Tag Archives: BOFCA

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP 9/20

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PRISONERSPRISONERS

“It’s really a tricky thriller, crossing its fingers and hoping you buy into the tricks. And too often confusing depravity for intensity.” – Norm Schrager, Meet-In-The-Lobby

“Surprise! Turns out the reason they were advertising this so much is the movie is really good!” – Bob Chipman, Escapist

“PRISONERS is cruel and unusual punishment.” – Dan Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“It pops like a kernel in a myriad ways–full of nooks and crannies, threatening & thrilling, sad & shocking, and just plain entertaining.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

 

THANKS FOR SHARINGTHANKS FOR SHARING

“…a remarkably sensitive and surprisingly romantic ensemble drama about sex addiction.” – Inkoo Kang, Village Voice

 

 

A SINGLE SHOTSINGLE SHOT

“A SINGLE SHOT was filmed in the Vancouver mountains under the gray-skied chill of encroaching winter, yet for some reason the actors sport spotty Southern accents. Maybe that’s just how they think all poor people talk.” – Sean Burns, Metro

BOFCA REPERTORY PODCAST #4

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showgirls

For your listening pleasure: Steve Head, Monica Castillo and Kristofer Jenson discuss the Brattle Theatre’s Recent Raves series (including ONLY GOD FORGIVES, KINGS OF SUMMER, and MUSEUM HOURS) and the last leg of the Harvard Film Archive‘s look at Hitchcock classics. Plus, the Coolidge Corner Theatre has a lineup of “So Bad It’s Good” titles like SHOWGIRLS, TROLL 2 and AN AMERICAN HIPPIE IN ISRAEL to welcome students back to Boston.

Listen to the whole podcast HERE

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP 9/6

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RIDDICKRIDDICK

“In terms of narrative sophistication, this is a step backwards: THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK served as a pointed, and somewhat satirical, comment on the ascendency of religion in the realm of politics; there’s none of that here.” – Kilian Melloy, EDGE Boston

“…offers the endless fun of staring intently at the screen, wondering what possible emotion, thought or even sensation the stone-faced meat-golem onscreen is attempting to convey.” – Bob Chipman, Escapist

“RIDDICK does what Riddick does best: Kill people. Killin’ ain’t your thing? It’s best to avoid RIDDICK, which earns its R rating. – David Riedel, Santa Fe Reporter

 

HELL BABYHELL BABY

“Everyone’s ready and able, infusing even the deadest scenes with an attitude that stokes a small laugh, at least.” – Norm Schrager, Meet-In-The-Lobby

“Funny on its own terms, and not just as a superior – if slightly uneven – alternative to the recklessly terrible and laughter-challenged garbage that passes as parody in the mainstream.” – Andrew Crump, Go-See-Talk

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP 8/30

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GETAWAYGETAWAY

“GETAWAY is nothing more than a horribly constructed action film with no heart, no purpose, no characters really worth caring about.” – Tim Estiloz, Examiner

“There’s not much to watch, at all.” – Bob Chipman, Escapist

“…the car chases are dull, the stunt work isn’t very interesting, and the characters would have to be fleshed out to become cardboard figures.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“You can never vibe along with the car chases, the way you can with great car chases, because you never know where the hell you are.”- Jake Mulligan, EDGE Boston

 

THE GRANDMASTERGRANDMASTER

 

“Tony Leung plays Ip with a quiet dignity, allowing the unconsummated romance that develops between him and Gong to play out without melodrama.” – Jake Mulligan, EDGE Boston

 

 

shortterm12SHORT TERM 12

“It’s a delicate yet passionate creation, modest in scope but almost overwhelming in its emotional intricacy, ambition, and resonance.” – Inkoo Kang, Village Voice

“Fortunately, viewers are not meant to feel the heavy-handedness and are cleverly spared from any long-term emotional damage with careful dialog. ” – Monica Castillo, Paste Magazine

“There’s a gentle humanism here that reminds me of early Jonathan Demme pictures. Even the most emotional scenes are punctuated by jokes, the way life is so often funny and sad at the same time.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly

 

AUSTENLANDla_ca_0416_austenland

“As a comedy, the film offers some amusing turns and touches; as a meditation on the pitfalls of romantic fantasy, it has little of note to offer, especially since this is, in some respects, less a film set in a re-creation of Austen’s books than a modern riff on the books themselves.” – Kilian Melloy, EDGE Boston

 

I DECLARE WARI DECLARE WAR

“I DECLARE WAR is a must-see for parents who want to relate to their kids … even if you should leave them at home.” – Kristofer Jenson, Dig Boston

 

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP 8/09

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ELYSIUMELYSIUM

“Few working directors out there are as effective as Blomkamp at telling a serious, yet entertaining story with a moral.” – Evan Crean, Starpulse

“…the sort of science fiction thriller some of us have been craving all summer only to see one film after another fall short. ” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“ELYSIUM is paradise– if you snooze through it; and you might.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

 

WERE THE MILLERS'WE’RE THE MILLERS

“But this film’s eagerness to please functions as a slow poison, draining THE MILLERS of its vitality by rendering its characterization uneven, its potential undeveloped, and its plot predictable and stupid.” – Inkoo Kang, Village Voice

“This has not been a great year for film comedy… WE’RE THE MILLERS sets down that same low comedy road but then something odd happens: it’s actually funny.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“Despite its by-the-numbers script and predictable story touches, there are enough funny—even unexpected—flourishes scattered throughout its 109 minutes to bring out the occasional gut laugh.” – David Riedel, C-Ville

“As comical as it is to watch these characters rebel against familial stereotypes, it’s even funnier to see how fast they fall into them.” – Evan Crean, Starpulse

“Occasionally, I am easily amused. This was definitely a guilty pleasure.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

 

PERCY JACKSON: SEA OF MONSTERSPERCY JACKSON

“Forget Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, there’s not a single character here worthy of Ron Weasley.” – Jake Mulligan, Edge

“In the meantime, it’s a special effects laden fantasy where one can actually follow the action and focus on the characters. This summer that’s quite an achievement all by itself.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, SciFi Movie Page

 

2.JPGPRINCE AVALANCHE

“Ladies aren’t cast in the best light, but this is a dude movie in the middle of Texan backwoods.” – Monica Castillo, Dig Boston

“But more than the friendship-rivalry-I-won’t-call-it-a-bromance between the two stars, AVALANCHE is about the madness that simmers below their day-to-day-grind.”- Jake Mulligan, Rushmore Kite Flying Society

 

LOVELACELOVELACE

“The whole thing is just clunky, and worse, dull.” – David Riedel, Santa Fe Reporter

“Not many movies could pull off the same plot twice, and unfortunately, LOVELACE cannot justify visiting the same scenes twice only to add a layer of brutality.”- Monica Castillo, Bitch Magazine

BLUE JASMINE Blue_Jasmine

“The movie is a near-perfect capture of a woman on the edge of a nervous breakdown without going off the deep end into a farce.”-Monica Castillo, Paste Magazine

“It’s become a cliche that writer/director Woody Allen’s work had hit the doldrums critically for a bit, and lately, everything he’s doing has been cited as “one of his best in years.” BLUE JASMINE is better than that.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices