black movie review 2022

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The Best Black Movies Of 2022

The best Black movies of 2022 are coming out in every genre imaginable including sci-fi, comedy, and biographical films.  Master , Alice , and  Amandla  show that this list of 2022 Black films is off to an amazing start. If you are a fan of the horror movie genre, you're going to need to watch  Nope  when it's finally released. You'll also need to get ready to laugh if you plan on watching A Madea Homecoming . These are really just a few of the great 2022 Black movies coming out this year.

But which one should be at the top of the list? You get to help decide by voting up your favorites and voting down any that you think other fans can skip that are coming out in 2022. Be sure to check back as new African-American films are added to this list once they are released throughout the year.

The Woman King

• Directed by : Gina Prince-Bythewood

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

• Directed by : Ryan Coogler

Emancipation

• Directed by : Antoine Fuqua

• Directed by : J.J. Perry

A Jazzman's Blues

• Directed by : Tyler Perry

• Directed by : Baltasar Kormákur

• entertainment
• 'Black' movie review: Aadi Saikumar starrer will keep you on the edge of your seat

'Black' movie review: Aadi Saikumar starrer will keep you on the edge of your seat

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Aditya is a Police Constable who's life takes a turn when a murder and robbery that take place while he is on duty. Can Aditya manage it all? Aditya is a Police Constable who's life takes a turn when a murder and robbery that take place while he is on duty. Can Aditya manage it all? Aditya is a Police Constable who's life takes a turn when a murder and robbery that take place while he is on duty. Can Aditya manage it all?

• G.B. Krishna
• Chakrapani Ananda
• 4 User reviews

Top cast 29

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• Jul 15, 2022
• How long is Black? Powered by Alexa
• May 28, 2022 (India)
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• Runtime 2 hours 18 minutes

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Release Date : May 27, 2022

123telugu.com Rating : 2/5

Starring: Aadi Sai Kumar, Darshana Banik, Amani, Surya, Kaushal Manda, Prudhvi Raj, Satyam Rajesh, Thagubothu Ramesh, Shyam Krishnan

Director: Gb Krishna

Producers: Mahankali Diwakar

Music Director: Suresh Bobbili

Cinematography : Satish Mutyala

Editor : Amar Reddy

After F3, a small film named Black has hit the screens today. Aadi Sai Kumar plays the lead in this film which not many know released in the first place. Let’s see how it is.

Aditya(Aadi Sai Kumar) and Arjun(Aadi Sai Kumar) are two twins who hate each other. Upset with Aditya, Arjun leaves his house and goes far away. Time flies and Aditya becomes a cop. During one of his night duties, a robbery and murder happen, and Aditya is framed in the case. Aditya comes to know that none other than his brother Arjun has committed this crime and has pushed the blame on him. Who is the actual murderer? How will this murder case be solved? That forms the rest of the story.

Plus Points:

Aadi Sai Kumar gets a tailor-made role and has done so well in it. Be it his dialogue delivery, and body language for both the characters, he has done quite well. Heroine Darshana was neat in her role and looked beautiful.

Bigg Boss fame Kaushal played a good role and his acting was effective. The twin brother track, their emotions, and characters linked to the twins have been designed well in the first half. The interval block and sleeping disorder is shown in the film have also been executed well.

Minus Points:

The basic theme of the film had a lot of scope to elevate the proceedings but the director Krishna failed to utilize it. His screenplay is dull and the thrills needed for a crime thriller are completely missing in the film. More drama should have been created as to who is committing the murders but that did not happen.

The hero has a sleeping disorder and this aspect has so many issues. Also, this aspect is dragged way too much and this bores the audience completely. The director tried hard to elevate the suspense in the second half but failed to do so as the thrills showed do not engage at all.

Technical Aspects:

The technical aspects of the film are pretty decent. Suresh Bobbili’s music is one of the main highlights of the film and his BGM also elevated a few scenes. The camera work by Satish was on par with any big film and showcased the visuals in a good light. Coming to the director Krishna, his story is good but his narration was below par.

On the whole, Black is a crime thriller that has a good story but is spoilt with uneven narration. Aadi Sai Kumar is sincere with his act but the proceedings are dull and do not create any impact on the audience leaving them disinterested.

123telugu.com Rating: 2/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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From ‘The Woman King’ to ‘Emancipation: 11 Best Films of the Year

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As we wind down the calendar year of 2022 and start preparing for the new year, it’s always about this time of year that we start to see the ”Best Of’ lists from music, movies, entertainment & more.

When it comes to black cinema, this year has an array of films that have had record-breaking box office success. These films also saw huge streaming performances, and a few that just after viewing the trailer, we knew were already under Oscar consideration immediately.

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Movies like ‘The Woman King’, ‘Sidney’, and ‘Emancipation.’  dominated headlines throughout the year for various reasons, but there is also a common theme between the majority of these, which is empowerment.

From fantasy to fiction, these stories touched at the viewers hearts while also delivering an entertaining experience.

A list of the Ten Best Films of the Year was put together by the African American Film Critics Association, and to little surprise, ‘The Woman King’ came out on top.

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“The best films of this year prove that diverse stories – the true and the fantastical – are not only important to the culture but are equally important to the movie-making business,” said AAFCA president and co-founder  Gil Robertson.   

“Black films which make an impact on our minds and hearts are also making a sizable impact at the box office. Our top film, ‘The Woman King’, bridges the gap between telling important, heartfelt stories, and providing an entertaining experience for movie-going audiences.

This list gives movie lovers a chance to see films themed around accomplishment like ‘Emancipation’, to the fantastical tales such as ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,’ and maybe the less recognized gems that slipped through your radar. 

“AAFCA is proud to honor these masterpieces, along with the rest of AAFCA’s Top 10 Films of 2022, and acknowledge their indelible impact on our industry and culture.” Scroll down to see he full list of AAFCA’S Top 10 Films of this year, and let us know on social media if you agree with this list, or what movie you felt deserved to make it!

ABOUT AAFCA Established in 2003, AAFCA is the premiere body of Black film critics in the world, actively reviewing film and television, with a particular emphasis on entertainment that includes the Black experience and storytellers from the African Diaspora. The organization’s primary mission is to cultivate understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contributions of African descended talent to cinematic and television culture – from the artistic and technical legends of the past to the still unimagined breakthroughs of future generations.

The full list of AAFCA’S Top 10 Films of 2022:

1. the woman king.

In the 1800s, a group of all-female warriors protects the African kingdom of Dahomey with skills and fierceness unlike anything the world has ever seen. Faced with a new threat, Gen. Nanisca trains the next generation of recruits to fight against a foreign enemy that’s determined to destroy their way of life.

2. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M’Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with Nakia and Everett Ross to forge a new path for their beloved kingdom.

The true story of Mamie Till-Mobley’s relentless pursuit of justice for her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till, who was brutally lynched in 1955 while visiting his cousins in Mississippi.

Historians and film experts honours the legendary Sidney Poitier and his legacy as an iconic actor, filmmaker and activist at the centre of Hollywood and the Civil Rights Movement.

5. Emancipation

Peter, a slave, flees a plantation in Louisiana after he was whipped within an inch of his life. He has to outwit cold-blooded hunters and the unforgiving swamps of Louisiana on a torturous journey north.

6. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Tech billionaire Miles Bron invites his friends for a getaway on his private Greek island. When someone turns up dead, Detective Benoit Blanc is put on the case.

7. Inspection

Rejected by his mother, a young gay man finds unexpected strength, camaraderie and support after he joins the Marines.

8. Causeway

Lynsey, a U.S. soldier, experiences a traumatic brain injury during her tour in Afghanistan which forces her to return home. She struggles to return to her daily life with her mother as she waits for her eventual redeployment.

9. Everything Everywhere All At Once

When an interdimensional rupture unravels reality, an unlikely hero must channel her newfound powers to fight bizarre and bewildering dangers from the multiverse as the fate of the world hangs in the balance.

10. Wendell & Wild

The two devious demon brothers Wendell and Wild have to face their arch-enemy with the help of the nun Sister Helly, who is notorious for expelling demons. However, the brothers are not only plagued by her, but also by her altar boys.

11. Devotion

The inspirational true story of Jesse Brown, the first Black aviator in U.S. Navy history, and his enduring friendship with fellow fighter pilot Tom Hudner. Helping to turn the tide in the most brutal battle in the Korean War, their heroic sacrifices ultimately make them the Navy’s most celebrated wingmen.

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Best Black movies of 2022

Black cinema had an impressive year. From the days of Black filmmakers creating movies for segregated Black audiences in the early 1900s, Black movies have come a long way down a rocky road.

The Lincoln Motion Picture Company, established by George P. Johnson in 1916, was the first Black-owned company to produce Black stories for Black audiences. Over 100 years later, the number of Black actors and production companies—including Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw Productions, Tyler Perry Studios, and Spike Lee's 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, which currently has a deal with Netflix—has increased exponentially. Still, the reality remains that there are significant barriers for most Black creatives in the filmmaking industry.

Fewer Black stories are told on screen. And when they are, they're chronically underfunded and undermarketed. Likewise, Black actors overall are presented with fewer opportunities in their careers. As these statistics slowly change, an integral part of that shift is highlighting and celebrating the Black creatives and films making a mark on the industry and entertaining audiences.

To underscore the year's best projects in Black cinema,  Stacker looked at  Metacritic data of all movies released in 2022 and ranked the top 25 films, which had to have at least seven reviews to qualify and either be helmed by Black directors, filmmakers, or actors.

#25. Emancipation

- Director: Antoine Fuqua - Metascore: 54 - Runtime: 132 minutes

Antoine Fuqua's "Emancipation" follows the story of Peter (Will Smith), a Civil War-era enslaved man who manages to break away from the Louisiana plantation where he works and fight for the Union. While this is a fictional drama, "Emancipation" is based on the real-life story of Gordon, an enslaved man who did actually manage to escape the plantation where he was held. Later, Gordon was photographed for the magazine Harper's Weekly, where his brutal scarring served as concrete proof of the abuse inherent to slavery. Released in early December on Apple TV+, "Emancipation" marks a different kind of role for Will Smith, who  underwent a physical transformation to portray the rebellious Peter.

#24. A Jazzman's Blues

- Director: Tyler Perry - Metascore: 63 - Runtime: 127 minutes

Written, directed, and produced by cinematic powerhouse Tyler Perry, "A Jazzman's Blues" tells a tale of love and music set in the Jim Crow era of American history. This film features two timelines. The first tells the story of an older woman named Hattie Mae (Amirah Vann) presenting Attorney General Jonathan with letters that could solve a decades-old lynching. Meanwhile, the other plot tells the story contained within those letters: a yearslong courtship between white-passing Leanne and a Black musician named Bayou which results in him being the victim of a lynch mob. While Perry's film is a romance, it doesn't shy away from the anger of its subject matter and its protagonists' desire to escape in the face of blatant racism while touching on themes of colorism and antisemitism.

#23. Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.

- Director: Adamma Ebo - Metascore: 63 - Runtime: 102 minutes

"Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul." is a comedic mockumentary about the hypocrisy of U.S. megachurches and the individuals who run them. The film centers around Lee-Curtis (Sterling K. Brown) and Trinitie Childs (Regina Hall), the pastor and first lady of a megachurch, who attempt to reopen their church a year after losing their following due to a massive scandal. Written, directed, and produced by Adamma Ebo alongside Daniel Kaluuya and Jordan Peele as producer and executive producer, respectively, this film is a powerhouse of impressive contemporary Black talent.

#22. Master

- Director: Mariama Diallo - Metascore: 66 - Runtime: 98 minutes

Comedic genius Regina Hall depicts Gail Bishop, the titular master in question in this eerie endeavor from Mariama Diallo. But "Master" is by no means a comedy. This horror film follows Gail as she becomes the master of a private university in New England allegedly cursed by the ghost of a witch. At times a psychological thriller and a haunting supernatural film at others, Gail and two students, Jasmine (Zoe Renee) and Amelia (Talia Ryder), are forced to question whether the curse is real or a disgruntled faculty member is to blame for the mysterious and murderous events befalling the school. Diallo's directorial debut blends systemic racism with supernatural themes in a smart story exploring the experiences of Black individuals in higher educational institutions.

#21. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

- Director: Ryan Coogler - Metascore: 67 - Runtime: 161 minutes

Following the untimely death of "Black Panther" star Chadwick Boseman, director Ryan Coogler was forced to rebuild his franchise all over again: "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" is the result. This highly anticipated sequel sees Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) and Shuri (Letitia Wright), mother and sister of T'Challa (Boseman), grappling with the aftershocks of his death. While they struggle to continue the Black Panther legacy, they must protect the kingdom of Wakanda from invaders from all sides. With themes of colonization, grief, and political autonomy, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" melds the harsh reality of losing Boseman with the increasing political turmoil occurring in the United States all wrapped up in a Marvel blockbuster.

#20. Wendell & Wild

- Director: Henry Selick - Metascore: 69 - Runtime: 105 minutes

The notable exception on this list, "Wendell & Wild" is a stop-motion animation film about a young Black girl named Kat grieving the loss of her parents. The film does not have a Black director but was co-written by, co-produced by, and co-stars Jordan Peele. The film sees the reunion of the comedic duo Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele as the titular demons Wendell (Key) and Wild (Peele), two brothers trapped in the underworld tasked with applying hair cream on their father's head. With dreams of starting their own amusement park on Earth, they find their opportunity when they're linked with Kat (Lyric Ross), a punk orphan forced to attend Catholic school. This film stands out for its beautiful stop-motion animation, previously achieved by "Coraline" director Henry Selick. It is further distinguished for being a stop-motion animation with a Black lead and for having a canonically trans character.

#19. Sidney

- Director: Reginald Hudlin - Metascore: 70 - Runtime: 111 minutes

This feature film documentary centers the life of iconic actor and director Sidney Poitier, as told through Poitier's own words. Director Reginald Hudlin structures the narrative around Potier's voice-over and interviews, starting from his childhood in the Bahamas to his life as a hugely successful Black actor in the United States. Hudlin also features Poitier's interviews with celebrities—including Oprah Winfrey, who produced the film—and cultural critics alike who don't shy away from discussing difficult topics like Poitier's complicated relationship with his Black identity.

#18. The African Desperate

- Director: Martine Syms - Metascore: 72 - Runtime: 97 minutes

"The African Desperate" is about a woman trying to navigate an overwhelmingly, and sometimes oppressively, white environment. Through the story of Palace (Diamond Stingily), an MFA hopeful, this coming-of-age story, comedy, and drama makes a pointed statement about the struggles Black artists face in the world of fine art. Directed by Martine Syms, who comes from an art background herself, "The African Desperate" is both an emotional and experimental film that cements Syms' artistic voice.

- Director: Nikyatu Jusu - Metascore: 72 - Runtime: 97 minutes

Like 2020's "His House" and 2021's "No One Gets Out Alive" before it, "Nanny" is a contemporary horror film centered around the already harrowing experience of immigrants and refugees. The plot follows Aisha (Anna Diop), an immigrant from Senegal who takes a nanny job to send money to her son, who has yet to immigrate to America. The film centers around the maternal struggle of leaving a child behind to take care of another one and weaves African folklore throughout the predominantly white space Aisha navigates.

#16. Pirates

- Director: Reggie Yates - Metascore: 73 - Runtime: 80 minutes

"Pirates" is a charmingly comedic British tribute to the '90s Y2K music scene created by actor-turned-director Reggie Yates. The film follows Cappo (Elliot Edusah), Two Tone (Jordan Peters), and Kida (Reda Elazouar), who make garage music and run a pirate radio station as they attempt to gain admittance to a legendary New Year's Eve party so Two Tone can win over his crush. "Pirates" is a love letter and a time capsule of '90s London, filled with spectacular dialogue and an impressive soundtrack.

#15. Emergency

- Director: Carey Williams - Metascore: 73 - Runtime: 105 minutes

What starts as a "Superbad"-esque comedy following three college kids trying to achieve the "legendary tour" of attending seven frat parties in one night quickly turns into a horror story once the trio, all people of color, find a white teenage girl passed out in their living room. They can't call the police for fear of being blamed, and they're not sure what's happened to the girl to render her unconscious. Either way, they try to get her to an emergency room but face several roadblocks along the way. Streaming on Amazon Prime, "Emergency" explores the tension and unrest on modern college campuses, and the trauma young Black Americans have come to expect from campus life.

#14. The Inspection

- Director: Elegance Bratton - Metascore: 73 - Runtime: 95 minutes

Perfectly setting the tone for this masterful 2022 film, writer-director Elegance Bratton describes the time in his life that inspired "The Inspection" as "Full Metal Jacket" meets "Moonlight." Ellis French (Jeremy Pope) is a young gay Black man who is kicked out of his family for being gay. When he joins the Marine Corps, he is forced to once again come face-to-face with brutal homophobia in the ironically homoerotic confines of the Marine brotherhood. Pope's performance as Ellis has earned him critical acclaim and a nomination for Golden Globe for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama.

- Director: Rebeca Huntt - Metascore: 74 - Runtime: 79 minutes

This first feature film by Afro Latina director Rebeca Huntt is an intimate and explorative documentary centered entirely around Huntt herself. "Beba" is a coming-of-age story, a family history, and an exploration of contemporary racism directed toward intersectional identities like Huntt herself. Intercut with arthouse titles and a grainy colorful aesthetic, Huntt gets deeply personal with stories about her family's migration to New York and her father's narrow escape from ethnic cleansing.

#12. On the Count of Three

- Director: Jerrod Carmichael - Metascore: 74 - Runtime: 86 minutes

Marking the impressive directorial debut of stand-up comedian Jerrod Carmichael, "On the Count of Three" balances heavy topics like suicide and fatherhood while also being a Black comedy. The film follows two friends, Val (Carmichael) and Kevin (Christopher Abbott), who decide to tackle all their unfinished business in one day after they make a suicide pact, including killing a former molester and recovering stolen money. While the plot is strong, the performances of Carmichael and Abbott form the heart of this movie, using comedy to take an unflinching look at men's mental health.

#11. The Woman King

- Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood - Metascore: 77 - Runtime: 135 minutes

Based on the real-life exploits of the Agojie, a band of elite female warriors that protected Benin (formerly the West African kingdom of Dahomey), "The Woman King" fictionalizes history to create an engaging story of female empowerment. The award-winning actor Viola Davis leads this film as General Nanisca, who trains young warriors to join the Agojie ranks under the advisement of King Ghezo (John Boyega). Director Gina Prince-Bythewood has accomplished the difficult feat of creating an engaging Hollywood blockbuster that still has heart and depth of character that makes it easily stand out.

- Director: Jordan Peele - Metascore: 77 - Runtime: 130 minutes

"Nope" marks the third feature film by comedian-turned-horror master Jordan Peele. With his most grand and technologically advanced film to date, "Nope" also features one of the most horrifying cold opens of the year. The film follows a brother-sister duo of horse trainers in California named OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and Emerald (Keke Palmer) whose lives get completely turned upside down when they discover a UFO has killed their father and taken up residence above their ranch. "Nope" is both a critique of the importance of spectacle in modern entertainment and an exploration of the exploitation of Black people and animals in cinema history.

- Director: Jean Luc Herbulot - Metascore: 78 - Runtime: 84 minutes

Set in the countries of Guinea-Bissau and Senegal during the real-life historical coup of Guinea-Bissau in 2003, "Saloum" follows a trio of mercenaries who are stranded in an isolated camp following an extraction. "Saloum" is a brilliant example of genre hybridity, with Richard Kuipers of Variety describing the film as a combination of "Spaghetti Westerns, samurai dramas, and classic monster movies" while still being a wholly African film. Despite the various genre and tonal shifts, director Jean Luc Herbulot creates a cohesive and engaging film that successfully creeps audiences out with its chilling supernatural events.

- Director: Chinonye Chukwu - Metascore: 79 - Runtime: 130 minutes

The murder of Emmett Till is a deeply disturbing example of the racism present in American society. For its part, 2022's "Till" seeks to highlight the fearless activism of Emmett's mother, Mamie Till, while simultaneously exploring the ramifications of his death. "Till" is careful to avoid exploiting said death for shock value, with director Chinonye Chukwu promising not to depict any onscreen violence against Black characters. The film has been praised for its directing, cinematography, and performances, with particular attention to the brilliant performance of Danielle Deadwyler as Mamie, which has cemented her as a star.

#7. Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

- Director: Sacha Jenkins - Metascore: 80 - Runtime: 106 minutes

"Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues" takes the structure of the documentary film and puts an artistic twist on it, modeling itself as a scrapbook. Indeed, director Sacha Jenkins was directly inspired by Louis Armstrong's scrapbooks, which are exhibited in the film. Jenkins' film takes us through Armstrong's life, which is filled with charming anecdotes of his boyhood; interviews with other artists who knew him later in life; and a celebration of his musical performances that everyone knows and loves. However, the documentary does not shy away from asking the audience challenging questions about Armstrong's public involvement, or lack thereof, with the civil rights movement in a nuanced way that does not condemn the man.

#6. Neptune Frost

- Directors: Anisia Uzeyman, Saul Williams - Metascore: 83 - Runtime: 105 minutes

Originally conceived as both a graphic novel and later a stage musical, "Neptune Frost" is a hybrid science fiction musical film with queer and anticapitalist themes. Falling into the genre of Afrofuturism, which illustrates conceptions of the future through a Black lens, this film follows a miner and an intersex hacker who find themselves in another dimension where they join a rebellion. "Neptune Frost" was created by the musician Saul Williams, who co-directs with his wife, Anisia Uzeyman. Together, the duo successfully creates a dreamlike yet energetic film with beautiful cinematography.

#5. Is That Black Enough for You?!?

