2015

Posted on August 14, 2015 by bofca

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

“The audience needs no prior knowledge of the original television show to enjoy Ritchie’s snippy and engaging spy flick.” – Deirdre Crimmins, Cinematic Essential

“[They] got it exactly right, introducing the characters to moviegoers who may have never heard of them while not insulting the memories of those who have.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“The film stars Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer as Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin, two slick superspies who have reduced the Cold War to a manhood measuring contest…” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“Like the TV series, the tone is light but never entirely loses a sense of deadly seriousness.” – Tim Estiloz, El Mundo Boston

“Bickering about fashion in between slinky car chases and riotously funny spying maneuvers, Cavill and Hammer may actually have more chemistry with each other than anyone else.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON

“The movie is a straightforward biopic, full of dramatic confrontations, off-the-rails scenarios and takes certain artistic license to follow [N.W.A.] through their different careers.” – Monica Castillo, International Business Times

“It’s an epic, all right, but one that’s not nearly as cohesive as the album it’s named after.” – Jake Mulligan, Edge Boston

“…when STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON the movie revolves around the conception and birth of STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON the album, it benefits enormously from the reduction in scope.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“…STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON is a cinematic success.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“The film is enormous fun to watch – full of electrifying numbers and gigantic, bold-stroke storytelling, teetering on melodrama and providing all the soapy satisfactions one could possibly ask for from an unabashedly old-fashioned MGM picture.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

COP CAR

“…the kind of film that changes gears in the last act; perfectly capturing the adventurous nature of childhood in the beginning and then diverging into a generically consequential thriller in the end.” – Sam Cohen, Under the Gun Review

“…the movie, like the car itself, kind of just idles on the side of the road for the remainder of the running time.” – Sean Burns, Movie Mezzanine

“It doesn’t matter if the shot misses its mark by a bit. You still didn’t see it coming.” – Jake Mulligan, Dig Boston

LISTEN TO ME MARLON

“…the film stands as a worthy tribute to a monumental talent, reminding us how much we had, how much was squandered, and how much was lost.” – Sean Burns, Movie Mezzanine

BEST OF ENEMIES

“…the film endorses neither poor sportsmanship nor celebrity opprobrium. In its fashion, it’s actually tragic.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“Kind of a missed opportunity, really, but it’s hard to assign demerits because it’s so fun to watch.” – David Riedel, Santa Fe Reporter

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 08/07/2015

Posted on August 7, 2015 by bofca

FANTASTIC FOUR

“…a mutant born out of haphazard screenwriting, poor direction and rushed special effects.” – Monica Castillo, International Business Times

“FANTASTIC FOUR is unimaginative and indiscernible from every other blow-’em-up blockbuster and does nothing to make you think otherwise.” – Sam Cohen, Substream Magazine

“Such a tragic disaster that there ought to be stuffed animals and votive candles piled up in front the theatre.” – Bob Chipman, Moviebob

“What’s the worst thing you can say about a superhero movie? It’s dull. THE FANTASTIC FOUR is deadly dull.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“FANTASTIC FOUR is not unwatchable the first time around, but I do think it would be nearly impossible to sit through it again.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“…Trank tries to reinvent the wheel and comes up with a round ponderous unimpressive rock.” – Tim Estiloz, Boston Examiner

“Calling it “bad” does badness a disservice. The film exists to exist, with no ulterior motive beyond waging a property rights war.” – Andy Crump, A Constant Visual Feast

THE END OF THE TOUR

“…Ponsoldt has a soft touch, so even when we’re in the actors’ faces, we’re always just out of reach.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“What we have here is two very smart guys talking around each other for a couple of hours, each trying to negotiate their roles in what’s essentially a transactional relationship. ” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

RICKI AND THE FLASH

“RICKI AND THE FLASH fails even though it had all of the elements to find success.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“[Jonathan] Demme doesn’t take sides here – there are no heroes and no villains in this film – just a bunch of flawed, decent people trying their best to muddle through a painful situation.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“[Jonathan Demme] cuts deeper into his characters with establishing shots than most filmmakers do with whole scenes.” – Jake Mulligan, Dig Boston

“Didn’t buy it, despite the cast and the efforts of director Jonathan Demme who must have left some of his mojo with PHILADELPHIA and THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

SHAUN THE SHEEP

“…a movie with as much imagination, smarts, charm and tenderness as any gargantuan Disney affair (or worse, DreamWorks affair).” – David Riedel, Santa Fe Reporter

“SHAUN THE SHEEP is a short animated flick that kids will be able to follow and get into even though there’s no one actually speaking in any understandable language.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“People looking for family entertainment that the whole family actually can enjoy will want to put this one on their list.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

THE GIFT

“Exploring character motivation and the histories of complex relationships makes for an unexpected and absorbing film.” – Deidre Crimmins, Cinematic Essential

“Plenty ambiguous with excellent performances, subtle direction, and an ending that’s utterly disturbing.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

DARK PLACES

“The potential for excitement with no audience pay-off makes for an overall underwhelming film.” – Deirdre Crimmins, Cinematic Essential

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP 7/31/2015

Posted on July 31, 2015 by bofca

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – ROGUE NATION

“The summer movie we’ve been waiting for: filled with action, exotic locations, and enough plot twists that you simply can’t check your brain at the door.” – Daniel Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“Prince Tom is on screen, at an operatic scale yet again. None shall sleep.” – Jake Mulligan, Dig Boston

“The way Cruise and Ferguson dispatch baddies clearly stronger than them is balletic, shooting people the way Astaire and Rogers danced: cheek-to-cheek.” – Sam Cohen, Under The Gun

“For a wildly fun, mindless night out at the movies don’t miss MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: ROGUE NATION.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

“Not much of a thought in its head but impeccably crafted nonetheless and always delightful to watch.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“If nothing else, “Rogue Nation” has the sense to stick with what the “Mission: Impossible” movies do best.” – Kilian Melloy, EDGE

“Proves to be one of the year’s best blockbuster action movies thus far.” – Tim Estiloz, El Mundo Boston

“Clearly falls short of Ghost Protocol, but there is some fun to be had if you can accept the lack of depth that we’re asked to watch.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

VACATION (2015)

“Instead of relying on sight gags and absurdist humor (there’s an incest gag in the original film, people), Vacation follows a new family versed in more smarm than charm.” – Sam Cohen, Under The Gun

“Nothing in Vacation is spectacular, but you’ll most likely feel satisfied with what’s there after you’ve finished watching it.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“The original is much better. In fact, all four of the original Vacation movies – National Lampoon’s Vacation, European Vacation, Christmas Vacation and even Vegas Vacation – are better.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

A LEGO BRICKUMENTARY

“Directors Kief Davidson and Daniel Junge manage to capture the essence of what makes playing with these colorful plastic bricks so entertaining (some would say addictive) to those who do.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

PHOENIX

“A masterful melodrama that pays loving homage to cinema’s past.” – Charles Nash, EDGE

“…a German movie that is smartly and emotionally written, is beautifully acted, has a camera in the right spot with the right lighting in scene after scene and asks that the audience think for itself instead of leading it around by the dick.” – David Riedel, Santa Fe Reporter

THAT SUGAR FILM

“The sight of the filmmaker munching on a sandwich of sugar cubes and spooning up sugar from a shockingly full cup is comical, but also revolting. He makes his point.” – Kilian Melloy, EDGE

IRRATIONAL MAN

“Woody is famously averse to taking vacations, but sitting through IRRATIONAL MAN you’ll wish he’d try — just to give us one.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 07/24/2015

Posted on July 24, 2015 by bofca

SOUTHPAW

“Overall, SOUTHPAW doesn’t come close to living up to all that it could have been.” – Jaskee Hickman, The Movie Picture Show

“Fuqua, who brought out the darkness in Denzel Washington when he directed the actor toward an Oscar in TRAINING DAY, does the same with Gyllenhaal here.” – Brett Michel, The Improper Bostonian

