In Praise Of | Little White Lies

In Praise Of

Close-up black and white image of a man with an intense, dramatic expression, wearing a formal suit.
In Praise Of

How Tod Browning’s Dracula changed horror cinema forever

by Adam Scovell

The 1931 film put the Count firmly on the cultural map and moved the genre on from its silent origins.
Aerial view of a coastal city with silhouetted figures on a ledge against a hazy sky.
In Praise Of

Trust No One: The lingering paranoia of The Parallax View

by Saffron Maeve

Alan J Pakula’s prescient 1974 political thriller sees Warren Beatty infiltrate a shady organisation.
Two men in dark clothes, one with long hair and a beard, leaning towards each other over a table.
In Praise Of

How Derek Jarman’s films queer the narrative of history

by Sam Moore

In 1976’s Sebastiane and 1986’s Caravaggio, the director refuses to relegate homosexuality to the subtext.
Two women reclining on a bed, wearing green and white blouses.
In Praise Of

Me Without You and the toxic female friendship

by Lydia Figes

Sandra Goldbacher’s coming-of-age drama from 2001 powerfully portrays the perils of female intimacy.
Decorated Christmas tree with colourful lights, silhouetted figure in doorway.
In Praise Of

Eyes Wide Shut is an anti-consumerist holiday classic

by Brianna Zigler

Stanley Kubrick’s final film contains a thinly-veiled critique of the vulgar excess and materialism of Christmas.
Mechanical insect-like creature with large wings and intricate details, displayed in a darkened room with warm lighting and a wooden roof structure.
In Praise Of

An auteur and his flying machine: Brewster McCloud at 50

by Saffron Maeve

Robert Altman’s long-overlooked satire reflects the director’s frustrations with the Hollywood studio system.
Man in cap embracing woman with curly hair, set against blurred background, black and white
In Praise Of

The other side of Marlene Dietrich

by Pamela Hutchinson

A new season at BFI Southbank celebrates the career of this screen icon, including many of her lesser-known works.
Two men wearing formal clothes, one facing the camera with a serious expression.
In Praise Of

Looking into the heart of Miller’s Crossing

by David Jenkins

The Coen brothers’ classic gangland neo-noir remains one of their most potent and illusive works.
A man in black clothing grappling with a woman in a jungle setting.
In Praise Of

How GoldenEye reinvigorated the James Bond franchise

by Mark Allison

With a new 007 and more progressive sexual politics, this film brought the series up to speed with the modern world.
A person wearing a blue judo uniform lies exhausted on the floor.
In Praise Of

Silent Running remains a tender riposte to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001

by Brian Quinn

Directed by SFX visionary Douglas Trumbull, this homespun space odyssey is a far more soulful affair.