Drama Reviews and Features | Little White Lies

Genre Drama

Two children running through a lush, green forest.
Review

Monster review – heartfelt and likably earnest

by Charles Bramesco

The rela­tion­ship between two young school­boys has ram­i­fi­ca­tions for their local com­mu­ni­ty in the new dra­ma from Hirokazu Koreeda.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A person lying on grass wearing a yellow top, eyes closed.
Review

Banel & Adama review – gorgeous but frustrating cinema as fairytale

by Fatima Sheriff

A young cou­ple’s romance threat­ens the future of their vil­lage in Rama­ta-Toulaye Sy’s visu­al­ly stun­ning but under­de­vel­oped drama.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Two individuals, a woman with red hair and a bearded man, sit in a dimly lit room with a framed artwork on the wall.
Review

Memory review – a frustratingly shallow character study

by Yasmine Kandil

Jes­si­ca Chas­tain and Peter Sars­gaard star in Michel Fran­co’s dour dra­ma about high school class­mates who unex­pect­ed­ly reunite amid painful circumstances.

2
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Two women, one in a military-style cap and coat and the other in a casual top, standing on a street and engaging in conversation.
Review

Wicked Little Letters review – a flimsy comic farce

by David Jenkins

Olivia Col­man is ham­pered by thin mate­r­i­al in this over­ly-quaint parochial Brit­com which con­tains a fair bit of swearing.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Two people cycling on a path with buildings in the background.
Review

Perfect Days review – profound simplicity by two cinematic masters

by Hannah Strong

Wim Wen­ders’ gen­tle char­ac­ter stud­ies fea­tures a beau­ti­ful­ly restrained per­for­mance from Kôji Yakusho, as a toi­let clean­er who lives a sim­ple life in Tokyo.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
People embracing warmly in military setting, casual clothing, emotional scene
Review

Society of the Snow review – a visceral survival drama

by Emma Fraser

A har­row­ing yet incred­i­bly human look at sur­vival in the most des­per­ate cir­cum­stances from direc­tor JA Bayona.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Three women in period costumes stand in a rustic kitchen, preparing food on a wooden table.
Review

The Taste of Things review – every frame is delectable

by David Jenkins

Juli­ette Binoche and Benoît Mag­imel play late 19th cen­tu­ry gourmets in Tran Ahn Hung’s scin­til­lat­ing epic of pro­to-food­ie passions.

4
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Two shirtless muscular men with raised arms performing on stage under bright golden lights.
Review

The Iron Claw review – a heartbreaking dissection of fraternal tragedy

by Hannah Strong

Sean Durk­in’s sear­ing new dra­ma focus­es on the incred­i­ble sto­ry of the Von Erich Broth­ers, who became heavy­weights in the wrestling world, but were dogged by per­son­al tragedy.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Close-up of a person with dreadlocks performing on stage, holding an electric guitar and microphone.
Review

Bob Marley: One Love review – a low-calorie music bio

by David Jenkins

An ultra-con­ven­tion­al juke­box biog where a cel­e­bra­tion of the music trumps a true explo­ration of the man.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Close-up of a man with long, dark hair and a serious expression against a blue background.
Review

The Settlers review – a brutally violent anti-western

by David Jenkins

This haunt­ing debut by Felipe Gálvez Haber­le dis­man­tles the vio­lent colo­nial trap­pings of the clas­sic western.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect