Contributions from David Jenkins | Little White Lies

Contributor David Jenkins

Young woman in white top and black trousers practising martial arts moves in a gym.
Review

Julie Keeps Quiet review – a slick, steely piece of storytelling

by David Jenkins

A young ten­nis star refus­es to open about an abu­sive coach in Leonar­do Van Dijl’s impres­sive fea­ture debut.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Group of young men in school uniforms standing together.
Review

The Penguin Lessons review – think Dead Penguins Society

by David Jenkins

Steve Coogan co-stars with a pen­guin in this gen­tle dram­e­dy from Peter Cat­ta­neo that nev­er quite match­es up to the true story.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Interior of an aeroplane cabin with rows of beige seats, overhead compartments, and cabin crew visible.
Festivals

The 2025 Cannes Film Festival line-up is here!

by David Jenkins

Wes Ander­son, Kel­ly Reichardt, Joachim Tri­er and Julia Ducour­nau are among the con­tenders for this year’s Gold­en Palm.
Bearded man and woman embrace passionately, their faces close together.
Review

The Return review – skirts on the am-dram

by David Jenkins

Ralph Fiennes and Juli­ette Binoche star as Odysseus and Pene­lope in Uber­to Pasolin­i’s retelling of Home­r’s epic.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A young man in a dark coat standing on a crowded city street.
Review

The Amateur review – extremely solid, extremely unspectacular

by David Jenkins

Rami Malek strug­gles in this boil­er­plate thriller as a CIA oper­a­tive out to kill the men that mur­dered his wife.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Two elderly women walking along a gravel path through an autumnal woodland, carrying baskets.
Review

When Autumn Falls review – another year, another Ozon

by David Jenkins

This light­weight Chabro­lian coun­try dra­ma from François Ozon sees an elder­ly retiree with a com­plex past try­ing to do right by her family.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Two young men with intense expressions, one gesturing forcefully.
Review

Dig! XX review – the original version is still the best

by David Jenkins

Ondi Tim­o­n­er revis­its her clas­sic 2004 rock doc with an extend­ed ver­sion that doesn’t add much to the great­ness of the original.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A group of police officers in beige uniforms talking to each other on a street with trees and people in the background.
Review

Santosh review – carefully draws you into its dismal intrigue

by David Jenkins

Sha­hana Goswa­mi stars as a wid­ow who inher­its her late husband’s police offi­cer posi­tion in Sand­hya Suri’s sharp fic­tion debut.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Four people sitting outdoors, two men in casual clothing and hats, one woman wearing a hat, and another man wearing sunglasses.
Review

All Happy Families review – a sweet reckoning with family strife

by David Jenkins

This well-mount­ed ensem­ble com­e­dy sees a schlub­by Josh Rad­nor forced to deal with a vis­it from his eccen­tric par­ents and brother.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Two people, an elderly man in a dark suit and a young woman in a grey jumper, standing in a dimly lit room with various decorations.
Review

Opus review – off-key pop industry satire misses all its cues

by David Jenkins

John Malkovich is an elec­tro pop god with an axe to grind in this glossy music indus­try hor­ror-satire by debut direc­tor Mark Antho­ny Green

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect