The White Lotus – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

ALWAYS LALISA – Review by Sarah Ward

October 8, 2026October 11, 2026 Sarah Ward Always Lalisa, Blackpink, Coachella, documentary, Ezra Paek, K-Pop Idols, mike white, Pranpriya Manobal, Sue Kim, The White Lotus

To peruse the track listing for Lisa’s album Alter Ego is to discover many of Always Lalisa’s themes. Focused on the Blackpink star while she explores her independence and individual creativity during the girl group’s year-long hiatus, and as she releases her debut solo studio record, this is a documentary about a dream and an artist born again. It’s about a new woman daring to fuck up her world (or “fxck” up, as her song title censors it) as well. Always Lalisa also tells of Lalisa Manobal letting down her hair to unleash her thunder and, at times, her inner rockstar, showing her elasticity outside of the tightly controlled K-pop idol realm. And, it probes the lifestyle required by an industry and its well-oiled machinery that first thrust her to global attention.

Reviews

THE WHITE LOTUS – Review by Martha K Baker

August 23, 2021August 24, 2021 Martha K. Baker (Archived Contributor) connie britton, Jennifer Coolidge, mike white, Murray Bartlett, natasha rothwell, Steve Zahn, The White Lotus

Set in a luxurious Hawaiian resort, The White Lotus is about entitlement, or “enwhitelment,” as a comedian labeled it, with people of color at the beck of white people as described by creator Mike White. But it’s also about political correctness, parenting, and complicity, about secrets and stealing and sex. The White Lotus satisfactorily delivers, just remember that “Aloha” means both “hello” and “goodbye.”

Reviews

THE WHITE LOTUS – Review by Susan Granger

July 22, 2021July 25, 2021 Susan Granger connie britton, hbo, Jennifer Coolidge, mike white, Murray Bartlett, natasha rothwell, Steve Zahn, The White Lotus

As the plot of Mike White’s new HBO series unfolds, it’s as if Fantasy Island merged with The Love Boat. In the opening shot, a casket is being loaded onto a plane. It’s a mysteriously ominous beginning that soon shifts to a tropical island where smiling Armond , the smarmy resort manager, and his newly hired assistant Lani prepare to welcome new guests as they arrive at the luxurious White Lotus Hotel.