BOFCA MID-WEEK UPDATE 12/23/2015

Bob Chipman counts down Part I of his TOP TEN and looks back on A CHRISTMAS STORY

Andrew Crump looks at 45 YEARS, ASH VS EVIL DEAD and new Criterion releases

Joyce Kulhawik reviews NATASHA and PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812

Spoilerpiece Theatre talks STAR WARS: EPISODE VII – THE FORCE AWAKENS

Sean Burns catches up on YOUTH

Kilian Melloy on SON OF SAUL

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 12/18/2015

Star-Wars-Force-AwakensSTAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS

“The battle scenes had me cheering, the story is layered and leaves enough dark corners to make us wonder what secrets various characters hold, but not so complicated that it takes itself too seriously or pulls us out of the simple pleasures that STAR WARS at its core has always held.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

“With STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, Abrams accomplishes the herculean feat of transitioning George Lucas’s original STAR WARS films into a new series, while still making his movie feel like a part of the same cinematic universe.” – Evan Crean, Star Pulse

“THE FORCE AWAKENS is a fine movie that fans of the original trilogy will almost certainly fall in love with, but it’s a typical sci-fi movie that should have been more than what it actually is.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“After a Marvel film, I’m usually groaning about their tedious setup for future films. After STAR WARS, however, these groans were replaced with glee. I can’t wait to see what comes next.” – Greg Vellante, Sound & Picture

“…sadly reeks far too often of deja vu and reboot infection by returning to the well of past glory in its narrative theme, storyline and perhaps a tad too many knowing references to memorable moments from the past films.” – Tim Estiloz, Boston Examiner

“This is the cinema of pre-built parts. If it’s filmmaking, then assembling a LEGO set is architecture.” – Jake Mulligan, Dig Boston

“…no need to fret about spoilers, because this is déjà vu all over again.” – Sean Burns, North Shore Movies

“Turns out, it is possible to go home again.” – Brett Michel, The Improper Bostonian

untitled-article-1436980070SISTERS

” …it’s a movie that lets Gen Xers indulge in their wild youth while reminding them that time has marched on.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

BOFCA MID-WEEK ROUNDUP 12/16/2015

STAR WARS – EPISODE VII: THE FORCE AWAKENS REVIEWS FROM BOFCA:
Bob Chipman
Evan Crean
Joyce Kulhawik
Kilian Melloy

Monica Castillo reports on her first trip back to Cuba

Jared Bowen catches up with THE DANISH GIRL and more

Spoilerpiece Theatre goes into YOUTH, CHI-RAQ, ROOM and LEGEND

Bob Chipman talks SUPER SMASH BROS and STAR WARS on Morning News

Andrew Crump reviews ASH VS EVIL DEAD, BROOKLYN NINE-NINE, BOY AND THE WORLD and JESSICA JONES and rates the Top 15 TV Shows of 2015

Joyce Kulhawik looks at BUYER & CELLAR

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 12/11/2015

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IN THE HEART OF THE SEA

“There’s no sense of direction here—as though Howard couldn’t figure out which movie he wanted to make, so he decided to make them all.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“We get it, the pen is mightier than the harpoon.” – Sam Cohen, Under the Gun Review

“It’s possible that IN THE HEART OF THE SEA will find lasting acclaim rather than fading pretty promptly into obscurity, but I’d wager neither hardtack nor a day’s rum on it.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“Not only does this film’s “demon” look like the digital creation it is, but almost everything on land and sea looks like it was shot against a blue screen nearly 60 years ago.” – Brett Michel, The Improper Bostonian

“IN THE HEART OF THE SEA is so full of unnecessary and unconvincing green-screen work I wouldn’t be surprised if most of the actors shot their scenes on a soundstage in Burbank.” – Sean Burns, Movie Mezzanine

youth-filmYOUTH

“Much as THE GREAT BEAUTY positioned itself as a sorta-sequel to LA DOLCE VITA, for YOUTH Sorrentino borrows the setting from Fellini’s 8½ and shares The Maestro’s penchant for grotesques.” – Sean Burns, The Artery

“YOUTH is a free form, plotless effort, much like Sorrentino’s 2013 Best Foreign Language Film winner THE GREAT BEAUTY. But that film had fire where YOUTH has coals.” – Andy Crump, Birth.Movies.Death.

“…a complicated, messy affair at times, but there’s always beauty to be found.” – Greg Vellante, Sound & Picture

Francois Truffaut and Alfred HitchcockHITCHCOCK/TRUFFAUT

“Directed and co-written by Kent Jones this documentary explores one of the most illuminating conversations in the history of film.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

 

 

 

2015 BOFCA Awards

THE 2015 BOSTON ONLINE FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION AWARDS

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD poster

BEST PICTURE: MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

George Miller, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD director

BEST DIRECTOR: George Miller, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

Michael B. Jordan in CREED

BEST ACTOR: Michael B. Jordan, CREED

Saoirse Ronan in BROOKLYN

BEST ACTRESS: Saoirse Ronan, BROOKLYN

Sylvester Stallone in CREED

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Sylvester Stallone, CREED

Kristen Stewart in CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Kristen Stewart, CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA

SPOTLIGHT

BEST SCREENPLAY: Tom McCarthy & Josh Singer, SPOTLIGHT

SON OF SAUL

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: SON OF SAUL

AMY

BEST DOCUMENTARY: AMY

INSIDE OUT

BEST ANIMATED FILM: INSIDE OUT

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: John Seale, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

BEST EDITING: Margaret Sixel, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: Junkie XL, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

SPOTLIGHT

BEST ENSEMBLE: SPOTLIGHT

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

THE TEN BEST FILMS OF THE YEAR:

1. MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

2. CREED

3. BROOKLYN

4. CAROL

5. SPOTLIGHT

6. CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA

7. BRIDGE OF SPIES

8. THE MARTIAN

9. ANOMALISA

10. TANGERINE