Romance Reviews and Features | Little White Lies

Genre Romance

Two people performing on stage, one woman singing into a microphone and one man holding a microphone, against a backdrop of neon lights.
Review

It Ends With Us review – struggles to grapple with its heavy themes

by Anna McKibbin

Literary behemoth Colleen Hoover makes her cinematic debut, with this meandering, shallow examination of domestic abuse.

2
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
A woman with dark hair wearing a brown leather jacket, leaning against a wooden wall.
Review

The Nature of Love review – cinematic and exuberant

by Josh Slater-Williams

A university professor’s life is turned upside down when she falls in love with a construction worker in Monia Chokri’s understated romantic comedy.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two individuals in formal attire, a woman with curly hair in a green dress and a man in a tuxedo, standing together.
Review

The Beast review – a mind-boggling, sprawling romantic epic

by Hannah Strong

Across three timelines, a pair of lovers find each other again and again in Bertrand Bonello’s ambitious, genre-defying latest.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two people, a man and a woman, engaged in conversation in a dimly lit room.
Review

The Idea of You review – a sultry unexpectedly entertaining romance

by Hannah Strong

Anne Hathaway plays a 40-year-old single mother who embarks on a torrid love affair with a 24-year-old pop star in Michael Showalter’s schmaltzy but not without charm rom-com.

2
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Three women in period costumes stand in a rustic kitchen, preparing food on a wooden table.
Review

The Taste of Things review – every frame is delectable

by David Jenkins

Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel play late 19th century gourmets in Tran Ahn Hung’s scintillating epic of proto-foodie passions.

4
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Three men in a lift, wearing casual clothing.
Review

All of Us Strangers review – a supernova of a film

by Hannah Strong

Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal are electric in Andrew Haigh’s twist on the modern ghost story, adapted from Taichi Yamada’s cult novel.

4
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
A person with long dark hair wearing a yellow shawl, facing a person wearing a brown jacket in a wooded area.
Review

Poor Things review – Lanthimos at his most playful and comedic

by Savina Petkova

Emma Stone gives a career-defining performance in Yorgos Lanthimos’ opulent provocation about the human body as a nexus for pleasure and pain.

5
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Two people, a woman with red hair and a man, conversing in a dimly lit room.
Review

Fingernails review – lightly effective despite a flawed premise

by David Jenkins

The barroom love-tester is God in this gentle sci-fi comedy with Riz Ahmed and Jessie Buckley as working stiffs at a scientific institute for love.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Three people, two women and one man, seated on a boat, looking out over water.
Review

Past Lives review – unravels as a marvel

by Rafa Sales Ross

Celine Song’s feature debut is a tender exploration of multiethnic romance, complimented by nuanced performances from Greta Lee and John Magaro.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two figures intimately embracing, gazing into each other's eyes against a blurred blue background.
Review

Passages review – a tantalising romantic car-crash

by David Jenkins

Ira Sachs returns with an intimate, intense three-hander about a Fassbinder-like film director played by the great Franz Rogowski.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect