Contributions from David Jenkins | Little White Lies

Contributor David Jenkins

Two men sitting at a bar, one wearing a green jacket and the other a red jacket, while a band plays on stage behind them.
Review

Fallen Leaves review – the Finnish legend returns

by David Jenkins

Another gorgeous tragicomic farce from Finnish maestro Aki Kaurismäki, a heartfelt cinephile ode to the possibility of love among the working classes.

4
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two people embracing on the ground, wearing dark clothing.
Review

Lost In The Night review – violent drama hampered by convention

by David Jenkins

Mexican provocateur Amat Escalante makes a half-cocked bid for mainstream respectability in this intriguing tale of a young man’s torrid search for his missing mother.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Woman in floral dress, armed soldier in background.
Review

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes – lopsided prequel

by David Jenkins

Rachel Zegler and Tom Blyth head up this serviceable franchise prequel that divebombs into ignominy and obscurity during its protracted final act.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
1
In Retrospect
A person in a suit standing in a courtroom or similar formal setting.
Review

Anatomy of a Fall review – Sandra Hüller is one of the finest to ever do it

by David Jenkins

A woman has to stand trial after her husband dies in suspicious circumstances in Justine Triet’s compelling courtroom drama.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Older man reading to younger woman resting on sofa, warm tones.
Review

The Eternal Memory – Intimate, meandering doc

by David Jenkins

A sentimental docu-portrait of a Chilean journalist, famed for his reporting on Pinochet’s atrocities, whose own memory is leaving him.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A person in a grey jumper and red headband painting a colourful abstract artwork on a canvas in a studio setting.
Review

On the Adamant review – A hushed, humanistic, prize-winning doc

by David Jenkins

French documentarian Nicolas Philibert returns with a gentle, deeply moving chronicle of a floating hospital in Paris.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two people, a woman with red hair and a man, conversing in a dimly lit room.
Review

Fingernails review – lightly effective despite a flawed premise

by David Jenkins

The barroom love-tester is God in this gentle sci-fi comedy with Riz Ahmed and Jessie Buckley as working stiffs at a scientific institute for love.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Stylised portrait of a blonde woman with glasses, surrounded by colourful graphics and text.
Interviews

Carol Morley: “I could tell straight away that Audrey Amiss was a completely fascinating person”

by David Jenkins

The intrepid British director on being one of the first people to lay their eyes on the archives of the late artist Audrey Amiss – subject of Typist, Artist, Pirate, King.
Smiling woman holding a sheet of photos in her hand, wearing a purple scarf.
Review

Typist Artist Pirate King review – cleverly picks apart biopic clichés

by David Jenkins

Carol Morley constructs a creative tribute to the artist Audrey Amiss, who created thousands of artworks but remained mostly unknown until her death in 2013.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Three plush toy characters from a popular video game franchise, including a blue rabbit-like figure, a brown bear-like figure, and a yellow chicken-like figure, against a lit background.
Review

Five Nights at Freddy’s – nonsensical robo-slasher trash

by David Jenkins

What appears as a fun robotic slasher lark turns out to be a deathly dull rip-off of various trauma-based horror yarns which fails to deliver in either the serious or silly stakes.

3
Anticipation
1
Enjoyment
1
In Retrospect