I don't know what's with some critics (ahem, Rick Groen). Between Cannes and TIFF, I've been reading review after review that Where the Truth Lies, Atom Egoyan's latest, isn't up to snuff. It's been dragged through the mud so much I almost gave up my ticket to today's matinee showing at the Ryerson theatre.

I'm so glad I didn't.

For fans of Egoyan's work, or dare I say it for fans of quality films in general, you won't be disappointed. Aside from perhaps Capote this is the best film I've seen all week. And the viewing was double the fun because Egoyan himself showed up to introduce it and take part in the Q&A afterwards.

I won't get into the nitty gritty of the script. You can get a synopsis and watch the trailer elsewhere. What I will say is that it's ludicrous that this film has been slapped an NC-17 rating by the Motion Picture Association of America. This is completely unjustifed.

As the Ryerson audience and Egoyan himself professed, there exists plenty of films that have been far more graphic but spared the NC-17 kiss of death. So what happed with Where the Truth Lies? Egoyan chalked it up to the current political and social climate south of the border (the neo-cons) but offered that had the film featured less well known stars, it likely would have escaped unharmed.

As for what will become of this film, Egoyan promised Where the Truth Lies will be out in October, uncensored, in other words the same cut that TIFF audiences were treated to. Should you want to watch an MPAA friendly version, Egoyan promised: " You will never see the cut version, unless you want to rent it from a Blockbuster in Middle America in two years time."