2016

Posted on February 12, 2016 by bofca

DEADPOOL

“DEADPOOL is an inspired piece of cinema that hits on both humor and action in a way that many people would want it to.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“Much of the success in bringing it off is due to Ryan Reynolds, whose film career often seen him trapped in roles that didn’t make good use of his talents…” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“Underneath the surface-level fourth wall-breaking conceit lies a self-satisfaction that consistently gets in the way of the film saying or doing anything ‘different.'” – Sam Cohen, Under the Gun Review

ZOOLANDER 2

“…a bloated, convoluted, self-indulgent assault of tired, often deadly unfunny jokes and repetition…” – Tim Estiloz, Boston Examiner

“Depending on your threshold for inanity and slapstick you’ll either find this hilarious, or just mildly amusing.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“ZOOLANDER 2 is a movie that I don’t hate as much as I probably should since I did manage to laugh/smile a handful of times.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

HOW TO BE SINGLE

“For young women setting out on a journey to “find themselves” (whatever that means) it is good to see a movie that gives them plenty of life stories to relate to, all with different but mostly happy endings.” – Deirdre Crimmins, Cinematic Essential

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 02/05/2016

Posted on February 5, 2016 by bofca

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES

“It is goofy fun, and fans of the original will be impressed by just how much of Austen is preserved.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES is such a gallimaufry of ideas and styles and classifications that the film stands no chance of converting skeptics into believers, particularly when those skeptics are either fluent in Romero, or Austen, or both.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES suffers from poor execution in just about every way.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“there’s no ‘joke’ to be told in the movie-proper that’s any funnier than the mere fact that it actually IS a movie and not a 2 ½ minute Lonely Island skit.” – Bob Chipman, The MovieBob

HAIL, CAESAR!

“…like watching Turner Classic Movies while under the influence. ” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“HAIL, CAESAR! is one of the most ambitious films [the Coen brothers] have attempted recently and they certainly pull it off, swimmingly.” – Deirdre Crimmins, Cinematic Essential

“The movies don’t necessarily give us answers to our woes, but they always give us diversion, and that just might be answer enough.” – Andy Crump, A Constant Visual Feast

“…HAIL, CAESAR! is ultimately about the folly of searching for meaning in a cruel and indifferent universe.” – Sean Burns, The Artery

“…the Coens’ script allows the worst fears of the midcentury left and right to be literally realized.” – Jake Mulligan, Dig Boston

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 01/29/2016

Posted on January 29, 2016 by bofca

THE FINEST HOURS

“Disney has made a family-friendly movie that treats its characters with respect, but anything in the script resembling grit or rough edges has been sanded away by the Disney Machine.” – David Riedel, Salt Lake City Weekly

“What a breather in a new year marked by murkier depths than ever before.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

“…there’s something to be said for blockbusters that validate life instead of treating it as disposable.” – Andy Crump, A Constant Visual Feast

“It tells us more about heroism in real life than many a Hollywood fiction.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“… the whole thing may be a bit wobbly but it delivers on the promise of telling an untold story of stone-faced sailors overcoming insurmountable odds.” – Sam Cohen, Under the Gun Review

KUNG-FU PANDA 3

“While none of it is going to change how we look at animated films, there’s some good stuff in KUNG-FU PANDA 3 that people will be able to find value in.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“You’ll see worse animated offerings this year, and you’ll definitely see better, but you may not see many that are quite so tragically lackadaisical. ” – Andy Crump, A Constant Visual Feast

MOJAVE

“…a halfhearted attempt at giving Hollywood’s studio system what it deserves.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“One ultimately wonders how much of the movie is Monahan indulging in a bit of sardonic self-flaggelation for all his success in an industry that he doesn’t seem to respect very much.” – Sean Burns, The Artery

“Luckily, MOJAVE has so many out-of-left-field tricks that you can’t help but admire its scattered approach.” – Sam Cohen, Under the Gun Review

LADY IN THE VAN

“See it for Smith’s performance, stay for the genuine twists on a tired and old tale of friendship despite warring personalities.” – Sam Cohen, Under the Gun Review

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 01/22/2016

Posted on January 22, 2016 by bofca

DIRTY GRANDPA

“Spread the word. The worst movie of 2016 has just been released. It’s called DIRTY GRANDPA.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“It would have taken a decent sized miracle to make DIRTY GRANDPA amusing in any way.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“Too bad that amoral isn’t in right now.” – Sam Cohen, Under the Gun Review

THE 5TH WAVE

“Casting Moretz as Cassie was a smart move. Like Jennifer Lawrence in THE HUNGER GAMES films and Shailene Woodley in the DIVERGENT series, Moretz is first and foremost an actress.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“…plodding pacing and sub-par effects prevent The 5th Wave from moving beyond its middling status.” – Deirdre Crimmins, Cinematic Essential

IP MAN 3

“There’s ultimately nothing groundbreaking in IP MAN 3, but it’s a serviceable martial arts film done in a fashion that many have enjoyed for years.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

45 YEARS

“In order to watch 45 YEARS without feeling gutted by the end, you must lack the requisite guts entirely.” – Andy Crump, Birth. Movies. Death.

SON OF SAUL

“The film’s visual style only rarely opens up, and when it does it shows us glimpses of unrelenting horror: Piles of corpses, heaps of ash, leaping flames, white smoke and encroaching darkness that blot everything out.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 01/15/2016

Posted on January 15, 2016 by bofca

13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI

“Politics aside, 13 HOURS is just a dull and poorly assembled grab for ticket sales.” – Deirdre Crimmins, Cinematic Essential

“It’s the bloated and relentlessly violent brother of PEARL HARBOR, another Bay film we almost forgot about being offensive for the sake of the director’s juvenile compulsions.” – Sam Cohen, Under the Gun Review

“If you take all of the film’s political trappings away, all you have is a mediocre war movie made with a grand total of zippety-do in the craft department.” – Andy Crump, A Constant Visual Feast

“13 HOURS is not a political film, but will be treated as such by those with an agenda.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

RIDE ALONG 2

“Unfortunately, the movie shows its cards much too early, defeating the element of surprise.” – Monica Castillo, International Business Times

“RIDE ALONG 2 shocked me a little bit by maybe being better than the original.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

MUSTANG

“Ergüven doesn’t tip the outrage scale into histrionics, but she doesn’t need to. We can sense exactly how pissed off she is behind the lens.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“Whatever the outcome maybe, though, always keep that early image in mind, the one with the girls cuddled protectively around each other. Carry it with you as you leave the theater. ” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

BAND OF ROBBERS

“Ever wonder what Tom Sawyer might look like in the mold of a 20-something millennial slacker? Then this film is for you.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

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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

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