Contributions from Josh Slater-Williams | Little White Lies

Contributor Josh Slater-Williams

Group of young people celebrating, some with arms raised, bright colours, outdoor setting.

Grease at 40: A first-time look at a pop culture classic

by Josh Slater-Williams

You know the songs, but is there more to this seem­ing­ly inno­cent high school musi­cal than meets the eye?
Close-up of a woman's face with eyes closed, hand near face.
If You Like...

Eight films to watch before you see The Shape of Water

by Josh Slater-Williams

Seek out these inspi­ra­tions for Guiller­mo del Toro’s lat­est, includ­ing The Red Shoes and Crea­ture from the Black Lagoon.
A man with a beard wearing a light blue shirt and a hospital ID badge, with a concerned expression on his face.
In Praise Of

Why I love Nicolas Cage’s performance in Bringing Out the Dead

by Josh Slater-Williams

The actor is at his intense and emo­tion­al best in Mar­tin Scorsese’s under­rat­ed late ​’90s thriller.
A person wearing a blue jumper and holding a large soft toy in a grassy field with mountains in the background.
Review

Brigsby Bear

by Josh Slater-Williams

If you go down in the woods today, you’re sure to be underwhelmed…

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
A smiling man with a beard wearing a light blue suit and a gold chain necklace.
In Praise Of

Why I love Dwayne Johnson’s performance in Pain & Gain

by Josh Slater-Williams

There’s more to his larg­er-than-life turn than meets the eye.
Dark silhouettes of two large animals standing in a stormy, rainy environment with a car in the foreground, its headlights illuminating the scene.
In Praise Of

How The Lost World taught me that films can be cruel

by Josh Slater-Williams

A key death in Steven Spielberg’s 1997 sequel com­plete­ly altered my per­cep­tion of cinema.
A woman with blonde hair aiming a handgun in an outdoor, mountainous setting.
Review

Detour

by Josh Slater-Williams

Some major young act­ing tal­ent is put to waste in Christo­pher Smith’s gar­bled and deriv­a­tive neo-noir.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Two people standing in a field of tall grass, with the sea visible in the background. The man is wearing a dark jacket and the woman is wearing a green coat.
Review

The Secret Scripture

by Josh Slater-Williams

Rooney Mara is let down by weak script­ing in this under­pow­ered study of reli­gious per­se­cu­tion in Ireland.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Black and white image of a rock band performing on stage, with three members playing instruments.
Review

Gimme Danger

by Josh Slater-Williams

Jim Jar­musch lauds The Stooges, the great­est rock ​’n’ roll band that ever lived.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Black and white image of a rock singer performing on stage, with hand raised in a rock and roll gesture.
Review

Gary Numan: Android in La La Land

by Josh Slater-Williams

The elec­tro pop pio­neer opens up his home and his stu­dio in this inti­mate if uneven doc­u­men­tary profile.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect