2016

Posted on September 9, 2016 by bofca

SULLY

“Eastwood is a fine, fine filmmaker who delivers incredibly polished and crafted works regularly.” – Greg Vellante, Forces of Geek

“SULLY extols all the classically Eastwoodian virtues of going to work and not making a big goddamn deal out of it.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“SULLY is a wonderfully crafted exercise in skillful, understated film direction and acting by both Hanks and director Eastwood that thankfully shies away from the sensational. ” – Tim Estiloz, El Mundo Boston

“The real drama here is that of an ordinary man thrust into extraordinary circumstances and finding this his skills and lifetime of experience has prepared him to meet the challenge.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“…the issues the film and the event raise in the ongoing battle between warm-blooded humans and the increasingly sophisticated machines they create–is important, and the denouement more than satisfying– uplifting.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

“I don’t know how much credit I can actually give the people behind SULLY. I say that because it’s kind of simple and pieced together in that way.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

MORRIS FROM AMERICA

“…an unassuming crowd-pleaser that doubles as a fish-out-of-water comedy.” – Brett Michel, The Improper Bostonian

“Looking at what MORRIS FROM AMERICA is, you have a quality movie of substance that proves to be one of the better feature films about growing up that you’re going to see in terms of actual development and growth of a character. ” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 09/02/2016

Posted on September 2, 2016 by bofca

THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS

“[It] tells us loud and clear that summer is over and it’s okay for grown-ups to go to the movies again.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“The film often looks lovely. But all of that loveliness is a cover for a creaky narrative.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“The film, despite its unquestionable beauty, is nothing but a skeleton of a great and timeless romance.” – Allyson Johnson, Cambridge Day

MORGAN

“This is a thriller haphazardly disguised as sci-fi, all leading to the same boilerplate pseudo-philosophical revelation that humans’ god complex can only bring ruin.” – Sam Cohen, Substream Magazine

“MORGAN is the flip side of EX MACHINA… making it part of a lively debate rather than the “ripoff” or “clone” that some critics will inevitably claim.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

THE HOLLARS

“Even if Krasinski’s skills as a filmmaker need honing, chutzpah could have taken him, and his film, someplace interesting.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“This would be a good date movie for audience members too wrapped up in their dates to pay attention to what’s on the screen. For anyone else… well, maybe once it’s on cable. Or, more likely, not.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“THE HOLLARS deals in misplaced things—misplaced drama, misplaced comedy, misplaced farce, and even misplaced Anna Kendrick. It’s a crushing tide of inept parts coming together, sinking the talented people with it.” – Sam Cohen, Under the Gun Review

COMPLETE UNKNOWN

“A jagged poem with broken rhythms, to be sure, something that catches you off guard and keeps you there, but at the same time a work of disconcerting potency. ” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 08/26/2016

Posted on August 26, 2016 by bofca

DON’T BREATHE

“It keeps you guessing throughout the running time, and has fun playing with the audience’s expectations.” – Deirdre Crimmins, Film Thrills

“DON’T BREATHE should be commended for being a film that tries its hardest to be different during a time when familiarity is all too common.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“A seemingly limited premise is rendered utterly riveting and tense as hell. ” – Bob Chipman, Geek.com

“Less is more, because each item on your plate is divine to the palate, assuming that uncontrollably squirming in your seat is to your taste.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“…an adrenaline rush of a film, a taut 88-minute thrill ride.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

A TALE OF LOVE AND DARKNESS

“…Portman makes bold visual choices and sticks to a personal, at times trying, aesthetic strategy. She’s a real filmmaker.” – Sean Burns, The ARTery

“This is a deceptively complex and layered film, calm and dense and fraught with unease.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

MECHANIC: RESURRECTION

“There’s little to separate MECHANIC: RESURRECTION from a dozen other Jason Statham action movies, other than the obvious lack of effort from all involved to even try and do anything different.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 08/19/2016

Posted on August 19, 2016 by bofca

KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS

“KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS is one of the year’s best films — a singular, soulful and sensational work of visual artistry and impeccable storytelling.” – Greg Vellante, Edge Boston

“To say that I enjoyed KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS would be a categorical understatement. The film’s visuals, storytelling, and characters made it a lovely and occasionally tense world to visit.” – Deirdre Crimmins, Cinematic Essential

“This very well might end up being the best animated film 2016 has to offer based on the artistry alone, and to some, one of the best the cinematic year has to offer, period.” – Allyson Johnson, The Mary Sue

“…a tale of monsters and heroes, swords and sorcery, legends brought to vivid life with a surplus of heart, where reckoning with grief is a more daunting feat than slaying a kraken.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“Even in a year that has seen some creative and entertaining animated films, KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS would be a standout.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“Is it as good as previous high water mark PARANORMAN? Well, no, but few things are.” – Bob Chipman, Geek.com

BEN-HUR

“In this age of farcically demagogic presidential candidates and Bernie or Busters, a tale of irrationally driven zealots and the calmer voices that seek to contain them ought to resonate; it’s a feat in itself that the film misses that mark, its morale overshadowed by action-oriented set pieces and drowned in sentimental malarky that’s even more mawkish than in the 1959 version of the story.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“And just how fast is Charlton Heston, star of the classic – and definitive – 1959 version of the story spinning in his grave?” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“If you want to know why this new BEN-HUR is dead on arrival here’s the answer in a nutshell: Hollywood no longer knows how to do period epics.” – Daniel Kimmel, North Shore Movies

WAR DOGS

“…for a true story, it also feels terribly formulaic, especially when it comes to the character dynamics.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“By treating this is as a caper movie, “War Dogs” provides the requisite action and laughs. Yet it glosses over the actual impact of our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan…” – Daniel Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“WAR DOGS is a movie about making money during times of war, but it never feels as if there’s a threat to anyone.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

LO AND BEHOLD, REVERIES OF THE CONNECTED WORLD

“…perhaps the biggest question left for the viewers to dwell on is: Will our dreams ever stop?” – Greg Vellante, Edge Boston

“You didn’t expect a Werner Herzog documentary about the significance of the internet in our daily lives, and how it might alter our future, to fall in the ballpark of “cheerful,” did you?” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 08/12/2016

Posted on August 12, 2016 by bofca

PETE’S DRAGON

“It’s one thing for the movie to acknowledge Elliot as a character, and another thing entirely for the movie to acknowledge Elliot as a living, breathing entity of empathetic depth.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“… a breath of fresh air in a summer where updates to franchises intended for children and teenagers are all glum, ironic, violent, self-aggrandizing and ultimately hollow.” – Kristofer Jenson, C-Ville Weekly

“A reimagining of the same studio’s 1977 live-action/animation hybrid, Disney breathes excellent new life into this story in all the right ways—beginning with, of course, the dragon.” – Greg Vellante, Forces of Geek

“Tender, warmhearted and, most importantly, earnest to its core, PETE’S DRAGON hearkens back to old adventure stories, an E.T. for today’s generation of kids that inspires wonder and the want for exploration.” – Allyson Johnson, Cambridge Day

SAUSAGE PARTY

“Most of the time, I sat in disbelief at how they got away with this stuff — but I’m so glad they did.” – Greg Vellante, Edge Boston

“Just when you think this surreal world can’t surprise you any longer, it comes up with something else that may make you gasp or wince but will most likely make you laugh.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“SAUSAGE PARTY is a nasty, crass, and unique movie that only Rogen and Goldberg could concoct.” – Max Covill, Film School Rejects

“Bottom line: This movie is piss your pants funny, and not just because I almost laughed hard enough to do that, because it’s the kind of humor where pissing your pants would actually be the punchline.” – Bob Chipman, Movie Bob

“Respect for other people and their beliefs is something that we shouldn’t have to talk about as adults.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS

“…like ED WOOD (1994), it’s a movie in which love of art and kindness of heart triumphs over lack of talent.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“Nicholas Martin’s script prompts us to cringe at her, rather than laugh with her.” – Allyson Johnson, Cambridge Day

“Streep, Frears, and company have mounted a tender and revealing spectacle onstage and off, at Carnegie Hall and behind the scenes, and finally on the imaginary stage on which we each see ourselves.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

HELL OR HIGH WATER

“Since humans from every walk of life tend to only view things from their perspective, I guess it’s normal for movies to want to tell us as viewers how to feel, think and behave.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“The themes of brotherhood and male bonding are some of the most powerful in Taylor Sheridan’s decidedly smart script.” – Michael Cox, Edge Boston

ANTHROPOID

“As an entertainment, this film is a mixed bag, but as a lesson in courage, ANTHROPOID makes its case in no uncertain terms.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

DISORDER

“From its maelstrom of violence and hyper-vigilance there emerge cunning ambiguities and questions left artfully unanswered.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

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Category Archives: Review Roundups