If you believe the trade publications, then 2024 is a desert when it comes to big ticket movie releases. To that we say: poppycock. There’s quality there for the taking if you’re willing to take a moment and seek it out. Case in point: Zoë Kravitz’s Blink Twice, a sun-bleached party movie set in a tropical villa with booze and drugs on tap in which cordialities between the gender-split attendees break down in the most spectacular way possible. It’s a showcase for Londoner Naomi Ackie, who plays Frida in the film, a food service worker who manages to place herself in the sightlines of the dashing tech mogul Slater King (Channing Tatum). Initially, Frida is a ball of nervous excitement who can’t believe her luck, as she and her bestie Jess (Alia Shawkat) are sipping cocktails on a private jet, headed to a mysterious yet luxurious destination.
It’s hard to place Blink Twice into a specific genre, as it touches on elements of so many. At one minute it’s an antic comedy about female friendship; then it’s a romantic drama as Slater seems to be trying to woo Frida; but then there are quite a few elements suggestive of occult horror, especially the ominous yellow snakes that constantly slither around the estate. Yet it ends up being all of those things and more, coalescing into something that’s raw, political and provocative.
So of course, we’re thrilled to be presenting this to you as the cover film of issue 104 of Little White Lies, one in which we chart the tonal balancing act involved in bringing the production together, as well as offering a wider celebration of women in the film industry. We speak to Kravitz, Ackie, co-star Adria Arjona, alongside producer Bruce Cohen who collectively tell us the story of how Blink Twice came together.
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On the cover
We’re proud to showcase the work of Leeds-based artist Sarah Madden, who has created a gorgeous portrait of Naomi Ackie as Frida. The concept of the cover transmits the character’s initial joy at being accepted into this set, and the snakes represent the various dangers she encounters on her discombobulating and traumatising journey.
Also in the issue, we have new illustration work from Carolina Altavilla, Eloïse Héritier, Eve Lloyd Knight, Hazel Mason, Agnès Ricart, Katie Scarlett, Stéphanie Sergeant and Nick Taylor.
In the issue
Burning Down the House
A conversation with Blink Twice director and co-writer Zoë Kravitz on craft, casting and embracing discomfort.
Beauty and the Beast
Leila Latif has a natter with one of our favourite actors on the block (and star of Blink Twice), Naomi Ackie.
The Outrages
Laura Venning explores the valuable cinematic artworks that have been born on the back of the #MeToo movement.
Chan the Man
Hannah Strong’s heartfelt personal ode to her eventual loving acceptance of the actor Channing Tatum.
Fear Factor
2024’s biggest breakout star, Adria Arjona, on how acting is about overcoming your deepest fears.
The New Romantic
David Jenkins chats to British filmmaker and actress Alice Lowe about the making of her formidable Timestalker.
Double Threat
An expansive, 50-film chronology looking back at the history of films directed by female actors.
In the back section
Face-to-face with Kneecap
Rōgan Graham hopped on an early morning flight to Belfast to chat to the stars of of Kneecap – a music biopic that’s actually good.
Moin Hussein
Sky Peals is one of our favourite British indies of 2024, and Rafa Sales Ross chats to its writer/director about its innovative depiction of loneliness.
Carol Kane
A legend of Hollywood finally gets to play the lead in the great Between the Temples, and so Nick Newman celebrates the occasion with a long and winding chat.
Shuchi Talati
Girls Will be Girls offers a fresh spin on the timeworn teenage love story, and so Leila Latif meets its maker to talk about capturing intimacy and euphoria on screen.
Obituary
Shelley Duval
One of the great all-time screen actors passed as we were nearing our press deadline, yet we made room for Sophie Monks Kaufman to honour her achievements.
In review
Rich Peppiatt’s Kneecap
Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis
Alice Lowe’s Timestalker
Moin Hussain’s Sky Peals
Sean Wang’s Dìdi
Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendy’s Kensuke’s Kingdom
Marie Mire’s Clandestina
Justin Lerner’s Cadijo Blanco
Naqqash Khalid’s In Camera
Daniel Kokotajlo’s Starve Acre
Greg Kwedar’s Sing Sing
Nathan Silver’s Between the Temples
Azazel Jacobs’ His Three Daughters
Coralie Faraget’s The Substance
Wei Shujun’s Only the River Flows
Shuchi Talati’s Girls Will Be Girls
Mayram Moqadam and Behtash Sanaeeha’s My Favourite Cake
Nora Fingscheidt’s The Outrun
Catarina Mourão Astrakan 79
Cédric Kahn’s The Goldman Case
Plus, Matt Turner selects six key home ents releases for your consideration; and Marina Ashioti hails the queer eco-cyber parable Fresh Kill as it turns 30 for her Sticky Gold Stars column.
LWLies 104 is available to order now from our online shop. Become a Club LWLies Gold Member or subscribe today to make sure you never miss an issue.
Published 6 Aug 2024
Little White Lies was established in 2005 as a bi-monthly print magazine committed to championing great movies and the talented people who make them. Combining cutting-edge design, illustration and journalism, we’ve been described as being “at the vanguard of the independent publishing movement.” Our reviews feature a unique tripartite ranking system that captures the different aspects of the movie-going experience. We believe in Truth & Movies.
