BOFCA MIDWEEK ROUNDUP 3/11/2015

Joyce Kulhawik weighed in on the recent Oscars’ Best Actress prospects

Spoilerpiece Theatre focuses on CHAPPIE and more

Monica Castillo looks at SXSW, the TOMORROWLAND trailer, EMPIRE, the original CINDERELLA and SCANDAL

Andy Crump looks at THE MAFIA ONLY KILLS IN SUMMER

Bob Chipman reviews AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D’s return to TV

Jake Mulligan on THE IRON MINISTRY

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 03/06/2015

chappie_a

CHAPPIE

“…a welcome addition to the long and rich history of the robot in science fiction films.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“A smoldering dumpster fire of second-hand elements from better movies…” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“How far from a source that inspires a filmmaker should  he keep if he wants to avoid repeating someone else’s stories?” – Monica Castillo, International Business Times

“There’s nothing spectacular about CHAPPIE, but it is a stable film about instability when greed and selfishness get in the way of doing the right thing.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“…the robot works, and so, too, does Blomkamp’s movie.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

 

UnfinishedUNFINISHED BUSINESS

“…the laughs lack punch, and the social messages are muddled at best.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“You haven’t lived until you’ve heard Tom Wilkinson wax poetic about wheelbarrowing.” – Andy Crump, Movie Mezzanine

“Instead of trying to shock and mine laughs from the audience through raunch, director Ken Scott’s newest is so bored in trying to tell a story that it lulls you to sleep.” – Sam Cohen, Under the Gun Review

 

Queen__CountryQUEEN AND COUNTRY

“Such dreary trips down somebody else’s memory lane would be almost bearable if the film left you with a sense that it was leading you somewhere, but it doesn’t.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

“Boorman’s inclination toward jokery is one of the film’s unifying elements.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“This film is laugh-out-loud funny, but its sadness sneaks up on you. Even the minor wars—if there is such a thing—are ultimately hell.” – David Riedel, Santa Fe Reporter

 

wild_tales_1WILD TALES

“You don’t have to read up on Argentina’s history of systemic corruption to identify with these hapless souls pushed past their breaking points by the effrontery of the rich and privileged, or the fatalistic feeling that we’re all playing a rigged game. ” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

 

24162B3300000578-0-image-m-33_1418723979821THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL

“Watching the film you just want to relax and settle back. It’s the cinematic equivalent of a warm bath.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“While I don’t believe THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL will win over too many new fans, I do believe that it will entertain the people who enjoyed the original.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“This isn’t a GREAT film, and this cast and its characters with all the tropes of their talent & experience deserve a GREAT film. For now, I’ll settle for this trifle, and its jubilant Bollywood ending.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

 

FH-0629KIDNAPPING MR. HEINEKEN 

“Once the fault lines between the characters start to show, there’s little suspense about where the shattered pieces of this felonious brotherhood are going to fall.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“As far as KIDNAPPING MR. HEINEKEN is concerned, there are plenty of other movies about these types of crimes that are done much better and actually have the ability to captivate their viewers. While this isn’t one of the absolute worst, it’s completely forgettable and worth skipping all together.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“This is about as nuts and bolts as a movie can get without betraying an undercurrent of apathy on behalf of its creator, though in fairness to Alfredson it’s probably pretty hard to get excited about material this boilerplate.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“There’s absolutely no tension in the movie, only a tedious time spend waiting for it to end.” – John Black, Boston Event Guide