BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP: 12/22/2023

THE COLOR PURPLE

“The movie is a mixed bag, I enjoyed certain aspects but a lot of it falls flat.” – Byron McNeal, On The Reel On Tumblr

 

 

MAESTRO

“The Cooper/Singer screenplay simply trades the clichés of the biopic for the equally trite clichés of the troubled marriage drama.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

 

AMERICAN FICTION

“Jeffrey Wright makes the most of his star turn in American Fiction as an African-American author who pulls off a hoax that spins out of control. It is at once hilarious and deadly serious, making it one of the best films of 2023.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“The satire is the engine, the family drama is the heart, and while it’s tough to keep this vehicle tonally on track, co-writer/director Cord Jefferson in his directorial debut almost gets there while offering no easy answers.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

DELIVER US

“But for the gore and the nudity, Deliver Us is a film that might engender a lively discussion in a theology class.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

 

REBEL MOON: PART ONE – A CHILD OF FIRE

“Zack Snyder has made some dark films filled with action and visually compelling images. His latest is so epic it has been split in two. While the first half takes off after a slow start, it is not a film that will be accused of originality.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

POOR THINGS

“A feminist Frankenstein … provokes serious thought about the nature of existence as it circles back to the original suicide and the wounded creator who made the best of whatever spare parts were available in a damaged world.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

BOFCA 2023 Awards

BEST PICTURE
KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON

Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio sit at a dinner table together in the movie The Killers of the Flower Moon.

BEST DIRECTOR
Christopher Nolan, OPPENHEIMER

Christopher Nolan stands next to Cillian Murphy in front of a blackboard with his hands out, directing the movie Oppenheimer.

BEST ACTOR
Cillian Murphy, OPPENHEIMER

Cillian Murphy looks worried in the film Oppenheimer.

BEST ACTRESS
Lily Gladstone, KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON

Lily Gladstone looks stoically with a man standing behind her in the movie Killers of the Flower Moon.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Charles Melton, MAY DECEMBER

Charles Melton looks up while grilling in the movie May December.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, THE HOLDOVERS

Da'Vine Joy Randolph smokes a cigarette in the movie The Holdovers.

BEST SCREENPLAY
Tie between David Hemingson, THE HOLDOVERS

Paul Giamatti sits with a table of students at the dining hall in the movie The Holdovers.

and Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik, MAY DECEMBER

Natalie Portman takes notes while Julianne Moore does her makeup in front of a mirror in the movie May December.

BEST ENSEMBLE
OPPENHEIMER

Cillian Murphy tips his hat to reporters in a black and white screenshot from the movie Oppenheimer.

BEST SCORE
Ludwig Göransson, OPPENHEIMER

A black and white photo of composer Ludwig Goransson.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Hoyte Van Hoytema, OPPENHEIMER

Hoyte Van Hoytema riding on a camera rig next to Christopher Nolan working on the movie Oppenheimer.

BEST EDITING
Jennifer Lame, OPPENHEIMER

Jennifer Lame

BEST DOCUMENTARY
MENUS-PLAISIRS – LES TROISGROS

Chefs stand around a table in the documentary Menus-Plaisirs - Les Troisgros

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
THE ZONE OF INTEREST

Sandra Huller holds a baby that is reaching for plants in the movie The Zone of Interest.

BEST ANIMATED FILM
SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE

Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy sit next to each other looking out over New York City in the movie Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse.

 

TOP TEN FILMS OF 2023
1. KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON
2. OPPENHEIMER
3. THE HOLDOVERS
4. PAST LIVES
5. MAY DECEMBER
6. BARBIE
7. THE ZONE OF INTEREST
8. AMERICAN FICTION
9. POOR THINGS
10. ANATOMY OF A FALL

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP: 12/15/2023

WONKA

“This movie was a much needed shot of serotonin, and I don’t use that statement lightly.” – Byron McNeal, On The Reel On Tumblr

“I like my chocolate dark and rich. This prequel was neither.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET

Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget doesn’t top the original, but by shifting from a parody of prisoner-of-war movies to a very conscious effort here to spoof the Mission: Impossible series, it provides enough laughs for the whole family.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

UNDER THE INFLUENCER

“The success of the film rests on Scorce, who plays the early comic moments with abandon, yet let’s us see that there’s something more to Tori than being a bubbly online personality.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP: 12/8/2023

THE THREE MUSKETEERS – PART 1: D’ARTAGNAN

The Three Musketeers – Part 1: D’Artagnan tells the first half of the story, and is the first from France in decades, filled with sword fights and palace intrigue, but never losing sight of the characters amidst all of the swashbuckling.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

FAST CHARLIE

Fast Charlie doesn’t break any new ground in the genre, but it’s the sort of engaging escapade that Hollywood used to turn out with ease.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

THE ARCHIES

The Archies, against all expectations, works. In moving these iconic American teenagers to India, it manages to make them seem fresh and original.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP: 12/1/2023

SILENT NIGHT

“For those who appreciated John Woo’s past movies, his return to Hollywood brings his unique style back to the big screen.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

 

IT’S A WONDERFUL KNIFE

“In letting the blood flow while holding onto the Capraesque optimism that triumphed in the original, they’ve created a holiday horror show that stands out from the rest.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies