2015

Posted on September 4, 2015 by bofca

THE TRANSPORTER: REFUELED

“It’s easy to see why Jason Statham has no interest in doing anymore of these.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“It’s the cotton candy of action films. It’s fun while you’re enjoying it, but not something that you’ll remember” – Daniel Kimmel, North Shore Movies

GRANDMA

“Tomlin’s playing the Billy Bob Thornton role here, as a tough-talking, take-no-prisoners sort on a journey through her checkered past asking for money on her own terms.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“A gripping reminder that accessing abortion is a problem predominantly faced by people with low incomes or few means to travel to a clinic that might be hundreds of miles away.” – Monica Castillo, Bitch Media

A WALK IN THE WOODS

“Broad, sitcommy and would by all rights probably be unwatchable if it didn’t happen to star Robert Redford and Nick Nolte.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 08/28/2015

Posted on August 28, 2015 by bofca

WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS

“WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS could have benefited from focusing on the relationships at play as well as actually attempting to create some type of friction throughout the film.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“Like the keystrokes of an electronic musician filled with self-importance and naivety, WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS is a track sampled from so many other artists it ends up being a complete tonal misfire.” – Sam Cohen, Under the Gun Review

NO ESCAPE

“There’s something begrudgingly spectacular about the film’s commitment to nastiness. It’s mean, ugly button-pushing all-around – not even bothering to invent a fictional country nor to give any reason for the coup.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“In the end, NO ESCAPE fails because the people behind it don’t know how to make a film that can captivate an audience.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“American Nuclear Family Exceptionalism is the fantasy on offer here, and everything else — thin plotting and cardboard characters included — function only in support of that wishful thinking.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

DIGGING FOR FIRE

“…DIGGING FOR FIRE is so vapid I can only feel pity for the people who find it interesting.” – David Riedel, Santa Fe Reporter

“…the beats here aren’t written, they’re riffed.” – Jake Mulligan, Dig Boston

“DIGGING FOR FIRE is the kind of film where nobody learns anything, and where that lack of learning is supposed to feel conclusive.” – Andy Crump, Movie Mezzanine

LEARNING TO DRIVE

“The film focuses on the dramatic content of everyday situations…” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“LEARNING TO DRIVE fails to realize what the more meaningful story is within the film.” – Deirdre Crimmins, Cinematic Essential

Z FOR ZACHARIAH

“This is the sort of fiction that makes you look at real life through a slightly different filter: One that shows the beast lurking just under civility’s placid surface.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 08/21/2015

Posted on August 21, 2015 by bofca

AMERICAN ULTRA

“AMERICAN ULTRA is a bloody, aggressive, fast and funny rampage through the streets of an unassuming small town unaware of anything that’s going on around them.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“You could, in theory, call this a reinvention. But you could also call it recycling.” – Jake Mulligan, Edge Boston

“…all Nourizadeh has done here is present us with a gorily refreshing Popsicle that wants to have its joint and take a drag off it, too.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

HITMAN: AGENT 47

“HITMAN: AGENT 47 is a completely forgettable movie complete with completely forgettable actors portraying completely forgettable characters.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“The movie plods along with the usual inane gunplay and explosions, offering some pretty scenery but not much else to hold your interest.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

MISTRESS AMERICA

“Depending on your mood and sensibility you’ll find this either effervescent or annoying as hell.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“…what the film anchors itself to is the genuine sisterly affection that grows between the two stepsisters-to-be.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“I couldn’t stop watching, laughing, and lapping up the fizzy promise of life channeled by this crazy dreamer.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

CALL ME LUCKY

“…at times a bit hectic and overstuffed, but despite the clutter it’s an awesome ride that’s as likely to draw tears as laughter.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“…a journey of healing and advocacy, about coming to terms with a horror almost impossible to imagine, and then trying to take all that pain and turn it into something positive.” – Sean Burns, Movie Mezzanine

DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL

“For an industry that can barely manage to put women in leading roles, THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL casts a sexually brash 15-year-old as antihero, and succeeds.” – Monica Castillo, Paste Magazine

KAHLIL GIBRAN’S THE PROPHET

“No matter how beautiful the film might be, it will be a tough sell for American audiences.” – Max Covill, Movie Mezzanine

“Gibran’s words are just as affecting to the ear as to the eye, but there’s very little substance present on the screen to properly weigh them.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 08/14/2015

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

Boston Online Film Critics Association

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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