Contributions from Vadim Rizov | Little White Lies

Contributor Vadim Rizov

Three silhouetted figures standing before a stark red and black background, with the text "Obama Cinema Era" displayed on a podium.
Obama Era Cinema

Shock Doctrine – Patriotic dissent in the unsavoury cinema of Dinesh D’Souza

by Vadim Rizov

Vadim Rizov con­sid­ers the main­stream appeal of a tril­o­gy of proud­ly racist films by one of con­ser­v­a­tive America’s most potent voices.
Illustration of a bespectacled man with curly hair and a serious expression.
Long Read

The art of defending Woody Allen

by Vadim Rizov

Woody Allen has made his fair share of bad movies. But who are the crit­i­cal gate­keep­ers who will stop at noth­ing to defend his honour?
A dimly lit interior with a red and blue lighting scheme, containing a bed, furniture, and personal belongings.
Review

Cemetery of Splendour

by Vadim Rizov

Thai mas­ter Apichat­pong Weerasethakul returns with a stun­ning med­i­ta­tion on a nation­al and polit­i­cal crisis.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two men in suits, one pointing a finger at the other, in an intense discussion.
Review

Black Mass

by Vadim Rizov

Despite John­ny Depp’s best efforts, this by the num­bers gang­ster biopic doesn’t do its sto­ry justice.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Three armed military personnel in combat gear standing in the dark.
Review

Sicario

by Vadim Rizov

Emi­ly Blunt gets a tough les­son in Mex­i­can-US pol­i­tics in this vis­cer­al drugs war dra­ma from Denis Villeneuve.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A child crouched on the ground alongside a wooden fence, playing with toys.
Review

Boyhood

by Vadim Rizov

Ellar Coltrane grows up in pub­lic as the cen­tral, glo­ri­ous spec­ta­cle in Richard Lin­klater’s masterpiece.

4
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Two people in an affectionate embrace, set against a blurred urban background.
Review

Nobody’s Daughter Hae-Won

by Vadim Rizov

One of South Korea’s great direc­tors final­ly has a film released in UK cinemas.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A man in a top hat riding a horse, with US flag in the background and soldiers beside him.
Review

Lincoln

by Vadim Rizov

Steven Spielberg’s solemn lat­est is less a biopic and more a com­plex dra­ma on the sub­ject of polit­i­cal ends ver­sus means.

5
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Two people riding in a swan-shaped paddle boat on a calm lake, surrounded by tall reeds.
Review

Swandown

by Vadim Rizov

Andrew Köt­ting and Iain Sin­clair nav­i­gate a swan-shaped ped­a­lo down the Thames in this mad­cap odyssey.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect