BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 12/22/2017

 

jumanji-welcome-to-the-jungle-trailer-reaction-video-cinemacon-2017-socialJUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE

“I’m happy to have recently been able to see a movie with a coherent story and multiple character arcs that match up well.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

 

 

 

the-greatest-showman-hugh-jackman-slice-600x200THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

“Gracey wants us to see THE GREATEST SHOWMAN for the show. That’s certainly possible. It’s equally as impossible to watch the film without feeling uncomfortable knowing what he’s left out of the picture.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazin

“Here’s the long and short of it: If you gave up on Jackman as a musical star after the horrible misjudged, though ambitious, film version of LES MISERABLES, give him another chance. After all, America is the land of second acts.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“Jackman — a performer whose charms are lost on me — speak-sings his way through most of them, while the sparsely populated dance sequences and chintzy sets reek of amateur hour.” – Sean Burns, The ARTery

“…viewers may find themselves dreading the next musical number, with an array of undistinguished songs that Jackman and company try to sell to no avail.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“Of course, some people will have fun with what they get, but the movie itself probably would have been better off not being a musical and doing a better job of building a more unique story.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

 

 

Downsizing-Matt-Damon-Kristen-Wiig-620x360DOWNSIZING

“While it seems like DOWNSIZING is an easy film to dunk on, it remains a fascinating object in 2017, a year in which many filmmakers ventured to understand lifestyles and cultures that are not their own.” – Sam Cohen, Substream Magazine

“A film that thinks big while keying in on the smaller but grander moments in life, DOWNSIZING is messy, inconsistent and noisy in its many messages, but there’s something refreshingly heartfelt about it all.” – Allyson Johnson, The Young Folks

“The film weaves a sprawling and somewhat lopsided net into which to herd all its notions, but when it at long last draws up into a recognizable narrative shape it’s sort of impressive — a sci-fi tinged drama striving for a level of low-key affect and maturity of genre on par with SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK or HER.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“…a science-fiction comedy that goes off in so many directions that it ends up being pointless.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“Payne’s early, acidic satires like CITIZEN RUTH and ELECTION used to cut through this exact sort of self-congratulatory, limousine liberal BS.” – Sean Burns, The ARTery

 

913CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

“So infrequently does a film as purposefully languid as this arouse such urgency in its audience.” – Allyson Johnson, Cambridge Day

“It’s an awfully nice movie, maybe even too nice?” – Sean Burns, The ARTery

 

 

 

margot-robbie-i-tonya-harding-c653dea4-a789-4015-a146-0b7b363b1d6bI, TONYA

“Make no mistake, this is a film that will be as polarizing as it is fascinating, and on many levels, immensely entertaining to watch, thanks in large part to the performances of Margot Robbie and Allison Janney.” – Tim Estiloz, El Mundo Boston

“…the whole movie feels at odds with itself, chiding the audience for disrespecting Harding’s underprivileged background while at the same time chock full of sight gags sniggering at poor people.” – Sean Burns, The ARTery

 

 

Pitch Perfect 3 - Official Trailer [HD] (screen grab)
CR: Universal PicturesPITCH PERFECT 3

“This is a movie that wants you to laugh and enjoy the music, not engage in analysis.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“Call it aca-awful, aca-trocious, ap-aca-lyptic or aca-palling. Whatever cute play on words you settle on to describe its failings, make sure to call it a major disappointment, too.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

BOFCA MID-WEEK ROUNDUP 12/20/2017

Greg Vellante offer his Year End Countdown

Allyson Johnson reviews BIRDBOY: THE FORGOTTEN CHILDREN

Andrew Crump joins The Playlist’s Year-End List and talks Luke Skywalker

Spoilerpiece Theatre talks I, TONYA and STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI

Sean Burns looks at The Museum of Fine Art’s Bob Fosse Retrospective

Bob Chipman talks LAST JEDI spoilers