Contributions from Trevor Johnston | Little White Lies

Contributor Trevor Johnston

A person with curly dark hair wearing a black coat stands outside in a snowy, urban setting.
Review

Mystify: Michael Hutchence

by Trevor Johnston

This ten­der por­trait of the exu­ber­ant INXS front­man avoids tabloid hys­te­ria in its search for a frag­ile soul.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Animated characters of sheep and dog standing on snowy ground at night surrounded by sparkling effects.
Review

A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

by Trevor Johnston

Aardman’s wool­ly hero has an unex­pect­ed vis­i­tor in this warm-heart­ed stop-motion sequel.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Sombre portrait of a man comforting a woman, silhouetted against a dark, shadowy background.
Review

Transit

by Trevor Johnston

There’s shades of Casablan­ca in Chris­t­ian Petzold’s riv­et­ing peri­od romance, set in Nazi-occu­pied France.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Woman in orange dress and jacket, performing on stage with colourful lighting.
Review

Ash is Purest White

by Trevor Johnston

Jia Zhangke com­bines gang­ster pic and social cri­tique to thrilling effect with help from his reg­u­lar part­ner in crime Zhao Tao.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two people, a woman in a green headscarf and a man in a grey jacket, standing in front of a stone wall.
Review

3 Faces

by Trevor Johnston

This brisk road movie from Jafar Panahi sees the Iran­ian direc­tor on top obser­va­tion­al form.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Distorted human figure in blue hues, partially obscured by fractured glass or ice.
Review

Burning

by Trevor Johnston

Lee Chang-dong’s sly take on a Haru­ki Muraka­mi short sto­ry is a slow-burn mys­tery touched by genius.

5
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
A diverse group of people, including several young adults, standing together outdoors. The group appears to consist of individuals of different ethnicities, wearing casual clothing in a variety of colours and styles.
Review

The Workshop

by Trevor Johnston

Writer Robin Campil­lo and direc­tor Lau­rent Can­tet team up for this slight exer­cise in social commentary.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Animated girl with red hair and surprised expression, casting glowing energy from outstretched hands, set against a mysterious green background.
Review

Mary and the Witch’s Flower

by Trevor Johnston

There’s shades of Spir­it­ed Away and Kiki’s Deliv­ery Ser­vice in this charm­ing ani­ma­tion from Stu­dio Ponoc.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Portrait of a man with curly hair and a serious expression against a red and green background, with a smaller image of a man in a suit in the foreground.
Interviews

Alexander Payne: ‘It’s a big idea you could take in myriad directions’

by Trevor Johnston

Nebraska’s finest mus­es on his dystopi­an, effects-dri­ven sci-fi satire, Downsizing.
A man sits at a kitchen table, pensive expression on his face, surrounded by household items.
Review

Downsizing

by Trevor Johnston

Matt Damon gets minia­ture in writer/​director Alexan­der Payne’s daffy sci-fi parable.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect