BOFCA Review Round-Up: 12/23/2016

patriotsday-markwahlberg-marathonbannerPATRIOTS DAY

“The narcissism is grotesque. In PATRIOTS DAY, Wahlberg can’t even walk down the street without people stopping him just to say what a great guy he is.” – Sean Burns, North Shore Movies

“…the amazingly faux Hollywood heroism of the fictional Tommy Saunders topples the film into outright insult and insensitivity to the real heroes accomplishments and memory.” – Tim Estiloz, El Mundo Boston

“Be warned that the re-creation of the confusion and carnage in the immediate aftermath of the explosions is intense and realistic. Rest assured, though, that the film — for its occasional gaps in coherence — avoids a sense of exploitation.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“…personal baggage aside, the film is too choppily made, rushed and heavy-handed to be anything greater than a by-the-numbers, “based on true events” pic.” – Allyson Johnson, Cambridge Day

PATRIOTS DAY is able to give viewers an inside look at one of the most insane and illogical periods in recent Boston history.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

 

2a17ae65b70621fc_passengers-dom-DF-15386_rv2PASSENGERS

“PASSENGERS is the last what-the-fuck-were-they-thinking debacle to be released in a year that’s been lousy with them.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“The plot point of the man’s malfeasance is necessary to give the film depth and force, and the woman’s forgiveness provides the only possible upbeat resolution, but the very nature of the situation, saddled as it is with gender-role baggage that’s sure to chafe, can’t help but create a huge PR problem.” – Kilian Melloy, Kal’s Movie Blog

“PASSENGERS is a movie that hopes to bring something different from what is normally demanded of Hollywood these days.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“PASSENGERS lacks the derring-do of ROGUE ONE or the deep-dish philosophizing of ARRIVAL, but it is a solid and worthy science fiction effort that treats its characters–and its audience–as adults.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

 

lion-633x356LION

“This is, at its very heart, a simple story about a young boy desperately wanting to be reunited with his mother again.” – Allyson Johnson, The Young Folks

“The drop-off that separates Pawar’s LION from Patel’s is so sheer that it’s vertiginous. Cut half of the latter from the picture and maybe you’d have something—at the very least you’d have a much leaner, and much more watchable, production.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“Like a lot of The Weinstein Company’s recent Oscar bait, LION ends with more than half a dozen pages of onscreen text telling you all sorts of things the filmmakers couldn’t figure out how to fit in the story – including an explanation for the title.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

 

assassins-creed-gallery-03-gallery-imageASSASSIN’S CREED

“It does what it has to do for its target audience, but isn’t likely to reach out beyond that.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“Alas, this movie does not transcend either its genre nor its technical expertise.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

 

 

thumbnail_24634SING

“As with the year’s best animation, ZOOTOPIA and KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS, it’s a movie that adults can go to without any kids and enjoy it on their own.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

 

Fences633x356FENCES

“For a first-timer, the film would be an achievement. For Washington, it’s further proof of his indelibility as an actor.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

 

 

 

 

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 12/16/2016

rogue-one-jyn-ersa-geared-upROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY

“This might be the franchise’s first stand-alone film, but it won’t be the last.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“ROGUE ONE is a vast improvement over Disney’s first big screen venture in this beloved science fiction universe.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“…if we must have a STAR WARS picture every December for the rest of our lives, I’m hoping they’ll eventually stray from familiar formulas and take us to unknown worlds, far, far away from those first couple of films.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“In short, this movie is what the “Star Wars” prequels should have been, and that’s meant as high praise indeed.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

LLL d 29 _5194.NEFLA LA LAND

“‘Mandatory fun’ were the first words I scribbled in my notebook after sitting through Damien Chazelle’s oppressively whimsical throwback.” – Sean Burns, Spliced Personality

“Chazelle and co. have created a magical moment in time over the span of it’s two hours.” – Allyson Johnson, The Young Folks

“Even if you’re not a fan of movie musicals, he’ll quite possibly make a convert out of you.” – Brett Michel, The Improper Bostonian

 

 

t-Collateral-BeautyCOLLATERAL BEAUTY

“..a movie best suited for those not afraid to wear their hearts on their sleeves..” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

 

 

 

 

 

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