2019

Posted on July 19, 2019 by bofca

THE LION KING

“The notion that a 25-year-old film is so sacrosanct it should not be remade will come as a surprise to those who have made a hit of Julie Taymor’s creative stage adaptation.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“Even though I would have preferred something more original, this remake of THE LION KING is pretty strong.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“If you wanted a shot-for-shot recreation of THE LION KING so the nostalgia you crave is satiated, then that’s what you’ll get from this Jon Favreau-directed remake. If you seek a different vision of a tale that you love, cancel that ticket reservation right this very minute.” – Sam Cohen, EDGE Media Network

I DO NOT CARE IF WE GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS BARBARIANS

“Jude’s film is sharp-edged, implacable, and sometimes punishing in the length of its scenes; clearly, the director is out to make us uncomfortable, which is part and parcel off his exploding of easy national myths and the gilding of bloody history.” – Kilian Melloy, EDGE Media Network

THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING

“The documentary takes apart the myth of equality brick by brick, not only constructing a case for inclusion, but also paving a path toward making inclusion a reality.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 07/12/2019

Posted on July 12, 2019 by bofca

STUBER

“A decent enough movie to watch, but it’s not something I would suggest people go out of their way to see.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“Will never enter the history books as one of the greats, but a few jokes save it from being a total loss.” – Deirdre Crimmins, HighDef Digest

CRAWL

“Aja keeps the tension of CRAWLcranked up to 11, giving the audience little time to breathe.” – John Black, Gruesome Magazine

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 07/05/2019

Posted on July 5, 2019 by bofca

SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME

“In spite of me not liking the direction they take as much as I wanted to, SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME is a movie that I liked overall.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“There’s an incredibly charming high school romance in FAR FROM HOME, but it’s buried under IRON MAN 4.” – Sean Burns, North Shore Movies

“…may not be the best movie to ever come out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it would be hard to find a more necessary one.” – John Black, Gruesome Magazine

MIDSOMMAR

“With MIDSOMMAR, A24’s struggles with horror movies continue.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

” At a time where the studios play it safe with lot of pre-sold sequels, MIDSOMMAR takes a chance on something different.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“Amid all the entrails and ritual sacrifice, MIDSOMMAR is also a droll comedy of manners, an irresistible revenge fantasy and a warning to bad boyfriends everywhere.” – Sean Burns, The ARTery

“MIDSOMMAR plays like a slow and inevitable train wreck. It may not surpass Aster’s previous film, but it does show us that not all horrors live in the dark.” – Deirdre Crimmins, High-Def Digest

UNDER THE SILVER LAKE

“Part of the reason I think everybody’s arguing about UNDER THE SILVER LAKE is because it’s a movie very much worth arguing about.” – Sean Burns, The ARTery

“…a shimmering paranoiac fever dream, where [the protagonist’s] quest for the truth (of why girls don’t like him) is told in the languages of hard-boiled detective noir as well as surrealist horror…” – Andy Crump, Polygon

WILD ROSE

“Rough around the edges it might be, like its heroine, but WILD ROSE is a song worth listening to.” – Allyson Johnson, Cambridge Day

“Familiarity isn’t a bad thing, mind, and WILD ROSE presents a version of that star-is-born narrative that works in spite of it…” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 06/28/2019

Posted on June 28, 2019 by bofca

ANNABELLE COMES HOME

“If you’ve enjoyed the series, this will work, but beyond that it’s hard to see this entry winning new converts.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“Most scary movies aren’t really. A lot of people go into them wanting them to be, but we ultimately just want to have a good time. If you can do that, you’ll keep us coming back for more.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“We’ve seen plenty of haunted house movies and plenty creepy doll movies, and plenty of babysitting gone amuck movies, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for one more, so long as it’s done right. ANNABELLE COMES HOME does it right.” – Deirdre Crimmins, High-Def Digest

“This isn’t a movie in search of a greater meaning. It just needs to be entertaining. But it does both, and better still, it bothers to be creative.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

YESTERDAY

“YESTERDAY is a tribute to the Beatles as well as a rich comedy… it’s one of the best movies you’re likely to see this year.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“While some of it is undeniably heavy-handed, much of the film’s philosophy has a tender touch.” – Greg Vellante, Spectrum Culture

THE SPY BEHIND HOME PLATE

“The flat, functional visuals and deliberately artless presentation had me thinking more than once this might be better off as a podcast. Maybe the third Moe Berg movie will finally get it right.” – Sean Burns, The ARTery

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 06/21/2019

Posted on June 21, 2019 by bofca

TOY STORY 4

“So, after the brilliant and emotional conclusion to TOY STORY 3, was there possibly anything left to be said? As it turns out, there was.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“…in a summer when studios have released almost nothing but underwhelming and underperforming sequels, sandwiched between Disney’s mega-budget remakes of ALADDIN and THE LION KING, the mildly amusing, profoundly unnecessary TOY STORY 4 leaves one starving for something more than just reheated comfort food.” – Sean Burns, The ARTery

“The amount of love put into this film by its creative team is only trumped by the love that it filled the audience with.” – Byron McNeal, Nerd Caliber

“Was TOY STORY 4 really necessary? No, but we’d be lying a bit if we were resistant towards Disney’s specific brand of nostalgia.” – Sam Cohen, Edge Boston

“If this is the end of the TOY STORY run, it leaves on a positive note.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

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The Boston Online Film Critics Association was established in May of 2012 to foster a community of web-based film critics.

Category Archives: Review Roundups