Members of the Boston Online Film Critics Association unite to recap the group’s top ten films of the year, overlooked gems and (finally!) get to talk STAR WARS. Happy New Year!
THE 2015 BOSTON ONLINE FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION AWARDS
BEST PICTURE: MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
BEST DIRECTOR: George Miller, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
BEST ACTOR: Michael B. Jordan, CREED
BEST ACTRESS: Saoirse Ronan, BROOKLYN
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Sylvester Stallone, CREED
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Kristen Stewart, CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA
BEST SCREENPLAY: Tom McCarthy & Josh Singer, SPOTLIGHT
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: SON OF SAUL
BEST DOCUMENTARY: AMY
BEST ANIMATED FILM: INSIDE OUT
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: John Seale, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
BEST EDITING: Margaret Sixel, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: Junkie XL, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
BEST ENSEMBLE: SPOTLIGHT
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
Max Covill on Guillermo del Toro
Monica Castillo joins Indiewire’s discussion of Origin Stories
Spoilerpiece Theatre goes over BRIDGE OF SPIES, CRIMSON PEAK, STEVE JOBS and GOOSEBUMPS
Deirdre Crimmins reviews SHUT-IN from Toronto After Dark
Bob Chipman talks THE NINJA GAIDEN ANIME and Marvel vs Auteur Theory
Jake Mulligan reviews YAKUZA APOCALYPSE and JUNUN
Derek Deskins catches up with VICTORIA
Andrew Crump on BACK TO THE FUTURE, BROOKLYN NINE-NINE, BEASTS OF NO NATION and TALES OF HALLOWEEN
Jaskee Hickman reviews THE EXPERIMENTER
Sean Burns reviews TRASH
Joyce Kulhawik looks at a new production of WEST SIDE STORY
Jared Bowen talks MARTIAN science
STEVE JOBS
“If it were possible to do in writing, I’d seriously consider giving Danny Boyle and Aaron Sorkin a standing ovation right now for their work on STEVE JOBS.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential
“There’s gotta be more to his story than just magazines and daddy issues.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality
“At least Boyle, who cannot at all grasp how to frame a shot or tell a story without treating his viewers like imbeciles, and Sorkin knew well enough to hire great actors to play out their technobabble update on A CHRISTMAS CAROL.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine
“STEVE JOBS could be about anyone. Change the product names and the guy’s name and it’s a story of a genius jerk, and we already have CITIZEN KANE, right?” – David Riedel, Santa Fe Reporter
BRIDGE OF SPIES
“… Spielberg’s earnestness and faith in our democracy is what shows through…” – Brett Michel, The Improper Bostonian
“Tom Hanks… shines even in mediocre films, and when he gets a plum role that allows him to be an “everyman” who rises to the occasion, he’s outstanding.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies
“There are nits to be picked (heavy-handed editorial choices that clobber us with too-overt social comments dot the film), but like a bolt of silk you might rather simply pass this flick through your fingers and let it thrill you with its giddy cinephilic pleasures.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston
“BRIDGE OF SPIES becomes a source of entertainment that also produces actual tension for a film that’s relatively safe and clean.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential
CRIMSON PEAK
“Del Toro responds to fear by staring it in the face, and in CRIMSON PEAK, he encourages us to do the same.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine
“The camera knows the story it is telling and del Toro adds to his unique narrative with photography that not only compliments, but enhances.” – Greg Vellante, Sound and Picture
“For those of you looking for anything fresh, genuinely complex or more consistently scary, you may want to “beware of CRIMSON PEAK” and consider avoiding it.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential
“The film is a visual feast with just enough shocks to ensure you don’t mistake this for some well-mounted costume drama. It is the stuff of a beautifully vivid nightmare.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies
GOOSEBUMPS
“It might be a bit too intense for very young tots, especially during scenes involving a giant praying mantis and a villainous clown, but the film’s zany style always provides the film with a good-humored sense of spectacle. ” – Charlie Nash, Edge Boston
“The current cultural preoccupation with the 1990s and the Halloween season make this a perfect time to revisit the GOOSEBUMPS book series and all of the characters it birthed. ” – Deirdre Crimmins, Cinematic Essential
“…a pleasant reminder it’s best not to judge a book by its cover.” – Monica Castillo, International Business Times
BEASTS OF NO NATION
“…neither the gruesome veracity nor the outstanding craft displayed in BEASTS OF NO NATION make it any easier to endure.” – Andy Crump, Movie Mezzanine
“BEASTS OF NO NATION is here to shed light on a topic that doesn’t usually get a great deal of attention.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential
“BEASTS OF NO NATION is a good picture. It’s just a beast to get through.” – David Riedel, Santa Fe Reporter