Drama Reviews and Features | Little White Lies

Genre Drama

Man with beard wearing orange prison uniform, looking thoughtful.
Review

Shot Caller

by Hannah Strong

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau does hard time in Ric Roman Waugh’s woefully misjudged prison drama.

2
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Two people standing in an alley, one wearing a red coat and the other a blue jacket.
Review

Mountains May Depart

by David Jenkins

Jia Zhangke’s ambitious, multi-stranded romantic epic features a stunning central turn from Zhao Tao.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two people, a man and a woman, standing near a window overlooking a landscape. The woman is wearing a burgundy dress and the man is wearing a green coat.
Review

Phantom Thread

by David Jenkins

Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest is a swooning, masochistic love story set in mid-century London. It might just be his best film…

5
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
A person wearing a blue jumper and holding a large soft toy in a grassy field with mountains in the background.
Review

Brigsby Bear

by Josh Slater-Williams

If you go down in the woods today, you’re sure to be underwhelmed…

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Two people with dark hair and casual clothes leaning in close, intimately touching foreheads.
Review

Stronger

by Charles Bramesco

David Gordon Green teams up with Jake Gyllenhaal to bring us a biopic that’s harder, better, faster…

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two people wearing traditional Japanese clothing in a forest setting.
Review

Blade of the Immortal

by Glenn Heath Jr

Takashi Miike is up to his old tricks with this super samurai slaughter-fest.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A woman with long, wavy, reddish-brown hair against a tan background, looking directly at the camera with a serious expression.
Review

Most Beautiful Island

by Anton Bitel

Ana Asensio gives an assured debut as writer and director with this haunting story about a migrant woman in the Big Apple.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two people, a man and a young boy, shaking hands in a crowded outdoor setting with people in the background.
Review

Wonder

by Emily Bray

An explosion of cuddly warmth can be found in this gentle tale of a disfigured boy coming up against school bullies.

2
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A group of people sitting at a formal dining table overlooking the ocean. The table is set with plates, wine glasses, and a floral centrepiece. The attendees are dressed in formal attire.
Review

Happy End

by David Jenkins

Europe’s refugee crisis backdrops this unconventional family drama from deadpan master Michael Haneke.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A woman with short, dark hair and makeup, looking contemplative and resting her chin on her hand.
Review

Manifesto

by Mark Allison

Cate Blanchett plays 13 different characters in this bold conceptual drama from director Julian Rosefeldt.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect