In Praise Of | Little White Lies

In Praise Of

Two people, a man and a woman, sitting in a church pew. The man wears a suit and tie, while the woman wears a coat. The setting appears to be a traditional church interior with pews and decorative elements.
In Praise Of

Why Harold and Maude remains one of cinema’s great survivor stories

by Zoe Kurland

In Hal Ashby’s uncon­ven­tion­al 1971 romance, the cen­tral pro­tag­o­nists have very dif­fer­ent ideas about life and death.
Two men with clown noses sitting in a car at night, surrounded by blurry lights.
In Praise Of

In praise of two hats in Jim Jarmusch’s Night on Earth

by Liz Gorny

In Jim Jarmusch’s 1991 film, a cab dri­ver and his passenger’s iden­ti­cal hats cap­ture the pow­er and poignan­cy in cul­tur­al exchange.
A woman with dark hair and a serious expression, wearing a red coat, standing in a doorway.
In Praise Of

Why I love Rachel Weisz’s performance in The Deep Blue Sea

by Sophie Monks Kaufman

In Ter­ence Davies’ post­war melo­dra­ma, she turns Hes­ter Col­ly­er into one of cinema’s great trag­ic heroines.
Two men, one in a checkered shirt and the other in a police uniform, sitting at a table and engaged in conversation.
In Praise Of

Why 49th Parallel is one of the most cunning war films ever made

by Sam Manning

Michael Pow­ell and Emer­ic Press­burg­er employed pro­pa­gan­da to potent effect in their 1941 sub­ma­rine drama.
A man with a thick beard and intense gaze, set against a warm, golden-brown background.
In Praise Of

In defence of Darren Aronofsky’s The Fountain

by Simon Bland

Dis­missed as a self-indul­gent fol­ly upon release, this fatal­is­tic fan­ta­sy dra­ma deserves a sec­ond look.
Four men with distinctive hairstyles and clothing posing in the back of a car, one with his arm raised.
Film Music

How The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour pioneered the visual album

by Mark Allison

In 1967, the Fab Four embarked on an extrav­a­gant, exper­i­men­tal jour­ney that would rede­fine what a pro­mo­tion­al film could be.
A person wearing a striped hat and umbrella, holding the umbrella to their face.
In Praise Of

Why The Portrait of a Lady remains Jane Campion’s most bittersweet film

by Kayleigh Donaldson

Twen­ty-five years on, this adap­ta­tion of the clas­sic Hen­ry James nov­el offers an unflinch­ing study of female sorrow.
Weathered and rusted old truck in the background, with a man sitting in a red car in the foreground.
In Praise Of

How Duel paved the foundation for Steven Spielberg’s career

by Mitchell Beaupre

This made-for-TV fea­ture has all the trade­marks that would go on to define one of America’s most acclaimed filmmakers.
Close-up shot of a woman with long dark hair, wearing a checkered shirt and looking pensive.
In Praise Of

Kōji Shiraishi’s Noroi is a found footage horror like no other

by Kitty Richardson

Unlike most pos­ses­sion-based pseu­do-doc­u­men­taries, this 2005 J‑horror deliv­ers its biggest scares in broad daylight.
A bearded man with piercing eyes wearing a denim jacket.
In Praise Of

Why Secrets & Lies remains a masterclass in framing

by James Morton

Direc­tor Mike Leigh empha­sis­es the lack of con­nec­tion between the char­ac­ters, and British soci­ety as a whole.