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Kevin Bourne

Tomatometer-approved critic
Biography:

Kevin Bourne is a Toronto-based arts & entertainment journalist, on-air personality, and communications and content marketing strategist. The former TV broadcasting professor and TEDx speaker is also the founder and editor-in-chief of the online media platform SHIFTER where he has interviewed everyone from Kevin Hart and Fast and the Furious star Tyrese Gibson to Ava DuVernay, Dascha Polanco and Howie Mandel. He has appeared nationally on CBC News Network, CBC Music, and the National Post, locally on CTV, CBC Radio, CityNews, and Newstalk 1010, as well as in the United States on Fox's Black digital TV network, Fox Soul. Over the years, he has also been quoted as a critic in national ad campaigns for Black films and TV shows, both in Canada and the United States. In 2023, Kevin was named one of only 340 international voters for the Golden Globe Awards.

Publications:

Reviews

Movies TV Shows
Wicked: For Good (2025) 66% 3.5/5 EDIT “Filmmaking isn't just about the razzle dazzle, it's about the story and in that, Wicked: For Good actually outshines its predecessor. Either way, despite having slightly less magic and sparkle, Wicked: For Good is still a highly enjoyable instant classic.” – SHIFTER Nov 20, 2025 Full Review Christy (2025) 67% 4/5 EDIT “Together, Sweeney and Foster deliver performances of a lifetime and are among the top onscreen acting duos of the year as they bring skill and raw emotion to their roles. Simply put, Christy is an inspirational masterclass in onscreen performance.” – SHIFTER Nov 19, 2025 Full Review Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (2025) 61% 3/5 EDIT “There are some sentimental moments that make for good cinema. Still, with expectations for a film about such a major cultural and musical icon being very high, in the end, it unfortunately underperforms and falls a bit flat.” – SHIFTER Oct 24, 2025 Full Review John Candy: I Like Me (2025) 89% 4.5/5 EDIT “"John Candy: I Like Me" is a personal and fitting tribute to a man and talent brought joy to the world, but went far too soon.” – SHIFTER Oct 16, 2025 Full Review Degrassi: Whatever It Takes (2025) 3/5 EDIT “"Degrassi: Whatever It Takes" is some good old Canadiana mixed with nostalgia, and an ode to one of Canada’s greatest entertainment exports. It will make you laugh, it might make you cry, but more than anything, it will hopefully make you proud.” – SHIFTER Oct 16, 2025 Full Review Nuremberg (2025) 72% 4/5 EDIT “Nuremberg may feel heavy to some viewers as it includes graphic scenes of starvation, violence, and suicide, and no real happy ending, but as a film and story, it’s a magnificent piece of storytelling that we can all learn from.” – SHIFTER Sep 23, 2025 Full Review Poetic License (2025) 90% 3.5/5 EDIT “Maude Apatow’s directorial debut is a resounding success. It’s a highly entertaining, well-written, well-directed, and well-performed film that has a little something for everyone (except small children).” – SHIFTER Sep 10, 2025 Full Review Roofman (2025) 87% 4/5 EDIT “The term “must-see” is often overused when we talk about film, but "Roofman" lives up to it. It has love, humor, disguises, feel good moments, and enough thrills and deceit to keep you on the edge of your seat.” – SHIFTER Sep 10, 2025 Full Review The Lost Bus (2025) 88% 5/5 EDIT “Behind the thrills is a story about determination, overcoming the odds, and the power of the human spirit. Overall, from beginning to end, The Lost Bus is one big ball of anxiety, wrapped in a great story, that will have your pulse racing.” – SHIFTER Sep 10, 2025 Full Review Hedda (2025) 89% 4/5 EDIT “Nia DaCosta's take on the Ibsen classic finds a way of being bold, sexy, and brash while not making you feel like you're being hit over the head with the message. It's just a timeless story with a still timely message that's as relevant as ever.” – SHIFTER Sep 10, 2025 Full Review Boxcutter (2024) 100% 3.5 EDIT “With BOXCUTTER, Reza Dahya walks the fine line of making it a distinctly Toronto film while not making the city a caricature of itself. It also turns the hip-hop film genre on its head with a deeper message beyond the music.” – SHIFTER Aug 18, 2025 Full Review Smurfs (2025) 21% 2/5 EDIT “Smurfs is underwhelming and falls flat with very few high notes. Time to go back to the drawing board, folks.” – SHIFTER Jul 18, 2025 Full Review Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (2025) 80% 2.5/5 EDIT “While it's far from terrible and is still worth watching, Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning is a good but not great potential ending to the M:I franchise that fails to meet the standard set by its predecessors.” – SHIFTER May 22, 2025 Full Review Morningside (2025) 3/5 EDIT “This is a side of Canada that we rarely see on the big screen. I said it before and I’ll say it again. MORNINGSIDE is a groundbreaking moment in Toronto and Canadian cinema which is helping to usher in a new era of local filmmaking.” – SHIFTER Apr 28, 2025 Full Review Nickel Boys (2024) 92% 4/5 EDIT “Nickel Boys is simply a work of art. It’s beautiful, poetic, and daring. In the end, it’s really a just beautiful story about friendship, family, and survival in the midst of what should be traumatic experiences; something we can all relate to.” – SHIFTER Feb 5, 2025 Full Review The Six Triple Eight (2024) 56% EDIT “Not only should we feel proud this film and the real life members of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, but of Tyler Perry and how far he's come as a writer and filmmaker. Overall, The Six Triple Eight is easily Tyler Perry's best work yet.” – SHIFTER Dec 11, 2024 Full Review The Piano Lesson (2024) 88% 3.5/5 EDIT “When you look under the hood, it's actually a film about Black ambition, the lengths we're sometimes willing to go to in order to fulfill our dreams, and our willingness to defy those who may stand in our way, even if it's our family.” – SHIFTER Nov 22, 2024 Full Review The Fire Inside (2024) 93% 4/5 EDIT “Whether you're a man, woman, young or old, this equal parts sports film and social commentary is an almost two-hour pep talk about the power of hard work and determination.” – SHIFTER Sep 17, 2024 Full Review Rez Ball (2024) 94% 4/5 EDIT “Rez Ball is simply a well-made and highly inspirational story about brotherhood, community, and the love of the game. ” – SHIFTER Sep 16, 2024 Full Review 40 Acres (2024) 89% 4/5 EDIT “40 Acres is a film we should be proud of. Not only is it a big step forward for Black Canadian cinema, but a big step forward for Canadian cinema period.” – SHIFTER Sep 15, 2024 Full Review Emilia Pérez (2024) 71% EDIT “Emilia Peréz is art, theatre, narco thriller, and social commentary, all wrapped up into one. It's an award-worthy masterpiece and easily one of the best films of the year.” – SHIFTER Sep 14, 2024 Full Review Hard Truths (2024) 95% EDIT “Although there are scenes that could be hard for Black viewers to watch, the performances, story, and depictions of Caribbean culture, still make Hard Truths a film to watch and be proud of.” – SHIFTER Sep 14, 2024 Full Review Piece By Piece (2024) 83% EDIT “"Piece BY Piece" is one of the most inspirational movies we’ve seen in a very long time. It's an inspirational and creative masterpiece and is absolutely essential for the dreamers, creators, visionaries, and misfits. ” – SHIFTER Sep 12, 2024 Full Review Transformers One (2024) 89% EDIT “At its core, this is really a coming-of-age adventure story where the best friends turned sworn enemies go on a journey of self-discovery, and you best believe Transformers One is an adventure worth going on.” – SHIFTER Sep 12, 2024 Full Review The Idea of You (2024) 80% EDIT “The "Idea of You" follows in the footsteps of modern romantic comedies that forego the over-the-top fairytale endings of the 90’s to early 2000’s. This is a must-see for romantic comedy junkies and fans of stories of loving against the odds.” – SHIFTER Sep 11, 2024 Full Review
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