Drama Reviews and Features | Little White Lies

Genre Drama

Man in suit next to red vehicle.
Review

Ferrari review – Driver is fantastic, Cruz is even better

by David Jenkins

Adam Dri­ver por­trays the sin­gle-mind­ed Enzo Fer­rari in his mid­dle-age fol­low­ing the death of his son Dino in Michael Man­n’s uncon­ven­tion­al take on the bio­graph­i­cal drama.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Woman reading a magazine on a sofa, wearing a red dress.
Review

Priscilla review – subtle and sensational

by Hannah Strong

A star is born in Sofia Cop­po­la’s bio­graph­i­cal dra­ma based on the rela­tion­ship between Priscil­la and Elvis Pres­ley, with Cailee Spae­ny deliv­er­ing a remark­able performance.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Two anime characters - a young boy and a creature with a large nose - seated at a wooden table in a rustic interior scene with a green door and windows.
Review

The Boy and the Heron review – poetry, philosophy, pure emotion

by Mark Asch

Less a swan­song and more a heron­song from the Japan­ese mae­stro Hayao Miyaza­ki, a mys­ti­cal and ambi­tious mes­sage of hope for the future.

5
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
A woman in a white blouse standing on a wooden staircase, surrounded by decorative railings and a large framed painting on the wall behind her.
Review

Raging Grace review – combines righteous anger with well-executed chills

by David Jenkins

An undoc­u­ment­ed Fil­ip­ina immi­grant secures a care job to pro­vide a bet­ter life for her young daugh­ter, but it turns out to be some­thing more sin­is­ter in Paris Zarcil­la’s horror.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Two men discussing a hand-drawn diagram with colourful abstract shapes and lines on a canvas, outdoors in a park setting.
Review

Next Goal Wins review – chillingly eager to please

by Mark Asch

Tai­ka Wait­i­ti’s feel-good com­e­dy about the plight of a hap­less Samoan foot­ball team strives for noth­ing more than main­tain­ing the sta­tus quo.

2
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Three middle-aged women in somber attire, likely at a funeral. One woman wears a black hat, another a long dark coat, and the third a long black coat. They appear somber and reflective, walking together.
Review

Sweet Sue review – a strange, disjointed film

by David Jenkins

Leo Leigh’s like­able but wonky fea­ture debut offers a mean­der­ing trawl through the doomed love life of a mature par­ty shop owner.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Gigantic sea monster with sharp teeth emerges from foaming waves, as a small ship is tossed in the turbulent waters.
Review

Godzilla Minus One review – Precision-tooled fun

by David Jenkins

Our atom­ic friend returns for a runout on the bat­tered land­scape of post-1945 Tokyo in Takashi Yamazaki’s stripped back action epic.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Young woman reclining in car at sunset, wearing white shirt and jeans
Review

Earth Mama review – new talent arrives on the scene fully-formed

by David Jenkins

Seek out this very spe­cial debut fea­ture from Savanah Leaf about a woman nav­i­gat­ing the bureau­crat­ic hell of the child ser­vices system.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A young woman with dark hair wearing a denim jacket and holding a map in a rural setting.
Review

Trenque Lauquen review – compulsive and completely absorbing

by David Jenkins

One of 2023’s most aston­ish­ing films comes in the form of a two-part opus about a woman drawn to mys­tery that takes a few cues from Twin Peaks.

4
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Two persons in a dimly lit room, faces lit by colourful lights, creating an intense, dramatic atmosphere.
Review

Femme review – an uninhibited, spikey portrait of revenge

by Emily Maskell

After being the vic­tim of a vio­lent homo­pho­bic attack, a young drag per­former sees an oppor­tu­ni­ty to get revenge on one of his tormentors.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect