Contributions from Poppy Doran | Little White Lies

Contributor Poppy Doran

A woman with long curly hair and a serious expression, appearing in a dark setting with blurred background elements.
Review

The Innocents

by Poppy Doran

French direc­tor Anne Fontaine explores female per­se­cu­tion in this pun­ish­ing but urgent peri­od drama.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Black and white image of a group of people, presumably performers, in front of a large "Rock City" sign.
Review

NG83 When We Were B Boys

by Poppy Doran

Age­ing Not­ting­ham-based break­dancers attempt to relive their glo­ry days in this scrap­py doc.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Two armed men stand in front of a burning car in a war-torn urban setting with thick smoke in the background.
Review

Tiger Raid

by Poppy Doran

Simon Dixon’s mer­ce­nary dra­ma is lib­er­al with the bul­lets but fails to hit gory glory.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Lush, verdant forest with people walking and repairing a bicycle on a moss-covered path.
Review

Light Years

by Poppy Doran

Edith May Camp­bell cracks open a frac­tured fam­i­ly in this over­ly ambi­tious debut feature.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Vibrant illustration of a man with a green beard against a background of colourful, stylised foliage.
Interviews

Taika Waititi: ‘I often fantasise about stopping making films’

by Poppy Doran

The Kiwi writer/​director talks pok­ing fun at his home­land and why he won’t be mak­ing movies forever.
An older man with a grey beard and weathered face, holding a handgun in a dimly lit room.
Review

Don’t Breathe

by Poppy Doran

Fede Alvarez serves up a gen­uine­ly chill­ing home inva­sion thriller from the very top drawer.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Two young women, one with blonde hair and the other with dark curly hair, leaning against a green metal grate in a serious expression.
Review

Los Sures

by Poppy Doran

This evoca­tive 1984 doc about life in Williams­burg, New York, shows the extent of 21st cen­tu­ry gentrification.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two people, a woman with blonde hair and a man with facial hair, standing close together in a garden setting.
Review

The 9th Life of Louis Drax

by Poppy Doran

The direc­tor of Horns returns with an equal­ly jar­ring genre mash-up movie based on a best­selling fan­ta­sy novel.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Individual wearing dark clothing and cap standing under bright stage lights against a dark blue background.
Review

Brotherhood

by Poppy Doran

Noël Clarke gets in anoth­er spot of gang­land both­er in this sol­id sec­ond sequel.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A man with a serious expression wearing a green jacket, grasping a weapon.
Incoming

Denzel Washington returns to the director’s chair for Fences

by Poppy Doran

The icon­ic lead­ing man is set to bring an acclaimed stage­play to the screen.
Man in black coat holding vintage camera, looking at it intently.
Incoming

Guillermo del Toro dives into The Shape of Water

by Poppy Doran

The Crim­son Peak direc­tor has teamed up with Sal­ly Hawkins and Michael Shan­non for a Cold War-set fan­ta­sy romance.