Category Archives: Review Roundups

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP 9/20

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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

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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

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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

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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

 

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP 8/23

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THE WORLD’S ENDWORLDS END

“THE WORLD’S END is the strangest buddy reunion movie you’re likely to see. It is a hilarious and refreshing comedy for summer’s end.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“I’ve been tempted to call Wright the most exciting filmmaker of his generation; THE WORLD’S END bolsters my suspicions.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE

“If this really is the end of a particular ‘cycle’ for these guys, I can’t wait to see what Act II is.” – Bob Chipman, Escapist

“Watching him make a fool of himself feels exhausting, a quality that speaks to Pegg’s credit as a performer, and his endless arsenal of seemingly improvised speeches wears out everyone’s patience for him with breathtaking alacrity.”- Andrew Crump, A Constant Visual Feast

“If you’ve seen the trailer, you know the lads’ hometown has been taken over by robots. One of the recurring gags is that the homogenization of marketing, advertising, and branding has made it easy for the robots to slip in undetected.”- David Riedel, Raw Denim

MORTAL INSTRUMENTSTHE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES

“Yet for all that familiarity, the story is told with style and some wit, although there are moments that might make you roll your eyes.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

 

YOU’RE NEXTYOURE NEXT

“Manages to be refreshingly original – and all without relying on contrivance and artifice.” – Andrew Crump, Go-See-Talk

“It’s not for the squeamish. Fortunately, it wasn’t made by or for idiots either.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“The only thing more shocking than the gore and the anything-goes body count is how sharp and well-written the screenplay is.” – Bob Chipman, Escapist

 

Ain't Them Bodies SaintsAIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS

“Preaching from the Terrence Malick-is-God shrine of the cinema history chapel, Lowery tries on so many borrowed techniques that AIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS never gets a chance to develop an identity of its own.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly