Contributions from Ian Mantgani | Little White Lies

Contributor Ian Mantgani

A person with reddish-brown hair wearing a purple coat standing next to a large video camera on a tripod, with a red case nearby, in a grassy field.
Festivals

Varda by Agnès – first look review

by Ian Mantgani

The first lady of French cin­e­ma offers a final, typ­i­cal­ly fas­ci­nat­ing self-portrait.
A person with a large Afro hairstyle performing on stage, singing into a microphone.
Festivals

Amazing Grace – first look review

by Ian Mantgani

Syd­ney Pollack’s long-lost con­cert doc shows the Queen of Soul at the height of her pop fame.
Two adults, a man and a woman, walking along a city street. The woman has a serious, concerned expression on her face.
Festivals

The Operative – first look review

by Ian Mantgani

Diane Kruger and Mar­tin Free­man star in this intrigu­ing tale of espi­onage in mod­ern-day Tehran.
A man wearing a suit and tie, seated at a desk, holding a telephone receiver to his ear. He appears to be in deep thought as he looks away from the camera.
Festivals

Watergate – first look review

by Ian Mantgani

Charles Ferguson’s mam­moth chron­i­cle of Pres­i­dent Nixon’s down­fall man­ages to be at once too detailed and too superficial.
A man wearing round glasses and a thick coat holding a camera, standing in a snowy street.
Festivals

Mr Jones – first look review

by Ian Mantgani

Agniesz­ka Holland’s biopic of Welsh jour­nal­ist Gareth Jones is one of the most pow­er­ful films at this year’s Berlinale.
A woman with long hair sits at a table in a cafe, pensively looking out of a window while holding a cup of coffee.
Festivals

Fourteen – first look review

by Ian Mantgani

Amer­i­can film­mak­er Dan Sal­litt deliv­ers a del­i­cate, sub­tly dev­as­tat­ing por­trait of friend­ship and depression.
Two people, a man and a woman, seated in a room with books and curtains visible in the background.
Festivals

The Kindness of Strangers – first look review

by Ian Mantgani

This year’s Berlin Film Fes­ti­val gets off to an inaus­pi­cious start care of Lone Sherfig’s fusty New York ensem­ble drama.
Close-up of a woman with dark, curly hair and a serious expression, in low lighting.
Festivals

Madeline’s Madeline – first look review

by Ian Mantgani

Josephine Deck­er returns with a com­mand­ing, emo­tion­al­ly brac­ing study of teenage psychosis.
A middle-aged man in a military uniform with various medals and insignia, sitting on a sofa and looking directly at the camera.
In Praise Of

In defence of Al Pacino’s performance in Scent of a Woman

by Ian Mantgani

There’s some­thing deeply enter­tain­ing and mov­ing about his wide­ly ridiculed lead turn.
Trailers

Watch the gorgeous restoration trailer for La Strada

by Ian Mantgani

Fed­eri­co Fellini’s third fea­ture, about a petit female clown and her strong­man side­kick, gets a 2K spit-shine.
Three elderly men sitting on a bench, one wearing a hat, surrounded by greenery.
Review

Going in Style

by Ian Mantgani

Zach Braff directs this sub­par sep­tu­a­ge­nar­i­an com­e­dy about giv­ing mor­tal­i­ty the slip.

2
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Black silhouette of octopus-like creature emerging from a dark triangle against a plain cream background, with text "THERE IS A HELL, THIS IS WORSE" and "THE VOID".
Review

The Void

by Ian Mantgani

Jere­my Gille­spie and Steven Kostanski’s cos­mic hor­ror-thriller fails to live up to its ini­tial promise.

4
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect