BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 08/30/2019

Lauren 'Lolo' Spencer and Chris Galust make a paper airplane in the movie Give Me LibertyGIVE ME LIBERTY

“This is a film with many uncomfortable passages, and it has a way of telling us its truths with too little varnish. But its comforts have a rough-hewn charm, from a paper cone used to play a vinyl record to a suite of understated, naturalistic performances that keep us engaged even when the film stumbles.” – Kilian Melloy, EDGE Media Network

Monica Bellucci leans on Ben Kingsley in the movie A Spider in the WebA SPIDER IN THE WEB

“There are good spy movies out there — there are even good, or at least entertaining, movies about the Mossad, and about the intersection between big business and authoritarian regimes. A SPIDER IN THE WEB gets too wrapped up in its own sticky elaborations to qualify.” – Kilian Melloy, EDGE Media Network

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 08/23/2019

Gerard Butler frantically talking on the phone in the movie Angel Has FallenANGEL HAS FALLEN

“…the point of the series is that it provides visceral and violent action, delivering plenty of jolts mixed in with a dash of humor.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“ANGEL HAS FALLEN is what I’m sure most people probably expect it to be.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

 

Samara Weaving in a wedding dress holding a gun in the movie Ready or NotREADY OR NOT

“In some ways, this is covering the same ground – albeit in a horror context – as last year’s CRAZY RICH ASIANS” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“READY OR NOT is a beautiful film to look at, even after the blood starts to spray across the family heirlooms.” – John Black, Gruesome Magazine

“READY OR NOT is great fun within a package of biting wit and criticism; it’s a film that ultimately communicates the lengths that the rich will go to maintain their fortune and reputation, even if it comes at the expense of others.” – Greg Vellante, EDGE Media Network

“There’s not a whole lot wrong with READY OR NOT, but it could have been more than what it is.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 08/16/2019

(from left) Lucas (Keith L. Williams), Max (Jacob Tremblay) and Thor (Brady Noon) in Good Boys, written by Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky and directed by Stupnitsky.GOOD BOYS

It is believed to be the first time a movie got an R rating for sex, drugs, and language ‘all involving tweens.’ This is no AFTERSCHOOL SPECIAL – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

GOOD BOYS tries its best to make you laugh and never attempts to extend its reach too far beyond that.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“Much of GOOD BOYS follows the idea of plunging its protagonists into a world unknown, where drugs, sex, and romantic relationships start penetrating their lives as they begin their first steps toward growing up. It’s scarily accurate to the middle school experience, especially in how it navigates the concept of crushes and confusion about one’s evolving hormones.” – Greg Vellante, EDGE Media Network

Cate Blanchett stands with sunglasses and her arms crossed in the movie Where'd You Go Bernadette?WHERE’D YOU GO BERNADETTE

“Blanchett is one of the finest actresses working in film today, easily moving between comedy and drama, and who threads the needle here in handling both.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

BOFCA MID-WEEK ROUNDUP: 08/14/2019

Spoilerpiece Theatre and special guest Deirdre Crimmins look at SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK, LUZ and Fantasia Fest (and catch up with last week’s episode featuring Kris Jenson and Meagan Kearns)

Daniel Kimmel blogs on writing

Bob Chipman looks at politicized attacks on THE HUNT and violent video games following the El Paso mass-shooting tragedy

Robin Bahr talks veteran actors at The 2019 Emmys and reviews WHY WOMEN KILL and OUR BOYS.