LWLies Recommends | Little White Lies

LWLies Recommends

Three anime characters with distinct facial features, hairstyles, and expressions, set against a blurred background.
Review

The Colours Within review – hits with the power of a dodgeball

by Josh Slater-Williams

Ani­mé direc­tor Naoko Yama­da returns with a won­der­ful com­ing-of-ager set in a Catholic girls’ board­ing school.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A serious-looking Black woman with braided hair, wearing a green jacket, speaking on a mobile phone.
Review

Hard Truths review – incredible in small, measured strokes

by Mark Asch

Reunit­ing with Mar­i­anne Jean-Bap­tiste, Mike Leigh makes a wel­come return to con­tem­po­rary film­mak­ing with a sear­ing por­trait of a woman on the brink.

4
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
A young woman in a red hooded top stands in a dimly lit room, with blurred figures in the background.
Review

Presence review – an enjoyably swift chiller

by Manuela Lazic

Steven Soder­bergh plays with the cin­e­mat­ic form to craft a com­pelling sto­ry about fam­i­ly dynam­ics and grief.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A man in a checked shirt sitting on the grass, writing in a notebook under a tree in a lush, green garden.
Review

The Brutalist review – gorgeous, capital-C Cinema

by Hannah Strong

Adrien Brody is phe­nom­e­nal in Brady Cor­bet’s sub­lime three-and-a-half hour dra­ma, as a Jew­ish archi­tect arrives in post-war Amer­i­ca to a hos­tile new world.

4
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Two people in intimate embrace, with a man caressing a woman's face.
Review

Babygirl review – intelligent, elegant adult filmmaking

by Hannah Strong

Hali­na Rei­jn’s psy­chodra­ma sees Nicole Kid­man and Har­ris Dick­in­son go toe-to-toe as a CEO and an intern who become embroiled in a com­plex illic­it affair.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat and fur-trimmed coat, gazing pensively.
Review

Maria review – a tender eulogy for a remarkable talent

by Hannah Strong

Angeli­na Jolie has nev­er been bet­ter as the leg­endary opera singer Maria Callas, cap­tured in the final week of her life by Pablo Lar­raín’s ele­gant bio­graph­i­cal drama.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Black-and-white crowd scene, people wearing hats, one woman's face in the centre.
Review

The Girl With The Needle review – politically pertinent Gothic horror story

by David Jenkins

Mag­nus von Horn brings sub­tle­ty and empa­thy to the ser­i­al killer genre in this extra­or­di­nary true-life yarn.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A couple embracing on a path surrounded by autumn foliage.
Review

A Real Pain review – an amusing and compelling inquiry into human pain and suffering

by Katherine McLaughlin

Based on a trip he took to Poland with his own cousin, Jesse Eisen­berg crafts a sen­si­tive dram­e­dy co-star­ring Kier­an Culkin.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two cartoon characters with big googly eyes and surprised expressions, sitting in a rope.
Review

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl review – an Aardman banger

by Hannah Strong

The eccen­tric inven­tor and his incred­i­bly patient pooch return in a new adven­ture from Aard­man Animation.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Elegant ballroom interior with central staircase; man in formal attire dancing on stage.
Review

Better Man review – chimply irresistible

by Hannah Strong

Ridicu­lous­ly enjoy­able Rob­bie Williams biopic with the bold gam­bit of hav­ing a CG-chim­panzee in the title role pay­ing off handsomely.

2
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect