Musical Reviews and Features | Little White Lies

Genre Musical

A man and woman in formal attire embrace intimately, their faces close together, against a backdrop of metal panels.
Review

West Side Story

by David Jenkins

Steven Spiel­berg comes a‑cropper in this stiff and soul­less revamp of the clas­sic Leonard Bern­stein barnstormer.

4
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
A person sleeping on a sofa with a keyboard in front of them.
Review

Tick, Tick… Boom!

by Elena Lazic

Jonathan Larson’s cel­e­brat­ed stage musi­cal gets the Lin-Manuel Miran­da treat­ment – for bet­ter and for worse.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Two people, a man and a woman, sitting on a sofa and looking at each other intently. The room is dimly lit, with a lamp and framed artwork visible in the background.
Review

Dear Evan Hansen

by Corey Atad

This well-inten­tioned but glar­ing­ly wrong­head­ed adap­ta­tion of the Tony-win­ning musi­cal is one of the year’s worst.

2
Anticipation
1
Enjoyment
1
In Retrospect
A young person with blonde hair wearing a colourful patchwork jacket and holding a large plastic bag.
Review

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

by Emily Maskell

Tom MacRae and Dan Gille­spie Sells’ hit West End show is fab­u­lous­ly trans­lat­ed to the big screen.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Moody close-up of a man with long dark hair and intense eyes in a blue-tinted scene.
Review

Annette

by Hannah Strong

Leos Carax’s sur­re­al, Sparks-script­ed musi­cal-of-sorts stars Adam Dri­ver and Mar­i­on Cotil­lard as ill-fat­ed lovers.

5
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
A lively street scene with a crowd of people, including a couple dancing energetically in the foreground.
Review

In the Heights

by Charles Bramesco

New York is teem­ing with sweaty, joy­ous life in the exu­ber­ant musi­cal from Crazy Rich Asians’ Jon M Chu.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Two women with colourful floral hair accessories embrace in a visually striking setting featuring a patterned background.
Review

Music

by Charles Bramesco

The con­tro­ver­sy sur­round­ing Sia’s direc­to­r­i­al debut should not dis­tract from its basic cin­e­mat­ic failings.

1
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
1
In Retrospect
Glamorously dressed people celebrating at a lavish event, with a large illuminated "Eleanor" sign in the background.
Review

The Prom

by Emily Maskell

Ryan Murphy’s star-stud­ded restag­ing of the hit Broad­way musi­cal hits all the right notes.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
An older bearded man wearing a brightly coloured coat and a young boy wearing a striped sweater sitting at a desk in a dimly lit room.
Review

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

by Flora Spencer Grant

For­est Whitak­er stars as a down-on-his-luck toy­mak­er in David E Talbert’s fes­tive fam­i­ly frolic.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Two people in medieval-style costumes - a male in armoured attire and a female in a white gown - standing on a rocky, barren landscape.
Review

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga

by David Jenkins

Will Fer­rell and Rachel McAdams are the Ice­landic bar band who acci­den­tal­ly make it big in this occa­sion­al­ly effec­tive comedy.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect