Cannes 2024: 'The Surfer' Review

In The Surfer, Nicolas Cage plays an Australian who wants to take his son to the beach for some surfing. But a local gang stands in his way, humiliating the man in front of his kid. What happens next? A downward spiral in true Cage fashion. I reviewed the film for Screen International.

Cannes 2024: 'Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point' Review

If you grew up with big family get-togethers during the holidays, the large ensemble piece Christmas Eve in Miller's Point may speak to you. The film balances nostalgia with a clear-eyed memory of the disparate personalities that come together under one roof. My review is here.

Timex Social Club - "Rumors"

It's my fault that I've introduced this song to my Cannes flatmates. It's a long, dumb story, although perhaps not as long as how Timex Social Club became Club Nouveau.

Cannes 2024: 'Megalopolis' Review

I was so rooting for Francis Ford Coppola's first film in 13 years. But I think Megalopolis is a failure. My review is up at Screen International.

Cannes 2024: 'The Second Act' Review

Cannes' opening night film is filled with heavy hitters, including Lea Seydoux, Louis Garrel and Vincent Lindon. It's The Second Act, a very meta comedy about characters in a film who know they're in a film. But the jokes belie writer-director Quentin Dupieux's deep anxieties about cinema's future. My review is here.

My 2024 Cannes Preview

What are the films I'm most intrigued by this year at the world's most prestigious festival? Take a look.

James Carr - "The Dark End of the Street"

I'm off to Cannes. Stay safe out there.

Hot Docs 2024: 'Never Look Away' Review

Lucy Lawless has directed her first film, and it's a documentary about Margaret Moth, a combat photographer whose life was as wild away from war zones. My review is up at Screen International.

Hot Docs 2024: 'Farming the Revolution' Review

Farming the Revolution won the prize for Best International Documentary at Hot Docs. It chronicles Indian farmers' protests after their government's decision to pass laws that put their livelihood in jeopardy. I reviewed the film here.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Stunt Performers, Outcasts and a Movie About Pop-Tarts

Our latest episode ... was in person! Will and I sat at my dinner table to discuss The Fall Guy, I Saw the TV Glow and Unfrosted. Hear the whole thing down below.

I Finally Saw 'Let It Be'

I never thought the Beatles would allow the 1970 documentary Let It Be to see the light of day after its initial release. Well, it's now on Disney+. I wrote about the film here.

Hot Docs 2024: 'Intercepted' Review

Intercepted chronicles Russia's war on Ukraine in a striking way. We see images of destruction juxtaposed with audio from phone calls made by Russian soldiers calling their loved ones back home. My review is up at Screen International.

Hot Docs 2024: 'Red Fever' Review

How much has Indigenous culture permeated the world? Red Fever explores fashion, sports and politics, seeing how Native peoples have left an immeasurable influence on each. I reviewed the documentary for Screen International.

'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' Review

Of the recent Apes films, this is probably my second-favorite. My Kingdom review is here.

What's the Best Film to Launch Its Summer Movie Season This Century?

I provide my rankings here.

What 'The Fall Guy' Gets Right About "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)"

 

Think you can resist Phil Collins' emotional power ballad? Think again.

Hot Docs 2024: 'Whatever It Takes' Review

Whatever It Takes is a true-crime documentary with all the twists and turns you'd expect. The less you know the better going in, but I'll just say the story has something to do with eBay. My review is up at Screen International.

Hot Docs 2024: 'The Ride Ahead' Review

With The Ride Ahead, Samuel Habib and his father Dan have made a documentary about disability visibility, chronicling Samuel's journey into adulthood. My review is here.

Hot Docs 2024: 'Le Mans 55: The Unauthorised Investigation' Review

In 1955, Le Mans experienced the deadliest crash in its history. Director Emmanuel Reye lost two uncles in the tragedy, and he's still seeking answers for what happened. The result was Le Mans 55, which I reviewed for Screen International.

Hot Docs 2024: 'Helen and the Bear' Review

I went to Hot Docs for the first time this year. One of my happiest discoveries while I was there was Helen and the Bear, which traces the long, complicated marriage of Helen and Pete McCloskey. Never heard of them? That scarcely matters. My review is up at Screen International.

Phil Lord and Chris Miller > "The Fall Guy"

Underwhelmed by The Fall Guy, I tried to pinpoint my big problem with the film. And then it hit me: I would have liked it a lot more if Phil Lord and Chris Miller had made it. I explain why here.

My Interview With Turner and Bill Ross, Directors of 'Gasoline Rainbow'

The guys behind Western and Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets have returned with one of their best hybrid projects, the road-trip meditation Gasoline Rainbow. For RogerEbert.com, I talked to the brothers about America, making movies the hard way, and whether they envy their teen cast. Hope you enjoy.

Electronic - "Getting Away With It"

Bernard Sumner and Johnny Marr decided to do a side project together called Electronic. They got Neil Tennant to co-write and sing on "Getting Away With It." It was a delight.

Cary Elwes Breaks Down His Best Comedic Roles

Cary Elwes costars in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. I used that opportunity to ask him about his funniest characters. This was very fun.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Raving About 'Challengers' and 'The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed'

I was in Toronto last weekend, but we still managed to record an episode of the podcast while I was away. Only two reviews this time, though -- and they're two darn good movies. Check it out below.

'The Phantom Menace' Showed Hollywood How to Love the Prequel

There were prequels before The Phantom Menace, which is being re-released this weekend to celebrate its 25th anniversary. But George Lucas saw the future of franchises, which was going back in time rather than forward. Was that a good or bad thing for the industry? My thoughts are here.

My Interview With Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Writer-Director of 'Evil Does Not Exist'

Drive My Car was the most acclaimed film of 2022. So what did Ryusuke Hamaguchi do for an encore? Make a movie about the unknowability of nature that's part eco-drama, part existential horror film. For the Los Angeles Times, I spoke with Hamaguchi about how Evil Does Not Exist came to be. Hope you enjoy.

When Movies Change After the Premiere

Sometimes, a film undergoes major alterations after its world premiere at a prestigious festival. Maybe the director realized parts of the story weren't working. Maybe the reception was so toxic that it prompted a massive re-edit. For RogerEbert.com, I wrote about some of the most famous examples.

My Interview With Joanna Arnow, the Writer-Director-Star of 'The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed'

Joanna Arnow does practically everything on her feature-length debut, which I think is terrific. I spoke to Arnow about nudity, sexuality, cringe comedy, weird comments she gets at Q&As, and The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed. Hope you enjoy.

Harry Nilsson - "You're Breakin' My Heart"

This is a love song.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Vampire Ballerinas, World War II Warriors and 'Some Like It Hot'

On this week's episode, we don't have much nice to say about Abigail or The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. Then, in our Reboot segment, we take a look back at Billy Wilder's 1959 Oscar-winner. Check it out down below.

I Love Luca Guadagnino

Luca Guadagnino's latest is one of his best. In honor of the imminent release of Challengers, I wrote about the filmmaker's consuming commitment to chronicling love in all its forms. Hope you enjoy.

Why Aren't More Biopics Like 'Man on the Moon'?

For its 25th anniversary, the Jim Carrey film screened at Ebertfest. I explained why it still matters here.

What's Steve Martin's Best Film?

In honor of the new Steve Martin documentary, we ranked all of the man's films. Our No. 1 might not be most people's, but we're sticking with it.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'The People's Joker' and 'Sasquatch Sunset'

We discuss three major movies on the latest episode of the podcast. Will and I start things off with Civil War, and then we segue to a personal favorite from this year's Sundance ... and also a movie I wasn't sure we'd ever be allowed to legally see. Hear the whole thing down below.

The Power Station - "Some Like It Hot"

Cocaine!

The Women You Meet in Alex Garland's Films

Civil War is writer-director Alex Garland's fourth film, and his fourth to feature a woman as its principal character. For RogerEbert.com, I examined the different types of complicated, compelling female protagonists he writes ... and why Civil War is such a disappointment in that regard. Hope you enjoy.

'Abigail' Review

Some crooks kidnapped the wrong 12-year-old ballerina. My review of Abigail is here.

How Eleanor Coppola Helped 'Apocalypse Now'

For RogerEbert.com, I wrote about Eleanor Coppola, who died last week. My focus: her massive contribution to her husband's 1979 war epic, Apocalypse Now.

'The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare' Review

Henry Cavill has great facial hair in Guy Ritchie's latest. As for the rest of Ungentlemanly Warfare ... here's my Screen International review.

My Interview With John Early, Star of 'Stress Positions'

John Early worries about being pretentious. We talked about that -- and Britney Spears and millennials and his sharp new film Stress Positions -- for Cracked. (Also, there's a lot of conversation about Early's 2023 special Now More Than Ever, which connects to Stress Positions in interesting ways.)

My Interview With Wagner Moura, Star of 'Civil War'

Before he was an actor, Wagner Moura was a journalist. So he understands a little about the character he plays in Civil War. We talked about that, and trying to hold on to hope during dark times, for RogerEbert.com.

Your 2024 Cannes Competition Preview

This was very fun: For RogerEbert.com, I wrote about every film that will be screening in the Official Competition at Cannes. (A few more movies are expected to be added in the next couple weeks.) Which movie, sight unseen, do I think has the best chance of winning the Palme d'Or? Read on.

'Challengers' Review

Challengers is Luca Guadagnino's best film since Call Me by Your Name. My review is up at Screen International.

The Rapture - "House of Jealous Lovers"

It's so funny, 20-something years later, how clearly this sounds like a LCD Soundsystem song.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Reviews of 'Monkey Man' and 'Girls State'

The boys are back. This week, we agreed that Monkey Man is mediocre. I raved about The Beast. And then we dig into Girls State. Hope you enjoy.

How Kristen Stewart Became Kristen Stewart

The Criterion Channel is currently featuring the three most crucial movies in Kristen Stewart's post-Twilight career: Clouds of Sils Maria, Personal Shopper and Certain Women. I wrote about that remarkable run of superb films, and how they changed our perception of her, for RogerEbert.com.

The Movies That Got Sued Before They Got Released

In honor of this weekend's The People's Joker, I looked at six other films that had to deal with lawsuits before seeing the light of day. Whether it's the State of Massachusetts or Aretha Franklin, sometimes the powers that be have an issue with a movie, and they'll do whatever they can to stop its release. Hope you enjoy.

Kraftwerk - "Spacelab"

I'm not quite as high on La Chimera as many of my colleagues are, but I was very happy to hear some Kraftwerk in a movie theater.

'The Beast' Review

Is it a horror movie? A sci-fi drama? A love story? Yes, yes and yes. For the Los Angeles Times, I reviewed The Beast.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Directorial Debuts From Dev Patel and Rudy Mancuso

I was on KCRW today talking about this weekend's new releases. Amy Nicholson and I reviewed The Beast, Monkey Man, Girls State and Musica. Check it all out down below.

'The First Omen' Review

While watching The First Omen, I thought, "This is like the Rogue One of horror prequels." I see others have already made that comment in their reviews, so I decided not to in mine. But you can read my thoughts over at Screen International.

'Breakfast All Day': A Spoiler-Heavy Conversation About 'Immaculate'

Now that more people have seen Immaculate, here's a detailed, spoiler-y review of the movie from Christy Lemire and me. (Yes, we discuss the ending in detail.)

Steve Martin, Auteur

 

I make the case over at RogerEbert.com.

'Dogman' Review

When Luc Besson's latest premiered at Venice, the reviews were pretty ruff. For the Los Angeles Times, I wrote about Dogman.

My Interview With David Krumholtz, Star of 'Lousy Carter'

You know him from The Santa Clause. Or 10 Things I Hate About You. Or Oppenheimer. I talked to David Krumholtz about going viral, having kids and his wry new comedy Lousy Carter for RogerEbert.com.

Keith Law and I Talk About Baseball Movies

Welcome to a new baseball season. To celebrate the occasion, I had a long Zoom talk with my buddy Keith Law to discuss the best and worst baseball films. We had a blast. (And, seriously, you should see Sugar and Everybody Wants Some!!)

Torres - "Collect"

Happy Easter, everybody. Baseball is back.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Fighting About 'Road House,' Lamenting the New 'Ghostbusters'

This week's podcast featured three new movies, all of which I didn't like. Will and I disagree about Road House, albeit rather mildly, and we also discuss Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire and Immaculate. Check it all out down below.

'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' Review

Monsters punch each other. Then, other monsters punch each other. You won't believe what happens next. For Screen International, I reviewed Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.