'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Reviews of 'A Secret Love,' 'The Infiltrators' and 'Deerskin'

A documentary about a longtime lesbian love affair. 

A documentary about a daring (and unconventional) prison break.

And Jean Dujardin plays a man obsessed with his jacket.

It's a very fun week on Press Play, as Katie Walsh and I offer reviews and jokes. Hear the whole thing below.

'All Day and a Night' Review

“All Day and a Night is a film that is tough by design. It asks a lot of the audience." That's from writer-director Joe Robert Cole about his bleak character drama, which stars Ashton Sanders as an Oakland youth who might end up like his drug-addicted, abusive dad (Jeffrey Wright). A movie about racism and economic inequality, All Day and a Night asks hard questions ... I just wish it shed more light. My review is up at MEL.

Visions du Reel 2020: ‘Davos’ Review

Every year, the World Economic Forum takes places in Davos, and so it's pretty common to hear people mentioning the "Davos conference." (It's kind of like when I go to Park City for a certain winter film festival, but everybody just says, "Oh yeah, I was in Sundance for the last week.") But a city and conference aren't the same thing. For Screen International, I reviewed Davos, which is a documentary that studies the tension between the two.

Visions du Reel 2020: ‘A Machine to Live In’ Review

What makes up a city? The people? The architecture? Or is there something else that's more intangible? The provocative documentary A Machine to Live In takes a unique look at Brasilia. Does it work? My review is up at Screen International.

Talking to Keith Law About 'The Inside Game'

I had a lengthy chat with Keith Law three years ago about Smart Baseball. Since then, we've become friends, so of course I wanted to interview him again about his fab new book, The Inside Game. But, as usual, we didn't just talk about baseball. Hope you enjoy.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: "Raising Arizona,' 'Tucker and Dale vs Evil' and Looking Back at 1997

On this week's podcast, our Reboot segment is devoted to the Coen brothers' first comedy and a beloved festival favorite. But the majority of the show is dedicated to a discussion of 1997, a year that started with Star Wars (really) and ended with Titanic, a film that was destined to supplant it (at least at the box office). A very fun episode ... and you can hear the whole thing down below.

A Salute to Alan Parsons and "Sirius"

The Last Dance is a deep dive into Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. So how come it doesn't spend any time talking about the team's unofficial theme song? For MEL, I went into the history of "Sirius."

Visions du Reel 2020: 'Prayer For a Lost Mitten' Review

Prayer for a Lost Mitten has a clever idea: What if you made a documentary about the people trying to find misplaced items at the lost and found? But this film ends up shifting gears, going in an unexpected but engaging direction. I reviewed the movie for Screen International.

What's Christian Bale's Best Performance?

Each Friday, Vulture is doing a movie-club viewing, and last night it was American Psycho. For the occasion, they asked us to rank Christian Bale's performances, which we were happy to do. Check it out right here.

Hugh Jackman's Dark Side

Even after a second viewing, I remain curiously unmoved by the lauded Bad Education. But Hugh Jackman is doing something interesting in the film, which I talked about over at MEL.

'Normal People' Review

For MEL, I reviewed Hulu's highly anticipated adaptation of Sally Rooney's novel Normal People. (Spoiler: I found it pretty lovely.)

'True History of the Kelly Gang' Review

Looking for a violent pseudo-Western that reimagines the Ned Kelly legend? For MEL, I reviewed True History of the Kelly Gang.

Lush - "Out of Control"

"All that I want is the joy of your touch" is a particularly poignant sentiment in the middle of social distancing.

'Extraction' Review

Thor kills so many people in Extraction, which comes to Netflix tomorrow. I reviewed this big, dumb action movie for MEL.

My Interview With Rachel Mason, Director of 'Circus of Books'

Rachel Mason is an artist and filmmaker whose parents, Karen and Barry, ran Circus of Books for more than 30 years. A West Hollywood staple, the store sold magazines and porn videos, and was a safe haven for gay men during the heyday of AIDS during the Reagan years. How did a nice straight couple get involved in an adult bookstore? That's what Rachel wanted to find out. The result is the charming and poignant documentary Circus of Books. I really enjoyed talking to Rachel for MEL.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'The Mend,' 'Over the Edge' and Looking Back at 2001

2001 will always be synonymous with 9/11. But let's take a moment to reflect on that year in movies. We do that on this week's podcast -- and then, in our Reboot segment, we discuss two very different portraits of alienation, John Magary's The Mend and Jonathan Kaplan's Over the Edge. Hope you enjoy.

'Beastie Boys Story' Review

There's an inherent tension at the center of Beastie Boys Story: It's a celebration of the band carried by only two of the group's three members. That makes this "live documentary" a bittersweet farewell of sorts. I reviewed the film for MEL.

Marlon Brando 101

If you were going to start your Marlon Brando education, what movies should you see? For MEL, I did a twist on that question, offering up the movies (and more) that best represent his legacy. That means they're aren't necessarily the best, but they're where to begin. Hope you enjoy.

This Week in Genre History: 'Anaconda' Makes Creature Features Trendy (and Campy)

Over at SyFy, I looked back at Anaconda, which opened in April 1997. Who knew a terrible movie with a really fake-looking digital snake could be so influential? Hope you enjoy.

The Postal Service - "Sleeping In"

Save the Postal Service.

'The Last Dance' Review

The wait is over: For MEL, I reviewed the epic Michael Jordan documentary series The Last Dance.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Raiders of the Lost Ark,' 'Good Bye, Lenin!' and Looking Back at 1977

There were many great films in 1977, but our conversation inevitably focuses on two -- Star Wars and Annie Hall -- and how the culture's impression of them has shifted over time. Then, we segue to our Reboot section. We rhapsodize about Raiders of the Lost Ark and Daniel Bruhl's breakout hit, the German-language Good Bye, Lenin! The whole thing is down below.

The Therapeutic Properties of Watching People Scream in Movies

Random neighborhoods are organizing primal-scream sessions, where people go outside and just yell their heads off in frustration and anger over the pandemic. This got me thinking about how, in movies, characters are yelling all the time. There's something incredibly cathartic about that, which I explore over at MEL.

'Brews Brothers' Review

Looking for the next It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia? Look elsewhere: The Netflix sitcom Brews Brothers is the pits. I reviewed the show for MEL.

Five Replacements for 'No Time to Die'

It's crazy to think that, if not for the coronavirus, there'd be a James Bond movie out right now. For Vulture, we suggested five alternatives to No Time to Die, including a very silly French spy spoof. Read all about it.

'Sea Fever' Review

A fishing trawler runs into something in the middle of the Atlantic. Suddenly, a mysterious illness begins gripping the crew. What should they do? Sea Fever was made long before COVID-19 was a reality, but it's now suddenly very timely. But is the film any good? Check out my MEL review.

'Tigertail' Review

Earnest but also affecting, Alan Yang's feature directorial debut tells a story about an immigrant father looking back on his life and the love he left behind. Yang won an Emmy for co-writing the great "Parents" episode of Master of None, and Tigertail is very much the somber-drama version of the same idea. My review is up at MEL.

Waxahatchee - "Fire"

Like any traumatic period, this current pandemic is probably going to create lasting associations for certain songs and albums. In the future, will I ever hear this lovely Katie Crutchfield tune and not think of being quarantined?

'Run' Review

The first three episodes of this new HBO series are really fun. And then .... well, let's just say I don't love where the show goes. My review is up at MEL.

'Trolls World Tour' Review

Universal is throwing caution to the wind by forgoing a theatrical release for its would-be blockbuster sequel to Trolls. But forget the industry repercussions for a moment: Is the new movie any good? My feelings about World Tour are over at Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Tucker: The Man and His Dream,' 'Passion Fish' and Looking Back at 2005

On this week's episode, we have two Reboots: Francis Ford Coppola's Tucker: The Man and His Dream and John Sayles' Passion Fish. Here are two films from distinctive auteurs that would be pretty hard to get made in modern times. (And I don't mean because of the pandemic.) But the show kicks off with our deep dive into movie year 2005. Crash, Brokeback Mountain, Capote, Munich ... and my pick for the year's actual best film. Check it out below.

The Beauty of Black and White in Modern Cinema

I love a good black-and-white film. For MEL, I highlighted some of this century's best monochrome movies.

Five Replacements for 'The New Mutants'

The New Mutants was supposed to come out this weekend. That didn't happen because of the pandemic, but let's be honest: The movie has been delayed so many times that it's hardly shocking that we have to wait (again) for this X-Men spinoff. Over at Vulture, we offer five alternatives to watching The New Mutants. Hope you enjoy.

'Tales From the Loop' Review

Amazon only made three episodes of Tales From the Loop available to critics. (And they aren't even in sequential order.) But I was pretty pleased with what I saw, as I explain in my MEL review.

'How to Fix a Drug Scandal' Review

About seven years ago, two separate Massachusetts drug-lab chemists, Annie Dookhan and Sonja Farak, were arrested on charges that they didn't faithfully execute their jobs. (Dookhan allegedly lied in her lab results. Farak allegedly tampered with evidence.) What happened? And what do these cases have to say about the War on Drugs? For MEL, I reviewed the new Netflix documentary How to Fix a Drug Scandal.

This Week in Genre History: 'Spy Kids' Changes the Family Action Movie

We'll be starting a new column for SyFy, called "This Week in Genre History," in which we look back at a classic genre movie that was released that week. First up: I dug into the history of Spy Kids, which came out March 31, 2001. A very different world back then, as I explain here.

Bill Withers, 1938-2020

For MEL, I paid tribute to the R&B artist, who had a knack for writing a perfect song for every occasion.

Fountains of Wayne - "Hackensack"

This song was heartbreaking 17 years ago. Today, it's even sadder.

Get Well Soon, John Prine

On Sunday night, John Prine was in critical condition from complications of COVID-19. Things looked pretty dire for the acclaimed, beloved country singer. Thankfully, his condition has apparently stabilized. For MEL, I wrote an appreciation of Prine and for the importance of his brand of goofy, sappy, corny optimism. Hope you enjoy.

'The Scheme' Review

Christian Dawkins wanted to be a sports agent. Instead, he was convicted on bribery charges. What happened? It's a story that has as much to do with college basketball as it does him. For MEL, I reviewed the new HBO documentary The Scheme.

Five Replacements for the Live-Action 'Mulan'

Last weekend, Disney's new version of Mulan was supposed to hit theaters. Over at Vulture, we offer some cinematic alternatives if you had been dying to see that movie.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Crip Camp,' 'Margaret' and Looking Back at 1989

On this week's podcast, we review one new movie, the Sundance opener Crip Camp, and then discuss the extended cut of Kenneth Lonergan's divisive Margaret.

But first, as part of our new series, we do a deep dive on one movie year. Welcome to 1989, a time of Do the Right Thing, Roger & Me and Driving Miss Daisy. Hear the whole thing down below.