On a rural highway in Australia we see Mad Max (Mel Gibson), sitting in his car. This image is instantly recognisable for Gibson in his trademark leather jacket and police car. George Miller’s iconic road-warrior did, after all, attain cult status and three sequels after this 1979 original. In a disorientating and meta edit, we…
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD: Visually Dazzling End To Heartfelt Trilogy
We all know the story: an animal and a kid enter into a forbidden friendship, and are forced to keep it secret from everyone they know. Dogs, Horses, Whales, Loch Ness Monsters, the movies are all more less the same. But never have we seen this story told with such visual flair and emotional heft as…
Lady Macbeth: Newcomer Florence Pugh is a Tour-De-Force in Taut Domestic Thriller
I almost didn’t see Lady Macbeth, my number one film of 2017. I watched it on a whim after an impressively tense trailer, and a positive recommendation from the Empire Podcast. And boy it did not disappoint. The story, adapted by Alice Birch from the 19th century Russian novel, is inspired by Shakespeare’s enigmatic villainess, but reimagined as…
Repost: Film Inquiry’s Favourite 2018 Emmy Series Nominees
We’re hours away from discovering the winners of the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards; you’ve seen our choices for the Acting categories (here and here) – both the drama categories and the comedy/miniseries combo – so now is as good a time as any for us to plant the flags for Programs. Our team of writers could throw…
The Almighty Sometimes: Brave and Heart-Wrenching Tale of Motherly Love
Narratives about fathers and sons have dominated the canon of great plays for centuries. Sophocles, Shakespeare, Miller: these men, and their oft told tales of struggling patriarchs, are still staged internationally today. Male playwrights, directors and actors have for so long taken up all the space in the cultural conversation. Plays are designed to show…
Macbeth: Impressive Cast Delivers Devastating Tragedy With A Twist
The beauty of Shakespeare’s plays lies in their flexibility and creative potential. Written over four hundred years ago, the Bard’s thirty-seven comedies and tragedies have inspired film, theatre, musicals, television and more. It is remarkable to consider the infinite directorial possibilities that these plays hold. This week in Sydney alone, two different theatre companies stage…
Isle of Dogs: Too Much Quirk, Not Enough Substance
Wes Anderson, king of quirk, has long been gathering a liege of dedicated cinephiles who drool over his every film. And, I confess, I am one of his long-time fans. Especially considering the incredibly high expectations set by his previous film, 2014’s multi-Oscar winning The Grand Budapest Hotel. However, if you go into the cinema…
Repost: Staff Inquiry Favourite 2018 Emmy Acting Nominees
As we here at Film Inquiry begin to branch off into the world of television, and with the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards just around the corner (September 17 if you haven’t already penciled it into your diary), it seems like the perfect time for some of the team to assemble to discuss why our favourite…
OCEAN’S 8: All-Star Cast Compensates For Poor Writing In Crowd-Pleasing Heist Comedy
When you walk into the cinema to see Ocean’s 8 this month (and walk in you should), here’s what you should expect. Expect a heist film that’s stylish, captivating and a whole lot of fun. Expect an all-star cast of Hollywood’s best actresses playing one of the coolest, funniest girl gangs ever assembled on screen. Expect a…
SHERLOCK GNOMES: Please, Gno-more Sherlock Adaptions
Sherlock Gnomes, directed by John Stevenson, tries too hard but does too little, in a film that’s more concerned with referencing better movies than doing its own thing. This mediocre sequel to the mildly entertaining Gnomeo and Juliet suffers due to tired writing that loses sight of what made the original good. The Story That Didn’t Need A…
Review: Single Asian Female
When Lady Bird aired earlier this year, women all over the world fell in love with it for its painfully accurate representation of mother-daughter relationships. Sitting in the Belvoir St Theatre watching freshly divorced mother Pearl (Hsiao-Ling Tang) struggling to keep it together while running a Chinese restaurant and a family single handed, I was…
REPOST: Film Inquiry’s Top Films Of The Academy
For a year now I have been a proud contributing writer to Film Inquiry, an online film magazine with writers all over the world. This article was compiled by Stephanie Archer, and written by many writers including myself. It was first published in February 2017. Everyone has their favorite film, a cherished classic that reigns superior…
