Category Archives: Review Roundups

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP: 9/21

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DREDD

“I am kind of at a loss for words at the moment. This is really impressive filmmaking.” – Steve Head, The Post-Movie Podcast

“The gushing blood and continuous violence get to be too much. Everything’s so amped up that the individual moments fail to register.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE Boston

“It’s a good deal wittier than expected from a movie that consists mostly of people getting shot in the face.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly

“Mildly rattled me with visceral gruesomeness, and yet had me giggling in delight at the audacity of its superb presentation.” – Tim Estlioz, Boston Movie Examiner

“Erase your memories of Sly’s bomb with this, director Pete Travis and writer/producer Alex Garland’s lean reboot.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Phoenix

“DREDD has all the hard-hitting violence an action movie fan could ever want, and because it’s rated R, it’s not afraid it rub your nose in it.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“This is one of the most violent movies released this year. Consider that less a criticism than a warning. This is not for the squeamish.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, The Sci-Fi Movie Page

“A slam-bang joyride with a grim canvas — a darkness interrupted by vibrantly violent bursts of red.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune

“The extreme violence and satire are very much an amusing throwback to films of the late 80s/early 90s such as THE RUNNING MAN, ROBOCOP and TOTAL RECALL.” – Evan Crean, Reel Recon

 

END OF WATCH

“Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña aren’t exactly corrupt cops in this self-important police drama. They’re just fascistic assholes.” – Jake Mulligan, The Boston Phoenix
 
“This whole point-of-view, hand-held shaky camera crap has got to stop.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide
 
“Trying to follow the action made me so nauseous, I had to take a break halfway through and go walk around the lobby for a few minutes to keep from throwing up.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly
 
“It’s nothing we haven’t seen in countless other cop shows and movies, but the Anglo/Hispanic rapport here seems fresh because of the enthusiasm the two actors bring to their roles.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net
 
“Ayer’s gut wrenching flick is so emotionally charged, it makes his previous police film TRAINING DAY seem wimpy.” – Evan Crean, Reel Recon
 
“A gratuitous migraine of narrative voids.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune
 
 
 
TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE
 
“Clint Eastwood’s most embarrassing public moment might have been his infamous speech to an empty chair at the Republican National Convention. Up until now, that is.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide
 
“The star power helps the charm outweigh the schmaltz.” – Jake Mulligan, The Boston Phoenix
 
“TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE doesn’t just remind you what a great screen presence Clint Eastwood is; it makes you appreciate him even more as a director because Lorenz does such a terrible job.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly
 
“If the plot points are a bit too neat, the emotional truths are not.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net
 
“His acting style consists mainly of grunts and curse words, and every little sound or swear that comes through his mouth is a small stroke of grumpy geezer genius.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune

 

 
THE MASTER
 
“A miserable film about miserable people, and sitting through it for 137 minutes is a miserable experience.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide
 
“If Anderson can ever figure out how to tell a story with a beginning, a middle and an end, cutting out long scenes that go nowhere, he might make a really great film.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net
 
“The actors are all pretty excellent but the mercurial Phoenix is a surprising standout. He makes Quell into a fascinating human freakshow, alternately frightening or pathetic.” – Bob Chipman, The Escapist
 
“Confounding and troubling. This is an ambivalent picture, one that remains stubbornly unresolved. It’s a singular vision, and the movie haunts.” – Sean Burns, The Improper Bostonian
 
 
 
HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET
 
“‘I think this place is gonna be good for us,’ Sarah says to Elissa. Nope… not for any of us.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Phoenix 
 
 
 
 
CHICKEN WITH PLUMS
 
“The many pieces never coalesce into a satisfying whole, yet the indelible images make up for the lack of harmony.” – Jake Mulligan, The Boston Phoenix
 

 

LIBERAL ARTS

“This is a little more than an affable, self-absorbed fable for Generation Y as it pauses on the threshold of middle age.” – Kilian Melloy, EDGE Boston

“Radnor steals a lot from Woody Allen, particularly MANHATTAN. If only he could replicate the wit.” – Jake Mulligan, The Boston Phoenix

 

KNUCKLEBALL!

