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

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 07/10/2015

Posted on July 10, 2015 by bofca

MINIONS

“This bubbly and colorful animation may end up convincing you that, when it comes to a sense of humor, the only difference between us and the neophytes is our ability to spot pop cultural references.” – Michael Cox, Edge Boston

“…MINIONS is enjoyable and funny and a perfect way to beat the heat. Sometimes that’s enough. Indeed, sometimes that’s more than enough.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“…just cute and clever enough to keep the wee ones entertained and the parents nodding along to an “Abbey Road” or The Who reference.” – Monica Castillo, International Business Times

“MINIONS turns out to be a fun, loose and highly active movie with a bunch of zany characters finding their way in and out of trouble throughout.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

AMY

“AMY will be considered one of the best documentaries that will be released this year at the very least.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“What’s clear is that Winehouse was the opposite of a snob—she was completely herself, a true innocent, sincerely unable to make a false move. It’s remarkable how fake everyone around her looks in comparison.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

“The end result is a film that feels more like castigation than celebration.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“As in his previous documentary, SENNA, Kapadia eschews the traditional talking heads format and layers audio interviews over a collage of archival footage. It’s a formal gambit that can feel more like a self-imposed constraint.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

THE GALLOWS

“THE GALLOWS is worthless, but that won’t stop Warner Bros. from making some kind of money off of it.” – Jaskee Hickman, CInematic Essential

“…so poorly executed you’d be well within your movie going rights to demand a full refund.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“This is what not trying looks like.” – Andy Crump, Movie Mezzanine

“It just hangs there, dead… and deadly dull.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

SELF/LESS

“…if you are alright with a messy film that finds its footing along the way, and is unconcerned with your preexisting expectations, then you will likely enjoy the mess.” Deirdre Crimmins, Cinematic Essential

“If you’re looking to turn your brain off, you’ve come to the right place.” – Michael Cox, Edge Boston

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 07/03/2015

Posted on July 3, 2015 by bofca

TERMINATOR GENISYS

“GENISYS winks and nudges so much it’ll bruise your ribs.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“A pointless but not unentertaining diversion, TERMINATOR GENISYS exists for the same reason a dog licks his balls: because it can.” – Sean Burns, Movie Mezzanine

“TERMINATOR GENISYS could have been your next favorite dumb action movie, but it is far too concerned with fitting into the greater Terminator timeline and ultimately the action suffers because of it.” – Deirdre Crimmins, Cinematic Essential

“…despite Schwartzenegger’s presence, this film is a big-budget, confusing mess who’s ultimate insult is an ambiguous post-credits final scene trumpeting an unnecessary sequel to come.” – Tim Estiloz, El Mundo Boston

“TERMINATOR GENISYS may be yet another summer movie sequel, but this one turns out to have been worth the effort.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“…much more interested in cheaply calling back to its predecessors, sporting a framework indicative of the superhero genre’s increasingly huge influence on blockbusters, and setting the stage for installments to come.” – Sam Cohen, Under the Gun Review

MAGIC MIKE XXL

“While MAGIC MIKE sold a darker, cautionary tale alongside the fantasy of a buddy band of strippers, MAGIC MIKE XXL makes it all about the fun.” – Monica Castillo, International Business Times

“There’s nothing sadder than a stripper who is past their prime and in MAGIC MIKE XXL, you’re stuck with five of them.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“MAGIC MIKE XXL is eye candy for those who want to see barely dressed men simulating sex. If that’s not you, you needn’t bother.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“MAGIC MIKE XXL isn’t as good of a movie as it’s predecessor, but it’s a way better party.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

INFINITELY POLAR BEAR

“This may be based on a true story, but the film itself never once succeeds in evoking real experience.” – Jake Mulligan, Edge Boston

“…nothing’s ever quite so black-and-white in INFINITELY POLAR BEAR, which treats issues of race, mental illness and family dysfunction with nuance.” – Brett Michel, The Improper Bostonian

MANGLEHORN

“Slyly constructed as a shrine to its star, MANGLEHORN is peppered with shoutouts to Pacino’s filmography.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

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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