her game here, doling out one-liners at the same rate James Bond beds women.” – Sam Cohen, Under the Gun Review

“As perfect a star-vehicle as has been conceived for a comedian since Adam Sandler pulled on his blue suit for THE WEDDING SINGER.” – Bob Chipman, MovieBob

“Excruciatingly funny.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

 


insidious-chapter-3INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 3

INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 3 does deliver some quality scares for people who aren’t completely turned off by horror films that welcome people under the age of eighteen.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“Fits together well enough, but there’s a sameness setting in that’s more pronounced now that you can’t blame it on other returning actors of plot details.” – Bob Chipman, MovieBob

 

 

e917e70cLOVE & MERCY

“LOVE & MERCY doesn’t give us perfection, but it is a powerful, sensorially rich experience all the same.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“In the current context, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to read LOVE & MERCY as some gentle rebuke to blockbuster-season excess.” – David Riedel, Santa Fe Reporter

 

results
RESULTS

“…what makes RESULTS so special is that it delivers all the conventional rom-com satisfactions while also stubbornly being it’s own unique thing. [Bujalski] has respect for the genre, yet brings an experimental filmmaker’s curiosity to the table.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“[Bujalski’s] replaced the hallmarks of the genre with the verbal awkwardness and spiritual messiness of real life.” – Jake Mulligan, Dig Boston

“Naivety is fun to poke fun at, sure. To grow up with these main players, at least make them interesting to watch being dynamic.” – Sam Cohen, Under the Gun Review

 

 

BOFCA MID-WEEK ROUNDUP 6/3/2015

Monica Castillo reviews mid-week opener ENTOURAGE reports on EMPIRE, ID4 2, JONNY QUEST, Bobbi Kristina Brown, DOCTOR WHO, FANTASTIC BEASTS and THE LITTLE MERMAID

Jake Mulligan looks at Harvard Film Archive’s Altman Series

Norm Schrager checks out the first poster and trailer for THE TRIBE

Bob Chipman talks games and identity as The Game OverThinker

Spoilerpiece Theatre is all over SAN ANDREAS, SAINT LAURENT and SLOW WEST

Kilian Melloy continues the story of CATCH & RELEASE

David Riedel looks at Summer Events for Santa Fe Reporter