Amy Schumer has long been a passionate, difficult and courageous presence for both female empowerment and vitriol from her detractors. No topic — and no taboo — is off limits for the comedian, and with her latest effort, she tackles body image in a grand way. The problem with the well-intentioned film — about a…

There’s no film this year more deserving of your attention than this Joaquin Phoenix comeback. The eccentric, up-and-down actor won the Best Actor prize at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, and will be a force come the Oscars. His understated, cold performance as a deeply troubled veteran who rescues kidnapped girls is reminiscent of De Niro…

This French-subtitled ecology film comes to select theatres this month, just in time for Earth Day. After strong showings in Quebec markets, the film will now seek success in other areas, and this documentary is an evocative piece of cinema. Director Iolande Cadrin-Rossignol touches on everything from climate change to human views on animals and…

Not all films are intended as escapist, popcorn entertainment. Indian Horse — a harsh examination of the life of Saul Indian Horse — is unflinching in its portrayal of both the best and worst in the First Nations man’s life. The film festival favourite shows the horrors inflicted upon young kids in the residential school…

Rarely does a thriller attack the senses like A Quiet Place. In a film where silence is king, you’ll be able to hear a pin drop in even the busiest of theatres as your heart pounds with suspense. John Krasinski — who you’ll remember as funnyman Jim from The Office — pulls triple duty as…

In its glory, Blockers could have been the next Hangover: a movie so damn funny that substance was an afterthought. But with the directing debut of Kay Cannon — writer of the Pitch Perfect trilogy — there’s an intelligence and conscience behind this teen sex comedy that leaves its mark long after the credits. Part…

The type of mature, methodical filmmaking contained within Ted Kennedy scandal drama Chappaquiddick is a lost art. The story of the senator’s car crash off a bridge in 1969 that claimed the life of Mary Jo Kopechne, a campaign worker, is told with a sure hand. With precise pacing, artful performances and patient tonal shifts,…

In a world where people fight to be extraordinary, we’re taught to defy convention. But sometimes in film — as is the case with The Miracle Season — sticking to tried-and-true just works. While Miracle Season won’t make any best-of lists this year, it’s certainly never disappointing. It does go through the sports drama motions,…

Annihilation is the type of frustrating film that presents so much potential, and squanders it during the big reveal. This female-led sci-fi picture is impeccable in its casting, but director Gareth Edwards fails to provide proper closure to an evolving story. Based on the novel series Southern Reach, it revolves around a group of female…

The life of First Nations activist and artist Beau Dick is immortalized in this beautiful, provocative film. Like the cultural landmark pieces he created, his life story is as beautiful, magnetic and moving as can be expected. Maker of Monsters is one of the best documentaries to come about in recent memory, and limited showings…