In his Rustin film review, Kevin Bourne says the film is a reminder of how far we’ve come, but also how much things haven’t changed at all. The story of Martin Luther King Jr. has been told over and over again on the big screen, but what we haven’t seen are films about the other architects of the civil rights movement who also fought for equality. That’s until now. Executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama, Rustin tells the story of civil rights strategist and March On Washington organizer, Bayard Rustin (Colman Domingo), and his mission of freedom and peace.…
Author: Kevin Bourne
Kevin Bourne
Kevin Bourne is the co-founder and editor of SHIFTER magazine. Born and raised in Toronto, Kevin currently resides in Ottawa with his wife Koliah and their three children. He's a big fan of hip-hop, pop culture, and urbanism and spends most of his time keeping up with the Kardashians.
SHIFTER recently attended the premiere for the latest film from Nigerian director Ishaya Bako about a recent graduate who must do what he can to make ends meet for himself and his family, but at what cost? Here’s SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne with his I Do Not Come To You By Chance film review. My introduction to Nigerian movies came about 15 years ago in my friends’ Toronto apartment. What we saw was a film that felt a bit too long, with outrageous and sometimes comical or supernatural storylines, as well as scenes that took the film into odd directions. Well,…
The Burial isn’t just a film about corporate greed but about the power of faith and friendship. Here’s Kevin Bourne’s The Burial film review. Directed by Maggie Betts and written by Betts, Doug Wright and Jonathan Harr, The Burial tells the true story of small town funeral director Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) and his fight to save his family-run funeral home business. When a deal with a large corporation is in dispute, O’Keefe enlists the help of an unlikely ally in the flashy and smooth talking personal injury lawyer Willie E. Gary (Jamie Foxx) with his 12-year undefeated streak in…
Ava DuVernay’s latest film has critics buzzing. SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne calls it a “revelation” and “an eye-opening masterclass in filmmaking” in his Origin film review. There are handful of eye=opening films from African-American directors screening at TIFF this year which tackle the subject of race in America. Among those is Ava DuVernay’s “Origin” which recently had its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, earning a standing ovation. In the process, DuVernay became the first African-American woman to screen a film during Venice’s official competition since it was founded 80 years ago. The film is based on a true…
In his Stamped From The Beginning film review, Kevin Bourne calls the film a brutally honest look at anti-Black racism in America. Hold. On. To. Your. Seats. Based on the book of the same name by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped From the Beginning is a bold, edgy, brutally honest, and to some, controversial, look at the history of anti-Black racism in America, from slavery to the present. The film opens with the loaded and intentionally unsettling question, “What’s wrong with Black people?” Oscar-winning filmmaker Roger Ross goes on to explore a variety of topics, including the invention of Blackness,…
One of the standout films from TIFF 2023 is the comedy-drama Dumb Money. Here’s Kevin Bourne with his Dumb Money film review. Spartacus. Braveheart. The Patriot. Everyone loves a good war epic where the oppressed band together to overthrow the oppressor. One of the standout films from TIFF 2023 so far is Sony Pictures’ Dumb Money, based on Ben Mezrich’s book The Antisocial Network about the true David vs. Goliath story of when amateur investors made history by successfully challenging Wall Street. Despite hedge fund manager Gabe Plotkin (Seth Rogen) betting billions on the failure of the GameStop stock, Keith Gill…
SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne says Cord Jefferson’s directorial debut is “nomination worthy to say the least”. Here’s his full American Fiction film review. When author and English literature professor, Thelonious “Monk” Ellison (Jeffrey Wright), is forced to take a leave from work due to his unconventional teaching methods, he heads back home to Boston for a writers festival. While at home, he learns that he’s not only out of touch with the literary world but his family, including his mother (Leslie Uggams), sister Lisa (Tracee Ellis Ross), and brother (Sterling K. Brown). Not only does Monk have to worry about up…
Copa 71 is both a celebratory look of the 1971 Women’s World Cup and a damning indictment of male dominance and greed in sports. Here’s our Copa 71 review. Executive produced by Venus and Serena Williams and Isha Price, and directed by James Erskine and Rachel Ramsay, Copa 71 recalls the 1971 Women’s World Cup which was, until now, erased from sports history. It follows in the footsteps of documentaries like Quest Love’s Summer of Soul in combining lost footage and present day interviews with women soccer players from around the world as they recall the groundbreaking event. Together, the…
SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne calls Netflix’s Reptile “the perfect murder thriller”. Find out why in his Reptile film review. Well, the 2023 edition of the Toronto International Film Festival started with a bang. Among the films being screened on opening day was Reptile, written by Oscar winner Benicio Del Toro, Benjamin Brewer, and Grant Singer, and starring Del Toro, Oscar nominee Justin Timberlake, and Alicia Silverstone. The film is set in the quaint town of Scarborough, Maine, but behind the lush landscapes and small town charm is a gruesome, noir whodunit where detective Tom Nichols (Benicio Del Toro) must solve the…
Kevin Bourne calls the final season of Top Boy a “sad, emotional and well-executed send off”. Find out why in his Top Boy Season 3 review. Yesterday, Netflix dropped the third and final season of their hit British crime drama Top Boy. Since its humble beginnings in 2011, the series has grown to international acclaim for its gritty depiction of inner city life in London, all while teaching the world the latest UK slang. After being cancelled in 2014, an impressive list of executive producers, including lead actors Ashley Walters and Kano, Maverick Carter and Drake, helped to revive the…
Rapper NF brought his Hope Tour to Toronto with a stop at Scotiabank Arena. Here’s SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne with his NF concert review. Friday night, NF brought his Hope Tour to Toronto as the Michigan rapper performed in front of a capacity crowd at Scotiabank Arena. Opening for NF was lyricist and soon-to-be father, Cordae, who performed tracks like “Chronicles” and “RNP”. Known for having a gift with the bars, he also brought the party vibes, performing his new single “Make Up Your Mind”, one of his first times performing the song live. Over his set, Cordae showed that he…
Global is introducing some brand new TV series this fall, including Director X’s Robyn Hood. SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne says that despite its criticisms, the series is groundbreaking Canadian television. Here’s his Robyn Hood season 1 episode 1 review. It was back in early 2022 that Global announced that it greenlit Robyn Hood, a modern adaptation of the legendary tale Robin Hood. Created and directed by Director X and written by award-winning screenwriter Chris Roberts, Robyn Hood tells the story of hip-hop artist Robyn Loxley (Jessye Romeo), whose masked hip-hop group, The Hood, uses videos with anti-authoritarian messaging to address the issues facing their…
