Musical Reviews and Features | Little White Lies

Genre Musical

Two female characters in tropical setting, surrounded by palm trees and water.
Review

Moana 2 review – a tidal wave of joy on the big screen

by Yasmine Kandil

Although it doesn’t quite soar to the heights of the orig­i­nal, there’s a lot to enjoy in this delight­ful sequel.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two women, one with blonde hair wearing a pink cardigan, the other with green skin and a dark outfit, posing together in front of Christmas decorations.
Review

Wicked review – Grande and Erivo’s chemistry is unmatched

by Fatima Sheriff

CGI Block­buster visu­als aside, there’s much to love in Jon M Chu’s adap­ta­tion of one of Broadway’s biggest musi­cal successes.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A person in a red dress gesturing on a dark stage, with other people visible in the background.
Review

Emilia Pérez review – a musical that barely wants to be a musical

by Juan Barquin

This ghast­ly musi­cal melo­dra­ma from Jacques Audi­ard tells of a Mex­i­can car­tel boss’ gen­der affirm­ing surgery.

3
Anticipation
1
Enjoyment
1
In Retrospect
Two people leaning in close, lit by warm orange light.
Review

Joker: Folie à Deux review – a grim karaoke session

by Hannah Strong

Todd Phillips recruits Lady Gaga to his cir­cus act as Joaquin Phoenix repris­es his role as the crime-com­mit­ting clown about town in this shock­ing­ly ama­teur musi­cal effort.

2
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Person blowing out candles on birthday cake in a kitchen setting.
Festivals

The End – first-look review

by Mark Asch

Joshua Oppen­heimer returns with an ambi­tious, post-apoc­a­lyp­tic musi­cal whose the­mat­ic flights of fan­cy are always just a lit­tle too strident.

2
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Two smiling women, one wearing a patterned dress, the other a large straw hat, sitting together and laughing.
Review

The Color Purple review – rides on its stellar performances

by David Jenkins

Blitz Baza­wule deliv­ers an all singing, all danc­ing update of Alice Walker’s har­row­ing sto­ry of women in post­bel­lum Georgia.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Four young women sitting on a bed, reading a book together. Diverse group, wearing bright pink and red clothing. Colourful artwork on the wall behind them.
Review

Mean Girls review – defanged take on a teen classic

by Hannah Strong

This movie based on a musi­cal based on a movie based on a book retains none of the bit­ing wit that charmed audi­ences in its orig­i­nal iteration.

2
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Silhouettes of dancers on stage with vibrant purple and orange lighting, geometric shapes, and twinkling stars.
Review

Give Me Pity! review – an experimental, esoteric extravaganza

by Marina Ashioti

A young wom­an’s dream gig on tele­vi­sion descends into chaos in Aman­da Kramer’s imag­i­na­tive new melodrama.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Two people embracing intimately against a sunset backdrop.
Review

Carmen

by Robyn Quick

Ben­jamin Millepied’s reimag­in­ing of Georges Bizet’s clas­sic opera is beau­ti­ful to behold, but lacks musi­cal pizzazz.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Man with short dark hair wearing a striped shirt, holding a cigarette in his mouth and looking directly at the camera.
Review

Please Baby Please

by Marina Ashioti

Aman­da Kramer’s allur­ing, neon-lit musi­cal fea­ture sees a new­ly­wed cou­ple cat­a­pult­ed into a queer awakening.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Vibrant autumn landscape with horses on a path, surrounded by colourful foliage and hills.
Review

Inu-Oh

by Daniel Schindel

A dancer and a musi­cian form a unique friend­ship in Masaa­ki Yuasa’s fan­tas­ti­cal ani­mat­ed musical.

5
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two people in historical costumes on the steps of a grand baroque church.
Review

Cyrano

by Leila Latif

Joe Wright returns to his wheel­house with a big-screen musi­cal adap­ta­tion of Edmond Rostand’s Cyra­no de Bergerac.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect