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DIGITAL REVIEW: Blood Quantum offers a fresh, bloody take in zombie genre

Within the first 10 minutes of Blood Quantum, it’s clear writer-director Jeff Barnaby’s zombie film is chalk full of allegory and deeper meanings. This isn’t just some bloody exercise, but an exploration of larger societal issues. Those flesh-eating undead walkers are just a lens. Blood Quantum is a tale etched with class warfare, Indigenous rights…
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DIGITAL REVIEW: Chef comedy-drama gives Aaron Abrams the dramatic vehicle he deserves

I’ve loved Aaron Abrams his entire career. From Y.P.F. to Hannibal, he’s been a force in Canadian television and film. But in all these years, I’ve never quite seem him so unhinged — so incredible — as he is in workplace drama Nose To Tail. As restaurateur Daniel, he blusters through the proceedings like a…
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VOD REVIEW: Enemy Lines walks well-trodden plot tropes

This unoriginal war film about a secret allied mission during World War II can’t even muster up an original title. Behind Enemy Lines (2001) was essentially a film about fighting the enemy on their own turf, and this Poland-set movie about the extraction of a captured scientist from the Nazis treads on no new ground.…
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REVIEW: Call Of The Wild is energetic, but ultimately tame

Disney’s live-action remake of the famed Jack London novel is nothing if not entertaining, but if it strived for more than diversion, it’s lost its footing. The story of a sled dog named Buck and his journey and survival in the Yukon makes for some family fun and nice distraction, but pales in comparison to…
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VOD REVIEW: Trolls needlessly cranks volume on World Tour

From the makers of a movie inspired by a set of nostalgic dolls comes a completely unnecessary sequel. The first Trolls film was innocuous, cutesy and spawned a pretty catchy Justin Timberlake hit upon its arrival, but with World Tour, everything is two notches higher with none of the adorable antics to match it. Troll…
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DIGITAL REVIEW: IP Man 4 gives kung fu franchise a fitting finale

This enduring film franchise has seen three truly spectacular films, filled with themes of honour, love and passion for sport. With IP Man 4, we’re given a spectacular, well-written finale for the flicks that brought Kung Fu movies back to the North American zeitgeist. Set in the time of Bruce Lee’s western teachings of Kung…
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DIGITAL REVIEW: Rise Of Skywalker a cliched, albeit entertaining fan service conclusion

The formidable conclusion to one of the most enduring franchises in the world is played out in Star Wars: Episode IX — Rise Of Skywalker. Representing the final in the new trilogy of films — but also the final of all Star Wars films — it wraps up all the loose ends and leaves fans…
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STREAMER REVIEW: Onward is plenty fun, but lacks pedigree of Pixar greats

Now streaming on Disney+ is the latest Pixar entry, a story of brothers gifted with one day only to meet their deceased father. Onward follows the elven Lightfoot brothers Ian and Barley, who now live in a world where magic has given way to technology. What used to be fantastical is now shrouded behind cell…
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VOD REVIEW: Ben Affleck finds his Way Back with career-best performance

There have been many ups and downs in the storied career and personal life of The Way Back star Ben Affleck. From divorce and rehab to Oscars and the almost career-ending Gigli, Affleck has recently seen himself redeemed for past cinematic transgressions. However, given the way he entirely inhabits the alcoholic, emotionally-scarred Jack Cunningham, Affleck…
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REVIEW: Run This Town runs out of steam halfway through

This is a film surrounded by good intentions and incredible talent, and the fact it never quite comes together is one of the largest disappointments so far this year. This story of young journalists and city hall staffers on the periphery trying to decipher and deal with the scandalous, ever-popular Toronto mayor Rob Ford could…