- Director: Elvis Mitchell - Metascore: 83 - Runtime: 135 minutes

"Is That Black Enough for You?!?" stands out on this list as a Black film about the history and evolution of Black cinema, specifically in the 1970s. Written, directed, and narrated by Elvis Mitchell—who has long served as a film critic, working for publications like the New York Times and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram—the documentary has a more personal tone, prioritizing the subject's significance to Mitchell over objective historical reporting in a way that makes the film all the more engaging. It also includes stellar interviews with Black icons like Samuel L. Jackson, Laurence Fishburne, and Whoopi Goldberg, who, with Mitchell, lived through the history they discuss in the film.

- Director: Mahamat-Saleh Haroun - Metascore: 83 - Runtime: 87 minutes

Chosen by the country Chad as their official submission to the 94th Academy Awards' Best International Feature Film category (though not selected), "Lingui" (also called "Lingui, The Sacred Bonds") is a slice-of-life drama about motherhood and the experiences of women within a religious and patriarchal society. The film follows single mother Amina and her teenage daughter Maria, who is sexually assaulted and desperately seeks an abortion, a procedure banned by law and religion in their predominantly Muslim homeland. Written and directed by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, who was born and raised in Chad, the intimacy and empathy of the film make it a moving and ultimately hopeful viewing experience.

#3. Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America

- Directors: Emily Kunstler, Sarah Kunstler - Metascore: 84 - Runtime: 117 minutes

In this impressive documentary, criminal defense and civil rights lawyer Jeffery Robinson paints a truthful portrait of the history of racism against Black people in the United States and the unfortunately relevant presence of white supremacy in contemporary America. "Who We Are" intercuts Robinson with archival footage and interview subjects, including a survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre named Mother Randle and Dr. Tiffany Crutcher, whose brother was killed on live television. The film is an adaptation of a series of lectures Robinson gave around the United States, directed by sisters Emily and Sarah Kunstler, who aim to bring said lectures to a wider audience.

#2. Aftershock

- Directors: Paula Eiselt, Tonya Lewis Lee - Metascore: 87 - Runtime: 86 minutes

"Aftershock" is a documentary about two Black families ripped apart by the grief that follows the mothers' deaths post-childbirth, leaving the now single fathers to raise their children and discover a new way forward. Fathers Omari Maynard and Bruce McIntyre quickly form a lifelong bond through their shared trauma, deciding to become mental health activists and bring awareness to the maternal mortality crisis. Black director-producer Tonya Lewis Lee co-created the film; she is the wife of Spike Lee.

#1. Descendant

- Director: Margaret Brown - Metascore: 88 - Runtime: 109 minutes

Distributed by former President Barack Obama's film production company Higher Ground, "Descendant" is a documentary about the Clotilda, the last slave ship to reach American soil in 1860. Sparked by the discovery of the ship's remains, the heart of the film is about Africantown, a community where many of the descendants of those enslaved on the Clotilda still live. This film was directed by Margaret Brown, a white director, but Brown intentionally brought on Black producer Essie Chambers and worked in conjunction with Dr. Kern Jackson, an African American studies professor from the University of South Alabama, to ensure the project was still fundamentally a Black story.

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In this Black film, Aadi Saikumar , Darshana Banik played the primary leads.

The Black was released in theaters on 28 May 2022.

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Movies like Nandamuri Mokshagna - Prasanth Varma Film , HIT: The 3rd Case , Pushpa 2: The Rule and others in a similar vein had the same genre but quite different stories.

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Best Movies of 2022

Amid endless agonizing over the State of Cinema, the actual releases proved a bounty for film lovers, whether fans of the art house or the multiplex.

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By Manohla Dargis and A.O. Scott

Manohla Dargis | A.O. Scott

Manohla Dargis

The Most Fearless Visions

In 1985, The New York Times’s longtime film critic Vincent Canby wrote an inspired, admirably cranky essay about the future of cinema. The spark for his ruminations was “Room 666,” a documentary from Wim Wenders that had just opened in New York. Shot during the 1982 Cannes Film Festival, the movie consists of different directors alone in a hotel room where they respond to a question that Wenders had written on a piece of paper: “Is cinema a language that is about to get lost, an art that is about to die?”

The first director — and the other inspiration for Canby’s disquiet — was Jean-Luc Godard, who described Wenders’s project as an inquest on the future of films. For the next 10 minutes or so, Godard, smoking his familiar cigar, meditates on this vexing, evergreen question with his characteristic intelligence, opacity and epigrammatic wit. The news isn’t good. “The dream of Hollywood is to make one film,” Godard says, “and it’s television that makes it, but which is distributed everywhere” — which is as good a description of our NetflixDisneyMarvel world as I’ve read.

For Canby, Godard’s prediction of a one-movie world had already come to pass. Acclaimed films from the likes of Jonathan Demme were struggling at a box office dominated by wide releases like “Beverly Hills Cop.” Canby believed that there was plenty of blame to go around, pointing to risk-averse money types and a “sheeplike” public. He wrote that “our society is being increasingly homogenized, possibly through the pervasive power of television to plant the same ideas, the same fears and the same fads in more people, more quickly, than has ever before been possible in the history of the world.” Yikes!

I don’t think Canby and Godard were entirely right (feel free to discuss among yourselves), but after nearly four decades and innumerable interchangeable franchise sequels, it’s clear they weren’t entirely wrong. Yet, all these years later — and even as the industry struggles through yet another of its interminable crises — I am again heartened by all of the good and great movies that continue to be released. People often ask me if I’ve seen any good movies lately. I have, many of them, this and every year, but if I can’t tempt you with one of my favorites of 2022, I suggest you watch a film or two by Godard.

His soul left the world on Sept. 13; his movies will live forever .

1. ‘EO’ (Jerzy Skolimowski)

Soon after this indelible heartbreaker opens, a little circus donkey called EO — named for the sounds he makes — sets off on a strange, at times phantasmagoric, adventure. Along the way, he encounters other animals but, more consequently, kind and cruel people whose treatment of him reflects the denatured world that we have made. Now 84, Skolimowski has made one of the rare movies that speak to life’s most essential questions, and he’s done so with the ecstatic vision and fearlessness of a cinematic genius who seems as if he’s just getting started. (In theaters.)

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7 Movies From the 2010s That Have Already Been Remade

10 action thrillers that are just as exciting as rebel ridge, the most annoying characters in otherwise perfect movies.

2022 was weird, exciting, and sometimes fulfilling. Media fanatics and pop culture enthusiasts came with refreshing reviews, jaw-dropping hot takes, and intriguing theories that make media consumption all the more fascinating. In the midst of all the chaos ensuing in the world, it was great to be met with wonderful media.

The year saw the return of industry giants like Tyler Perry and Jordan Peele while also including fascinating talents like Mariama Diallo and Elegance Bratton. Each director made a bold and clear statement this year with their films. Some movies let us escape into fantasy far from our own reality. Other films threw the hard truth in our faces and left audiences astounded in the aftermath. All of these films provided a foundation or an additional step to already existing discourse about Blackness and its many shades, figuratively and literally speaking.

Some of these films swim in familiar territory and some play with forms and subjects beyond easy comprehension, however their unique contribution to the large pool of Black stories will never be taken for granted. The ability to experiment with the seemingly mundane and entertain the experimental has always been a cherished pillar in Black art. The following nine films range from the most harrowing, to the funniest, to the most enlightening projects to grace our screens this year..

