Category Archives: Review Roundups

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP: 7/13

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ICE AGE: CONTINENTAL DRIFT

“It’s still funny, but you’ve seen it all before.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Phoenix
 
“For a series about extinction, this franchise feels like it’s been going on forever.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE Boston
 
“Like the other two sequels, CONTINENTAL DRIFT isn’t a bad movie at all. It’s just kinda superfluous. “ – Bob Chipman, The Escapist
 
“The problem is that there’s little in the way of wit to engage the adults.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, Northshoremovies.net
 
  
 
KATY PERRY: PART OF ME
 
“Perry presents herself as a curiously asexual sex object, sorta like Strawberry Shortcake in hot-pants with sparkly pinwheels on her boobs.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly
 
 
“An unexpectedly more nuanced concert film that depicts Katy Perry with more depth and personality than one might expect from a film of this nature.” – Tim Estiloz, Boston Movie Examiner
 
 
NEIL YOUNG JOURNEYS
 
“Demme’s always trying to get as close as he can to where the music is being made, but here he might have outdone himself and finally gotten a bit too close.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly
 

 

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP: 7/6

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THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN

“A rancid, terrible, stiflingly inept, torturous-to-sit-through piece of shit.” – Bob Chipman, The Escapist

“They had a chance to make something new, something hip, something exciting with this. Instead they made a film we’ve already seen.” – Jake Mulligan, The Suffolk Voice

“For those who actually like getting involved with the characters, it’s an improvement.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net

“This might be the most curiously under-populated New York City we have ever seen at the movies. $200 million can’t buy you any extras?” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly

“Cut from the same form-fitting cloth as any other superhero movie. This is no art house classic, though it’s certainly better than most movies of its genre.” – Kilian Melloy, EDGE Boston

“Taking for granted that the character’s popularity alone will pull in an audience, they turn in an uneven, often sub-par product with only glimmers of improvement here and there.” – Tim Estiloz, Boston Movie Examiner

“The reason this movie exists is because of Sony’s bottom line. Beyond that, what else does this add? Nothing.” – Steve Head, The Post-Movie Podcast

 

TO ROME WITH LOVE

“MIDNIGHT IN PARIS was profound in a deceptively breezy way. TO ROME WITH LOVE is just plain breezy, but I didn’t mind.” – Sean Burns, The Improper Bostonian

“Woody Allen’s latest vacation may not be his worst film, but it’s his least inspired.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE Boston

“The stories are entertaining but feel unfinished, as if we are watching Allen’s cinematic sketchbook instead of a finished film.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“I loved the comedic surrealism. I would go see it again in a second.” – Steve Head, The Post-Movie Podcast 

 

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD

“Some moments seem derivative, or unnecessarily enigmatic, but the sheer exuberance of Zeitlin’s most stunning visuals suggests an artistic voice far too strong to write off.” – Jake Mulligan, The Boston Phoenix

“Here’s a movie that looks, feels and sounds so profoundly different from the vast majority of films that you occasionally want to pinch yourself.” – Bob Chipman, The Escapist

“A junkyard rhapsody that seems to be inventing its own cinematic language as it goes along.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly

“One of the most striking, brilliant, poignant and beautifully crafted films I have witnessed within my lifetime. I imagine it will always hold a special place in my heart.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune

 
 

SAVAGES

“So damn refreshing it makes you realize just what pale, pathetic junk we’ve been force fed so far this year.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“Stone may occasionally make you wince at the plot twists and the purple prose, but the film won’t leave you bored.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net

“Travolta the ham, Benicio the cheese, with a hilarious edit by Stone that even holds the tomatoes. Literally.” – Norm Schrager, Paste Magazine

“It may not be perfect, but it’s the perfect anti-summer movie: violent, obliquely political and aimed at adults.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE Boston

“I don’t know of too many surfer dudes who say: ‘We’re going to go all Sunni on their asses!’ But that’s the mark of a Stone film, I suppose.” – Monica Castillo, DigBoston

“Messy and electric, as deeply problematic as it is provocative. In other words, it’s an Oliver Stone movie.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly 
 
 
 

NATURAL SELECTION

“Yes, it’s a road movie, and an unfortunate drama begging to be a comedy.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Phoenix

 

TAKE THIS WALTZ

“It makes you think about just how far good lighting, some risky dialogue and an ambiguous ending can go in covering up a been-there-done-that narrative.” – Jake Mulligan, The Suffolk Voice

 

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP: 6/29

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TED

“To my very pleasant surprise, there’s actually something (ok, not that much) going on under the surface here.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE Boston

“While that subtext is there, it’s wrapped with a hilarious collection of jokes ranging from the witty to the tasteless.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net

“Sometimes funny is just funny.” – Bob Chipman, The Escapist

“Hilarious. It has something to say about growing up and says it well.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune

“I had a great time until it decided to try and have a plot.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly

 

MAGIC MIKE

“All kidding aside, this movie is unbelievably awesome.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune

“A near-miss, with a few good performances and enough power to hold your interest for a while before finally running out of steam.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net

“Soderbergh is talking about himself, our culture, the economy, and there’s an undercurrent of darkness within all three. He’s hidden a lot inside a flimsy-looking G-string.” – Jake Mulligan, The Suffolk Voice

 

PEOPLE LIKE US

“All of this could have been resolved with a simple fucking conversation.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly

“These people are not like us, and frankly, I don’t really like them that much either.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune

“The film’s leads lack the star power to sell this material and make us care in spite of the story.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net

“Yuck.” – Monica Castillo, DigBoston

 

MADEA’S WITNESS PROTECTION

“It’s a feeble vehicle for Perry’s ever-diminishing antics. In short, a real drag.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Phoenix

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP: 6/22

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BRAVE

“If you think you’ve heard it all before or imagine you know how the story will proceed, then get ready to be thrilled.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“I am so philosophically drained about this movie.” – Steve Head, The Post-Movie Podcast

“It is something which will captivate both parents and children because the emotions expressed are real even if the magical transformations are not.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net

“In the realm of Pixar works it’s blatantly average. But in the realm of most movies, an average Pixar film is actually a pretty good one.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune

“A joy to behold in it’s amazingly detailed visual beauty.” – Tim Estiloz, Boston Movie Examiner

“The result is a movie that takes much, much too long to get where it’s going and more problematically skewers its own attempt at a message.” – Bob Chipman, The Escapist

“Stay strong and don’t let them change you. It’s not a bad message to hear at 8 or 28.” – Monica Castillo, La Vida De Mcastimovies

“In the end it feels more like TANGLED than anything else, right down to the vague adjective titling.” – Jake Mulligan, The Suffolk Voice

“Merely good. But after the successive triumphs of the past decade, it’s hard to accept anything less than transcendence from the animation studio.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Phoenix
 
 
 

SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD

“There’s an entire world out there that’s just about to end, and this movie zooms in on the two least interesting people in it.” – Sean Burns, The Improper Bostonian

“Cynics need not apply.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net

“Another hackneyed romantic comedy where it’s difficult to get too annoyed at the characters once you realize an asteroid is going to take care of them for you before the film is over.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune

“The apocalypse has never been more hilarious or beautifully tragic.” – Evan Crean, Starpulse

“The contradictory genre efforts would be incredibly interesting if it weren’t so intolerable spending time with these people.” – Jake Mulligan, The Suffolk Voice

 

ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER

“When elements like character and story rear their heads, the film is as wooden as a set of 19th-century false teeth.” – Norm Schrager, Meet In The Lobby

“If vampires in the South seem odd, think about it: doesn’t that explain Newt Gingrich?” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net

“The fact that nobody ever seems to acknowledge that the whole enterprise is a joke makes it even funnier.” – Bob Chipman, The Escapist

 

YOUR SISTER’S SISTER

“I’m sorry, but am I really supposed to believe that Mark Duplass is the stud of my generation?” – Jake Mulligan, The Suffolk Voice 

 

FIVE BROKEN CAMERAS

“The footage that Burnat has captured is astounding and courageous. He’s doing what the news won’t — showing someone die for a cause, unarmed and vocal to his last breath.” – Norm Schrager, Meet In The Lobby

 

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP: 6/15

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ROCK OF AGES

“Pulverizing, excruciating, incompetent—the pejoratives finally fail me. An hour into this thing, I turned to a colleague and groaned aloud: ‘I want to murder myself.’” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly

“A train wreck. But it sure is fun to watch.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“Cruise literally does everything to look, sound, and move like a rock star, except for showing any genuine conviction. It’s like someone programmed a robot to play the character, but left out the emotion chip.” – Evan Crean, Starpulse

“Terrible. A bad story told badly through a series of corny on-the-nose song choices and bad comedy.” – Bob Chipman, The Escapist

“Singers should sing, actors should act, and 9 times out of 10 the two should never mix.” – Monica Castillo, DigBoston

“One long evening of 1980’s Rock and Roll karaoke. Manages to evoke both a wince and a smile.”- Tim Estiloz, Boston Latino TV

“Oh, the choreography!” – Steve Head, The Post-Movie Podcast

 


SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED

“Plaza does indeed give a great performance, carrying a movie that for the most part isn’t worth her efforts.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune

“The Duplass brothers seem to specialize in half-written movies with garbage cinematography, and I would happily donate $10 to buy them a tripod.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly
 
“It reminded me of a movie from the 70’s in the worst way possible. It’s all quirky and cutesy but then has that cop-out indie ending.” – John Black, The Post-Movie Podcast
 
“Everything comes together a bit hastily, but happily the ending doesn’t disappoint.” – Evan Crean, Starpulse
 
 
 
THAT’S MY BOY
 
“If the bar had been set any lower for this film’s vulgar humor only flatworms and slugs could crawl underneath it.” – Tim Estiloz, Boston Movie Examiner
 
“Easily Sandler’s best movie in a long, long time.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide
 
“It’s a vile, puerile, lowbrow, totally disposable junk movie, but I can’t deny that it works as one.” – Bob Chipman, The Escapist
 
“This may be the most loathsome film of the year.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, NorthShoreMovies.net.
 
“This is the perfect movie to take your dad to on Father’s Day if you hate him.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune
 
“This is a shitty movie on every level. The shittiest.” – Steve Head, The Post-Movie Podcast
 
“Director Sean Anders does nothing to mop up this gross-out comedy mess.” – Monica Castillo, The Boston Phoenix
 
 
 
LOLA VERSUS
 
“Lola battles against many problems in this ridiculously titled film. What’s unfortunate is that none of them are interesting.” – Jake Mulligan, The Suffolk Voice

 

 

CAPE SPIN! AN AMERICAN POWER STRUGGLE

“There’s an awful lot of spin going on in Robbie Gemmel and John Kirby’s playful documentary.” – Brett Michel, The Boston Herald