Saturday, December 31, 2022

Best of 2022: The Top 10 Movies of the Year


Before MEL was a website, or had a name, it was just an idea. I had been working with Josh Schollmeyer, who was my editor at Playboy for a few years, and before that we were acquaintances. (I was buddies with his childhood best friend in film school. Josh and I then met at the friend's bachelor party and stayed in touch.) Over at Playboy, Josh and I were excited by the prospect of revitalizing a publication that had fallen into self-parody, one that had once done smart cultural coverage and thoughtful, in-depth interviews. The possibility of trying something different in the world of men's magazines — something that reflected the fact that modern masculinity wasn't anything like what you saw in men's magazines — appealed to both of us.

It didn't work out at Playboy, and soon Josh was looking for something new. I still remember having dinner with him a little while later. He sounded optimistic. "You know how we talked about what we'd like to do at Playboy if we'd had the chance?" he said to me. "I think I may have found that." This was in 2014.

Michael Dubin, the CEO of Dollar Shave Club, had been interested in starting a men's publication. He and Josh founded this nascent site, and Josh brought me on to help him and some others dream up what it could be — and, also, what we didn't want it to be. It wasn't going to be heavily, boringly masculine. It was going to be curious about the world and the societal shifts that were occurring. It was going to talk about mental health and sexuality and politics and online culture. I helped write the site's initial articles in order for us to get a sense of what the potential might be. It wasn't until 2016 that we really started to promote the site — and only after it had finally landed on an official name. MEL. Three capital letters. No, it wasn't a reference to Mel Gibson. It was a name that had a personal connection for Michael. As with all new websites, the name sounded dumb at first. But, as with all new websites, the more you said it — and the more the site began to establish its voice — the more natural the name became.

I was merely a contributing editor — writing pieces and pitching ideas in staff meetings — but Josh soon assembled a great collection of writers, artists and editors who believed in his vision. I handled entertainment and the arts, and they covered everything else, which was a lot. Pitch meetings were a joy because I learned so much from these people, whose areas of expertise were so different from mine. For most of MEL's run, I'm fairly certain I was the oldest contributor, and this Gen-Xer got an education about the real-life experiences of Millennials and Gen-Zers, which were vastly different and more complex than the patronizing depictions I'd often read in the news. Josh encouraged us to draw from our interests and anxieties when suggesting articles, and so we learned a lot about one another. 

For me personally, what I especially learned was how those younger generations perceived the filmmakers, actors and musicians that I held dear — and, spoiler alert, they weren't always as enamored as I was. Stopping by the MEL offices or reading some of my colleagues' pieces was a constant reminder that any sense of an artistic canon or sacred cows was a myth. Everything was up for debate, which wasn't surprising since the site was so dedicated to questioning how much patriarchal systems played into determining what kinds of entertainment were considered "worthy." Having to defend what I considered unarguable positions was a useful exercise. My younger cohorts inspired me to scrutinize how I evaluate art — and to interrogate my own blind spots.

As many women as men wrote for MEL, and while it was never an especially large staff, it was fairly diverse. We had writers all across the country, as well as the U.K. It felt like a family, which is a thing you sometimes hear about publications. Nonetheless, I've been lucky to have felt part of a few such families in my professional life, and MEL was one of them. 

The site was nimble enough to respond to what was happening during those years. Trump's ascendance, which was also the rise of neo-Nazis in this country, inspired a lot of thoughtful reporting and essays. The allegations against Harvey Weinstein, which sparked the #MeToo movement, provoked painful soul-searching about what it meant to be a good ally. These and other issues of the time, including Black Lives Matter, were examined from the perspective of masculinity, but in retrospect what I realize MEL was doing was exploring how masculinity was itself at the heart of all these societal ills. "Toxic masculinity" eventually became a cliched buzzword, but that was what MEL was dedicated to dissecting. I can't speak for anyone else, but as a straight white man, the site was cathartic. Even while writing about movies, music, television and whatever else, I found myself returning again and again to these same themes, roto-rooting through my anger and helplessness at how bad America seemed in the Trump years. Of course, others had know far longer than I about the insidiousness of sexism and racism in this country, but I was determined to do my part in addressing it in the popular culture I covered.

MEL went away briefly in 2021 when Unilever, which bought Dollar Shave Club, decided to cut our financing. We found another home soon after, but the resurrection was short-lived: At a meeting on July 22, 2022, we found out MEL was done, effective immediately. Just about anybody who's had a job in journalism or media has had one of those experiences. It's not fun. 

I've been so happy that so many of my colleagues have gone on to do great work at other places. It is bittersweet to see some of them get engaged or married — I always felt like the "old" person in comparison to them, the married guy in a room of mostly young, single folks. Life keeps moving, but I will always feel fortunate to have known them and to have worked alongside them. 

And I'm grateful to Josh, who brought me on at the start, giving me a wide platform to write about all types of things. For MEL, I profiled so many artists I've long admired, including Frederick Wiseman, Todd Haynes, Werner Herzog, Craig Finn, Britt Daniel, Rufus Wainwright and Boots Riley. Plus, I got to speak to emerging talents, like Garrett Bradley and Ephraim Asili. And then there were the cultural deep dives that Josh encouraged me to pursue. One of my favorite pieces was dedicated to the long shadow that Deliverance's rape scene still casts across society. I'm also quite proud of my look back at the history of the Red Ryder BB gun, a symbol of boyhood violence for generations, which gained newfound popularity thanks to A Christmas Story. (It remains a beloved holiday item.) And I was very pleased Neil LaBute sat down for a long conversation this year in honor of the 25th anniversary of In the Company of Men. He was willing to talk about everything, including his seeming cultural disappearing act since #MeToo. 

But I also really loved writing what Josh and I nicknamed "Song Histories," which were 3,000-to-4,000-word essays on iconic or infamous songs that were suddenly back in the collective consciousness for whatever reason. More than just simple "What inspired this song" pieces, these were my nearly-weekly attempt to deliver definitive takes on artists and their work, all through the prism of one indelible tune. My tributes to "Fast Car," "Nothing Compares 2 U," "Wake Up," "Nothing Else Matters," "You Oughta Know," "Strange Fruit," "My Way," "Vienna," "Jeremy," "Stan" and others allowed me to place a song within its historical context while reflecting on its continued resonance, especially as songs were being rediscovered and reconsidered on TikTok and social media. Unexpectedly, these were also sometimes very emotional to write: There's a powerful intimacy to music that not even the greatest film can quite achieve, and even when I didn't particularly like the artists I was discussing, I found myself connected to them in a way I hadn't before. I miss Song Histories more than just about anything else from my MEL days.

I write for so many great outlets. And yet, you always prepare yourself for the possibility that any of them could go away at a moment's notice. Being with MEL from the start will always be something I'm awfully proud of. MEL didn't change the world, but it helped me make sense of it for a little while.

* * * * *

Now, let's talk a little about the film year. Here's my Top 10...

1. Aftersun
2. The Eternal Daughter
3. Tar
4. One Fine Morning
5. Playground
6. Vortex
7. Descendant
8. EO
9. The Fabelmans
10. Neptune Frost

The two movies I most wanted to get onto that list were We're All Going to the World's Fair (No. 11) and Mad God (No. 12), both of them exceptional. Alas, they just didn't make the cut.

If you're curious, I also put together a list for Screen International. But be warned: Screen counts any film that premiered at any festival this year as a 2022 release, so a certain Kelly Reichardt gem that won't open in the U.S. until 2023 is on it. Also, we put documentaries and features on two separate lists. 

If the most noted theme of this year was "Movies about the power of movies," my Top 10 suggests that I was more moved by the relationship between children and parents — specifically, how the child (a.k.a. the filmmaker) tries to understand the parent they've lost. Look no further than The Fabelmans, which Universal is incorrectly selling as a paean to cinema's redemptive power. Anybody who watches Steven Spielberg's personal project will correctly assess that it's really more of a lament for how art can't fully heal the wounds that family dysfunction creates. That sense of trying to use filmmaking as a balm carried through in several of 2022's finest movies, like One Fine Morning, The Eternal Daughter and Aftersun, all of them as nakedly semi-autobiographical as Spielberg's opus. The poignancy of those films derives from how clear-eyed they are about the permanent divide between ourselves and the unknowable adults who raised us — and how even a terrific movie can't bridge it.

* * * * * 

Professionally, I remain, happily, extremely busy. I have now been writing for Screen International for 17 years, serving as the trade's Senior U.S. Critic and traveling to Cannes and Toronto. (Fingers crossed, I'll be back at Sundance in January for the first time since 2020.) In the wake of MEL's end, I've contributed pieces to Slate, Chron, GQ, InsideHook, Decider and Cracked, but I've been especially pleased to profile several actors and filmmakers for the Los Angeles Times. It was a treat to speak to White Lotus star Michael Imperioli and Yellowjackets' Christina Ricci, but even those highlights couldn't compare to interviewing the creative teams behind three of my four favorite films of 2022: Aftersun, The Eternal Daughter and One Fine Morning. Their insights and enthusiasm only increased my love for their movies. And if all that wasn't enough, I also spent a relaxing afternoon with Nina Hoss from Tar, the other of my four favorites.

Speaking of the L.A. Times, perhaps my single most enjoyable experience of the year was hanging out with Lizzo. A few weeks before Special came out, but with "About Damn Time" already on the radio and climbing the charts, I talked to her about therapy, self-esteem and her burgeoning empire, which included a soon-to-be-Emmy-winning reality series. Cocky, assertive, candid, crass, vulnerable, funny as hell, Lizzo could not have been better company. Some profiles you finesse and shape, and some you simply try your best to accurately reflect what it was like to be in the subject's presence. I think I did a little of the former with Lizzo, but in some ways, that piece was mostly the latter. 

Meanwhile, the Grierson & Leitch podcast celebrated its sixth year in 2022. You can hear me on a regular basis over at KCRW's Press Play With Madeleine Brand. I was once again thrilled to be part of the Gotham Awards nominating committee. And 10 years after being asked for the first time to submit a ballot for the once-a-decade Sight and Sound greatest films poll, I sent in a very different one in 2022. I remain ecstatic about the new critics' poll champ, which I consider the second-greatest movie ever made. (The greatest ended up topping the directors' poll.) In much sadder news, I had the honor of writing the obituary for Jean-Luc Godard over at Rolling Stone.

Now that the pandemic is fading into the background, it's been great to get back out in front of audiences to moderate Q&As with filmmakers. Most of these weren't recorded, but in some ways the off-the-cuff casualness of the exchanges was what made them such fun. My thanks to the folks from RRR, All That Breathes, Navalny, All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, Decision to Leave, The African Desperate, A Piece of Sky and Riotsville, U.S.A. for inviting me to host these conversations. 

And that's enough. Here's to a great 2023. This new year will be one of milestones for me. It's my 30th anniversary of moving to Los Angeles. It's been 20 years since I started dating my wife Susan. My hope is you have milestones to celebrate in 2023 as well — things you're already looking forward to and ones yet to be discovered.

Friday, December 30, 2022

Jack Harlow - "First Class"

Here's to a great 2023. Shout out to my UPS workers.

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

'A Man Called Otto' Review


Tom Hanks' remake of A Man Called Ove is about a grumpy older widow who has given up on life since losing his wife. But don't worry: He'll rediscover his sweeter side once he's befriended by an immigrant family. I reviewed A Man Called Otto for Screen International.

Saturday, December 24, 2022

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: The Best Films of 2022


It's that time of year again. Will and I each count down our Top 10 films of 2022 on this week's episode. Hope you enjoy.

Friday, December 23, 2022

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

'Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody' Review


Growing up, I didn't much care for Whitney Houston. My feelings have softened over the years, but even so, I don't think I Wanna Dance With Somebody is much of a biopic. My review is over at Screen International.

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Let's Talk About 'Avatar 2'


There's no spoilers in this review of Avatar: The Way of Water. Dive in with us!

Friday, December 16, 2022

'Babylon' Review


Babylon has inspired reviews that run the gamut. You can read mine over at Screen International.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Soft Shock"

It's almost Christmas.

Thursday, December 15, 2022

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: The Lightning-Round Episode


Every December, we devote one podcast to covering a bunch of movies in quick fashion. This year, we tackle Women Talking, The Whale, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, Emancipation and White Noise. It's fun to have to condense your thoughts into just a few minutes. You can hear our lightning-round episode here.

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

My Interview With Tilda Swinton and Joanna Hogg, the Team Behind 'The Eternal Daughter'


Well, this was a thrill. For the Los Angeles Times, I spoke with the actor and writer-director of one of the year's best films. We talked about mothers, grief, ghosts, horror movies and dogs. You can read our conversation here.

'About Schmidt' at 20

I saw Alexander Payne's third film on opening day. I still think it's great. For Cracked, I wrote about Jack Nicholson's terrific performance on the occasion of the movie's 20th anniversary. Hope you enjoy.

'Avatar: The Way of Water' Review


It's been 13 years. Was it worth the wait? For Screen International, I reviewed James Cameron's much-anticipated sequel.

Saturday, December 10, 2022

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Going to Bat for 'One Fine Morning'


Christy Lemire and I were on KCRW to review five new movies, and there's a lot to discuss in a short segment. We talked about The Whale, Empire of Light, Emancipation and Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio. But I spent a little extra time raving about Mia Hansen-Love's latest. Check it all out down below.

Telling Will Ferrell's Story in Only Five Movies


For Cracked, I'm going to start dissecting comic stars' careers by focusing on five of their movies. Not their best. Not their most popular. But the five that most represent the depth, breadth and ambitions of their stardom. And I begin with Will Ferrell. Hope you enjoy.

Friday, December 09, 2022

Automatic - "New Beginning"

"They remind me a little of Le Tigre," Susan said. Yeah, I can definitely hear that.

Thursday, December 08, 2022

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Raving About 'The Eternal Daughter' and 'Aftersun'


Three new movies to review this week, and they're all good. One is Violent Night, but the other two are the stunning The Eternal Daughter and Aftersun. Lots to dig into, which we do down below.

'48 Hrs.' and the Buddy-Cop Comedy

Forty years ago, Eddie Murphy's first film gave birth to a genre, one that has often failed to live up to its originator's example. For Cracked, I paid tribute to 48 Hrs.

The Secrets Behind Nicolas Cage's 'Adaptation' Hair


This week was the 20th anniversary of the Oscar-winning film. For Cracked, I had a lovely chat with Larry Waggoner, who worked on Cage's crazy hair for his character "Charlie Kaufman." I've never had this long of a conversation with a hairstylist before. I really enjoyed it. You can read my interview here.

Friday, December 02, 2022

Christine McVie - "Got a Hold on Me"

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Not to lie. To be honest. That came from my parents. I can’t imagine better advice coming from one’s parents. I try to stick by that rule and to be as good a person as I can.

-- Christine McVie, Rolling Stone interview, June 2022

Thursday, December 01, 2022

'Emancipation' Review

Will Smith is back. I imagine a lot of people aren't ready to see him in a new movie. (I wasn't sure if I was ready.) But Emancipation is a solid drama, based on the true story of an escaped slave in the 1860s on the run to freedom. My review is up at Screen International.

'21 Jump Street' at 10


Technically speaking, this R-rated remake of the 1980s series celebrated its 10th anniversary in the spring. But now that the film is streaming on Netflix, I decided it was worth reminiscing about how 21 Jump Street really shouldn't have worked as well as it did. My appreciation is over at Cracked.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Spielberg's Personal Film, 'Glass Onion' and 'Bones and All'

We're deep into awards season, and this week's episode features three movies hoping for Oscar attention. Our thoughts on The Fabelmans, the Knives Out sequel and the latest from Luca Guadagnino can be heard down below.

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

'Violent Night' Review


Santa packs a wallop in Violent Night, which proudly mixes Die Hard and Home Alone. It's a fun, nasty little movie enlivened by David Harbour as St. Nick. Head over to Screen International to see my full review.

'Puss in Boots: The Last Wish' Review


It's been more than a decade since the last Puss in Boots film. Was it worth the wait? My review is up at Screen International.

Monday, November 28, 2022

The Best Christmas Movies on Amazon Prime


The fine folks at Vulture asked us to pick the Christmas movies on Prime Video that will make your yuletide season complete. We were more than happy to put together this list.

My Interview With Brett Kelly, the Kid in 'Bad Santa'


Brett Kelly was only eight years old when he auditioned to play Thurman Merman in the R-rated Billy Bob Thornton Christmas comedy. For Cracked, I talked to him about what happened after that, and how he almost didn't get the part. Hope you enjoy.

Friday, November 25, 2022

Steve Lacy - "Buttons"

It's been a good year for the Internet. Syd's Broken Hearts Club is terrific. Patrick Paige II worked on Beyonce's Renaissance. And Steve Lacy's "Bad Habit" is one of 2022's biggest singles. But I'd rather focus on another track from Gemini Rights today.

Thursday, November 24, 2022

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Raving About 'She Said'


On our latest episode, we review three new movies, including The Menu and The Wonder. But the movie I spent extra time discussing was She Said, which I think is fairly wonderful. Hear the whole thing down below.

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

My Interview With Michael Imperioli


For the Los Angeles Times, I hopped on a Zoom call with Michael Imperioli to talk about his work on the new season of The White Lotus. Our conversation segued across several topics, such as the research he did into sex addiction for his character and his relationship with his father. Hope you enjoy.

'Devotion' Review


Devotion tells the story of the U.S. Navy's first Black aviator. Jonathan Majors is good in this Korean War drama, and so is Glen Powell as his buddy, but the film just never soars. My review is over at Chron.

Monday, November 21, 2022

My Interview With Paul Mescal and Charlotte Wells


Aftersun is one of the year's best films. For the Los Angeles Times, I spoke to its star and its writer-director to try to unravel some of the mysteries of their delicate stunner. I was really pleased with how this turned out. Hope you enjoy.

How "Chippendales Audition" Helped (and Hurt) Chris Farley

It was the Saturday Night Live sketch that made Chris Farley a star. But some of his friends and colleagues also thought it contributed to his low self-esteem. With the Kumail Nanjiani series Welcome to Chippendales about to be released, I looked back at the legacy of "Chippendales Audition" for Cracked.

My Interview With Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin and Wendy Molyneux, the Writers of 'The People We Hate at the Wedding'


Lizzie and Wendy are sisters from a big family. They're also a writing team on Bob's Burgers who co-created the newish Fox animated series The Great North. For Cracked, I hopped on a Zoom with them to talk about writing with your sibling, and their new movie The People We Hate at the Wedding. Somehow, mouse anuses also came up. You can read our conversation here.

Saturday, November 19, 2022

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Wakanda Forever,' 'Armageddon Time' and 'Spirited'


I liked two out of the three movies we reviewed this past week. Can you guess which one I didn't care for? You can hear the whole thing down below.

Friday, November 18, 2022

Harry Styles - "Grapejuice"

Harry's House is not going to make my Top 10, but I do really enjoy this song.

 

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

The Story Behind 'Twins'

In the mid-1980s, two inexperienced British screenwriters got their foot in the door in Hollywood. They met with Ivan Reitman, who told them he wanted to make a comedy with Arnold Schwarznegger. The rest is history. For Cracked, I interviewed some of the creative team behind Twins. Hope you enjoy.

My Review of Bono's 'Surrender'


Bono's memoir is a hefty tome. It's fascinating, frustrating and often quite moving, just like U2's music. I dove into Surrender over at InsideHook.

Monday, November 14, 2022

My Interview With Zack Ward, the Bully in 'A Christmas Story'


Gen-X kids know Scut Farkus, the mean kid who picks on Ralphie in A Christmas Story. I spoke to the actor who played him, Zack Ward, to discuss his own experiences being bullied as a boy, and how that movie has impacted his life and career. My profile is up at Cracked

'Poker Face' Review


Rian Johnson will soon be releasing a murder-mystery series called Poker Face. This is not a review of that. This is a review of Russell Crowe's sophomore directorial effort, which is also called Poker Face. It's a thriller that doubles as a moody character study. It isn't very good. My review is up at Screen International.

Friday, November 11, 2022

Thursday, November 10, 2022

My Interview With Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne


Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne waited six years to make The Good Nurse. For the Los Angeles Times, I spent some time with the Oscar-winners finding out what they learned along the way. Hope you enjoy.

Wednesday, November 09, 2022

My Interview With Nina Hoss


When the Los Angeles Times asked me if I was interested in talking to Nina Hoss, one of the stars of Tar, I jumped at the chance. I really enjoyed our time together, which led to this profile

(Photo by Dania Maxwell.)

When Steven Spielberg Made '1941'

The hotshot young director had just made two era-defining smashes in Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. So what did he decide to do next? A World War II comedy. It didn't go nearly as well. For Cracked, I look back at 1941.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'The Banshees of Inisherin,' 'Causeway' and "Weird Al" Yankovic


We're in agreement on all three movies this week, which I wasn't necessarily expecting. You can hear us dig into Oscar-contenders and bizarre biopics down below.

'Spirited' Review


Much to my surprise, Spirited is a fairly earnest, sweet Christmas musical-comedy, with Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds largely playing it straight, as well as singing and dancing a lot. My review is up at Screen International.

Tuesday, November 08, 2022

'The English' Review


For Chron, I took a look at Emily Blunt's new Western series for Amazon. I seem to be in the minority, but I didn't really love The English.

When Jennifer Lawrence Was a Sitcom Star


Before Jennifer Lawrence won Oscars and starred in blockbusters, she did a short-lived TBS show. For Cracked, I looked back at her stint on The Bill Engvall Show. Hope you enjoy.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Talking About 'Bardo' and 'Weird'


Alejandro G. Iñárritu's divisive new film opened in select cities on Friday. I was happy to be on KCRW to discuss Bardo. Elsewhere, Amy Nicholson and I review Next Exit, Causeway and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. You can hear us below.

'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' Review


Wakanda Forever is unlike any Marvel movie, in large part because of the immeasurable loss of Chadwick Boseman. And while I admired much of it, I don't this sequel entirely works. Here's my Screen International review.

Friday, November 04, 2022

Sudan Archives - "Selfish Soul"

The mental listmaking for the year's best albums is already in high gear. A good excuse to revisit Natural Brown Prom Queen.

Thursday, November 03, 2022

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Triangle of Sadness,' 'Till' and a New 'All Quiet on the Western Front'


Will was able to see Ruben Östlund's latest, so we talked about the Palme d'Or winner. Then, we focus on two very different period pieces. You can hear our whole conversation down below.

Sunday, October 30, 2022

The Best Horror Films Ever Made


Rolling Stone asked a group of critics to pen the write-ups for its list of the 101 best horror movies of all time. Very honored to be part of the group. You can see my contributions (and everyone else's) here.

In Praise of 'The Shinning'


It's almost Halloween, so for Cracked I had to write about my favorite segment of The Simpsons' "Treehouse of Horror." Hope you enjoy.

Why Do People Love David S. Pumpkins So Much?


Hint: It has everything to do with our fondness for Tom Hanks' silly side

Saturday, October 29, 2022

IDA: My Conversation With Sierra Pettengill, Director of 'Riotsville, U.S.A.'

Recently, I interviewed documentary filmmaker Sierra Pettengill, whose Riotsville U.S.A. remains one of my favorite nonfiction movies of the year, as part of IDA's screening series. You can check out our chat down below.

Thursday, October 27, 2022

'The Stepford Wives,' Reconsidered


The Stepford Wives is a movie that gets referenced a lot, most recently in comparison to the so-so Don't Worry Darling. But it feels more like an idea than a film in our culture -- an amorphous thing whose themes everybody knows, even if they haven't actually seen the film. I wrote about this strange phenomenon for Decider.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Tar,' 'Black Adam,' 'Descendant'


This week's episode features three very different movies, but I liked all of 'em, especially Margaret Brown's wonderful documentary Descendant. You can hear our conversation down below.

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Paul Simon, Chevy Chase and "You Can Call Me Al"

Taylor Swift's video for "Anti-Hero" features several comics. But she's hardly the first musician to hang out with funny people: For Cracked, I wrote about how "You Can Call Me Al" came together.

'The Bad News Bears' Is the Best Unromantic Baseball Movie


The World Series is about to get underway. What better time to celebrate the original Bad News Bears, which stars a bunch of kids but isn't necessarily a family film.

2022 Gotham Awards Nominees


I never stop being thrilled to be asked to serve on the Gotham Awards nominating juries. This year, I was once again part of the Acting committee, selecting the finalists for Outstanding Lead Performance, Outstanding Supporting Performance, and Breakthrough Performer. I was joined by Robert Daniels, Jon Frosch, Tomris Laffly and Brian Tallerico, and we had a fine time meeting and debating. You can see our picks here, as well as those in the other film and television categories. 

How 'Scary Movie' Resuscitated the Hollywood Parody

Airplane! and The Naked Gun helped popularize the spoof film. But the genre felt out of fashion in the 1990s. Then came a comedy that took aim at Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer. For Cracked, I looked back at 2000's Scary Movie.

Monday, October 24, 2022

'Breakfast All Day': What Went Wrong With 'The School for Good and Evil'?

I was very happy to be on Breakfast All Day with Christy Lemire to talk about Paul Feig's deeply disappointing Netflix fantasy film. You can watch the segment below.

Saturday, October 22, 2022

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Stars at Noon' and 'Decision to Leave'


This week, we talked about Halloween Ends, but who cares about that? The real interesting conversations are around the two art-house films directed by Claire Denis and Park Chan-wook. You can hear the whole episode down below.

Friday, October 21, 2022

Kimya Dawson - "It's Been Raining"

The Moldy Peaches never did a ton for me. But this Kimya Dawson solo album brightened my mid-2000s plenty.

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

What Paul Feig Pulled Off With 'Bridesmaids'


In light of the release of The School for Good and Evil, I wanted to look back at a much better Paul Feig film, one that helped changed Hollywood. For Cracked, I wrote about the groundbreaking Bridesmaids.

My Interview With Steven Hyden, Author of 'Long Road: Pearl Jam and the Soundtrack of a Generation'


Steven Hyden is a music critic I really enjoying reading, so I was happy to spend some time chatting with him about his latest book, which investigates why Pearl Jam still matters. Over at InsideHook, we had a long talk about nostalgia, bands that aren't cool, and what it says about both of us that we love No Code. Hope you enjoy.

'The School for Good and Evil' Review


Paul Feig has a new movie out today on Netflix. You probably didn't know that. Don't feel bad: It's terrible. For Screen International, I reviewed The School for Good and Evil.

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

'Black Adam' Review


My verdict on Dwayne Johnson's superhero movie? It's ... fine. You can read more in-depth thoughts over at Screen International.