Courtney Small
Tomatometer-approved critic
Courtney Small has been sharing his thoughts on film online since 2006. The founder of Cinema Axis, he can frequently be heard discussing film as co-host of Frameline on Radio Regent. Courtney has contributed to several publications including Leonard Maltin, In the Seats, Black Girl Nerds, and Comix Asylum. He also celebrates diversity in cinema as co-host of the Changing Reels podcast and is a member of the Online Film Critics Society.
Movies reviews only
| Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
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The Swearing Jar (2022) |
Understanding that each journey has its own mountains to overcome, MacKay’s film finds strength in our ability to persevere even when forced to take an unexpected path. - Cinema Axis
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| Posted Mar 06, 2023
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I Like Movies (2022) |
Levack announces herself as a refreshing new voice in cinema. Filled with plenty of wit and genuine heart, I Like Movies is a gem of a film. - Cinema Axis
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| Posted Mar 04, 2023
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Riceboy Sleeps (2022) |
A meditative and moving work, Riceboy Sleeps is an intimate story with universal appeal. - Cinema Axis
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| Posted Mar 04, 2023
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Bones of Crows (2022) |
An emotionally powerful work, Bones of Crows offers the light of hope while showing how Canada’s past still darkens the present. - Cinema Axis
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| Posted Mar 04, 2023
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Poor Agnes (2017) |
Ramaswaran’s film stumbles greatly as it aimlessly wanders to a laughable, rather than chilling, conclusion. While it is worth seeing purely for Burke’s performance, the film will ultimately leave viewers feeling frustrated and disappointed. - Cinema Axis
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| Posted Feb 06, 2023
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Polite Society (2023) |
Priya Kansara’s commanding performance makes the film’s mixture of genres feel natural. She carries the film on her back like a seasoned veteran, each step unveiling another charming aspect of her talent. - That Shelf
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| Posted Jan 26, 2023
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Magazine Dreams (2023) |
While Magazine Dreams gets tangled in its own complicated shoelaces, what keeps the crux of Bynum’s messaging standing is the phenomenal performance by Jonathan Majors. - That Shelf
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| Posted Jan 26, 2023
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Bad Press (2023) |
Landsberry-Baker and Peeler’s documentary builds a compelling argument for why freedom of the press is a vital right that no one should ever take for granted. - That Shelf
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| Posted Jan 24, 2023
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Pianoforte (2023) |
For such a life changing event, it would have been nice if Pianoforte had dived deeper into the lives being altered. - That Shelf
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| Posted Jan 24, 2023
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M3GAN (2022) |
Johnstone’s film reveals itself to be far more self-aware and wildly entertaining than one would initially expect. - Cinema Axis
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| Posted Jan 06, 2023
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Babylon (2022) |
This may be Chazelle’s love letter to Hollywood, but the envelope should be stamped return to sender. - Cinema Axis
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| Posted Dec 21, 2022
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Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) |
An improvement on the original, Avatar: The Way of Water is a visually stunning film that entertains despite its flaws.
- Cinema Axis
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| Posted Dec 15, 2022
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Smile (2022) |
Building a horror film that feels both familiar and invigorating at the same time, Finn’s Smile delivers enough chills to satisfy. - Cinema Axis
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| Posted Dec 15, 2022
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Please Baby Please (2022) |
Andrea Riseborough is sensational as Suze. Like a dancer commanding the stage, her physical movements are precise, calculated and just as important as the dialogue her character speaks. - That Shelf
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| Posted Nov 25, 2022
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Devotion (2022) |
Majors once again shows why he is quickly becoming one of this generation’s most fascinating actors. - That Shelf
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| Posted Nov 24, 2022
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She Said (2022) |
She Said never cuts deeply into any of the meaty topics on its plate. - Cinema Axis
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| Posted Nov 18, 2022
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Stay the Night (2022) |
Jeyapalan’s film is one of those romances where the seed of love is planted and allowed to slowly blossom. - That Shelf
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| Posted Nov 17, 2022
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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) |
Coogler leaves it to the women of Wakanda, often the scene-stealers of the original film, to take the lead in stitching the kingdom’s wounds. - That Shelf
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| Posted Nov 09, 2022
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Bad Axe (2022) |
Bad Axe is a heartfelt and intimate examination of family and perseverance in times of great adversity. - POV Magazine
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| Posted Nov 09, 2022
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Easter Sunday (2022) |
Despite showing that Jo Koy is more than deserving of leading man status, and offering some solid laughs, Easter Sunday never reaches its full potential. - Cinema Axis
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| Posted Oct 22, 2022
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Triangle of Sadness (2022) |
For all its scathing moments Triangle of Sadness seems acutely aware that, regardless of how much feces hits the fan, deep down little will change among the rich. - Cinema Axis
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| Posted Oct 07, 2022
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Hocus Pocus 2 (2022) |
Fans of the original will no doubt find several nostalgic moments to enjoy. Unfortunately, there is not enough substance in Hocus Pocus 2 to cast a lasting spell. - Cinema Axis
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| Posted Sep 29, 2022
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Bandit (2022) |
Propelled by a great performance by Duhamel, Bandit is an entertaining film worth stealing some time for. - That Shelf
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| Posted Sep 23, 2022
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When Morning Comes (2022) |
Fyffe-Marshall’s constructs a poetically beautiful and heartfelt love letter to Jamaica and sense of community it fosters. - That Shelf
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| Posted Sep 20, 2022
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The Colour of Ink (2022) |
The Colour of Ink is a captivating and eye-opening work that will have you looking at ink in a colourful new light. - That Shelf
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| Posted Sep 20, 2022
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This Place (2022) |
Anchored by wonderful performances and a richly layered story with universal appeal, This Place is a beautiful love story that warms the heart and stimulates the mind. - That Shelf
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| Posted Sep 20, 2022
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Chevalier (2022) |
Kelvin Harrison Jr. gives a career defining turn as Bologne. Conveying a mixture of magnetic charisma that exudes confidence and a vulnerability that humanizes the character, Harrison Jr. is mesmerizing to watch. - That Shelf
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| Posted Sep 20, 2022
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Brother (2022) |
An emotionally resonant film that presents Scarborough in a poetically beautiful and gritty light unlike it has ever been captured on screen before, Brother is a marvel to behold. - That Shelf
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| Posted Sep 18, 2022
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Black Ice (2022) |
Black Ice is a riveting work that is a necessary wakeup call to the sport of hockey and the country that passionately embraces it. - POV Magazine
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| Posted Sep 15, 2022
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Rosie (2022) |
ROSIE reminds us that one can find community in the direst of situations, sometimes you just need to choose who that family will be. - That Shelf
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| Posted Sep 15, 2022
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The Umbrella Men (2022) |
Moving at a brisk pace and filled with plenty of laughs, The Umbrella Men is delightful crime caper that is a crowd-pleaser. - That Shelf
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| Posted Sep 15, 2022
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The End of Sex (2022) |
A sharp and refreshing comedy, The End of Sex is a perfect date night flick. - That Shelf
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| Posted Sep 15, 2022
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Until Branches Bend (2022) |
There are some films that provide such an unexpected jolt to the system that one still feels the tingles hours after being struck. Writer-director Sophie Jarvis’ debut feature Until Branches Bend is a perfect example of this. - That Shelf
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| Posted Sep 15, 2022
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While We Watched (2022) |
A riveting work that will have you mourning the slow death of journalism, While We Watched is an urgent reminder that we all have much to lose if we can no longer tell fact from fiction. - That Shelf
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| Posted Sep 15, 2022
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The Woman King (2022) |
Offering complicated substance along with its spectacle, The Woman King is a thrilling film that will no doubt be a crowd-pleaser. - Cinema Axis
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| Posted Sep 15, 2022
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Beast (2022) |
Despite displaying glimpses of potential, the claws on Kormákur’s Beast are rather dull. - Cinema Axis
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| Posted Aug 19, 2022
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Emily the Criminal (2022) |
Continuing her string of strong performances, Plaza brings mesmerizing layers to the role. - Cinema Axis
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| Posted Aug 11, 2022
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A Life on the Farm (2022) |
It is this reflective exploration on the nature of life and death that make Harding’s documentary so captivating. While there are plenty of humorous moments to be had, A Life on the Farm is a surprisingly poignant celebration of life. - POV Magazine
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| Posted Aug 06, 2022
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Opal (2021) |
Managing to present its heavy themes in a way that both the young and old can enjoy, Opal announces Bidard as a director to keep on your radar. - That Shelf
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| Posted Jul 29, 2022
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Relax, I'm from the Future (2023) |
A delightful comedic romp with genuine heart - That Shelf
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| Posted Jul 29, 2022
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Orchestrator of Storms: The Fantastique World of Jean Rollin (2022) |
Providing a convincing, if stubbornly conventional, argument for Rollin’s important contribution to cinema, Orchestrator of Storms: The Fantastique World of Jean Rollin is an effective celebration of an auteur who was ahead of his time. - POV Magazine
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| Posted Jul 26, 2022
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Nope (2022) |
Never quite going where you might expect, Nope is a film you will be saying yes to. - Cinema Axis
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| Posted Jul 22, 2022
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Becoming a Queen (2022) |
A fitting celebration of one woman’s impact on a community, Becoming a Queen is worthy of its crown. - That Shelf
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| Posted Jul 21, 2022
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Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021) |
Endlessly charming and touching, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is a celebration of the connections that make our lives memorable. - Cinema Axis
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| Posted Jul 01, 2022
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Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) |
Minions: The Rise of Gru is a charming return to form for a franchise that once seemed at the end of its rope - Cinema Axis
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| Posted Jun 30, 2022
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The Forgiven (2021) |
The Forgiven offers a meditative look at what it means to truly see the "other” as human beings. - Cinema Axis
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| Posted Jun 30, 2022
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Attack on Finland (2021) |
Louhimies’ film does not attempt to reinvent the action wheel, so Attack on Finland is simply content to be a solid action-thriller. Sometimes, that is all you need. - That Shelf
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| Posted Jun 30, 2022
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Scream (2022) |
Once the cool kid on the block, the Scream franchise is now stuck in a rut longing for the glory days of the past. - Cinema Axis
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| Posted Apr 09, 2022
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As They Made Us (2022) |
As They Made Us offers an honest examination of how the scars of the past shape the complicated bonds of the present. - That Shelf
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| Posted Apr 09, 2022
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Alaskan Nets (2021) |
Unfortunately, the level of emotional connection Harasimowicz shoots for falls short of hitting the rim. One does not get to know the players well enough to truly invest in their herculean ascent up the championship mountain. - That Shelf
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| Posted Apr 09, 2022
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