BOFCA REVIEW ROUNDUP: 2/8

SIDE EFFECTSSide Effects  

“The picture is more about carnal cinematic pleasures than it is about deconstructing America’s drug habit. Yes, drugs are an integral part of the text, and of the subtext — but they’re also the MacGuffin.” – Jake Mulligan, Charleston City Paper

“After a promising setup, Soderbergh abruptly abandons the timely Big Pharma subject matter and settles into the well-worn rut of a routine Reagan-era sex thriller.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly

“SIDE EFFECTS does stand out as a solid entry in Soderbergh’s filmography, and a serviceable goodbye. But it’s not the grand finale he, and his viewers, deserved.” – Andrew Crump, A Constant Visual Feast

“We stick around to see how it all works out, and admire the cleverness of the plot, but we have nothing emotionally invested in the outcome. There’s no sense of horror or of satisfaction as the various revelations occur.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“SIDE EFFECTS transitions from a thoughtful drama about modern depression into a noir mystery about malevolent lesbians. It’s very likely that Soderbergh did not intend to make an anti-gay film, but, at least to this viewer, he most certainly did just that.” – Inkoo Kang, Bitch Magazine

“Although the tale keeps your attention, there are few surprises and the tension never quite builds to a boil.” – Evan Crean, Starpulse

“I was a tad underwhelmed at how one of our most interesting contemporary directors chose to say farewell to the game.” – Greg Vellante, The Eagle Tribune

 

IDENTITY THIEFIdentity Thief

“It may be too soon to call IDENTITY THIEF the worst film of the year, but there’s no doubt that it will be a contender. From its absurd opening to its sappy close, a complete catastrophe.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies 

 

56 UP 56 Up

“In short, the difference between age 49 and age 56 doesn’t have the impact as the chasm between other ages experienced in the series. These folks have settled into life.” – Norm Schrager, Meet In The Lobby

“The result, repeating itself again and again, gives the sense of a movie that’s in an awful hurry, yet still takes forever to get anywhere.” – Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly