Alliance Films has banned Globe and Mail film critics from its preview screenings. The Toronto-based distributor has told the paper its reviewers are no longer welcome, citing a critical lambasting of Sex and the City by critic Rick Groen — he gave the film a rare zero rating, with the headline ‘In this case, ladies, bigger is far from better’ — as well as an equally curt assessment by columnist Johanna Schneller headlined ‘Brace yourselves sisters, this movie betrays us all.’

The paper’s critics learned of the ban when they called the distributor querying an absence of invitations for Patricia Rozema’s Kit Kittridge: An American Girl.

Reached last night, Rozema told Playback Daily she was appalled by the distributor’s move. ‘It’s simply not on,’ she said. ‘I don’t expect critics to like the film, but I respect them.’

Indeed, at Thursday night’s screening, Groen and fellow critic Liam Lacey were in attendance as Rozema’s guests.

A source at the Globe told Playback Daily that editor-in-chief Edward Greenspon is considering his options, including consulting with editors of other Toronto dailies. The expectation is that cooler heads will prevail and that retaliatory action will not be taken.

Maclean’s magazine film writer Brian D. Johnson, president of the Toronto Film Critics Association, says he’s had ‘a flood of e-mails from our members, and the reaction has been instant and unanimous. We’re baffled and appalled by this outrageous attempt to muzzle critical opinion, and we can only hope Alliance will withdraw this ban immediately before it becomes an embarrassment to all concerned.’

Alliance did not return phone calls.

Sex and the City has grossed $15.7 million in Canada since opening on May 30.