BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP 1/24/14

I, FRANKENSTEINIFRANKEN

“I, FRANKENSTEIN” isn’t a masterpiece, but it is a fast-paced and slickly made film that holds your attention. At this time of year, when genre pictures are released to compete with the Oscar contenders from the previous year, that’s a very good thing indeed.” – Daniel Kimmel, Scifi Movie Page

“Not even good enough at being exactly what it is.” – Bob Chipman, Escapist

 

 

GIMME SHELTERGIMMESHELTER

“The problem is that practice and execution live several blocks away from each other, and GIMME SHELTER only makes it about halfway between the two.” – Andrew Crump, Go-See-Talk

 

BOFCA REPERTORY MINI-CAST #8

BLACULA

BLACULA (1972) Showing monday January 27 at The Brattle, part of the “Dead of Winter: Bloodsucking Freaks” repertory series.

BOFCA’s Steve Head, Brett Michel and Bob Chipman brave the January doldrums to bring you a fun-size sampling Boston-area movie events for the remainder of Holiday Recuperation Month. Check it out HERE:

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP 1/17

JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUITJACKRYAN

“Probably won’t set the world on fire, but for early-year rebooting entertainment, it could be a lot worse.” – Andrew Crump, Go-See-Talk

“Even as escapism, it’s deficient: So what if the hero saves us from the financial depredations of the Russkies? It’s Wall Street that just about sank us in 2008.” – Kilian Melloy, EDGE

“Has no idea what it wants to be and settles for boring and pointless.” – Bob Chipman, Escapist 

 

RIDEALONGRIDE ALONG

“Kevin Hart is a movie star, but no movie has yet found a way to let him play anyone other than Kevin Hart.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE

 

 

THE INVISIBLE WOMANla_ca_1025_the_invisible_woman

“The eternal story of wanting what you’re not supposed to have, grasping at something that might bring everything down round you, and being someone in private quite different from your public persona. That’s a state of affairs one need not live in Victorian times to appreciate.” – Kilian Melloy, EDGE

“Instead of a contemporary view of 19th century social graces or an indictment of cultural mores, we get lots of grimacing and heavy breathing and dead babies. Such is life.” – David Riedel, Santa Fe Reporter

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP 12/27

THE WOLF OF WALL STREETWOLFWALL

“The film isn’t engaging with the dark soul of a man, it’s a work of societal criticism, disguised as a character piece.” – Jake Mulligan, Movie Mezzanine

“Eventually the movie’s gargantuan three-hour running-time becomes part of the joke. The vulgarity feels heroic.” – Sean Burns, Technology Tell

“It does for stockbrokers what GOODFELLAS did for mobsters.” – Daniel Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“Most shamefully of all, it’s also a total blast, though you’ll probably want to take a shower afterward.” – Andrew Crump, Go-See-Talk

“About as pure cinema as a movie can get.” – David Riedel, Santa Fe Reporter

“Scorsese puts us there, right in the filthy-rich middle of it. I understood the lure, the addiction, the sheer adrenaline rush and ride.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

“The cast is so game for whatever [Scorsese] plunges them into, it’s hard not to get a contact high.” – Bob Chipman, Escapist

 

WALTERMITTYTHE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY

“The brand name-dropping is so gratuitous that when the movie appears on television, the commercials will already be in place.” – Daniel Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“it almost seems like a self-aware joke that never fully pays off.” – Bob Chipman, Escapist

“Trudges along – amiable, lovingly photographed by Stuart Dryburgh, and utterly forgettable.” – Kilian Melloy, Kal’s Movie Blog

“More like The Secret Life of Walter Shitty. THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY holds you in contempt, so why not make a lame joke at its expense?” – David Riedel, Santa Fe Reporter

 

HERHER

“The film’s critical fans–seem to think he’s breaking new ground. He’s not, and the resulting film is more disappointing than the hype surrounding it lets on.” – Daniel Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“A wholly unique work that’s peppered with humor but is more meaningfully shaped through its examination of human relationships in a culture grown overly reliant on precious gadgetry.” – Andrew Crump, Go-See-Talk

“A surprisingly sweet, melancholy, and touching meditation on how we manage relationships.” – David Riedel, C-Ville

 

GRUDGEMATCHGRUDGE MATCH

“This ludicrous movie turns out to much better than anyone might have expected.” – Daniel Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“It’s ROCKY versus RAGING BULL by way of an anti-buddy movie formula. The genius fizzles there, and the adequate takes over, but that doesn’t mean there’s no fun to be had.” – Kilian Melloy, EDGE

BOFCA 2013 YEAR-END TOP-TEN PODCAST

2013PODCAST

Just in time for The Holidays, a big chunk of the Boston Online Film Critics Association sits down to hash-out the recent BOFCA Awards and Top Ten list:

Listen HERE.