In Praise Of | Little White Lies

In Praise Of

Close-up of a young person with a shaved head wearing a white vest, looking intently at the camera.
In Praise Of

10 years on, Denis Villeneuve’s Incendies still haunts me

by Lucas Oakeley

This searing drama forced me to confront the uncomfortable reality of my relatively privileged upbringing in the Middle East.
Black and white close-up portrait of a young person with damp hair and a pensive expression.
In Praise Of

Why I love Alain Delon’s performance in Rocco and his Brothers

by Sophie Monks Kaufman

The French screen idol is at his most open and vulnerable in Luchino Visconti’s 1960 crime drama.
A shirtless man with tattoos on his arms sits at a desk, writing or reading intently.
In Praise Of

The search for truth in Christopher Nolan’s Memento

by Daniel Broadley

Guy Pearce’s amnesia-suffering, tattoo-covered protagonist is cinema’s ultimate unreliable narrator.
Close-up portrait of a serious-looking man with a mustache, glasses, and a suit, set against a dimly lit background.
In Praise Of

Why I love Gene Hackman’s performance in The Conversation

by Alexander Boucher

His role as taciturn surveillance expert Harry Caul is a masterful portrayal of alienation and loneliness.
A woman with long brown hair in a desert setting, wearing a patterned dress and necklace, looking pensive with a man in the background.
In Praise Of

She Dies Tomorrow is the defining film of the doomer generation

by Annika Morling

Amy Seimetz’s apocalyptic horror speaks to the growing pessimism about the future among young people.
A man in a white robe leans over another man lying on a bed.
In Praise Of

How V-Cinema sparked a Japanese filmmaking revolution

by James Balmont

The ​’90s straight-to-video boom reinvigorated the industry and made stars of directors like Takashi Miike.
Two female cheerleaders in red and yellow uniforms standing face-to-face, with other cheerleaders in the background.
In Praise Of

Black female empowerment in Bring It On

by Ayoola Solarin

The cheerleading comedy has aged better than most early-2000s teen movies, especially in how it tackles systematic inequality and cultural appropriation.
A woman with wavy, blonde hair wearing a polka dot top, speaking on a black telephone.
In Praise Of

Wild at Heart remains an empowering depiction of female trauma

by Lillian Crawford

In David Lynch’s 1990 film, Laura Dern’s Lula refuses to allow her rape to control her – she’s a survivor, not a victim.
A black and white image of a woman in an ornate dress and a man in a suit, posing together in a dramatic theatrical setting.
In Praise Of

Why Sunset Boulevard remains a glorious Gothic horror

by Sam Moore

Billy Wilder’s classic Hollywood satire from 1950 is also a great post-modern ghost story.
A woman with long, auburn hair and green eyes wearing a grey top.
In Praise Of

Why I love Dakota Johnson’s performance in Suspiria

by McKinzie Smith

Her deft turn as dancer Susie Bannion resonates with me and many other women attempting to come into our own.