2016

I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO: A Serious Film For Serious Times
I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO: A Serious Film For Serious Times

I Am Not Your Negro is a documentary based on the works of activist James Baldwin, and is overall a powerful examination of race in America.

Film Inquiry's Favourite Films Of 2016
Film Inquiry’s Favourite Films Of 2016

2016 was a great year for film. Our Film Inquiry writers submitted their top ten lists, along with their pick for best film of the year.

THE DAUGHTER: When Truths Hurt Worse Than Lies
THE DAUGHTER: When Truths Hurt Worse Than Lies

The Daughter is a film about a family in Australia who suddenly uncover a buried secret; it is an effectively wrought, tension-filled drama.

DARK NIGHT: The Tragedy Of American Lassitude
DARK NIGHT: The Tragedy Of American Lassitude

Dark Night is based on the events of the Aurora theater shooting; with a detached aesthetic perspective, it is a compelling yet tragic film.

2016: The Year Of Grieving And Letting Go
2016: The Year Of Grief And Letting Go

2016. A year that will live in infamy. A year shaken by unexpected celebrity deaths, an unnerving election cycle, and unsuspecting twists waiting around every corner.

AFTER FIRE: How Female Veterans Talk About Trauma
AFTER FIRE: How Female Veterans Talk About Trauma

After Fire focuses on a female veteran named Valerie Sullivan, discussing how women in the military deal with trauma after coming home from war.

20TH CENTURY WOMEN: Annette Bening Shines In Period Character Study
20TH CENTURY WOMEN: Annette Bening Shines In Period Character Study

20th Century Women is a remarkable character study of women in the 1970s, but it falls just shy of greatness due to its lack of plot.

MOONLIGHT: The Overrated Film Gaslighting Film Critics

What happened to the art of film criticism, the kind of visceral, honest prose delivered from titans like Pauline Kael? We are witnessing its noisy death rattle and few seem to care. Moonlight, the newest film from director and co-writer Barry Jenkins, is a literal coming-of-age story, chronicling the journey of a young, gay black man, Chiron, into adulthood amidst the rougher parts of Miami.

PATRIOTS DAY: Love Conquers Hate

Patriots Day is a memoir to the tragic events of the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing, brought to screen both tactfully and honorably.

DON’T THINK TWICE: A Comedy About Comedy That Really Sells The Comedy

Films focusing on a very niche subject walk an incredibly fine line. Most of the time if a film is geared on something specifically niche, it’s a fair bet that the writer or director has experience in the subject. This can either work brilliantly in favour of the film, or it can alienate audiences and feel quite awkward to experience.

SILENCE: Martin Scorsese's Intimate Epic Is A Monumental Achievement
SILENCE: Martin Scorsese’s Intimate Epic Is A Breathtaking Achievement

Martin Scorsese’s Silence begins with a dark, blank screen, with only the gentle humming of cicadas heard on all sides. It then immediately opens up to an overcast shot overlooking the banks of a river, where numerous people are being strung up and tortured. Such a peaceful moment undercut by extreme violence is very much an indication of what’s to come.

A MONSTER CALLS: A Deeply Personal Testament To The Power of Fiction
A MONSTER CALLS: A Deeply Personal Testament To The Power of Fiction

A Monster Calls is an entertaining and beautifully presented fantasy, which also imbues deeper universal themes of grief and loss.

SOMATIC: An Original Copy
SOMATIC: An Original Copy

Somatic is a short film from director Will Nash, delving into complex questions of cloning and the nature of our reality.

ASSASSIN'S CREED: It's Pretty Darn Bad, But It's The Best Video Game Film Ever Made
ASSASSIN’S CREED: It’s Pretty Darn Bad, But It’s The Best Video Game Film Ever Made

Assassin’s Creed may be the best video game adaptation, with some dynamic action, but it still has a run of seething and frustrating flaws

MONSTER TRUCKS: A Hybrid Vehicle That Relies Heavily On Suspension Of Disbelief
MONSTER TRUCKS: A Hybrid Vehicle That Relies Heavily On Suspension Of Disbelief

Monster Trucks is a live action/computer animated film that is made by a regular animation director; unfortunately, it does not go over well.