Reviews | Little White Lies

Reviews

Two men and a boy walking through a rocky, desert landscape.
Review

Encounter

by Hannah Strong

Despite some com­pelling per­for­mances, Michael Pearce’s sci-fi thriller fails to live up to the promise of his debut, Beast.

4
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
A man and woman in formal attire embrace intimately, their faces close together, against a backdrop of metal panels.
Review

West Side Story

by David Jenkins

Steven Spiel­berg comes a‑cropper in this stiff and soul­less revamp of the clas­sic Leonard Bern­stein barnstormer.

4
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Two people embracing intimately in a low-lit setting with blurred lights in the background.
Review

Blue Bayou

by Hannah Strong

Justin Chon’s melo­dra­mat­ic tale of immi­gra­tion and injus­tice in present-day Amer­i­ca is under­mined by a clichéd script.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Grey 4x4 vehicle on a golden field under a cloudy sky.
Review

There is No Evil

by Marina Ashioti

This anthol­o­gy film from direc­tor Moham­mad Rasoulof explores the social con­se­quences of Iran’s death penalty.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Group of people sitting on a wooden deck by a rocky coastline.
Review

The Hand of God

by Sophie Monks Kaufman

Pao­lo Sor­renti­no bares his soul in this auto­bi­o­graph­i­cal com­ing-of-age sto­ry about teenage obsessions.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
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
Solitary figure in black dress standing in calm waters, with mountains in the background.
Review

Lapwing

by David Jenkins

An atmos­pher­ic tale of tox­ic mas­culin­i­ty in Tudor Eng­land from writer Lau­ra Turn­er and direc­tor Philip Stevens.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A group of musicians performing on stage, with various instruments such as guitars, drums, and microphones. The image has a warm, vintage colour palette with hints of pink and yellow.
Review

The Beatles: Get Back

by Elena Lazic

Peter Jack­son unearths and re-edits footage of the Bea­t­les’ last hur­rah, with euphor­ic and exas­per­at­ing results.

4
Anticipation
3
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