Contributions from Leila Latif | Little White Lies

Contributor Leila Latif

Two people with the Sudanese flag painted on their face at a night-time event, with colourful lights and a crowd visible in the background.
Review

Sudan, Remember Us review – extremely powerful stuff

by Leila Latif

Hind Meddeb’s doc­u­men­tary poignant­ly cap­tures the activist spir­it of post-rev­o­lu­tion Sudan.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Men in hats and coats, some with glasses, in a crowd.
Review

The Alto Knights review – if it ain’t broke…

by Leila Latif

Robert De Niro does dou­ble duty as Frank Costel­lo and Vito Gen­ovese in Bar­ry Levin­son’s sur­pris­ing­ly enjoy­able gang­ster thriller.

2
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A woman wearing a turban-style head covering, facing away from the camera with a serious expression.
Review

The Piano Lesson review – high-quality but low-impact work

by Leila Latif

Mal­colm Wash­ing­ton makes his fea­ture direc­to­r­i­al debut with an ambi­tious adap­ta­tion of one of August Wilson’s most well-known plays.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A man in glasses and a collared shirt sits at a desk in a cluttered room, staring intently at an object in his hands.
Review

Heretic review – Hugh Grant is a horror natural

by Leila Latif

Two Mor­mon mis­sion­ar­ies get more than they bar­gained for when they drop in on Hugh Grant in Scott Beck and Bryan Woods’ effec­tive psy­cho­log­i­cal horror.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A woman with short, dark hair smiling against a yellow background, wearing a red cardigan.
Interviews

Shuchi Talati: ‘I grew up in a context where there was so much shame around female sexuality’

by Leila Latif

The writer/​director of lilt­ing com­ing-of-age yarn, Girls Will be Girls, stress­es the impor­tance of cap­tur­ing human inti­ma­cy with an air of authenticity.
Smiling woman with short dark hair, wearing a white top, set against a vibrant pink and yellow background.
Interviews

Naomi Ackie: ‘I know that feeling of wanting something that is just out of reach’

by Leila Latif

The star of Zoë Krav­itz’s vaca­tion thriller Blink Twice talks through her con­nec­tion to her char­ac­ter, a past life as a wait­ress and learn­ing to slow down.
Portrait of a woman wearing a red cap with text and her face in shadow against a warm-toned background.
Interviews

Zoë Kravitz: ‘Directing is what I’ve always wanted to do’

by Leila Latif

The co-writer, pro­duc­er and direc­tor of Blink Twice reflects on the long jour­ney her first fea­ture took from idea to actualisation.
Two women, one pregnant, sitting near a window and smiling.
Review

Babes review – a true bundle of joy

by Leila Latif

Two life­long best friends find their rela­tion­ship test­ed as one of them nav­i­gates sin­gle moth­er­hood in Pamela Adlon’s delight­ful direc­to­r­i­al debut.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A man leans over a woman as they lie on a bed, their bodies partially obscured by bedding.
Review

Foe review – bewitching and terrifyingly plausible

by Leila Latif

Saoirse Ronan, Paul Mescal and Aaron Pierre star in Garth Davies’ unnerv­ing sci-fi dra­ma, based on Iain Rei­d’s nov­el about a cou­ple’s dis­turbed exis­tence in an Amer­i­ca rav­aged by cli­mate change.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Shadowy figure illuminated by orange and blue lights, creating a moody, dramatic atmosphere.
Review

The Creator review – welcome, benevolent A.I. overlords!

by Leila Latif

Gareth Edwards serves up a visu­al­ly ambi­tious sto­ry of war between humans and A.I. beings in this heart­felt sci-fi spectacle.

2
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Four individuals wearing robes and headpieces in a dimly lit room with a decorative curtain and framed artwork.
Review

Haunted Mansion review – feels more like a product than a story

by Leila Latif

Justin Simien attempts to breathe life into Dis­ney’s lat­est ride-based fran­chise starter, but despite a fine cast the results are a lit­tle scattered.

2
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A man playing a violin, his eyes closed as he performs with intensity.
Review

Chevalier

by Leila Latif

Joseph Bologne receives a gor­geous biopic that also serves as a dev­as­tat­ing reminder of a great­ness near­ly entire­ly expunged from history.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect