Ben Foster Reviews and Articles | Little White Lies

Talent Ben Foster

Close-up of a serious-looking Black man with a beard, wearing a dark coat, against a blurred, wintry background.
Review

Emancipation

by David Jenkins

Will Smith brings stern dra­mat­ic heft to an enslaved man mak­ing a dash for free­dom in Antoine Fuqua’s tonal­ly mish-mashed action drama.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Two people, a man and a woman, walking together down a cobbled street in a European city. The man wears a green military-style jacket and a hat, while the woman wears a green jacket over a checked shirt. The surroundings suggest an old town setting.
Review

Leave No Trace

by David Jenkins

Debra Granik’s ten­der sto­ry of a father and daugh­ter liv­ing off the grid is one of the year’s very best.

4
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Two people, a man and a woman, walking together in a corridor. The man wears a dark suit and the woman wears a dark jacket.
Review

Inferno

by David Jenkins

Epi­cal­ly stu­pid faux intel­lec­tu­al Euro sleuthing, with Tom Han­ks repris­ing his role as the dullest char­ac­ter of his career.

2
Anticipation
1
Enjoyment
1
In Retrospect
Two men, one with a camera, the other in a wheelchair, in a rocky desert landscape.
Review

Hell or High Water

by Manuela Lazic

Jeff Bridges gives his best per­for­mance in years in this time­ly crime caper from David Mackenzie.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Close-up of an orc warrior with a fierce, angry expression, long hair and facial piercings.
Review

Warcraft: The Beginning

by Anton Bitel

Despite the sil­ly names and cheesy nerdism there’s plen­ty of fun to be had in Dun­can Jones’ video game adaptation.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Cyclist in yellow jersey racing down street with spectators watching.
Review

The Program

by Adam Woodward

Like Lance Arm­strong him­self, there’s some­thing disin­gen­u­ous about this by-the-num­bers biopic.

4
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Soldiers in military gear carrying an injured comrade through a wooded, rocky terrain with smoke and debris in the background.
Review

Lone Survivor

by Paul Fairclough

There are nuggets of hon­esty amid the gung-ho jin­go­ism in Peter Berg’s star­ry-eyed war story.

2
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A group of people in casual country attire, including hats and boots, standing together in a rural setting with trees and vegetation in the background.
Review

Ain’t Them Bodies Saints

by Adam Woodward

The spir­it of Ter­rence Mal­ick is evoked in this ten­der west­ern star­ring Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Man in dark uniform and sunglasses standing in front of building.
Review

Rampart

by Andrew Lowry

A mod­ern noir that nods per­func­to­ri­ly at the genre’s con­ven­tions, but side­lines them as quick­ly as it can to get to its real business.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Two uniformed soldiers holding gaming controllers, dressed in military uniforms with insignia and medals.
Review

The Messenger

by Josh Winning

The Mes­sen­ger is a movie that deliv­ers its own moral tale – one many are prob­a­bly not going to like.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect