Monthly Archives: June 2020

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 06/26/2020

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Lorn Macdonald and Cristian Ortega partying in a black and white still from the movie BeatsBEATS

“And it doesn’t matter if you are young or old, a raver or an easy listening fan, Scottish or not, BEATS is worth both your time and your attention.” – John Black, Cinekong Reviews

 

Rachel McAdams and Will Ferrell sing back to back in the movie Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga EUROVISION SONG CONTEST: THE STORY OF FIRE SAGA

“(McAdams) approaches even the sillier moments in the movie with genuine enthusiasm and, as a result, sells the story in ways the script doesn’t.” – John Black, Cinekong Reviews

Steve Carrell and Rose Byrne stand face to face as she angrily holds him by the tie in the movie IrresistibleIRRESISTIBLE

“Stewart takes no shots at all the easy targets who’ve either skewered themselves by their own idiocy or have been gutted by the current crop of capable late-night talk show hosts. Stewart is after bigger game, and it hinges on our understanding the game to begin with.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

“A toothless satire with a message about as clarifying in the current political climate as a Check Engine light in a demolition derby.” – Kris Jenson, C-Ville Weekly

“The problem with IRRESISTIBLE is that it’s attempting to be funny in retrospect, to make a litany of bombs and cliches feel incisive or insightful.” – Nick Johnston, Vanyaland

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 06/19/2020

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7500

Joseph Gordon-Levitt sitting in a plan cockpit with a bloody arm looking behind him in the movie 7500“With the help of a small cast led by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Patrick Vollrath manages to take a small budget and construct a tension-filled thriller that remains consistent throughout.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“By design, 7500 is a real bummer, but that doesn’t make for a great reason to watch it.” – Nick Johnston, Vanyaland

“By the time it ends, you won’t have any energy left to think of anything else but finding your happy place so you can calm down.” – John Black, Cinekong Reviews

 

Kevin Bacon holds Avery Tiiu Essex in his arms in the movie You Should Have LeftYOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT

“The fault here doesn’t lie with the actors: instead, it’s almost wholly Koepp’s issues that sink the film.” – Nick Johnston, Vanyaland

 

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 06/12/2020

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Delroy Lindo looks sweaty and tired in the movie Da 5 BloodsDA 5 BLOODS

“Like in his previous two works, CHI-RAQ and BLACKkKLANSMAN, Lee tears apart any notion that fiction should be separate from the world around us. He’s as much a political tactician as he is a cinematic technician. Lee isn’t just asking important questions. He’s demanding immediate action.” – Kristofer Jenson, C-Ville Weekly

 

THE KING OF STATEN ISLAND
Pete Davidson shirtless with sunglasses and arms outstretched in the movie The King of Staten Island

“Obviously, THE KING OF STATEN ISLAND is not a typical comedy. But it is funny. It’s also sad, empowering, fascinating, and frustrating.” – John Black, Cinekong Reviews

“There’s a lot to enjoy about THE KING OF STATEN ISLAND despite its many faults, but there’s an even more interesting collision between Apatow-branded dramaturgy and Davidson’s own stream of consciousness style of comedy that really makes things fall in place quite nicely.” – Sam Cohen, EDGE Media Network

“THE KING OF STATEN ISLAND would be much easier to recommend if it wasn’t so unnecessarily long.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“THE KING OF STATEN ISLAND shows another side of Apatow, as a director in control of his film. There is much more attention paid to how a scene is filmed, blocked, and edited to reflect shifting attitudes and power dynamics.” – Kristofer Jenson, C-Ville Weekly

“Apatow has always had a hard time telling the difference between good fat and gristle, and THE KING OF STATEN ISLAND is no exception to that rule.” – Nick Johnston, Vanyaland

“Apatow’s raunchy humor often makes me squirm. But here, he tenderizes his comedic chops, with a good deal of insight and even grace, holding these characters loosely and lovingly in his sights.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

“Apatow manages to make mental illness humorous (though I can see some objecting), but this is a less a story about depression and more a vehicle to help Millennial or Gen X men find purpose.” – Randy Steinberg, Blast Magazine