BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP 9/27

RUSHRUSH

“Maybe director Ron Howard and screenwriter Peter Morgan thought the literally death defying driving wasn’t enough on its own. Or maybe they saw DAYS OF THUNDER and thought, ‘Man we can do this much, much better, and with real people.’” – David Riedel, Santa Fe Reporter

“For all intents and purposes, a philosophical argument takes place at 140 mph.” – Sean Burns, Improper Bostonian

“What ultimate lesson might be learned from the story is hinted at in the movie, but Howard is too accomplished a filmmaker to hand us a pat moral. He leaves it to us to decide what it all means.” – Dan Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“Ron Howard might be the most big-earning, blockbuster-producing, award-winning Hollywood filmmaker to still qualify as underrated.” – Bob Chipman, Escapist

 

CLOUDY2CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS 2

“Undiscriminating youngsters may be diverted, but even grownups who were somehow charmed by the original movie will have a hard time swallowing this sorry stew.” – Dan Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies

“CLOUDY 2″ is a one-joke movie — it’s a joke that’s able to continually rephrase itself, but it’s still one-joke all the same.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE

“It’s by no means bad – it’s funny, briskly-paced and visually beautiful – but it’s missing the extra wit and worldliness that elevated its predecessor.” – Bob Chipman, Escapist

 

DON JONDON JON

“A barn-door broad burlesque of Joisey stereotypes and holy-cannoli accents.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly

“By treating Jon with sympathy but without sentimentality, Gordon-Levitt has given us a daring portrait of modern masculinity.” – Dan Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies

“What is new stems  from the vitality he lends to his production from behind the camera, something that his dabbling in short-form cinema can only hint at.” – Andrew Crump, Go-See-Talk

 

BAGGAGEBAGGAGE CLAIM

“It’s funny enough to earn a “worth watching” designation, but you can’t shake the feeling that a commercial break is going to interrupt any second.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE

“Paying hypocritical lip service to progressive gender politics, BAGGAGE CLAIM turns out to be one of those movies where the woman gets to deliver a big speech about how she doesn’t need a man in order to define herself, while Mr. Wright is waiting in the wings all the same.” – Sean Burns, Metro

enough-saidENOUGH SAID

“Writer/Director Nicole Holofcener has turned an everyday situation into something singular, sweet, and smartly observed.”-Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

“It’s a shame there aren’t more movies like ENOUGH SAID. It’s a touching comedy with moments of drama about people who are actual adults—people with children and responsibilities and jobs—and not just assholes who work in graphic design”- David Riedel, Santa Fe Reporter

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP 9/20

PRISONERSPRISONERS

“It’s really a tricky thriller, crossing its fingers and hoping you buy into the tricks. And too often confusing depravity for intensity.” – Norm Schrager, Meet-In-The-Lobby

“Surprise! Turns out the reason they were advertising this so much is the movie is really good!” – Bob Chipman, Escapist

“PRISONERS is cruel and unusual punishment.” – Dan Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“It pops like a kernel in a myriad ways–full of nooks and crannies, threatening & thrilling, sad & shocking, and just plain entertaining.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

 

THANKS FOR SHARINGTHANKS FOR SHARING

“…a remarkably sensitive and surprisingly romantic ensemble drama about sex addiction.” – Inkoo Kang, Village Voice

 

 

A SINGLE SHOTSINGLE SHOT

“A SINGLE SHOT was filmed in the Vancouver mountains under the gray-skied chill of encroaching winter, yet for some reason the actors sport spotty Southern accents. Maybe that’s just how they think all poor people talk.” – Sean Burns, Metro

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP 9/13

INSIDIOUS 2INSIDIOUS

“A downright devious understanding of what the audience’s relationship with modern horror iconography really is.” – Bob Chipman, Escapist

 

 

THE FAMILYTHE FAMILY

“A deliriously violent black comedy.” – Andrew Crump, Go-See-Talk

“Luc Besson has done the seemingly impossible. He’s resuscitated the corpse of Robert De Niro’s career.” – Daniel Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

 

THINGS NEVER SAIDTHINGS NEVER SAID

“The remarkable performance from Shanola Hampton is the heart and soul of the movie…” – Monica Castillo, WBUR

 

 

 

DRINKING BUDDIESDRINKING BUDDIES

“The film is billed as a comedy, but it feels more like a drama with comic notes.” – Kilian Melloy, EDGE Boston

 

 

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP 9/6

RIDDICKRIDDICK

“In terms of narrative sophistication, this is a step backwards: THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK served as a pointed, and somewhat satirical, comment on the ascendency of religion in the realm of politics; there’s none of that here.” – Kilian Melloy, EDGE Boston

“…offers the endless fun of staring intently at the screen, wondering what possible emotion, thought or even sensation the stone-faced meat-golem onscreen is attempting to convey.” – Bob Chipman, Escapist

“RIDDICK does what Riddick does best: Kill people. Killin’ ain’t your thing? It’s best to avoid RIDDICK, which earns its R rating. – David Riedel, Santa Fe Reporter

 

HELL BABYHELL BABY

“Everyone’s ready and able, infusing even the deadest scenes with an attitude that stokes a small laugh, at least.” – Norm Schrager, Meet-In-The-Lobby

“Funny on its own terms, and not just as a superior – if slightly uneven – alternative to the recklessly terrible and laughter-challenged garbage that passes as parody in the mainstream.” – Andrew Crump, Go-See-Talk

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP 8/30

GETAWAYGETAWAY

“GETAWAY is nothing more than a horribly constructed action film with no heart, no purpose, no characters really worth caring about.” – Tim Estiloz, Examiner

“There’s not much to watch, at all.” – Bob Chipman, Escapist

“…the car chases are dull, the stunt work isn’t very interesting, and the characters would have to be fleshed out to become cardboard figures.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“You can never vibe along with the car chases, the way you can with great car chases, because you never know where the hell you are.”- Jake Mulligan, EDGE Boston

 

THE GRANDMASTERGRANDMASTER

 

“Tony Leung plays Ip with a quiet dignity, allowing the unconsummated romance that develops between him and Gong to play out without melodrama.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE Boston

 

 

shortterm12SHORT TERM 12

“It’s a delicate yet passionate creation, modest in scope but almost overwhelming in its emotional intricacy, ambition, and resonance.” – Inkoo Kang, Village Voice

“Fortunately, viewers are not meant to feel the heavy-handedness and are cleverly spared from any long-term emotional damage with careful dialog. ” – Monica Castillo, Paste Magazine

“There’s a gentle humanism here that reminds me of early Jonathan Demme pictures. Even the most emotional scenes are punctuated by jokes, the way life is so often funny and sad at the same time.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly

 

AUSTENLANDla_ca_0416_austenland

“As a comedy, the film offers some amusing turns and touches; as a meditation on the pitfalls of romantic fantasy, it has little of note to offer, especially since this is, in some respects, less a film set in a re-creation of Austen’s books than a modern riff on the books themselves.” – Kilian Melloy, EDGE Boston

 

I DECLARE WARI DECLARE WAR

“I DECLARE WAR is a must-see for parents who want to relate to their kids … even if you should leave them at home.” – Kristofer Jenson, Dig Boston