Matthew St.Clair

A well-acted, thorough dramedy that avoids condescension over its subject matter.

Both films offer insightful looks at immigration, family, and the feeling of home.

With its swing-for-the-fences filmmaking and dynamite acting, Birds of Prey flies pretty sky high.

Writer/director Emerald Fennell presents an electrifying yet melancholic revenge tale with a masterful Carey Mulligan performance.

The Garden Left Behind blossoms thanks to its central performance and effective storytelling.

It’s like Seinfeld. A movie about nothing.

Ben Whishaw carries a bold directorial feat that’s like Uncut Gems on Valium.

Two successful star vehicles about working-class mothers looking to find a new lease on life.

Viggo Mortensen’s directorial debut lands with a thud.

A meditative zombie flick that revitalizes the genre while simultaneously exploring its origins.

A terrific war epic with masterful technical aesthetics.

Rose Byrne and Tiffany Haddish are the strong center of this amusing yet manufactured comedy.

Mati Diop’s directorial debut is a blissfully romantic ghost story that captivates the senses.

Greta Gerwig miraculously makes this classic story feel new and exciting.

Bombshell tries being fair but isn’t quite balanced.

Writer/director Jennifer Reeder makes a trippy psychological chiller about grief, recovery, and coming of age.

A vital, politically charged story that celebrates black love.

The three lead actresses successfully elevate an adequate continuation of the famed franchise.

An admirable yet quite shallow commentary on our tech-dependent society.

Both Matt Damon and Christian Bale elevate a racing drama put in neutral gear.

A precisely mundane allegory for “Alice in Wonderland.”

Mainly due to Erivo’s committed performance, Harriet only achieves slight greatness.

Incredibly timely and harrowing. Just don’t call it a French “Spotlight.”

A dynamic and glorious return to form for star Murphy.

Even a committed Joaquin Phoenix can’t save this grim Scorsese clone.

Incredibly by the numbers with an emotive and committed Renee Zellweger performance.

A career-best Brad Pitt carries this simplistic gem about the wonders and perils of space.

Two terrific yet polar opposite depictions of the middle-aged gay perspective.

A work of uplifting, majestic art.

Incredibly rhythmic with an awards-worthy turn from Riz Ahmed.

Two solid examples of auteur directors using franchise cache to make bold, original material.

A meticulously crafted tribute to the kindness of a beloved icon.

Parasite and Portrait of a Lady on Fire prove to be TIFF highlights.

A poetically visceral indie gem.

A solid crime dramedy that acts as a tremendous showcase for Jennifer Lopez.

An old-fashioned courtroom drama with strong political urgency and exemplary performances.

A killer game of hide-and-seek with more going on underneath.

Gemma Arterton and Elizabeth Debicki wonderfully elevate a biopic hampered by contrivances.

An expedient look at crime-ridden Mexico with harrowing fantasy.

Flawlessly acted while still being too reserved in terms of its storytelling.

A bonafide-crowd pleaser that bursts with emotion.

Hardly any scary stories to tell.

Jessie Buckley electrifies in this heartfelt musical drama about the road to fame.

A well-acted yet frivolous tribute to old Tinseltown.

It’s the 1994 animated classic but with CGI and Beyonce.

Sell By thrives thanks to its acting ensemble and graduated depiction of queer love.

At just 75 minutes, A Faithful Man packs plenty of mystery, romance, and profundity.

Beautifully nightmarish and insidious with a tremendous Florence Pugh performance.

Lila Aviles’s directorial debut is incredibly thematic without being overtly so.

An impressive directorial debut from Diana Peralta done with such profundity.