Crime Reviews and Features | Little White Lies

Genre Crime

A close-up of a shirtless man with a bloodied and bruised face, his expression stern and intense.
Review

Protein review – nasty, funny, soulful

by David Jenkins

A gang of small-town drug deal­ing gym rats are set upon by a mur­der­ous stranger in this sat­is­fy­ing Welsh genre piece.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A man in a suit and a woman in a nun's habit stand in front of a damaged trailer in a forest setting.
Review

The Phoenician Scheme review – an absolute gas

by David Jenkins

A charm­ing arms deal­er heads on the road to redemp­tion in this pris­tine shot of pure plea­sure from film­mak­er Wes Anderson.

5
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
A woman with short, curly blonde hair gazes intensely at the camera, wearing a black jacket.
Review

Thunderbolts* review – the best Marvel film in a while

by Fatima Sheriff

There’s a lot of super­fi­cial fun to be had with this super­hero romp, which hasn’t been the case in the MCU for a long while.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Two armed military or security personnel in combat gear, carrying assault rifles, standing in a dimly lit interior room.
Review

The Accountant 2 review – tonally wild and uneven but oddly sweet

by Hannah Strong

Ben Affleck­’s autis­tic hit­man with a gift for num­bers returns in Gavin O’Con­nor’s mis­matched action thriller.

2
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Elderly woman tenderly caring for sleeping man, likely a relative, in a home setting.
Review

Misericordia review – Chabrol would have approved

by Thomas Dawson

Alain Guiraudie defies neat cat­e­gori­sa­tion with his shapeshift­ing eighth fea­ture about moral­i­ty, crime and queer desire.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A group of police officers in beige uniforms talking to each other on a street with trees and people in the background.
Review

Santosh review – carefully draws you into its dismal intrigue

by David Jenkins

Sha­hana Goswa­mi stars as a wid­ow who inher­its her late husband’s police offi­cer posi­tion in Sand­hya Suri’s sharp fic­tion debut.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Men in hats and coats, some with glasses, in a crowd.
Review

The Alto Knights review – if it ain’t broke…

by Leila Latif

Robert De Niro does dou­ble duty as Frank Costel­lo and Vito Gen­ovese in Bar­ry Levin­son’s sur­pris­ing­ly enjoy­able gang­ster thriller.

2
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Man with beard, shirtless, standing in room.
Review

Marching Powder review – a proper, proper gaffe

by Adam Woodward

Nick Love and Dan­ny Dyer are back with yet anoth­er boor­ish, small-mind­ed take on the foot­ball hooli­gan genre.

3
Anticipation
1
Enjoyment
1
In Retrospect
Two individuals, a man and a woman, in a close, intimate embrace.
Review

To A Land Unknown review – a brilliantly acted tale of moral complexity

by Marina Ashioti

Two Pales­tin­ian refugees nav­i­gate the seedy under­bel­ly of Athens in Mah­di Fleifel’s com­pelling fic­tion fea­ture debut.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A man aiming a revolver in a confrontational pose.
Review

The Order review – sadly prescient true life ’80s cop thriller

by Rafa Sales Ross

It’s cops ver­sus Nazis in this old school polici­er from Justin Kurzel, pow­ered by ace lead per­for­mances from Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult.

1
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Three women in period costume, one with dark curly hair, one with bright red curly hair, and one with blonde curled hair, standing and conversing.
Review

The Crime is Mine review – Huppert steals the show

by Emily Maskell

François Ozon’s first for­ay into crime com­e­dy boasts bags of charm and a bit­ing fem­i­nist edge.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
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