BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 12/09/2016

HT_jackie-movie-cf-161201_12x5_1600JACKIE

“Look for Portman to appear on Oscar ballots. But look for her first at the Cineplex: This movie is unquestionably Oscar bait, but it’s worthy of a place on your must-see list.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“Chilean bad-boy auteur Pablo Larrain is never as interested in the story he’s telling than he is in the stories we need to tell ourselves.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“We’ve known for some time that Natalie Portman is a fine actress, but with her portrayal of Jacqueline Kennedy she steps into the front ranks.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

 

Office-Christmas-Party-Movie-TrailerOFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY

“[It] may be disposable and ultimately forgettable, but it is welcome seasonal silliness…” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

 

things_to_comeTHINGS TO COME

“…THINGS TO COME has a stillness that lingers with you, as does Huppert’s acceptance and grace.” – Sean Burns, The Artery

 

 

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 11/25/2016

MOANA

“2016 has turned out to be quite a good year for animation, and “Moana” is a worthy addition to the honor roll.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“MOANA presents audiences with a lush cinematic world that they’ll wish they could explore for themselves, but more importantly, it pushes the “princess movie” past its traditional boundaries to portray an honest, invigorating tale of a girl’s self-actualization.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

 


MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

“Lonergan nails the gruff, emotionally constipated way that men of a certain stripe (particularly here in the Northeast) express a complex array of emotions exclusively through busting each other’s chops.” – Sean Burns, The Artery

“Lonergan is extraordinarily attuned to the way people talk and has a knack for casting just the right performers to mine both pathos and humor from his peerless dialogue.” – Brett Michel, The Improper Bostonian

 

NOCTURNAL ANIMALS

“An admirable effort by all involved, NOCTURNAL ANIMALS ends up being one of those films that’s more fun to talk about afterwards than it is to actually watch.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

 

ALLIED

“ALLIED’s innovations point to the future of cinema, but its pleasures are in the fundamentals.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“Zemeckis and screenwriter Steven Knight tread a carefully wrought path that negotiates between wartime drama, spy-thriller potboiler, and domestic fluff, while steering well clear of comedy (this is, thankfully, not a fresh spin on MR. AND MRS. SMITH).” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

 

 

  1. RULES DON’T APPLY

“…a film that’s not unwatchable, but it’s hardly the capstone of a distinguished career.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

 

 

 

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 11/18/2016

maxresdefault (33)FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM

“To its credit, the movie comes across less as an opportunity to squeeze every last dollar out of the franchise and more like Rowling has many more stories to tell in a universe she hasn’t yet finished exploring.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“These fantastic beasts inhabit a world where the sun doesn’t exist and CGI is a way of life.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“For everything that works in the film, there are two things that don’t, and those things all tie back to how laborious it must be to lay the foundation for the next four films in the series. (Yes, four.) ” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“Sometimes the magic of unadulterated and inspired storytelling is all you really need, and Rowling’s control of this craft is something fierce.” – Greg Vellante, Forces of Geek

 

Bleed-For-This-Miles-Teller-and-Aaron-EckhartBLEED FOR THIS

“This is a middleweight movie with some nice moves, but no real knockout punch.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“Because of the high level of fiction featured all throughout it, it’s impossible to seriously consider BLEED FOR THIS to be any sort of actual biography.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

 

billy-lynns-long-halftime-walk-joe-alswynBILLY LYNN’S LONG HALFTIME WALK

“It’s all as misguided as the special filming process utilized by director Ang Lee who shot this at 120 frames per second (rather than the standard 24 per second rate) which most audiences will never get to see.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

 

the-love-witchTHE LOVE WITCH

“…if THE LOVE WITCH overstays its welcome, it at least has the courtesy to be ravishing to behold.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“The film is deeply feminist and embraces camp as a means to carry deeper theoretical messages, and uses sexual magic as a metaphor for male anxiety and female empowerment.” – Kristofer Jenson, C-Ville Weekly

 

 

 

 

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 11/11/2016

7d47ec7ea66ca8c8_soyld04713332c2r2 ARRIVAL

“This is science fiction for grown-ups, ready to follow three-dimensional characters grappling with deep ideas.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“As far as spawning soulless aesthetic imitators goes, I think it’s now safe to say that THE TREE OF LIFE has done more damage to the American cinema than anything since PULP FICTION.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“By sheer stroke of timing, it’s about global fracturing, global and national cultures split by mistrust, and enmity fostered through years of intercontinental strife.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“While there are moments to ponder surely, ARRIVAL is an emotional experience, much greater than the intellectual, thoughtful experience one may expect.” – Allyson Johnson, The Young Folks

“ARRIVAL has a big budget, but it’s got the heart of a smaller, more thoughtful project; it’s more THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL than EARTH VERSUS THE FLYING SAUCERS – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“From first scene to last, the film leads you from darkness into light, on a continuous journey of life and death, where communication is key to an ever widening horizon; it’s a journey both strange and familiar; you’ll know when you’ve arrived.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

 

lovingLOVING

“LOVING is a slow burn that’s contents to experience solitude, spirituality and nature without ever relenting on the human spirit.” – Allyson Johnson, The Young Folks

“Nichols, once again, proves too timid to dig deep enough into his subject matter to mine something, anything, for us to latch onto.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

 

 

almostchristmas3ALMOST CHRISTMAS

“In the end, the filmmakers’ poor choices are highlighted in the outtakes shown during the credits, featuring some of the best one-liners and most buoyant, improvisational comedy of the movie.” – Michael Cox, Edge Boston

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 11/04/2016

DR. STRANGEdoctor-strange-3

“Through outstanding casting, splashy visuals, and some unexpected (and welcome) wit, DOCTOR STRANGE is easily the best of comic book movie of the year.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“Doesn’t this stuff ever get stale to you people?” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“Though not without its flaws, DOCTOR STRANGE turns out to be another solid addition to the Marvel library that’s able to fit comfortably with everything else they’ve had to offer so far.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“…if you enjoy these Marvel movies, the addition of magic to the MCU is just enough to add some new fizz to the formula.” – Brett Michel, The Improper Bostonian

 

hacksawridge_markrogers_d0a9525HACKSAW RIDGE

“HACKSAW RIDGE works in the same way THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST and APOCALYPTO worked, beating the crap out of the audience with a ferocious sadism that the ardent religious convictions of the filmmaker seem to be either enabling or only barely keeping at bay.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“I’m a sucker for films about good people, and Desmond Doss is one of the great ones.” – Greg Vellante, Forces Of Geek

“HACKSAW RIDGE will satisfy Garfield fans, Gibson supporters or war movie connoisseurs, but little more.” – Allyson Johnson, Cambridge Day

“Garfield gives an Oscar-worthy performance, showing the medic to be a simple man of conviction and courage.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“This is filmmaking of a fine and effective order, but with both faith-based pacifism and balls-out warfare being given such hard scrutiny you might be forgiven for not being entirely certain what Gibson’s intent is or what he wants you to take away from the film.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“A truly delicate and animalistic story about one of the U.S.’s greatest heroes.” – Sam Cohen, Substream Magazine

“Gibson brings Doss’ story to screen with his own firm conviction, telling the story without factual nor fictional embellishment according to research.” – Tim Estiloz, El Mundo Boston

“HACKSAW RIDGE is by no means a perfect film, but what’s included gives the people who want to see it an opportunity to leave the theaters satisfied with what they’ve just watched.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

 

Moonlight2.0MOONLIGHT

“Each chapter of this story would function as a strong short film if viewed independently. But the cumulative effect might just blindside you.” – Brett Michel, The Improper Bostonian

“As demonstrated in Jenkins’ first feature, 2008’s winning, morning-after-a-one-night-stand comedy MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY, he’s got a knack for letting his characters talk their way around one other’s defense mechanisms and insecurities.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“The film encourages self-reflection, but not at the expense of either its narrative or the viewing experience. ” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“Both as a work of art and a social statement, MOONLIGHT is required viewing. It is easily one of the best films of 2016 and the most quietly powerful film in recent memory.” – Kristofer Jenson, C-Ville Weekly

 

 

trolls-image-1TROLLS

“At once a fantastic opportunity to get the kids out of the house, a catalyst for spending 50 dollars on popcorn and candy, and a film that holds its weight in similar sugary stuffing, there are countless things worse to do than TROLLS on a Saturday afternoon.” – Greg Vellante, Edge Boston

 

 

The Stooges In the StudioGIMME DANGER

“Overall it’s a bit slack with the indulgences you see sometimes when people make movies about their friends, but there are worse ways to spend two hours than in “the streetwalking cheetah with a heart full of napalm’s” laundry room.” – Sean Burns, The ARTery