LWLies Recommends | Little White Lies

LWLies Recommends

Two figures, profile view, in black and white. One person appears to be gazing intently at the other.
Review

Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It

by Emma Fraser

This inti­mate doc­u­men­tary sees the trail­blaz­ing Hol­ly­wood icon tell her remark­able sto­ry in her own words.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A woman with long, wavy blonde hair in a pensive expression, looking away from the camera.
Review

Adrienne

by Emma Fraser

Andy Ostroy’s doc­u­men­tary is a heart­break­ing por­trait of a film­mak­er gone too soon and those she left behind.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A man with a moustache embracing a young child in a busy street, photographed in black and white.
Review

C’mon C’mon

by Charles Bramesco

Joaquin Phoenix forms a close bond with a pre­co­cious whip­per­snap­per in Mike Mills’ gen­tle fam­i­ly drama.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Silhouetted figure in dark suit stands before TV screens displaying various images and patterns.
Review

Rebel Dykes

by Marina Ashioti

This fit­ting­ly rad­i­cal doc­u­men­tary chron­i­cles the fem­i­nist punk sub­cul­ture which sprung in Lon­don in the 1980s.

5
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Three men in pink t-shirts sitting on a patterned sofa, interacting with one another.
Review

Pirates

by Cheyenne Bart-Stewart

Reg­gie Yates’ Lon­don-set, Y2K-era debut fea­ture is a rol­lick­ing cel­e­bra­tion of friend­ship and Black British music.

3
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A man wearing a face mask gestures during a press conference, surrounded by floral arrangements.
Review

Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn

by Matt Turner

A school teacher goes viral for all the wrong rea­sons in Roman­ian direc­tor Radu Jude’s sala­cious social satire.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two young girls with curly hair, wearing colourful winter coats, looking serious.
Review

Petite Maman

by Aimee Knight

Céline Sci­amma puts a time-loop spin on the clas­sic com­ing-of-age tale with this gen­tle fam­i­ly fairy tale.

4
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Two men wearing cowboy hats conversing by candlelight in a dimly lit room.
Review

The Power of the Dog

by Sophie Monks Kaufman

Jane Campion’s claus­tro­pho­bic, slow-burn west­ern dials up the queer sub­text of Thomas Savage’s source novel.

5
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Two Asian individuals, a man and a woman, sitting in the front seats of a car.
Review

Drive My Car

by David Jenkins

This cap­ti­vat­ing, emo­tion­al­ly elo­quent Haru­ki Muraka­mi adap­ta­tion is one of 2021’s must-see movies.

5
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Anime-style mecha robot in red and black, with a fearsome expression, standing in a grassy field.
Review

The End of Evangelion

by Kambole Campbell

Back in cin­e­mas this week, Hidea­ki Anno’s fea­ture-length finale breaks hearts, bod­ies, and the fourth wall.

5
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect