Contributions from Katherine McLaughlin | Little White Lies

Contributor Katherine McLaughlin

Protesters holding sign "Notre venue est nous", with a group of people, some playing guitar.
If You Like...

How Summertime channels the pro-choice spirit of One Sings, the Other Doesn’t

by Katherine McLaughlin

Cather­ine Corsini’s new film car­ries the torch for Agnès Varda’s fem­i­nist musical.
Two people, a man and a woman, walking together down a city street. The man wears a grey coat and the woman wears a checkered blue coat.
Review

Maggie’s Plan

by Katherine McLaughlin

Gre­ta Ger­wig has the time of her life in Rebec­ca Miller’s shal­low por­trait of mid­dle-class ennui.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
An older, bald man wearing a suit and tie sits on a sofa, holding a young boy in his arms who is dressed in a suit.
Review

Central Intelligence

by Katherine McLaughlin

Dwayne John­son and Kevin Hart prove per­fect comedic bed­fel­lows in this snap­py crime caper.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Tropical beach scene with palm trees, blue creature, and girl in grass skirt dancing on sandy shore.
If You Like...

How When Marnie Was There evokes the melancholy of Lilo & Stitch

by Katherine McLaughlin

Stu­dio Ghibli’s lat­est and Disney’s 2002 film both deal with themes of aban­don­ment, alien­ation and loss.
Black cat and woman looking thoughtfully into each other's eyes in dim lighting.
Festivals

Elle – first look review

by Katherine McLaughlin

Isabelle Hup­pert deliv­ers a stun­ning, unflinch­ing per­for­mance in this black­ly com­ic rape-revenge thriller.
A smiling family of six people, including a man and woman with four young daughters, posing outdoors in a lush, green garden setting.
If You Like...

How Mustang evokes the coming-of-age melancholy of The Virgin Suicides

by Katherine McLaughlin

Sofia Cop­po­la and Deniz Gamze Ergüven’s films speak of inno­cence lost and the tri­als of young womanhood.
Couple stand in rain, holding hands, red backdrop
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How Midnight Special channels the cosmic force of Starman

by Katherine McLaughlin

Jeff Nichols’ new film maps a sim­i­lar the­mat­ic route to John Carpenter’s clas­sic 1984 sci-fi.
Three people standing in a dimly lit room, with a blue barrel in the foreground.
Review

10 Cloverfield Lane

by Katherine McLaughlin

This frisky and fre­net­ic sort-of-sequel to Matt Reeves’ 2008 mon­ster movie boasts a trio of amaz­ing performances.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A person sitting on a couch, reading a book near a window in a dimly lit room.
If You Like...

How Anomalisa echoes the existential blues of Chantal Akerman’s Je, Tu, Il, Elle

by Katherine McLaughlin

Char­lie Kauf­man and Duke Johnson’s med­i­ta­tive dra­ma is the spir­i­tu­al cousin of the late Bel­gian director’s 1974 debut.
Two people, a man and a woman, sitting together on a beach. The woman has long blonde hair and the man is wearing a checked shirt. They appear to be talking and smiling at each other.
Review

Freeheld

by Katherine McLaughlin

Julianne Moore and Ellen Page can’t sal­vage this tame drama­ti­sa­tion of a momen­tous civ­il rights case study.

4
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect