In Praise Of | Little White Lies

In Praise Of

Man with moustache holding microphone, in front of large green mask figure, people in background.
In Praise Of

How Borat became one of the defining comedies of the 21st century

by Tom Bond

Ten years ago Sacha Baron Cohen unleashed an outrageous and shocking creation – and we’re not just talking about the mankini.
A shirtless man wearing sunglasses and yellow swimming trunks stands in front of a stone wall.
In Praise Of

Does Sexy Beast contain cinema’s best description of love?

by Sophie Monks Kaufman

Jonathan Glazer’s 2000 film mixes in a sweet, lilting romance with all the violence and swearing.
A large, hulking robot with a smiling metallic face, wielding powerful weapons, stands against a vibrant orange and yellow sky.
In Praise Of

Why The Iron Giant is one of the most powerful superhero movies ever made

by Tom Bond

Brad Bird’s soaring 1999 animated feature taught us that true heroism is much more than quips and spandex.
Woman in black dress and pearls standing on ledge, arms outstretched, against urban background.
In Praise Of

The seminal fashion industry satire that paved the way for Zoolander

by Justine Smith

Ben Stiller’s comic creation channels the absurd charm of ​’60s cult classic Who Are You, Polly Maggoo?
Woman in black swimsuit looking out over green water
In Praise Of

Why the swimming pool is the real star of A Bigger Splash

by Nick Chen

A shallow body of water harbours deep emotions in Luca Guadagnino’s scintillating Sicilian drama.
Two young people, a woman in a white dress and a man in armour, gazing intensely at each other.
In Praise Of

Six reasons Why Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet still rocks

by Sophie Monks Kaufman

Twenty years on, Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes are as irresistible as ever in this swooning melodrama.
An elderly man in a flat cap, black coat, and trousers, standing on a rocky shore with a seagull by his side, against a mountainous landscape.
In Praise Of

RIP Jacques Rivette – The filmmaker who helped me to love movies more

by David Jenkins

The French maestro has died at the age of 87, and leaves behind him an unimpeachable canon of work.
A man with a beard, wearing dark clothing and body armour, holding a rifle in a dimly lit area.
In Praise Of

Is it possible for a war movie to be both impartial and political?

by Luke Channell

Michael Bay’s controversial 13 Hours reminded us of a similarly gritty but less gung-ho Israeli film from 2007.
A middle-aged man in a dark suit sitting at a bar, looking pensive and alone.
In Praise Of

How one man transformed Boston into a city of sin and squalor

by David Hayles

George V Higgins birthed a new breed of American crime drama beginning with 1973’s The Friends of Eddie Coyle.
Two people photographing near a frozen river surrounded by pine trees and snow-capped mountains.
In Praise Of

How Emmanuel Lubezki became the world’s most influential cinematographer

by Nicholas Page

The Revenant marks yet another mesmerising high point in the career of Alejandro González Iñárritu’s most trusted collaborator.