Category Archives: Review Roundups

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP: 11/30

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KILLING THEM SOFTLY

“See where he’s going with this? It’s a smart allegory; ruined by the fact that Dominik doesn’t trust you to pick up on it for yourself. He wants to drive it into your skull with the subtlety of a sledgehammer.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE Boston

“A better than expected entry for this week, perfect for those who prefer down-and-dirty crime films to overstuffed costumed productions.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, Northshoremovies.net

“About as on-the-nose as metaphors can get, but you can’t say the film doesn’t have the courage of its convictions.” – Bob Chipman, The Escapist

“The closing punchline is such a knockout, you might forgive the lack of subtlety preceding it.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Phoenix

“It’s difficult to not find something to love within nearly every frame of KILLING THEM SOFTLY, a cool, confident crime drama drenched with a bitter cynicism.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune

 

THE WAITING ROOM

“If people believe Mitt Romney’s assertion that emergency rooms are a solution for the uninsured, this is a powerful rebuke.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Phoenix

 

THE COLLECTION

“Just buckets of the same old boring gore.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Phoenix
 

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP: 11/23

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LIFE OF PI

“To call Lee’s adaptation transcendent wouldn’t simply be a way to describe its impact; the film often seems to take place in a realm of stars and clouds, with majestic skies mirrored by the ocean’s surface.” – Kilian Melloy, EDGE Boston

“The problem is that the stunning visuals are constantly undone by the screenplay’s dull literal-mindedness.” – Sean Burns, The Improper Bostonian

“One of the most frustrating films of the year. The whole movie feels like you’re taking a museum audio tour narrated by the older sister from DOUG.” – Bob Chipman, The Escapist

“Ah, the white man framing device. How unfortunate.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune

“It’s pretty clear after a while that this isn’t a story about survival anyway; it’s a story about finding God and it’s about as subtle as a sledgehammer.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“I often felt like I was watching the world’s most expensive screensaver. The spiritual elements run an obvious second to the spectacle when it comes to these storytellers’ priorities.” – Jake Mulligan, Charleston City Paper

“Taken on its own, LIFE OF PI is sometimes lyrical and challenging but, in the end, leaves us wondering why we were being told the story at all.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net

 

RISE OF THE GUARDIANS

“It turns out not to be about which miracle is greater – that is, the birth vs. resurrection of Jesus – but presents vs. eggs. Perhaps Christian theology is not the best approach for a Jewish film critic.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net

“A true surprise, this feature debut from storyboard artist Peter Ramsey isn’t the lump of coal I expected.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Phoenix

“It’s THE AVENGERS for childhood mythology. Okay, I’m on board.” – Bob Chipman, The Escapist

“Way less farty poo-poo than other Dreamworks animated features, the film has a square-jawed elegance that occasionally hits a note of grandeur when it’s not just being silly.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly

“Alec Baldwin and Hugh Jackman are particularly obnoxious in their characterizations, each of them hamming it up to an embarrassing degree.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

 

RED DAWN

“I don’t know what pisses me off more: the fact that it’s recruitment-baiting war porn, or the fact that it’s not even good recruitment-baiting war porn.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE Boston

“The 1984 RED DAWN may have been a cheesy movie but it reflected the anxieties of its era. This version simply reflects a business decision gone bad.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net

“They could have made all the invading soldiers look like Blue Meanies from YELLOW SUBMARINE and it wouldn’t have made RED DAWN worth watching.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“Someone needs to tell the writers that there are more words in the English language than ‘hard’ to describe tough situations. Invest in a thesaurus, people.” – Evan Crean, Reel Recon

“Especially in times like these, a stupid movie could give anyone the wrong idea. RED DAWN comes off as a very dangerous joke.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune

 

HITCHCOCK

“Ron Howard usually is the one who abuses such hoary devices, and I doubt the Master of Suspense would be amused by their presence in director Sacha Gervasi’s biopic.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Phoenix

“If you recently visited the Alfred Hitchcock Wikipedia page you will likely understand most of the jokes. But that does not mean you will find them funny.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune

“Insultingly stupid. I’d rather be watching Gus Van Sant’s PSYCHO remake.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly

