Category Archives: Review Roundups

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 12/16/2016

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rogue-one-jyn-ersa-geared-upROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY

“This might be the franchise’s first stand-alone film, but it won’t be the last.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“ROGUE ONE is a vast improvement over Disney’s first big screen venture in this beloved science fiction universe.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“…if we must have a STAR WARS picture every December for the rest of our lives, I’m hoping they’ll eventually stray from familiar formulas and take us to unknown worlds, far, far away from those first couple of films.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“In short, this movie is what the “Star Wars” prequels should have been, and that’s meant as high praise indeed.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

LLL d 29 _5194.NEFLA LA LAND

“‘Mandatory fun’ were the first words I scribbled in my notebook after sitting through Damien Chazelle’s oppressively whimsical throwback.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“Chazelle and co. have created a magical moment in time over the span of it’s two hours.” – Allyson Johnson, The Young Folks

“Even if you’re not a fan of movie musicals, he’ll quite possibly make a convert out of you.” – Brett Michel, The Improper Bostonian

 

 

t-Collateral-BeautyCOLLATERAL BEAUTY

“..a movie best suited for those not afraid to wear their hearts on their sleeves..” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 12/09/2016

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HT_jackie-movie-cf-161201_12x5_1600JACKIE

“Look for Portman to appear on Oscar ballots. But look for her first at the Cineplex: This movie is unquestionably Oscar bait, but it’s worthy of a place on your must-see list.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“Chilean bad-boy auteur Pablo Larrain is never as interested in the story he’s telling than he is in the stories we need to tell ourselves.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“We’ve known for some time that Natalie Portman is a fine actress, but with her portrayal of Jacqueline Kennedy she steps into the front ranks.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

 

Office-Christmas-Party-Movie-TrailerOFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY

“[It] may be disposable and ultimately forgettable, but it is welcome seasonal silliness…” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

 

things_to_comeTHINGS TO COME

“…THINGS TO COME has a stillness that lingers with you, as does Huppert’s acceptance and grace.” – Sean Burns, The Artery

 

 

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 11/25/2016

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MOANA

“2016 has turned out to be quite a good year for animation, and “Moana” is a worthy addition to the honor roll.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“MOANA presents audiences with a lush cinematic world that they’ll wish they could explore for themselves, but more importantly, it pushes the “princess movie” past its traditional boundaries to portray an honest, invigorating tale of a girl’s self-actualization.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

 


MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

“Lonergan nails the gruff, emotionally constipated way that men of a certain stripe (particularly here in the Northeast) express a complex array of emotions exclusively through busting each other’s chops.” – Sean Burns, The Artery

“Lonergan is extraordinarily attuned to the way people talk and has a knack for casting just the right performers to mine both pathos and humor from his peerless dialogue.” – Brett Michel, The Improper Bostonian

 

NOCTURNAL ANIMALS

“An admirable effort by all involved, NOCTURNAL ANIMALS ends up being one of those films that’s more fun to talk about afterwards than it is to actually watch.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

 

ALLIED

“ALLIED’s innovations point to the future of cinema, but its pleasures are in the fundamentals.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“Zemeckis and screenwriter Steven Knight tread a carefully wrought path that negotiates between wartime drama, spy-thriller potboiler, and domestic fluff, while steering well clear of comedy (this is, thankfully, not a fresh spin on MR. AND MRS. SMITH).” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

 

 

  2. RULES DON’T APPLY

“…a film that’s not unwatchable, but it’s hardly the capstone of a distinguished career.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

 

 

 

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 11/18/2016

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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

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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