BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 10/30/2015

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OUR BRAND IS CRISIS

“I am 1,000,000% certain that OUR BRAND IS CRISIS would have been better off just being a straight up drama instead of having anything to do with comedy.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“From its clunky title to its clumsy ending, there is just something wrong with director David Gordon Green’s new movie, OUR BRAND IS CRISIS. Actually, there are a lot of things wrong.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“…fictionalized to the point of near-total fabrication, and the tone veers from farcical to bitter to a late-breaking, and unconvincing, attempt at uplift.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

 

mgid-uma-image-mtvBURNT

“ADAM JONES was a stupid title, but BURNT isn’t much better for a film that’s only half-baked at best.” – Greg Vellante, Sound and Picture

“Overall, BURNT is fine at its best and nothing more.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“Sure, you loved RATATOUILLE – but wouldn’t you love it more with an abusive, too-cool-for-school douchebag whose talent justifies his every flaw!?” – Bob Chipman, MovieBob

 

HHHTHE ASSASSIN

“The film eschews the overtly fantastical for good reason: Hou’s refined, intentional style provides all the necessary enchantment to leave us enraptured.” – Andy Crump, Birth.Movies.Death.

 

 

A-Small-good-thing1-1024x683A SMALL GOOD THING

“The filmmaker skips back and forth among these stories telling us a little more each time, but it’s tricky to keep track of who’s who.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

 

 

 

BOFCA MID-WEEK ROUNDUP FOR 10/28/15

Sean Burns reviews BONE TOMAHAWK, ALL THINGS MUST PASS and reports on IFFBoston’s Fall Focus

Deirdre Crimmins reviews BACKTRACK and THE DIABOLICAL

Kilian Melloy reviews THE EXPERIMENTER, HEART OF A DOG and Blu-rays for SOUTHPAW and DOWNTON ABBEY

Jared Bowen reports on the new director of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and Boston’s best performances

Andy Crump reviews THE ASSASSIN, BROOKLYN NINE-NINE, WE ARE THE ROOM, THE MUPPETS, new Criterion releases and The 15 Most Ridiculous Horror Movies

Jake Mulligan reviews STRAY DOG

Bob Chipman looks back at THE MANITOU

Spoilerpiece Theatre talks VICTORIA, BEASTS OF NO NATION and THE LAST WITCH HUNTER

Joyce Kulhawik reviews A SMALL GOOD THING

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 10/23/2015

Paranormal-Activity-1PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE GHOST DIMENSION

“While this definitely isn’t a great movie, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE GHOST DIMENSION isn’t completely worthless for fans of the franchise.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

 

victoria-2015-filmVICTORIA

“From a purely artistic standpoint, VICTORIA gets almost everything right.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

 

1024684-tempextaleshires2EXTRAORDINARY TALES

“…EXTRAORDINARY TALES leaves us wishing for more: more running time, more of Poe’s material, more of Garcia’s macabre animated magic.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

 

 

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ROCK THE KASBAH

“I’m hoping Murray’s next job will make for a much better outing. It can’t be much worse than ROCK THE KASBAH. ” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

 

 

static1THE LAST WITCH HUNTER

“Your tolerance for cliché, monotony, and dumbed-down storytelling may vary, but THE LAST WITCH HUNTER meets all of these unwanted cinematic qualities with pretty solid precision.” – Greg Vellante, Sound and Picture

 

 

 

BOFCA MID-WEEK ROUNDUP 10/21/2015

Max Covill on Guillermo del Toro

Monica Castillo joins Indiewire’s discussion of Origin Stories

Spoilerpiece Theatre goes over BRIDGE OF SPIES, CRIMSON PEAK, STEVE JOBS and GOOSEBUMPS

Deirdre Crimmins reviews SHUT-IN from Toronto After Dark

Bob Chipman talks THE NINJA GAIDEN ANIME and Marvel vs Auteur Theory

Jake Mulligan reviews YAKUZA APOCALYPSE and JUNUN

Derek Deskins catches up with VICTORIA

Andrew Crump on BACK TO THE FUTURE, BROOKLYN NINE-NINE, BEASTS OF NO NATION and TALES OF HALLOWEEN

Jaskee Hickman reviews THE EXPERIMENTER

Sean Burns reviews TRASH

Joyce Kulhawik looks at a new production of WEST SIDE STORY

Jared Bowen talks MARTIAN science

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 10/16/2015

steve_jobs

STEVE JOBS

“If it were possible to do in writing, I’d seriously consider giving Danny Boyle and Aaron Sorkin a standing ovation right now for their work on STEVE JOBS.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“There’s gotta be more to his story than just magazines and daddy issues.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“At least Boyle, who cannot at all grasp how to frame a shot or tell a story without treating his viewers like imbeciles, and Sorkin knew well enough to hire great actors to play out their technobabble update on A CHRISTMAS CAROL.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“STEVE JOBS could be about anyone. Change the product names and the guy’s name and it’s a story of a genius jerk, and we already have CITIZEN KANE, right?” – David Riedel, Santa Fe Reporter

 

Bridge-of-Spies-8BRIDGE OF SPIES

“… Spielberg’s earnestness and faith in our democracy is what shows through…” – Brett Michel, The Improper Bostonian

“Tom Hanks… shines even in mediocre films, and when he gets a plum role that allows him to be an “everyman” who rises to the occasion, he’s outstanding.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“There are nits to be picked (heavy-handed editorial choices that clobber us with too-overt social comments dot the film), but like a bolt of silk you might rather simply pass this flick through your fingers and let it thrill you with its giddy cinephilic pleasures.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“BRIDGE OF SPIES becomes a source of entertainment that also produces actual tension for a film that’s relatively safe and clean.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

 

Crimson2CRIMSON PEAK

“Del Toro responds to fear by staring it in the face, and in CRIMSON PEAK, he encourages us to do the same.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“The camera knows the story it is telling and del Toro adds to his unique narrative with photography that not only compliments, but enhances.” – Greg Vellante, Sound and Picture

“For those of you looking for anything fresh, genuinely complex or more consistently scary, you may want to “beware of CRIMSON PEAK” and consider avoiding it.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“The film is a visual feast with just enough shocks to ensure you don’t mistake this for some well-mounted costume drama. It is the stuff of a beautifully vivid nightmare.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

Goosebumps-Movie-Jack-Black-InterviewGOOSEBUMPS

“It might be a bit too intense for very young tots, especially during scenes involving a giant praying mantis and a villainous clown, but the film’s zany style always provides the film with a good-humored sense of spectacle. ” – Charlie Nash, Edge Boston

“The current cultural preoccupation with the 1990s and the Halloween season make this a perfect time to revisit the GOOSEBUMPS book series and all of the characters it birthed. ” – Deirdre Crimmins, Cinematic Essential

“…a pleasant reminder it’s best not to judge a book by its cover.” – Monica Castillo, International Business Times

 

beasts-of-no-nation-netflixBEASTS OF NO NATION

“…neither the gruesome veracity nor the outstanding craft displayed in BEASTS OF NO NATION make it any easier to endure.” – Andy Crump, Movie Mezzanine

“BEASTS OF NO NATION is here to shed light on a topic that doesn’t usually get a great deal of attention.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“BEASTS OF NO NATION is a good picture. It’s just a beast to get through.” – David Riedel, Santa Fe Reporter