“Less a film about baseball itself, and more a film about two men who struggled with rejection, self-doubt and ultimate triumph against odds.” – Tim Estiloz, Boston Movie Examiner

 

10 YEARS

“Jamie Linden’s directorial debut proves what we long suspected: all movies could use a little more Channing Tatum.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE Boston

 

THE AMBASSADOR

“Taken as satire, this isn’t particularly funny.  But then, the corruption he’s exposing is anything but a joke.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Phoenix

 

 
FOR ELLEN
 
“Shaylena Mandingo’s so good, it’s a shame that Paul Dano is his typically mannered self.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Phoenix
 
 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP: 9/14

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ARBITRAGE

“Watching that facade crack, and watching a good actor at the top of his game portray a man losing everything is absolutely fascinating.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“Isn’t it compelling enough to watch Gere engineer a high-stakes fraud without a dated melodrama hogging all the foreground?” – Sean Burns, The Improper Bostonian

“The weird murder mystery is a bit much. I’d rather just stick to the numbers and personal drama for once, which is probably the first time I’ve ever written such a statement.” – Monica Castillo, DigBoston

 

FINDING NEMO 3D

“The compositions still exhilarate, and the smooth ocean renderings still amaze. It’s all just a little bit dimmer.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE Boston

 

LITTLE WHITE LIES

“And then there’s the films debilitating length, which is never – not even for a stretch – earned by the content.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE Boston

 

RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION

“An extended, mostly slow-motion gun battle that serves solely as a set-up for, yes, another sequel. Now that’s evil.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Phoenix
 
“You either enjoy an hour and a half of buff female and male characters in tight, form-fitting outfits shooting at zombies and each other, or you don’t.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, The Sci-Fi Movie Page
 
“I have very low expectations with a movie like this. I just want to be entertained and stare at Milla Jovovich. And I did.” – John Black, The Post-Movie Podcast
 
“Look, it’s September. Let’s just try and ride this crappy season out until the good stuff starts to hit in a week or two.” – Bob Chipman, The Escapist
 
 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP: 9/7

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BACHELORETTE

“An invigorating shock – a comedic gut punch that reminds you that movies can be uproarious without needing to be lazily constructed.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE Boston

“It’s chock-full of drug use, casual sex and some astonishingly inventive flights of profanity. I laughed myself sick.” – Sean Burns, The Improper Bostonian

“This movie’s got a bitter soul that’s ready to go, and has about as much heart as a freezer filled with ice and cyanide.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune

“Making the audience sit through almost two hours of harpy-level screeching to get to the point is unforgivable.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

 

THE WORDS

“It’s not that this is a bad movie, necessarily; it’s just hard to know what to make of it.” – Kilian Melloy, Kal’s Movie Blog

“Simply a mishmash of narratives never fully realized or fleshed out.” – Tim Estiloz, Boston Movie Examiner

“The elements seem to be there to tell an interesting story, but the way they are presented is the problem.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“A compelling drama that may not have a lot of things to say, but it is certainly about the way we say things.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune

“More so than some movies, this is one that turns on how you relate to the players.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net

“If you’re an introspective person, you’ll appreciate what THE WORDS has to say, even if you feel a bit downtrodden after watching.” – Evan Crean, StarPulse

 

THE COLD LIGHT OF DAY

“Sigourney Weaver is the only one having any fun. That includes the audience.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Phoenix
 
“More sooner than later, the rest of his family is taken hostage, and Willis exits the picture on the lookout for the nearest check-cashing place.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly
 
 
 
BRANDED
 
“Borderline offensive and overly dense, the movie is unsure of what it wants to be: a sci-fi thriller or a socialist parable.” – Monica Castillo, The Boston Phoenix
 
“If you want to understand what ‘pretentious’ means, you’ve got to check out BRANDED. Or rather, don’t.” – Bob Chipman, The Escapist
 
 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP: 8/31

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OSLO, AUGUST 31ST

“A devastating film. Anders moves through the picture like a ghost, while Danielsen Lie’s performance grows increasingly closed off and enigmatic.” – Sean Burns, The Improper Bostonian

“The movie captures moments of lyrical beauty. As the final shots mirror the first, you reflect on how life goes on, with and without us.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Phoenix

“You leave the film overwhelmed by the skill behind its craft and simultaneously demolished by its stark, compassionate, yet ultimately hopeless vision of the struggle against the darkness within.” – Jake Mulligan, The Suffolk Voice

 

LAWLESS
 
“A strong cast and a fresh spin on the gangster film help overcome a script that occasionally lapses into cliché.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net

 

“One of those curious misfires in which a lot of talented people are nowhere near their comfort zones. And I still couldn’t understand a word Tom Hardy said.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly

“What should be a classic modern-western gets derailed by schizophrenic direction in John Hillcoat’s hilariously uneven depiction of a lawless world.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE Boston

“Pearce’s role is a perfect example of the over-the-top theatrical performance that Awards Voters love, because Awards Voters are usually stupid.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune

“It’s curious, but we now seem to find ourselves waxing nostalgic about times when the people in power were merely corrupt. Nowadays, they’re practically cannibalistic.” – Kilian Melloy, Kal’s Movie Blog

“LAWLESS is not going to win any prize for breaking the story mold, but that’s okay because it revisits this well-trod ground enthusiastically.” – Bob Chipman, The Escapist

 

FOR A GOOD TIME, CALL…

“Other than Kevin Smith, is there anyone more toxic to a film than Nia Vardalos? Well, get ready, because first-time feature director Jamie Travis has them both.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Phoenix

“A movie so unfunny it makes SCHINDLER’S LIST look like SUPERBAD. The characters swear and talk about sex like young kids who just discovered both things exist.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune

“It constantly ducks away from any semblance of adult sexuality, while director Travis indulges in garish colors and giggle fits.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly 

 

 THE BULLET VANISHES

“As far as cheap knock-offs go, it’s a fairly flattering imitation.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Phoenix

 

 

SLEEPWALK WITH ME

“But you don’t need to spend $11.75 to see an infomercial. It’s under-thought, overdone, and presented without the slightest hint of visual panache. It’s repellent.” – Jake Mulligan, The Suffolk Voice

“And while the deadpan delivery of the series of unfortunate events is amusing, it can grow tiring. It’s also easy to feel frustrated with Mike’s character, as the leading man, he doesn’t quite mature from the start of the film.” – Monica Castillo, Paste Magazine

“Nobody bothered to outsize this interior monologue into an actual motion picture. So, from the get-go, it’s like we’re watching some overblown, under-photographed version of a story we’ve already heard.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly
 
 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP: 8/24

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COSMOPOLIS

“An ice-cold, woozy nightmare of a movie, so dense you can hardly take it all in with just a single viewing.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly

“It puzzles you while you watch it, comes together when you think about it, and finds itself stuck in your mind days and weeks after you’ve seen it.” – Jake Mulligan, The Suffolk Voice

“The way this film moves, like some bizarre ballerina on a stage of surrealism, is so loopy and dreamlike that while its narrative continuity is certainly fractured, the flow never once feels sporadic.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune

“Cronenberg has a genius for building a sense of momentum, and an atmosphere of mounting anarchy and entropy.” – Kilian Melloy, Kal’s Movie Blog

“Well, if it isn’t the most confounding movie of the year. May God grant you mercy if you’re going just for R.Patz.” – Monica Castillo, DigBoston 

 

HIT AND RUN

“It’s hard to decide which was wasted more in making HIT AND RUN: Talent, money or gas. Or maybe it’s the audience’s time.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“Calling this movie HIT AND RUN doesn’t do it justice, if only because it fails to hit anything, and doesn’t even really feel like anyone took much of an aim.” – Kilian Melloy, Kal’s Movie Blog

“You’ll be checking your watch over and over wondering how 100 minutes could go by so slowly.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net

“The best joke here is the idea that people would pay to see this movie.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE Boston

“It’s really hard to make car chases boring. Yet somehow Dax Shepard manages to do it.” – Evan Crean, Reel Recon

 

COMPLIANCE

“The storytelling has a welcome lack of convention and pushy emotion, Zobel letting viewers soak in the problems at generally the same pace as the characters.” – Norm Schrager, Meet In The Lobby

“You can’t help but feel implicated in all the madness. The movie’s brilliance is in just how repellant it is.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE Boston

 

PREMIUM RUSH

“Nothing more than a shiftless studio effort. It preaches the value of speed, but never for a moment feels like it’s in a rush.” – Jake Mulligan, The Suffolk Voice

“It only makes you wish that the badly filmed and edited near misses Koepp fills the film with weren’t so close after all.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“It puts the pedal to the metal right away, but boy does that metal rust up quickly.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune

“Some mildly diverting stunt work if you’re interested in such things, and a story in which we have nothing invested in so that its ultimate resolution has no impact.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net

“The kind of picture that will play like gangbusters on afternoon cable, but feels a bit thin when you’re shelling out upwards of 10 bucks for a night at the movies.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly

 

 ROBOT & FRANK

“It’s a brilliant bit of acting that takes a fun little robot movie and raises it to the level of art.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“If this is playing near you, go see ROBOT & FRANK. Easily one of the best science-fiction movies in years.” – Bob Chipman, The Escapist

 

SUSHI: THE GLOBAL CATCH

“This subject would make for a fine documentary if David Gelb hadn’t already done so in his far more focused and compelling JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Phoenix 
 
 
 
THE APPARITION
 
“This might spook some gullible teens and tweens, but it won’t be around for long.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net