9 A Jazzman’s Blues

One of the latest Tyler Perry productions, A Jazzman’s Blues chronicles the adventures of a talented musician named Bayou, and his boundless love for Leanne (Solea Pfeiffer). Throughout the late 20th century, viewers see multiple shades of Bayou (Joshua Boone): the musician, the lover, and the protector. Perry excels in creating a multi-faceted protagonist with a storyline that highlights the richness of Black stories. The music, the display of affection, and the presentation of strong familial bonds capture the nuanced experiences of Black Americans in a beautiful light.

The traumatic experiences throughout the film are not made into spectacle nor do they largely serve as an educational program for non-Black viewers. Capturing the violence not only accurately depicts the horrific nature of American racism but also contributes to the film’s goal. Humanizing the characters goes beyond showing them in a positive light but includes scenes, lines, and actions that emphasize their humanity. Through A Jazzman’s Blues, Tyler Perry tells an alluring tale of legacy, trauma, and love with strong characterization and captivating storylines.

Nikyatu Jusu's Nanny follows Aisha (Anna Diop), a Senegalese immigrant who works as a nanny for a wealthy couple living on the Upper East Side. The titular nanny ultimately wishes to bring her son to the United States with her. Through horror, the film provides poignant critiques of the American Dream while looking at motherhood from multiple angles: as a duty, as a privilege, and ultimately, a term with fluid definitions.

Related: The Top 12 Black Movies of 2021

Throughout the film, there is a silent interrogation of the different displays of motherhood. In pursuit of the American Dream , some families can afford one type of motherhood, and others can't or don't want to. Who gets to be a mother? Who gets to have multiple maternal figures present in their lives, and who suffers the consequences of their absence? It is that exploration, a look into the lives of both Aisha and her employers, that ultimately makes Nanny one of the most intriguing and thought-provoking films of the year.

7 Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul.

The Ebo sisters' film Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul. is a hilarious commentary on the intersection of race, religion, and sexuality. Hidden among amusing delusions of grandeur and ridiculous props, the film ultimately tackles taboo subjects like sexual abuse, homophobia in the church, and the hypocritical nature of mega-churches and their leaders, all while respecting the religious themes at their roots.

Sterling K. Brown, Regina Hall, and Austin Crute provide the movie’s funniest scenes as well as cutting lines that tear at the facade of fun that the movie intentionally clouds itself with. If you're looking for a film that masters tackling serious topics while providing satisfactory comedy that does not feel unnecessary or forced, Honk For Jesus sits perfectly at the top of recommendations.

6 The Inspection

The Inspection sees the seemingly eternal Gabrielle Union on screen with Jeremy Pope, of Pose and Hollywood fame. Writer and director Elegance Bratton pulled from unique experiences to tell the tale of a queer Black man in the military. The film exquisitely captures the intersectionality that runs through characters and their existence, thus contributing to real-world discussions about race, gender, and sexuality.

Related: The Inspection Review: A Complex Portrait of Love and Acceptance Anchored by Riveting Performances

The film takes a look at ‘being in the closet,’ a phenomenon that could be minimized as a hindrance to a person's progress. What some people fail to realize is that in plenty of spaces, coming out is a privilege many do not enjoy. In the absence of that "privilege," those unable to remain discreet are faced with revolting violence. In the case of Ellis (Pope), he is subjected to horrific treatment in the military largely in part due to his sexuality. Amid rampant homophobia and the added pressure of being Black in the United States, the film reiterates the idea that some people do not have the privilege to exist peacefully. Furthermore, Bratton explores how marginalized groups find a way to navigate those socially-constructed obstacles and in turn help themselves and those around them.

5 Elesin Oba, The King’s Horseman

The adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s beloved play Death and the King’s Horseman sees the Nigerian playwright’s words lifted from the page an adapted by director Biyi Bandele, who sadly passed away after finishing the film. Set during the 1940s, the film follows Elesin (Odunlade Adekola), the titular character responsible for following his king into the afterlife. Yoruba religion constitutes that the King’s Horseman must adhere to the order of the universe. As a result, his ritual suicide is stressed as a serious duty to fulfill.

Instead, Elesin remains alive, lusting after the women in his village, to the dismay of many, The film captures the same internal conflict Elesin encounters in the original script. While readers and viewers can empathize with Elesin’s lust for life, it is when he wields his status to evade his duty and the consequences of his actions that elicit conflict. The duty that centers the play brings forth necessary discussions about the “clash of cultures” comment that many historians use to describe imperialism. Like Soyinka, Biyi Bandele masterfully interrogates the aforementioned comment to highlight the impacts of imperialism on indigenous religions and cultures.

Regina Hall makes her second appearance in a great 2022 film with Mariama Diallo’s debut film Master . Inspired by her horrific experience at Yale University, Diallo crafts a world eerily similar to our own. Incorporating traditional horror tropes regarding magic, the supernatural, and the afterlife, Diallo investigates racism on elite college campuses through three Black characters. Gail (Hall) serves as the newly appointed master of Ancaster while Jasmine (Zoe Reeves) is a freshman from the suburbs who grapple with frightening phantoms and her own biases being evaluated.

The film is at its best when it interrogates what it means to be Black in elite academic circles, to the point where it nearly overshadows the paranormal occurrences on campus. From the secrets of the staff to the rampant racial abuse the protagonists face, Master presses its audience to actively engage with themes present in the film rather than lecture audiences. Using fantasy and horror, Diallo captured just how uncomfortable alienation feels while stressing the real dangers many Black students and faculty face while in higher education.

3 Emergency

Emergency is a fascinating thriller baked in drama and comedy. The film is an adaptation of Carey Williams and KD Dávila’s short film of the same name. In hopes of being the first Black men to complete the “Legendary Tour" of frat parties at their college, best friends Sean (RJ Cyler) and Kinte (Donald Elise Watkin) are met with a deadly dilemma. Discovering the body of a white girl named Emma (Maddie Nichols), the pair and their roommate Carlos try to figure out the best way to help Emma. Calling the police seems like the obvious choice, however, the looming legacy of police brutality sits in the room with the protagonists like a silent side character.

Viewers also meet a frantic Maddy (Sabrina Carpenter), who is searching for her sister Emma alongside her two friends Alice (Madison Thompson) and Rafael (Diego Abraham). When the two groups meet, confusion leads to chaos, biases rise to the surface and the six adolescents experience a night like no other.

The college experience is a unique yet popular experience for millions of Americans. The additional suspense and drama make Emergency sound like a startling series of events on campus, finding itself in the mouth and ears of students and faculty alike. The reality of a hectic night on campus rings true to many and the social commentary makes Emergency one of the best films on screen this year.

2 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

The highly anticipated sequel to the blockbuster Black Panther finally hit screens earlier this fall. Ryan Coogler’s latest film might be the most exciting sector of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The wonderful strokes of science fiction, the commendable critiques of colonialism, and the gratifying homage to the late Chadwick Boseman all helped its sequel, Black Panther: Wanda Forever .

The returning cast includes Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyongo, Danai Guria, and Winston Dukes just to name a few. To say they amazed audiences would be an understatement. While grieving, we watch the characters grapple with the added pressure from the international world demanding access to vibranium as well as a new threat from beneath the ocean. Additionally, Michaela Coel and Tenoch Huerta shine on their own as their monumental introductions fit right into the franchise and further explore the rich lore Marvel has to offer.

2022 was undoubtedly the year of Keke Palmer. Taking over social media and the silver screen once again, the Hollywood icon’s onscreen roles left the theaters and now rest in the millions of souls who had the fortune of watching her films. Alice and Lightyear display the versatility many of us know and love Keke for. However, Nope was a highly anticipated event that fulfilled everyone’s wishes and in turn, became the media frenzy that not only Palmer but Daniel Kaluuyah, Steven Yeun, Brandon Perea, and especially Jordan Peele.

It feels relieving to see Jordan Peele strike gold again. With Nope , Peele successfully explores spectacle and exploitation by doing what he does best, subverting existing tropes in popular genres. The film follows a brother and sister duo (Kaluuyah and Palmer respectively) of Hollywood horse trainers who are forced to face a startling foe after both humans and horses are mysteriously killed by an unexplainable enemy.

The film does a spectacular job of covering the price of fame and more specifically, the spectacle itself. The actions and events of the film are largely an examination of the intent and impact of performing or acting in the name of spectacle and spectacle only. Typical adventures are flipped on their head and reveal a much more satisfactory and unimaginable conclusion, one that only Jordan Peele could incomparably invent.

• Movie Lists

blackfilm.com’s Top Films of 2022

by Donna Torrence December 29, 2022, 3:54 pm

2022 started out on a crazy note with a slap felt around the world, soaring inflation, a seemingly never ending covid pandemic, and then… the overturning of Roe v. Wade. While all of this swirled around our heads, we sought out entertainment as a respite. Leading us to head back into the theaters or stay at home and stream more movies than ever before. As a result, for the first time, streaming set records, beating out cable.

So what were we watching? blackfilm.com sought out to answer that question.

Here is blackfilm.com’s list of Top Films of 2022.

TOP FILMS OF 2022

Black panther: wakanada forever.

Ryan Cooler’s hit follow-up to the Marvel blockbuster Black Panther , the action/adventure film which starred the late Chadwick Boseman.  Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira, Sope Aluko, Winston Duke, Michaela Coel and Letitia Wright star in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever . The film does an excellent job of dealing with the Black Panther’s death, introducing new characters and moving the story forward.

The Woman King

In Gina Prince-Bythewood’s powerful action/drama, Viola Davis is the general of a fierce army of female warriors in the African kingdom of Dahomey. Set in the 1800’s, The Woman King was inspired by real life events. We loved the intense battle scenes and all of the great moments of sisterhood.

Avatar: The Way of Water

James Cameron’s sequel to the 2009 box office smash Avatar is set in the deep blue world of the ocean. Another breathtakingly beautiful action adventure film about family, community and their bond with the world around them. Avatar: The Way of Water stars Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver and CCH Pounder. Look out for 2 more sequels.

Everything Everywhere All At Once

As the title suggests, this Sci-fi film is all over the place. Kung Fu expert Michelle Yeoh stars as a laundromat owner, who, along with her husband and children are struggling to get by. Are they a simple working class American family, or a family of Superheroes???

Keke Palmer and Daniel Kaluuya star in this Jordan Peele Horror/Sci-fi flick about a family of ranchers that discover a mysterious otherworldly phenomenon in the sky above their ranch.

Top Gun: Maverick

Starring Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller and Jay Ellis, Top Gun: Maverick was the top grossing domestic film of 2022.  It is the sequel to the 1986 high action classic Top Gun . Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a flight trainer to an elite group of Top Gun graduates tapped for a nearly impossible mission.

Directed by Chinonye Chukwu and starring Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Frankie Faison and Whoopi Goldberg. After young Emmett Till is brutally lynched in1955, his mother vows to expose the racism behind the attack as well as make those involved pay.

Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul.

A pastor and first lady of a Southern Baptist mega church rocked by scandal, struggle to regain their standing and rebuild their congregation. The satire, written and directed by Adamma Ebo and produced by Adanna Ebo, stars Sterling K. Brown, and Regina Hall.

A documentary highlighting the disproportionate number of Black women who die each year by a failing maternal health care system. Told through the voices of husbands and other family members left behind. Produced by Tonya Lewis Lee and Paula Eiselt.

Descendants

A historical documentary about the survivors and descendants of The Clotilda, the last known slave ship to arrive in the US. The film chronicles the search for the ships remains. Descendants is produced by Higher Ground Productions, founded by Barack and Michelle Obama.

Bullet Train

Brian Tyree Henry, Brad Pitt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Joey King and Zazie Beatz star in this action/comedy that follows 5 assassins aboard the Bullet Train . All five assassins soon find out that they have the same agenda.

A superhero action/adventure film staring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Black Adam. The film also stars Aldis Hodge (Hawkman), and Pierce Brosnan (Dr. Fate/Kent Nelson), Noah Centineo (Atom Smasher) and Quintessa Swindell (Cyclone). A DC Universe character, Black Adam is a spin-off of Shazam!

A Jazzman’s Blues

A Tyler Perry film about a jazz musician’s rise to fame and the trouble that ensues when he falls in love with a woman passing for white in 1940’s rural Georgia. The film stars Amirah Vann, Joshua Boone, Austin Scott and Solea Pfeiffer

Bones and All

A strange and gory romantic drama starring Timothée Chalamet, Taylor Russell and André Holland. Bones and All is a love story that is both tender and horrifying. The film follows a drifter and a troubled young woman who fall in love while traveling through the backroads of America.

Amsterdam has an all-star cast featuring Christian Bale, John David Washington, Margot Robbie, Michael Shannon, Mike Myers, Rami Malek, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Rock, Zoe Saldana and Robert De Niro. This wacky period comedy/thriller set in the1930s about three friends who witness a murder. and are framed for it. In clearing their names, they uncover one of the most outrageous plots in American history.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Janelle Monáe plays a major role and does an excellent job. We really see her acting skills here. She is funny, she is believable, and she looks fabulous. Leslie Odom Jr., Daniel Craig, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautisa and Edward Norton also star in this crazy mystery/comedy.

Emancipation

A slave drama that many are calling Will Smith’s best work. The film, Directed by Antoine Fuqua, is inspired by the famous photos of Whipped Peter that appeared in Harper’s Weekly in 1863.

The Inspection

Jeremy Pope and Gabrielle Union have received lots of praise for their performance as an estranged mother and son in this moving drama. The Inspection follows a young, gay Black man who join the Marines after being rejected by his mother. The film is written and directed by Elegance Bratton.

Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues

A deep dive into the life and career of Louis Armstrong featuring never before seen footage and performances. Interviews, notes and pages from Armstrong’s scrapbook, and conversations he recorded at his home with friends, drive this well-done documentary directed by Sacha Jenkins.

Is That Black Enough For You

A documentary from New York Times film critic Elvis Mitchell chronicling the actors, directors, soundtracks, and overall impact of the Black films of the 1970s on the film industry. Interviews include Samuel L. Jackson, Whoopie Goldberg, Harry Belafonte, Laurence Fishburne, Billy Dee Williams, Glynn Turman, Stan Lathan, Mario Van Peebles and Zendaya.

The gorgeous Anna Diop stars in this beautifully shot psychological thriller about an African Nanny working for a wealthy New York couple who encounters an evil and violent presence. It also deals with race, class and the immigration experience. The film is directed by a sister, Nikyatu Jusu, and picked up the top prize at 2022 Sundance.

Gorgeously dark and brooding. Starring the captivating Zoë Kravitz as Cat Woman, DC’s The Batman (Robert Pattinson) is hunting a sadistic serial killer plaguing Gotham in this offering of the saga. Jeffrey Wright and Colin Farrell also star.

An inspirational true story about Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors), the first Black aviator in U.S. Navy history and his fellow fighter pilot Tom Hudner (Glen Powell). Fighting in the Korean War, they became the Navy’s most celebrated wingmen.

Entergalactic

Entergalactic is adult animated love story from musician/actor Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi. The film is a mind-bending visual companion piece to his album of the same name. It is a stunning comic book, street art and graffiti mash up starring Cudi, Jessica Williams, Vanessa Hudgens, Timothée Chalamet, Keith David, Ty Dolla $ign, Jaden Smith, Macaulay Culkin, Teyana Taylor, Kenya Barris and more.

On The Come Up

Directed by and starring Sanaa Lathan, the story follows 16 year old rapper Bri Jackson (Jamilla Grey) as she attempts to rise to fame. Also appearing are Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Michael Cooper, Method Man, Lil Yachty, and Mike Epps. On The Come Up is written by Kay Oyegon, known for her work on This Is Us .

A horror/psychological thriller written and directed by Mariama Diallo (her directorial debut). Regina Hall stars as a college professor in this supernatural film that touches on race and politics. Zoe Renee and Amber Gray co-star.

Keke Palmer does an excellent job in the staring role as Alice, an enslaved woman who uncovers the lies which have kept her and others in bondage for years. Common also stars.

A romantic drama from Lena Waithe, inspired by the life of pop star Witney Houston. Beauty stars Gracie Marie Bradley and Aleyse Shannon; with performances from Sharon Stone, Niecy Nash, Giancarlo Esposito and Joey Bada$$.

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody

The newest musical drama celebrating the epic life of pop icon Whitney Houston, starring Naomi Ackie. A beautiful film produced by her mentor Clive Davis along with the Houston family, Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody captures the stars’ pivotal moments and performances. Stanley Tucci, Tamara Tunie, Nafessa Williams, Ashton Sanders and Clarke Peters also star. Directed by Kasi Lemmons ( Eve’s Bayou , Harriet , Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker ).

RELATED: blackfilm.com’s Movies of 2021

How “Emancipation” Costume Designer Francine Jamison-Tanchuck Brought Realism To The Screen

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‘Black Box’ Review: Geeky French Thriller Sifts Through the Pieces of a Suspicious Plane Crash

In Yann Gozlan's gripping thriller, Pierre Niney plays an obsessive investigator who risks his life to investigate a high-profile accident.

By Peter Debruge

Peter Debruge

Chief Film Critic

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Buckle up. “ Black Box ” is the kind of smart, taut conspiracy thriller Hollywood used to consistently make, only this one hails from France, which has been beating the American studios at their own game lately in the good-movies-for-grown-ups department. (Heck, most countries now do a better job than the U.S. at respecting the audience’s intelligence.) Centered on the eponymous device, recovered from a freak airplane accident, this engaging if slightly overlong film stars Pierre Niney as an obsessive forensic analyst who hears the words “Allahu Akbar!” on a recovered cockpit voice recorder and can’t quite believe his ears.

If the setup sounds a bit like Brian De Palma’s “Blow Out,” that’s hardly a bad thing, except “Black Box” centers on high-altitude hijinks, rather than a Chappaquiddick-like car crash. Opening the movie in mid-air, director Yann Gozlan leaves the crisis mostly up to the imagination, firing our neurons rather than our adrenaline receptors as he dollies backward from the cockpit, through the cabin, all the way to the tail of the plane, where the black box is stored. Fun fact: These devices are now bright orange, not black, but were so called back in the day, when the flight recorders used photosensitive material.

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Audiences may recognize Niney as the adorable young actor who played Yves Saint Laurent, though he comes across buttoned up and borderline autistic here as a dweeby Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis investigator, so intense as to be almost unlikable. His character, Mathieu Vasseur, would’ve loved to be a pilot, but his eyesight grounded that career. Now, he overcompensates by being better at his desk job than anyone needs him to be — especially the BEA boss (André Dussollier) who’d be just as happy to sweep a commercial airline crash under the rug.

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If it really was a terrorist attack, that could mean war, though such an explanation would certainly be more convenient for corporate interests than an instrument malfunction. After taking audiences through the steps of how such a postmortem is conducted, Mathieu stands up at a press conference and pulls a Colin Powell: His premature conclusions let the airline off the hook.

Then Mathieu’s manager (Olivier Rabourdin) goes missing, and he starts to sniff around on his own time. Mathieu  starts to hear how pilots aren’t getting the training they need to use the new autopilot system. This detail seems to be lifted directly from a real-world case involving Boeing’s 737 MAX planes, which were grounded after two high-profile crashes: Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. The controversy is detailed in Netflix documentary “Aftershock,” which points out problems in a system where engineers working for the company were given the authority to certify their own aircraft, rather than relying on the FAA.

Much of contemporary audiences’ mistrust of corporations stems from decades of Hollywood movies taking them to task for prioritizing profits over safety. But there are complicated legal and political reasons why movies like “Silkwood” don’t get made as often today. Instead, we get generic Trumpian villains of the largely brainless variety — which makes a movie such as this, unafraid to wade into the technical weeds, all the more gratifying. The film unfolds like a Michael Crichton page-turner: informed by real science, heightened by human-interest details, like the on-again-off-again girlfriend (Lou de Laâge) who’s gone to work for the enemy.

Gozlan and co-writers Simon Moutaïrou and Nicolas Bouvet-Levrard imagine a kind of Achilles’ heel whereby someone can hack into the entertainment system and override the cockpit controls, effectively remote-controlling the plane. It’s a terrifying idea, since air travel is scary enough for those already anxious about putting their lives in someone else’s hands.

Now imagine if someone could do the same thing to the computer inside your car. “Black Box” takes those fears and packages them in a sleek and surprising procedural. Since it’s French, there are no guarantees that we’ll get the kind of happy ending to which American audiences are accustomed. (In fact, the last act fulfills a different kind of French cliché.) But it’s satisfying all the same, even if peering inside this particular black box is likely to make your next flight feel that much more turbulent.

Reviewed online, May 4, 2022. In COLCOA film festival. Running time: 130 MIN. (Original title: “Boîte noire”)

• Production: (France-Belgium) A Distrib Films US (in U.S.), Studiocanal (in France) release of a WY Prods., 24 25 Films, Studiocanal, France 2 Cinéma production, in co-production with Panache Prods., La Compagnie Cinematographique, in association with Proximus, VOO, with the participation of Canal Plus, France Televisions, OCS, in association with Cofinova 16, Indéfilms 8, Cinemage 14, SG Image 2018, with the support of La Procirep, La Sacem, with the participation of Cofimage Développement 9 (Groupe BPCE), A Plus Image Développement 7, Soficinéma 13 Développement, Indéfilms Initiative 7. (World sales: Studiocanal, Paris.) Producers: Wassim Béji, Thibault Gast, Matthias Weber. Co-producers: André Logie, Gaëtan David.
• Crew: Director: Yann Gozlan. Screenplay: Yann Gozlan, Simon Moutaïrou, Nicolas Bouvet-Levrard, in collaboration with Jérémie Guez. Camera: Pierre Cottereau. Editor: Valentin Feron. Music: Philippe Rombi.
• With: Pierre Niney, Lou de Laâge, André Dussollier, Sébastien Pouderoux, Olivier Rabourdin, Guillaume Marquet, Mehdi Djaadi, Anne Azoulay, Octave Bossuet, Grégori Derangère, Aurélien Recoing, André Marcon.

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The Best Black Movies of 2022

We don’t need to tell you that it’s not cheap to go to the movies. Every time you decide to head to the theater, you’re committing to spend at least $12-15 per ticket and maybe $15-20 on concessions. With that much money on the line, the last thing you want is to sit through a mediocre movie. Luckily, none of these films fall into that category. These are the ones that you went back and paid that high price to see again. Take a moment and reflect on The Root’s best Black movies of 2022.

10: Honk For Jesus, Save Your Soul

Black churches are so essential to the Black community, but it’s also no secret that some of them aren’t completely in it for the Lord. The way this film challenges the institution with fantastic performances from Regina Hall and Sterling K. Brown is fun and thought provoking. Seriously, put some respect on Regina Hall’s name!

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The thing about Jordan Peele’s work is that it’s always interesting, and that’s not something you can say about a lot of filmmakers. He never phones it in. No matter what you think of the craziness, you’ll be talking about it long after you’ve seen the movie.

8: Devotion

Jonathan Majors is having a moment right now. The closest comparison I can come up with is ‘90s Denzel, where he’s delivering banger after banger after banger. In Devotion , he deftly balances honoring Jesse Brown, the decorated pilot, with telling the story of his humanity and struggle for dignity in a world that doesn’t think he deserves it.

7: Descendant

For all those white people who want to take slavery out of textbooks and think it happened so long ago it doesn’t matter anymore, I suggest you watch Descendant . The residents of Africatown are in a direct fight to stop the industrial complex from bulldozing their history at the same time we’re all fighting to prevent certain governmental systems from erasing ours. Descendant is a showcase for why documentaries are still such an important part of filmmaking.

6: The Inspection

Elegance Bratton’s debut film chronicling a Marine’s quest for acceptance and peace of mind is a barrage of emotions, but it’s all beautifully handled by the veteran cast. Jeremy Pope and Gabrielle Union are at the top of their game as they guide the audience through every step of this standout work of art.

Honoring an icon like Sidney Poitier isn’t necessarily easy. We all know about his impact on Black entertainment and how many actors and filmmakers he’s inspired. But where Sidney excels is that it finds the humanity behind the star and actually honors the man, not the icon.

It takes a strong performer to embody a woman like Mamie Till-Mobley and not get lost in the importance of the story. Danielle Deadwyler guides us through every moment of Mamie’s grief, resolve, shock and strength without ever going over the top or losing sight of the real woman behind the history.

3: Everything Everywhere All at Once

Everything Everywhere All At Once | EVERYTHING | Official Promo HD | A24

It’s so rare to be surprised by a movie nowadays, but that’s exactly what Everything Everywhere All at Once did. Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan are awesome, the visuals are cool and it’s fun to watch. I don’t want to spoil how truly spectacular this movie is, but just know that it’s entertaining in every single universe.

2: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Ryan Coogler managed to guide us all through our collective grief while also delivering a thrilling follow-up to a history-making, game-changing film. Shuri, Nakia, M’Baku and Okoye all grew as characters and Wakanda grows as a country. In any other year, it would have been the unquestioned best movie, but you can never count out Viola.

1: The Woman King

From the cast, to the direction, to the historical setting, The Woman King excels on every level. It’s the kind of art that sticks with you long after you’ve seen it. Viola Davis is a general in every sense of the word. She commands the audience to follow her and her warriors through this gripping story. Then she expertly moves us through every emotion she rains down on us. This film will have a lasting legacy as an impactful moment for cinema.

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Click here to read the full article.

Another season, another “ Liam Neeson Has Skills” movie. Some of the variants of his popular “ Taken ” movies (the last one, “ Taken 3 ,” was all the way back in 2014, how times flies) have been reasonably clever and even cinematically worthwhile on a surprising level (see for instance 2019’s “ Cold Pursuit ”). Mark Williams’ “Blacklight,” alas, is not among them. 

The movie opens with a scene of a young, charismatic brunette female roiling the working class at a D.C. rally. They carry signs bearing her name, Sofia Flores. (The actor playing her is Mal Jarnson.) Given the talk she’s talking here, she’s obviously based on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez . In the crowd is a wide-eyed guy fixing his baby blues on her adoringly, apparently her boyfriend, played by Taylor John Smith (in this scene and others looking more like a digital animation than a live person for some reason). So far so familiar. But later that night after the rally, a shady town car driver fakes a jammed passenger-side door, obliging Sofia to exit the car driver’s side, and on the street she’s efficiently plowed down by an SUV. Whose driver shares a meaningful glance with the town car driver. 

One ought not have to invoke former Congresswoman Gabbie Giffords to argue why this kind of “torn from the headlines” (or whatever it is) scenario opportunism is gross. It casts a pall over the rest of the movie, which wouldn’t have much going for it anyway even without this alpha-male posturing. 

Neeson plays Travis Block (writer Nick May musta read a screenwriting manual stating that giving your violent hero Travis Bickle’s initials is a good luck charm of sorts) an undercover even by undercover standards FBI guy who specializes in getting regular undercover agents out of jams. We first see him speeding to a DC-adjacent redneck-white-supremacist conclave to rescue an in-too-deep operative. He achieves this through legerdemain and propane and a flare. In the office of his buddy, FBI Director Gabriel Robinson ( Aidan Quinn , channeling Martin Sheen ’s Josiah Bartlet Gone Bad) tells Travis—who is also his best friend, of course—“I appreciate you for making it happen.”

But the thing Travis most wants to make happen at this late stage in life is quality time with his granddaughter, at which is actual daughter balks. Travis’ paranoia isn’t good for the tot, she complains, just as the tot is opening grandpa’s birthday gift: a flashlight with a built-in taser doo-hickey. In the meantime, Smith’s character turns out to be named Dusty and it turns out that he, too is an undercover agent. One who’s about to spill to a crusading journalist ( Emmy Raver-Lampman ) about his—and the bureau’s—part in the assassination of Flores. 

Block doesn’t buy it at first—decades on the job and he still believes the establishment to be essentially thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. Soon, of course, the scales fall from his eyes. And eventually he must confront the man who etcetera etcetera.

The action set pieces are perfunctory. I suppose it’s commendable that they don’t rise, or fall, to the level of chaos cinema but by the same token they’re so lifeless you might find yourself wishing them to. And the script is, gross opportunism aside, dismally threadbare. Robinson’s rationales for his illegal and evil actions don’t even exist; they just are. You know, the villainous forces in ‘70s paranoia classics like “ Three Days of the Condor ” and “ The Parallax View ” at least had an ethos, Donnie. 

Now playing in theaters.

Glenn Kenny

Glenn Kenny was the chief film critic of Premiere magazine for almost half of its existence. He has written for a host of other publications and resides in Brooklyn. Read his answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

• Liam Neeson as Travis Block
• Emmy Raver-Lampman as Mira Jones
• Taylor John Smith as Dusty Crane
• Aidan Quinn as Gabriel Robinson
• Tim Draxl as Drew Hawthorne
• Claire van der Boom as Amanda Block

Writer (story by)

• Brandon Reavis
• Mark Williams
• Michael P. Shawver

Cinematographer

• Shelly Johnson

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