PIXELS

“PIXELS is bad enough to make you hate the things you love, and watching it made me want to take a blowtorch to every scrap of video game memorabilia in my home.” – Bob Chipman, Movie Bob

“Extremely talented actors like Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad, Brian Cox and Jane Krakowski are wasted on two-dimensional roles that no amount of talent can fill with humor and heart.” – Michael Cox, Edge Boston

“It’s nowhere near as good as his early work, but PIXELS is a vast improvement over the number of failed movies that he’s put out over the past several years.” – Jaskee Hickman, The Movie Picture Show

PAPER TOWNS

“It’s a worthwhile one for teenagers, but adult viewers might feel they are looking at situations and revelations that have long since receded in the rear view mirror.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

THE TRIBE

“…a film of eerie silence and cool, unblinking composure. ” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“…an unfaltering look at studying the human brain’s capacity to survive at all costs.” – Sam Cohen, Under the Gun Review

“Slaboshpytskyi has made a movie that’s enhanced by its setting and sub-culture in ways that are organic rather than gimmicky (assuming you foolishly consider sign language a “gimmick”).” – Andy Crump, Cinematic Essential

DO I SOUND GAY?

“Mixed and mingled with the celebs are chats with old school friends and relatives. The sum total is amusing, but also unquestionably engaging.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“If the answer to the film’s titular query bothers you, even today, well, then you’ve got some work to do, don’t you?” – Andy Crump, Birth.Movies.Death.

HIPPOCRATES: DIARY OF A FRENCH DOCTOR

“The moral and ethical quandaries outlined here are stark and, if a little too cleanly drawn, are nonetheless reflective of the realities medical professionals face. ” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 07/17/2015

Posted on July 17, 2015 by bofca

ANT-MAN

“ANT-MAN will likely play just as well on the small screen–so to speak–but for those needing their Marvel fix between THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON and the reboot of THE FANTASTIC FOUR, it will do.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“You know, for kids.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“ANT-MAN is ultimately underwhelming even if it’s not necessarily exactly unpleasant.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“Like many latter-day Marvel flicks, this one is steeped in plot, but screenwriters Adam McKay and Rudd keep the jokes flying whenever the franchise wheels start spinning.” – David Riedel, Santa Fe Reporter

TRAINWRECK

“Schumer’s confidence in this movie and her stand-up is infectious.” – Monica Castillo, International Business Times

“…if Amy Schumer making sex jokes could be inserted into every run-of-the-mill comedy today, that’d be great.” – Sam Cohen, Under the Gun Review

“The results are standardized to the point of frustration, but don’t take this as a sign you shouldn’t see TRAINWRECK; it’s often hysterical, it’s wonderfully acted, and if you like Schumer there’s no reason not to support her work.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“A romantic comedy that is as sweet as it is sidesplitting should not be so difficult to find. TRAINWRECK fits the bill, and does so with little effort and a lot of maturity.” – Deirdre Crimmins, Cinematic Essential

“As the leader of this talented circus, the blame for not getting enough actual laughs in the film falls squarely at Apatow’s feet.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

TANGERINE

“…Baker isn’t rejecting that Hollywood tradition—he’s reclaiming it.” – Jake Mulligan, Dig Boston

“…a lewd, madcap romp tempered with unexpected moments of sweetness and grace.” – Sean Burns, The ARTery

“Baker treats L.A. like a living, breathing character as much as a backdrop for his study of the sex work industry, told from ground-level perspectives.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

MR. HOLMES

“MR. HOLMES only has one significant issue that prevents it from being an entertaining drama about the legendary investigator in his later years.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“The films works well enough as a drama, in large part because it downplays the mythology of Sherlock Holmes and approaches the character as a real person struggling to shed the outlandish image with which he’s been burdened by fictionalized accounts of the cases he’s solved.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

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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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BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP 7/31/2015

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 07/24/2015

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 07/17/2015