Music Reviews and Features | Little White Lies

Genre Music

Two people, a man and a woman, standing face-to-face in an outdoor setting with a geometric steel structure in the background.
Review

Brother review – touches on a spectrum of pertinent issues

by Isabelle Gray

Clement Vir­go adapts David Chariandy’s 2017 epony­mous nov­el about the com­plex bond between two Jamaican-Cana­di­an brothers.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A group of smiling and laughing women in colourful, patterned dresses and tops, posing together at a social event.
Review

Greatest Days

by Lillian Crawford

A group of estranged friends reunite for a pop pil­grim­age in Coky Giedroy­c’s dire big screen ver­sion of the offi­cial Take That musical.

1
Anticipation
1
Enjoyment
1
In Retrospect
Two men in white shirts standing in a room, engaging in conversation.
Review

Little Richard: I Am Everything

by David Jenkins

The ​“Quasar of Rock” is the sub­ject of this juicy and insight­ful doc­u­men­tary which prizes deep cul­tur­al analy­sis over the usu­al bob­bysox­er hysteria.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A group of musicians performing on stage, with guitars, drums, and a man singing into a microphone. The stage is dimly lit with red and white lighting, creating a dramatic and intense atmosphere.
Review

Meet Me in the Bathroom

by Ed Gibbs

New York’s pre‑9/​11 music scene is revis­it­ed in this suit­ably lo-fi doc­u­men­tary from the mak­ers of Shut Up and Play the Hits.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Rear view of person sitting on a chair, wearing a grey shirt and with their head visible at the top of the image.
Review

Tár

by Ege Apaydın

Cate Blanchett is on top form as a con­duc­tor who expe­ri­ences a swift fall from grace in Todd Fields’ pierc­ing psychodrama.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
A man and a woman seated in a wooden boat in a lush, green forest.
Review

The Score

by Natasha Jagger

Writer/​director Malachi Smyth’s fea­ture debut is a musi­cal heist film that strug­gles to strike the right chord.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
A person huddled in a doorway beside piles of refuse and debris. A small child sits on the ground nearby. The scene depicts poverty and homelessness in an urban setting.
Review

a-ha: The Movie

by Josh Slater-Williams

Norway’s favourite synth-pop sons receive the full music biog­ra­phy treat­ment in this inti­mate documentary.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Musicians performing on stage, with a grand piano, drums, and other instruments.
Review

This Much I Know To Be True

by Marina Ashioti

Nick Cave and War­ren Ellis per­form an inti­mate yet expan­sive ses­sion at the Bat­tersea Arts Cen­tre. The results are mesmerising.

2
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A group of young people, some standing, some sitting, on a concrete ledge against a blue sky. Various poses and styles of clothing, with speakers or sound equipment in the background.
Review

Casablanca Beats

by Marina Ashioti

A for­mer rap­per sets up a hip-hop pro­gramme for the par­tic­i­pants of his local youth group in Nabil Ayouch’s well-mean­ing drama.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A man wearing glasses and a black suit conducting an orchestra, with his arms raised and hands gesturing expressively.
Review

Ennio

by Saskia Lloyd Gaiger

Great detail abounds in Giuseppe Tornatore’s doc­u­men­tary cel­e­brat­ing the life and work of the late film com­pos­er Ennio Morricone.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect