Adoration: Critics are less than enthused about Atom Egoyan’s latest, currently in theaters via E1 Entertainment, describing the drama as confusing as it strives to comment on many aspects of society.

Variety labels it a ‘fascinating muddle,’ while the Los Angeles Times notes that Adoration does not ‘come close to the effortless calibration of multiple storylines’ of Egoyan’s 1997 breakthrough The Sweet Hereafter.

The Toronto Star’s Bruce DeMara praises ‘strong performances’ from the cast, including Scott Speedman and Devon Bostick, though Eye Weekly gives Adoration the thumbs down, arguing that it is ‘devoid of the pervy allure of Exotica or the emotional force of The Sweet Hereafter.’ Eye goes on to say that the film ‘too often feels like a few good ideas in search of a movie.’

Act of God: Jennifer Baichwal examines the metaphysical effects of being struck by lightning in her latest documentary Act of God, which opened this year’s Hot Docs festival. The Toronto filmmaker is generally drawing positive reviews for her follow-up to 2006’s acclaimed Manufactured Landscapes, with Sun Media calling it ‘visually magnificent,’ while complimenting its ‘terrific cast of characters,’ including an American writer, a former CIA hitman, a musician, and religious families of people killed by lightning in Mexico.

‘[Baichwal] seems to have an intuitive feel for how things will hit the retina,’ writes the Toronto Star’s Peter Howell, though he notes the filmmaker is ‘not entirely consistent about her subject.’

Eye Weekly critic Jason Anderson says Act of God is Baichwal’s ‘strangest work to date,’ adding that the film is suited to more ‘open-minded viewers.’

Compiled by Amy Haggar