“Anthony Hopkins wears a fat suit and laughable prosthetics; portraying him as a fumbling would-be cuckold who used cinema as a means to leer at large breasted actresses. What a fitting way to pay tribute to a visionary.” – Jake Mulligan, Charleston City Paper

“None of the bumps the story hits along the way take away from the sheer joy of watching Hopkins and his fellow actors tear up the screen with their passionate performances.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“What we end up with is neither historical document nor drama, but something that smacks of backhanded idolatry via mimicry and, on occasion, reeks of farce.” – Kilian Melloy, Kal’s Movie Blog

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP: 11/16

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SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

“David O. Russell tries to toe the line between making something personal and making something that feels like it came off a conveyor belt. He ends up on the wrong side.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE Boston

“It’s a goofy crowd pleaser with some pretty good performances and a carefully calibrated illusion of ‘edginess.’ It’s also offensive.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly

“Is he serious? Is all it takes to fix a painfully broken man’s mind the love of a woman he just met, a woman he’s mentally and emotionally abused for most of the film?” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“Pat and Tiffany find emotional healing through the power of love, and although it’s overly optimistic, there’s something really charming about that idea.” – Evan Crean, Starpulse

“Yes, this is a romance between two people with mental problems. We’re supposed to find that endearing because, after all, you know how much fun schizophrenia can be.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net

 

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 2

“Glorious. A slow-motion, fifty-thousand clown-car pileup of a disaster that’s funnier than almost any other moviegoing experience I’ve had this year.” – Bob Chipman, The Escapist

“A hilariously funny, wild and camp-strewn romp that manages to tweak the solemnity of the material with a knowing wink at it’s inherent absurdity.” – Tim Estiloz, Boston Movie Examiner

“Years from now a new generation of teenage girls will inevitably ask: ‘Grandma, you really liked this stuff?'” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net

“Of course this series is garbage, but by now it has calcified into winking, self-aware camp that eventually explodes into a craptacular of the highest order.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly

“At a key point, coven leader Michael Sheen lets out a spectacular laugh, which nearly drowned out my own.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Phoenix

“It’s over. It’s finally over.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

 

ANNA KARENINA

“As jaw-dropping and audacious as the setting is, Wright is extremely careful to never let it dominate the story or the actors telling it.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“Wright doesn’t just believe in Brechtian distancing devices; he’s built a movie around them.” – Jake Mulligan, Charleston City Paper

“You’ll likely find Stoppard’s all-too-literal interpretation of the dressy role-playing of society life to be a cause for slowly mounting aggravation.” – Kilian Melloy, Kal’s Movie Blog

 

TALES OF THE NIGHT

“The kaleidoscopic backgrounds offer a colorful counterpoint to the simple silhouettes that form the people, animals, and mythical beasts populating the six fables.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Phoenix

 

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP: 11/9

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SKYFALL

“SKYFALL rocks. The action is spectacular, the humor as sharp as the creases in Bond’s well-tailored suits, the script is tight and the acting – yes the acting – is spot on.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“The movie feels like a James Bond video tribute compilation, with new director Sam Mendes trying on his Christopher Nolan big-boy pants and notably failing.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune

“So of course SKYFALL has to go and fucking blow it by explaining everything. Yes, this is exactly what we needed: expository monologues about James Bond’s sad childhood.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly

“For those who are willing to go beyond the babes and thrills to question what a ‘James Bond’ means in the 21st century, SKYFALL asks some interesting and difficult questions.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net

“If you’re a James Bond fan who feels like the new movies were shipped with a few of the pieces missing, SKYFALL is the movie you’ve been waiting for.” – Bob Chipman, The Escapist

“Cinephiles will appreciate its high quality aesthetics, but Bond fans may be a bit let down by the weak villain, fewer action scenes, and lack of crazy gadgets.” – Evan Crean, Starpulse

“Welcome back, Mr. Bond.  At 50, you’re looking pretty good for your age.” – Tim Estiloz, Boston Movie Examiner

“Whatever. Turns out James Bond is the British Batman, or perhaps Batman was an American James Bond? I can’t wait until the British Joker shows up in the next movie.” – Monica Castillo, Bitch Magazine

 

LINCOLN

“Remarkable. Tasked with dramatizing some of the most significant moments of the 19th century, Spielberg shoots the picture as a bustling ensemble comedy.” – Sean Burns, The Improper Bostonian

“Day-Lewis’ fine work is stuck in the middle of a plodding, ponderous and preachy Steven Spielberg film that feels like it lasts longer than the actual war did.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“There hasn’t been a film that found so much humor and even heroism in acts of subterfuge and misdirection since OCEAN’S ELEVEN, and in a way that’s an appropriate comparison.” – Bob Chipman, The Escapist

“The historically enriched portrayals are infused with the energy of a screwball comedy, with dialogue that flies back and forth with fiery dynamism.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune

“More than anything, it’s the humor that separates this portrayal from any others past. Not content to play the president as a hero, Day-Lewis brings him to life as a smooth negotiator, as sly as he is wise.” – Jake Mulligan, Charleston City Paper

“As history it is fascinating and as entertainment it is superb; with a remarkable cast, a tight and sharp script, and a sure hand on the helm.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net

“If this film has a trace of greatness about it, that’s probably because of the way Kushner, Spielberg, and Day-Lewis recollect for us the greatness of the man.” – Kilian Melloy, Kal’s Movie Blog

 

THIS MUST BE THE PLACE

“Linked and displaced as our lives might be, the film suggests they play out at the foot of monumental events and historic triumphs and catastrophes alike.” – Kilian Melloy, EDGE Boston

 

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP: 11/2

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WRECK-IT RALPH

“A big win, striking a near-perfect balance between fan service and geniunely satisfying moviemaking.” – Bob Chipman, The Escapist

“It’s brilliantly animated and has some nice character moments, but all in all, it goes nowhere.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune

“John C. Reilly not only gives his character personality, but soul. It makes all the difference.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“One of those cartoons that works at a variety of levels, so that it really is something the whole family can enjoy.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net

“At times overly cutesy and leans too heavily on sophomoric humor, though it is a visually striking, well-crafted flick.” – Evan Crean, Starpulse

“It’s a colorful nostalgia trip for those of us who still store our NES and Sega Genesis in our attics or basements.” – Monica Castillo, Bitch Magazine 

“Too bad the obligatory bromide of being yourself wrecks the pleasure of character cameos from gaming’s past and present.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Phoenix

 

FLIGHT

“The best movies featuring addiction are about the characters and not the Problem. FLIGHT is about the Problem.” – Sean Burns, The Improper Bostonian

“Washington follows the director’s lead by taking just about every cliché there is for playing a drunk on screen and cranking it up to 11.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“The film’s less zippy pace after the crash almost causes you to lose interest at certain points, and The Rolling Stones tunes feel too much like a Scorsese rip-off.” – Evan Crean, Starpulse

“At well over two hours, this is a movie that could have used someone urging Zemeckis and company to cut to the chase.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net

 

HOLY MOTORS

“As confounding as it is pleasurable; as melancholic as it is invigorating… one of the freshest visions the big screen has seen in years, perhaps decades.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE Boston

“Cinema is dead. Long live cinema.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly

 

A LATE QUARTET

“Aims to tell a bigger story and suffers from its own ambition, relying on a framework too flimsy to support its own weight.” – Norm Schrager, Meet in the Lobby

“All they’ll get from me is the world’s smallest violin playing for their troubles.” – Evan Crean, Starpulse

“What could possibly go wrong? As it turns out, just about everything. And the less said about the way Walken looks sawing his bow across the cello, the better.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

 

THE DETAILS

“Comes off as a film about how much it sucks having to deal with women and minorities.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE Boston

“The movie’s smarminess lingers like a hangover. When it was over, I wanted nothing more than a shower.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly

 

THE MAN WITH THE IRON FISTS

“It’s RZA who holds the picture back. He’s trying too much — too many disparate styles and tones, too many characters, too many CGI effects.” – Jake Mulligan, The Boston Phoenix

“It’s unfathomable that Crowe would ever stoop to being in a picture like this, and even weirder that it looks like the most fun he’s had in years.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly