2016

Posted on September 16, 2016 by bofca

SNOWDEN

“The weight of the film, though, is on Gordon-Levitt and Woodley and these are easily two of the best performances of the year.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“Unlike last year’s Academy Award-winner SPOTLIGHT, where the visual and narrative techniques never make you question the truth of the subject matter. SNOWDEN’s storytelling and visual style continually make it suspect.” – Michael Cox, Edge Boston

“I’m afraid it’s already safe to say that, as a film, SNOWDEN isn’t going make the contribution to the national conversation its director intended. You’ve got to admire Oliver for taking a swing, though.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“Stone is dealing in broad strokes with a complex story that might have benefited from a more refined touch; his heavy hand is felt everywhere– and I left feeling, well, handled.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

BLAIR WITCH

“Suspension of disbelief was key in enjoying the original, but now everyone knows the bag of tricks.” – Sam Cohen, Substream Magazine

“Although there isn’t much to like, simply seeing BLAIR WITCH as a huge disappointment would be a bit disingenuous from my viewpoint.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

BRIDGET JONES’ BABY

“The result is less a date night movie than one better suited for “girl’s night out.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 09/09/2016

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

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Category Archives: Review Roundups

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