AwardsWatch - Film Reviews

‘Fingernails’ Review: Jessie Buckley and Riz Ahmed’s Chemistry is the High Point in Christos Nikou’s Analog Dating Dramedy | Toronto

Kevin L. Lee September 13, 2023

Christos Nikou opens his newest film with a quote, or a common consensus in the scientific community: that the first signs of heart problems can... Read More

‘Next Goal Wins’ Review: Michael Fassbender is Pitch Perfect in Taika Waititi’s Enjoyable Underdog Sports Story | Toronto

Mina Takla September 13, 2023

Conventional but still enjoyable, Taika Waititi’s Next Goal Wins presents the real story of the American Samoa football team, who had broken the record for... Read More

‘Lee’ Review: Kate Winslet and Andy Samberg Excel in Ellen Kuras’ Largely Unambitious Debut Feature | Toronto

Mina Takla September 13, 2023

Making the transition from cinematography to directing, Ellen Kuras delivers a biopic that, while boasting competent technical credits, lacks the ambition, risk-taking and ferocious nature... Read More

‘Pain Hustlers’ Review: David Yates Delivers a Conventionally Accessible Look at Corporate Greed | Toronto

Mina Takla September 13, 2023

In Pain Hustlers, David Yates embarks on a different kind of project that couldn’t be further away from his recent franchise output (most notably 7... Read More

‘Poolman’ Review: Chris Pine Skims the L.A. Underbelly in Homage to Classic Noir | Toronto

Daniel Bayer September 13, 2023

Chris Pine loves noir films. Mostly Chinatown, but really just noir films in general. This much is clear from his directorial debut Poolman, in which... Read More

‘The Teacher’ Review: Farah Nabulsi’s Feature Debut is a Mildly Satisfying, if Narratively Muddled, Take on Repressed Anger | Toronto

Mina Takla September 11, 2023

Palestinian British filmmaker Farah Nabulsi’s previous short film, The Present, catapulted her to worldwide acclaim with its heartfelt story about parental love and sacrifice. Now... Read More

‘The Boy and the Heron’ Review: A Stirring Tale of Grief and Spiritual Growth from Master Storyteller Hayao Miyazaki | Toronto

Ryan McQuade September 11, 2023

The hardest thing to do in your life is say goodbye to the people you love. It is something that you rarely think about when... Read More

‘One Life’ Review: James Hawes’ Holocaust Savior Story is Heroism Simply Told and That’s the Point | Toronto

Daniel Bayer September 11, 2023

There is no shortage of stories to be told about the Holocaust. Every person who was alive in Europe at that time has a story... Read More

‘Les Indésirables’ Review: Ladj Ly’s Look at the Clash Between Power and Marginalized Groups in Modern Day Paris Disappoints | Toronto

Mina Takla September 11, 2023

Five years ago, French filmmaker Ladj Ly made quite the splash with his debut feature Les Misérables, a harrowing, gut-wrenching story of how powerless, marginalized... Read More