Tag Archives: Review Round-Up

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 01/22/2016

Posted on by
Reply

181576_019DIRTY GRANDPA

“Spread the word. The worst movie of 2016 has just been released. It’s called DIRTY GRANDPA.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“It would have taken a decent sized miracle to make DIRTY GRANDPA amusing in any way.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“Too bad that amoral isn’t in right now.” – Sam Cohen, Under the Gun Review

 

download (16)THE 5TH WAVE

“Casting Moretz as Cassie was a smart move. Like Jennifer Lawrence in THE HUNGER GAMES films and Shailene Woodley in the DIVERGENT series, Moretz is first and foremost an actress.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“…plodding pacing and sub-par effects prevent The 5th Wave from moving beyond its middling status.” – Deirdre Crimmins, Cinematic Essential

 

ip-man-3-mike-tyson-donnie-yenIP MAN 3

“There’s ultimately nothing groundbreaking in IP MAN 3, but it’s a serviceable martial arts film done in a fashion that many have enjoyed for years.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

 

 

45-Years-xlarge45 YEARS

“In order to watch 45 YEARS without feeling gutted by the end, you must lack the requisite guts entirely.” – Andy Crump, Birth. Movies. Death.

 

 

7b8119d2-4e02-4a5a-9ccb-be7e9bc73301-620x372SON OF SAUL

“The film’s visual style only rarely opens up, and when it does it shows us glimpses of unrelenting horror: Piles of corpses, heaps of ash, leaping flames, white smoke and encroaching darkness that blot everything out.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

 

 

 

 

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 01/15/2016

Posted on by
Reply

thumbnail_22705

13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI

“Politics aside, 13 HOURS is just a dull and poorly assembled grab for ticket sales.” – Deirdre Crimmins, Cinematic Essential

“It’s the bloated and relentlessly violent brother of PEARL HARBOR, another Bay film we almost forgot about being offensive for the sake of the director’s juvenile compulsions.” – Sam Cohen, Under the Gun Review

“If you take all of the film’s political trappings away, all you have is a mediocre war movie made with a grand total of zippety-do in the craft department.” – Andy Crump, A Constant Visual Feast

“13 HOURS is not a political film, but will be treated as such by those with an agenda.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

ride-along-2RIDE ALONG 2

“Unfortunately, the movie shows its cards much too early, defeating the element of surprise.” – Monica Castillo, International Business Times

“RIDE ALONG 2 shocked me a little bit by maybe being better than the original.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

 

hero_Mustang-2015MUSTANG

“Ergüven doesn’t tip the outrage scale into histrionics, but she doesn’t need to. We can sense exactly how pissed off she is behind the lens.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“Whatever the outcome maybe, though, always keep that early image in mind, the one with the girls cuddled protectively around each other. Carry it with you as you leave the theater. ” – John Black, Boston Event Guide

 

 

band of robbersBAND OF ROBBERS

“Ever wonder what Tom Sawyer might look like in the mold of a 20-something millennial slacker? Then this film is for you.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

 

 

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 01/08/2016

Posted on by
Reply

maxresdefault (25)THE REVENANT

“This is the action-adventure film as arthouse epic, where a tighter script and more clearly defined characters might have made it more engaging.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“It’s a Malick film by way of Gibson and Herzog—but mostly The Revenant is a testament to Iñárritu’s machismo.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

 

anomalisaANOMALISA

“A brilliant, if disheartening look at ourselves, Anomalisa is wonderful.” – Deirdre Crimmins, Cinematic Essential

 

 

download (15)THE FOREST

“…one of those generic horror films you find at the video store or your online streaming service, unsure if you saw it but willing to take a chance. On your laptop this should do fine.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“‘Why aren’t there any good horror movies to be seen anymore?’ the people decry. Well, stop seeing the bad ones.” – Sam Cohen, Under the Gun Review

 

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 12/18/2015

Posted on by
Reply

Star-Wars-Force-AwakensSTAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS

“The battle scenes had me cheering, the story is layered and leaves enough dark corners to make us wonder what secrets various characters hold, but not so complicated that it takes itself too seriously or pulls us out of the simple pleasures that STAR WARS at its core has always held.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices

“With STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, Abrams accomplishes the herculean feat of transitioning George Lucas’s original STAR WARS films into a new series, while still making his movie feel like a part of the same cinematic universe.” – Evan Crean, Star Pulse

“THE FORCE AWAKENS is a fine movie that fans of the original trilogy will almost certainly fall in love with, but it’s a typical sci-fi movie that should have been more than what it actually is.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential

“After a Marvel film, I’m usually groaning about their tedious setup for future films. After STAR WARS, however, these groans were replaced with glee. I can’t wait to see what comes next.” – Greg Vellante, Sound & Picture

“…sadly reeks far too often of deja vu and reboot infection by returning to the well of past glory in its narrative theme, storyline and perhaps a tad too many knowing references to memorable moments from the past films.” – Tim Estiloz, Boston Examiner

“This is the cinema of pre-built parts. If it’s filmmaking, then assembling a LEGO set is architecture.” – Jake Mulligan, Dig Boston

“…no need to fret about spoilers, because this is déjà vu all over again.” – Sean Burns, North Shore Movies

“Turns out, it is possible to go home again.” – Brett Michel, The Improper Bostonian

untitled-article-1436980070SISTERS

” …it’s a movie that lets Gen Xers indulge in their wild youth while reminding them that time has marched on.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

 

BOFCA REVIEW ROUND-UP: 12/11/2015

Posted on by
Reply

maxresdefault (23)

IN THE HEART OF THE SEA

“There’s no sense of direction here—as though Howard couldn’t figure out which movie he wanted to make, so he decided to make them all.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine

“We get it, the pen is mightier than the harpoon.” – Sam Cohen, Under the Gun Review

“It’s possible that IN THE HEART OF THE SEA will find lasting acclaim rather than fading pretty promptly into obscurity, but I’d wager neither hardtack nor a day’s rum on it.” – Kilian Melloy, Edge Boston

“Not only does this film’s “demon” look like the digital creation it is, but almost everything on land and sea looks like it was shot against a blue screen nearly 60 years ago.” – Brett Michel, The Improper Bostonian

“IN THE HEART OF THE SEA is so full of unnecessary and unconvincing green-screen work I wouldn’t be surprised if most of the actors shot their scenes on a soundstage in Burbank.” – Sean Burns, Movie Mezzanine

youth-filmYOUTH

“Much as THE GREAT BEAUTY positioned itself as a sorta-sequel to LA DOLCE VITA, for YOUTH Sorrentino borrows the setting from Fellini’s 8½ and shares The Maestro’s penchant for grotesques.” – Sean Burns, The Artery

“YOUTH is a free form, plotless effort, much like Sorrentino’s 2013 Best Foreign Language Film winner THE GREAT BEAUTY. But that film had fire where YOUTH has coals.” – Andy Crump, Birth.Movies.Death.

“…a complicated, messy affair at times, but there’s always beauty to be found.” – Greg Vellante, Sound & Picture

Francois Truffaut and Alfred HitchcockHITCHCOCK/TRUFFAUT

“Directed and co-written by Kent Jones this documentary explores one of the most illuminating conversations in the history of film.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices