Brendan Gleeson Reviews and Articles | Little White Lies

Talent Brendan Gleeson

Two people leaning in close, lit by warm orange light.
Review

Joker: Folie à Deux review – a grim karaoke session

by Hannah Strong

Todd Phillips recruits Lady Gaga to his cir­cus act as Joaquin Phoenix repris­es his role as the crime-com­mit­ting clown about town in this shock­ing­ly ama­teur musi­cal effort.

2
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Two men in a dimly lit room, one older with white hair wearing a green jacket, the other younger with dark hair wearing a black jacket and red shirt.
Review

The Banshees of Inisherin

by Hannah Strong

Mar­tin McDon­agh deploys his sig­na­ture acer­bic wit to an affec­tion­ate folk­tale as he reunites with Bren­dan Glee­son and Col­in Farrell.

4
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Two women seated on a white bench, one wearing a floral dress and the other a blue jacket and purple dress.
Review

Frankie

by Laura Venning

Writer/​director Ira Sachs miss­es a trick with this ambling fam­i­ly dra­ma set in a pic­turesque Por­tuguese town.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Two men in fedora hats and trench coats, standing side by side against a dark background.
Review

Alone in Berlin

by David Jenkins

A griev­ing cou­ple decide to take on the Nazis in this drab wartime thriller that’s notice­ably short on thrills.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Shirtless man being apprehended by two armed police officers.
Review

Trespass Against Us

by Phil Concannon

Michael Fass­ben­der and Bren­dan Glee­son are ter­rif­ic in this stur­dy trav­eller dra­ma from first-time direc­tor Adam Smith.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Young child gazing at glowing dome with celestial patterns, surrounded by dark fantasy bedroom with geometric shapes.
Review

Song of the Sea

by David Jenkins

Do Ghi­b­li and Pixar have a new rival in Irish direc­tor Tomm Moore? This stun­ning film would sug­gest they do.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two people, a man and a woman, standing outdoors against a cloudy sky. The man wears a black clerical robe, while the woman wears a green coat.
Review

Calvary

by David Jenkins

The Guard’s Bren­dan Glee­son and direc­tor John Michael McDon­agh reunite to deliv­er one of the year’s best films.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Colourful animated characters - a blue female with blonde hair, a brown-haired female, and a male with red hair - gathered around a large birthday cake with lit candles.
Review

The Smurfs 2

by David Jenkins

More of the same (lit­er­al­ly) as this time the Smurfs storm Paris, dis­cuss racial pol­i­tics and explore their sexuality.

2
Anticipation
1
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
A bearded man in red and gold costume holding a parrot, with a smaller costumed character beside him on a wooden floor with shelves in the background.
Review

The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists

by Matt Bochenski

There’s adven­ture all right, and sci­ence in spades, but some­one buried the pira­cy in Aardman’s lat­est stop-motion treasure.

5
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Police officer in uniform speaking with young boy in rural field.
Review

The Guard

by Zara Joan Miller

Amer­i­can cop show meets the Emer­ald Isle equals Lethal Weapon gone Gaelic.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Cartoon characters peeking from lush, green foliage with colourful flowers.
Review

The Secret of Kells

by Alice Levick

Nora Twom­ey and Tomm Moore’s ani­ma­tion fable is a feast for the eyes that man­ages to be both whim­si­cal and sinister.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two men in dark coats seated in front of a historic building with a tower.
Review

In Bruges

by Kevin Maher

Play­wright-turned-direc­tor Mar­tin McDon­agh’s debut is dark­er than your aver­age hit­men-in-per­il comedy.

1
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect