BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 11/18/2016

maxresdefault (33)FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM

“To its credit, the movie comes across less as an opportunity to squeeze every last dollar out of the franchise and more like Rowling has many more stories to tell in a universe she hasn’t yet finished exploring.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“These fantastic beasts inhabit a world where the sun doesn’t exist and CGI is a way of life.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“For everything that works in the film, there are two things that don’t, and those things all tie back to how laborious it must be to lay the foundation for the next four films in the series. (Yes, four.) ” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“Sometimes the magic of unadulterated and inspired storytelling is all you really need, and Rowling’s control of this craft is something fierce.” – Greg Vellante, Forces of Geek

 

Bleed-For-This-Miles-Teller-and-Aaron-EckhartBLEED FOR THIS

“This is a middleweight movie with some nice moves, but no real knockout punch.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“Because of the high level of fiction featured all throughout it, it’s impossible to seriously consider BLEED FOR THIS to be any sort of actual biography.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

 

billy-lynns-long-halftime-walk-joe-alswynBILLY LYNN’S LONG HALFTIME WALK

“It’s all as misguided as the special filming process utilized by director Ang Lee who shot this at 120 frames per second (rather than the standard 24 per second rate) which most audiences will never get to see.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

 

the-love-witchTHE LOVE WITCH

“…if THE LOVE WITCH overstays its welcome, it at least has the courtesy to be ravishing to behold.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“The film is deeply feminist and embraces camp as a means to carry deeper theoretical messages, and uses sexual magic as a metaphor for male anxiety and female empowerment.” – Kristofer Jenson, C-Ville Weekly

 

 

 

 

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 11/11/2016

7d47ec7ea66ca8c8_soyld04713332c2r2 ARRIVAL

“This is science fiction for grown-ups, ready to follow three-dimensional characters grappling with deep ideas.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“As far as spawning soulless aesthetic imitators goes, I think it’s now safe to say that THE TREE OF LIFE has done more damage to the American cinema than anything since PULP FICTION.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“By sheer stroke of timing, it’s about global fracturing, global and national cultures split by mistrust, and enmity fostered through years of intercontinental strife.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“While there are moments to ponder surely, ARRIVAL is an emotional experience, much greater than the intellectual, thoughtful experience one may expect.” – Allyson Johnson, The Young Folks

“ARRIVAL has a big budget, but it’s got the heart of a smaller, more thoughtful project; it’s more THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL than EARTH VERSUS THE FLYING SAUCERS – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“From first scene to last, the film leads you from darkness into light, on a continuous journey of life and death, where communication is key to an ever widening horizon; it’s a journey both strange and familiar; you’ll know when you’ve arrived.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

 

lovingLOVING

“LOVING is a slow burn that’s contents to experience solitude, spirituality and nature without ever relenting on the human spirit.” – Allyson Johnson, The Young Folks

“Nichols, once again, proves too timid to dig deep enough into his subject matter to mine something, anything, for us to latch onto.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

 

 

almostchristmas3ALMOST CHRISTMAS

“In the end, the filmmakers’ poor choices are highlighted in the outtakes shown during the credits, featuring some of the best one-liners and most buoyant, improvisational comedy of the movie.” – Michael Cox, Edge Boston

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 11/04/2016

DR. STRANGEdoctor-strange-3

“Through outstanding casting, splashy visuals, and some unexpected (and welcome) wit, DOCTOR STRANGE is easily the best of comic book movie of the year.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“Doesn’t this stuff ever get stale to you people?” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“Though not without its flaws, DOCTOR STRANGE turns out to be another solid addition to the Marvel library that’s able to fit comfortably with everything else they’ve had to offer so far.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“…if you enjoy these Marvel movies, the addition of magic to the MCU is just enough to add some new fizz to the formula.” – Brett Michel, The Improper Bostonian

 

hacksawridge_markrogers_d0a9525HACKSAW RIDGE

“HACKSAW RIDGE works in the same way THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST and APOCALYPTO worked, beating the crap out of the audience with a ferocious sadism that the ardent religious convictions of the filmmaker seem to be either enabling or only barely keeping at bay.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“I’m a sucker for films about good people, and Desmond Doss is one of the great ones.” – Greg Vellante, Forces Of Geek

“HACKSAW RIDGE will satisfy Garfield fans, Gibson supporters or war movie connoisseurs, but little more.” – Allyson Johnson, Cambridge Day

“Garfield gives an Oscar-worthy performance, showing the medic to be a simple man of conviction and courage.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“This is filmmaking of a fine and effective order, but with both faith-based pacifism and balls-out warfare being given such hard scrutiny you might be forgiven for not being entirely certain what Gibson’s intent is or what he wants you to take away from the film.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“A truly delicate and animalistic story about one of the U.S.’s greatest heroes.” – Sam Cohen, Substream Magazine

“Gibson brings Doss’ story to screen with his own firm conviction, telling the story without factual nor fictional embellishment according to research.” – Tim Estiloz, El Mundo Boston

“HACKSAW RIDGE is by no means a perfect film, but what’s included gives the people who want to see it an opportunity to leave the theaters satisfied with what they’ve just watched.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

 

Moonlight2.0MOONLIGHT

“Each chapter of this story would function as a strong short film if viewed independently. But the cumulative effect might just blindside you.” – Brett Michel, The Improper Bostonian

“As demonstrated in Jenkins’ first feature, 2008’s winning, morning-after-a-one-night-stand comedy MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY, he’s got a knack for letting his characters talk their way around one other’s defense mechanisms and insecurities.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“The film encourages self-reflection, but not at the expense of either its narrative or the viewing experience. ” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“Both as a work of art and a social statement, MOONLIGHT is required viewing. It is easily one of the best films of 2016 and the most quietly powerful film in recent memory.” – Kristofer Jenson, C-Ville Weekly

 

 

trolls-image-1TROLLS

“At once a fantastic opportunity to get the kids out of the house, a catalyst for spending 50 dollars on popcorn and candy, and a film that holds its weight in similar sugary stuffing, there are countless things worse to do than TROLLS on a Saturday afternoon.” – Greg Vellante, Edge Boston

 

 

The Stooges In the StudioGIMME DANGER

“Overall it’s a bit slack with the indulgences you see sometimes when people make movies about their friends, but there are worse ways to spend two hours than in “the streetwalking cheetah with a heart full of napalm’s” laundry room.” – Sean Burns, The ARTery

 

 

 

 

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 10/28/2016

1-on6cCIOkcfnYz05NToe5iQINFERNO

“INFERNO isn’t bad and isn’t good, it just sits there, stagnant, waiting for something to propel it beyond the run of the mill.” – Greg Vellante, Edge Boston

“…the spectacle of watching supremely talented people put together something that more or less plays out like a big-budget network TV drama pilot is really quite a bit of fun, though none of them can chew the scenery with quite the same panache that Ian McKellen did in the first movie.” – Bob Chipman, Geek.com

“Watch INFERNO and every time there is a line of dialogue that is not just exposition to help you understand the hilariously overcomplicated plot, take a drink. By the end of the picture, you’ll be legally under the limit to drive home.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“INFERNO is not your typical movie filled with the usual qualities associated with excellent storytelling, but it uses its style to do what it needs to do in order to entertain and provide value.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“…a fast-paced timewaster for those viewers undemanding enough not to care about plot, character, or logic.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

thumbnail_24700THE HANDMAIDEN

“This is South Korean director, Park Chan-wook (OLDBOY, STOKER) at the very top of his game, crafting an illustrative and illustrious affair that singes the mind with striking images and enchanting storytelling.” – Greg Vellante, Edge Boston

“In our American cultural context, THE HANDMAIDEN open carnality feels like a hand grenade of provocation in our normal pop diet of stabbings and shootings.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“Even though I still see THE HANDMAIDEN as being effective and pleasant, it’s not as compelling or suspenseful as it could have been had they continued down the more obscure path it originally looked like it could head in.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 10/21/2016

jackreacher2JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK

“… a conventional action film with some unconventional ideas and the star power of Tom Cruise.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“This movie would probably be offensively terrible if it bothered to try hard enough, but we aren’t even that lucky – and I’m not sure whether or not that’s actually preferable.” – Bob Chipman, Geek.com

” despite a committed cast, there’s virtually nothing that differentiates JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK from playing like a straight-to-DVD B movie mistakenly sent to multiplexes.” – Kristofer Jenson, C-Ville Weekly

“If you’ve been watching the action movies that have been released over the past decade or so, you’ve already seen JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“Sorry, but once you’ve seen Tom Cruise hanging from the Burj Khalifa watching him almost fall off a cheap set left over from an eighties cop show isn’t exactly wow material.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

 

ouija-origin-of-evilOUIJA: ORIGIN OF EVIL

“…even with the late missteps OUIJA: ORIGIN OF EVIL is a strong horror film. It does not insult the audience’s intelligence and still manages to create some scares along the way. ” – Deirdre Crimmins, Film Thrills

 

certain-womenCERTAIN WOMEN

“Human situations are often difficult; does that excuse us for looking away as often as we do? Or is there something there worth seeing, if we can stand to stay with it? That’s a question you’ll have to answer for yourself.” – Killian Melloy, Edge Boston

“Reichardt is a filmmaker who enjoys standing apart from her subjects, content to meditate on the mundanities without ever belittling the idea of a simplistic life. ” – Allyson Johnson, Cambridge Day

“This is a film about behavior, with complicated emotions conveyed by actions and inferences that go tragically unnoticed. But look closely enough and you’ll see every one of these CERTAIN WOMEN (and some of their sad-sack men) reaching out, yearning to be heard.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality