Canada

RED LETTER DAY: Like THE PURGE, Only Lazier
RED LETTER DAY: Like THE PURGE, Only Lazier

Even in its short runtime, Red Letter Day disappoints by the sheer laziness of never pushing the screenplay to a possibly climactic finale.

THE PARTS YOU LOSE: Bides Its Time
THE PARTS YOU LOSE: Bides Its Time

While not challenging, The Parts You Lose is a thoughtful if not meager meditation on the relationships that define us.

THE BODY REMEMBERS WHEN THE WORLD BROKE OPEN: Empathy In Real-Time
THE BODY REMEMBERS WHEN THE WORLD BROKE OPEN: Empathy In Real-Time

As poetic as its title, The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open cannot be understated for its power and must not be erased from the conversation.

IN THE TALL GRASS: Is The Mind-Bending Premise Enough?
IN THE TALL GRASS: Is The Mind-Bending Premise Enough?

Somewhere in the passable 90-minute In the Tall Grass is an hour long short that’s riveting, tense, and short enough to not overstay its welcome.

NIGHT HUNTER: Extremely Poor Use Of Good Thriller Elements
NIGHT HUNTER: Extremely Poor Use Of Good Thriller Elements

Night Hunter’s stellar cast, skilled musical score composers, and a solid set of inspirations combine to little beyond an uninspiring drama at best.

HARPOON: A Deliciously Twisted Boat Trip
HARPOON: A Deliciously Twisted Boat Trip

Harpoon never gets deep enough to attain full authenticity, but it’s still a fittingly tense and amusingly deranged romp, poking fun at how low these people are drowning into moral abyss.

TIFF 2019: BLOOD QUANTUM
TIFF 2019: BLOOD QUANTUM: First Nations vs. Zombie Apocalypse

Blood Quantum manages to be creative, while somehow also maintaining the zombie apocalypse genre’s known sensibilities.

FREAKS: An Ambitious & Absorbing Genre Mix
FREAKS: An Ambitious & Absorbing Genre Mix

Freaks is a paranoid little picture, using its influences wisely while manufacturing something distinctive: one of the best Sci-fi’s of the year.

Venice International Film Festival 2019: GUEST OF HONOUR
Venice Film Festival 2019: GUEST OF HONOUR

Guest of Honour ultimately feels like a missed opportunity for both an intriguing character study on grief, and a compelling drama.

IT CHAPTER TWO: Overactive CGI Doesn't Spoil The Impact Of This Finale
IT CHAPTER TWO: Overactive CGI Doesn’t Spoil The Impact Of This Finale

The losers are as compelling as before, Chapter Two successfully binds this group to its former to give fans a nuanced end.

ASTRONAUT: Dreyfuss Gives Weight To Enjoyable But Maudlin Story
ASTRONAUT: Dreyfuss Gives Weight To Enjoyable But Maudlin Story

Despite some design flaws, Astronaut sticks its landing enjoyably enough thanks to the command of Dreyfuss and a novel angle of attack.

FIRECRACKERS: A Dynamite Debut Feature
FIRECRACKERS: A Dynamite Debut Feature

From the first frame to the last, Firecrackers is clearly a story by women, about women, stubbornly through their gaze without regrets.

MATTHIAS ET MAXIME: A Charming Coming of Thirtysomething Tale
MATTHIAS ET MAXIME: A Charming Coming Of Thirtysomething Tale

While director Xavier Dolan and the film’s characters say goodbye to their twenties, Matthias et Maxime itself leaves much to be desired.

G-SAVIOUR: A Japanese TV Special Made In Canada
G-SAVIOUR: A Japanese TV Special Made In Canada

As a live-action Gundam movie, this was very ambitious, but not quite the special many of the Gundam fans were hoping for.

THE GRIZZLIES: An Underdog Sports Film That Tackles Indigenous Youth Issues
THE GRIZZLIES: An Underdog Sports Film That Tackles Indigenous Youth Issues

A film that is laced with pride and hope without the frilly details of any other sports film, The Grizzlies is all about grit, raw and tender moments of belonging and the strength to continue on.