BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 09/28/2018

NIGHT SCHOOLFilm Title: Night School

“The people who enjoy NIGHT SCHOOL will be in the minority.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“What makes this different from what passes for comedies these days is that it’s not about humiliating its characters.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

 

11444938-bcb9-11e8-8bc4-fc59ff6846aa_image_hires_185154GOLDEN JOB

“GOLDEN JOB knows what it is and benefits from remaining short, fast, and simple.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

 

 

 

BOFCA MID-WEEK ROUNDUP 9/26/2018

Deirdre Crimmins reviews THE PERFECTION, EYES OF MY MOTHER, and YOU MIGHT BE THE KILLER

Jaskee Hickman interviews Ethan Hawke

Spoilerpiece Theatre talks PREDATOR, GREY’S ANATOMY and THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS

Bob Chipman answers viewer questions

Joyce Kulhawik reviews STRAIGHT WHITE MEN, THE NICETIES, SPIDER-WOMAN and HAMILTON

Andy Crump looks back on HALLOWEEN and HEREDITARY

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 09/21/2018

THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLSf3f22cc1cf766aae3384304a4d81c3106a95f01a

“A kicky throwback to those mischievous, slightly sinister kids’ adventures Steven Spielberg proteges used to churn out on a fairly regular basis three decades ago.” – Sean Burns, North Shore Movies

“Though it’s certain to please the little ones when they tire of trick-or-treating, this film doesn’t capture the full aura of its predecessor.” – Michael Cox, Edge Boston

“If executed properly, THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS could have possibly become a surprise hit.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS is exactly what it needs to be: charming and creepy.” – Deirdre Crimmins, High-Def Digest

 

MV5BOTM5YzVhODUtYzk0NC00NWNlLTgyMTYtZjRjNjhiYjQ0ZjJkXkEyXkFqcGdeQW1yb3NzZXI@._V1_CR0,15,1235,695_AL_UX477_CR0,0,477,268_AL_LIZZIE

“LIZZIE has got to be the most bloodless movie ever made about an ax murderer.” – Sean Burns, The ARTery

“…LIZZIE postures with the stuffy importance of most historical biopics, and the clash between biography and thrills ends up feeling exploitative.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“LIZZIE feels like a peek behind the lace curtains of an abusive and ultimately murderous household. It offers a sympathetic view towards an axe-wielding killer, and does so with sensitivity and respect.” – Deidre Crimmins, High-Def Digest

“…a film that moves at such a glacial pace that by the time we finally see the murders occur you’re unlikely to care who is responsible. ” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

BLAZEnull

“Pitched somewhere between a tall tale and an expose, marinated in the whiskey and cocaine benders of outlaw country music’s juke joint fringe, it’s a richly ambivalent film about artistic expression as its own reward and the bad romance of our most destructive impulses.” – Sean Burns, The ARTery

 

74b63461-01c5-4fab-a5e0-81802b632a6a-Life_ItselfLIFE ITSELF

“…if your attitude is that life is meaningless and then you die, you may want to give this one a pass. Fogelman clearly believes life has meaning, even if we can’t always see it for ourselves.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 09/14/2018

MANDY67658f78-27b6-414b-97ad-2d8601fb4062-MANDY_4

“To summarize the plot of MANDY would probably take about two sentences and be entirely beside the point. This is an atmosphere picture steeped in dread, punctuated by heavy metal blasts of cathartic carnage.” – Sean Burns, The ARTery

“But that doesn’t really capture the fever dream that MANDY is, with visuals that suggest that the characters, the filmmakers, or perhaps the audience are having their perceptions altered by drugs.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

la-1536353071-vrkdmwjxum-snap-imageTHE PREDATOR

“THE PREDATOR should have been more fun than it actually ends up being.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“At least the movie’s ridiculous and incomprehensible leaps in action and logic keep things movie at a brisk clip. You won’t make much sense of this hash, but then again you won’t find yourself glancing at your watch.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

 

A-Simple-Favor-ledeA SIMPLE FAVOR

“All of the negatives prevent A SIMPLE FAVOR from being as great as I thought it could have been.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“The stakes feel low, though they’re literally life and death. A SIMPLE FAVOR refuses to take itself seriously, and is an entertaining little film because of that.” – Deirdre Crimmins, High-Def Digest

“Nobody’s taking this silly story very seriously, but Feig is too prudish and (let’s face it) incompetent to provide any compensating sensual pleasures, the way Brian De Palma or David Fincher have in the past with similarly chintzy material.” – Sean Burns, North Shore Movies

 

la-1534140517-ikka3z72q5-snap-imageMADELINE’S MADELINE

“There are no traditional establishing shots in the picture, which simply drops us into scenes sometimes halfway through and trusts the audience will suss things out eventually.” – Sean Burns, The ARTery

 

 

 

BOFCA MID-WEEK ROUNDUP 9/12/2018

Allyson Johnson reviews THE BURNING

Robyn Bahr reviews THE BOBBY BROWN STORY

Joyce Kulhawik reviews THE BLACK CLOWN

Bob Chipman looks at plot hole obsessions

Spoilerpiece Theatre talks MOM AND DAD, POINT BREAK, SORCERER, and THE AGE OF INNOCENCE