Cannes 2025: 'Splitsville' Review

I had extremely mixed feelings about The Climb, the debut feature film from director Michael Angelo Covino. Now he's back with Splitsville, which like its predecessor is about male friendships and romantic commitment. I remain pretty indifferent to Covino's approach, which I wrote about for Screen International. 

Cannes 2025: 'Highest 2 Lowest' Review

Man, it is no fun to pan Spike Lee movies. Alas, I was pretty torn on Highest 2 Lowest, his ambitious, thought-provoking crime thriller that re-imagines Akira Kurosawa's High and Low. My review is here.

Mousterpiece Melodies: Randy Newman and 'Toy Story'

Basically, I will take any opportunity afforded me to talk about Randy Newman. So I was delighted that the guys behind Mousterpiece Cinema brought the podcast back to do a deep dive into the original music featured in Disney movies ... and then asked me to be on for an in-depth conversation about Newman's Toy Story songs. Yup, we got into all four films, and the many covers you can find out there on the web. A total blast, and you can check it out down below.

Cannes 2025: 'The Phoenician Scheme' Review

While watching Wes Anderson's latest, something occurred to me: I've never disliked any of his movies. Until now. For Screen International, I get into what I think doesn't work in The Phoenician Scheme.

Cannes 2025: 'Die, My Love' Review

It has been eight years since Lynne Ramsay's last film, You Were Never Really Here, premiered at Cannes. At long last she's back. For Screen International, I reviewed Die, My Love.

Cannes 2025: 'The Chronology of Water' Review

It's not a surprise that Kristen Stewart would start directing. And it's also not a surprise that her feature directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, is as intense and unguarded as her performances as an actor. You can read my review here.

Cannes 2025: 'Eddington' Review

Ari Aster was three-for-three before Eddington. But I think this new film is a misfire. I explain why over at Screen International.

'Bring Her Back' Review

The Philippou brothers previously made Talk to Me. They're back with a new horror movie that features a terrific performance from Sally Hawkins as a foster mother with something to hide. You can read my review of Bring Her Back here.

Cannes 2025: 'The Plague' Review

The Plague tells the story of an all-boys water polo club. A new teammate comes to town and quickly realizes there's one kid who's being picked on viciously, and he wants to make sure that doesn't happen to him. (Also, the ostracized kid may have a mysterious, contagious rash.) I reviewed this tale of peer pressure and toxic masculinity for Screen International.

Anna von Hausswolff - “Stranger”

Every Cannes, I help put together a colleague's playlist of the memorable songs used in the festival's films. It's still early days, but so far this is the standout track, mostly because of how well it's used in the movie Sound of Falling.

Cannes 2025: 'Case 137' Review

The great Lea Drucker is the best thing about Case 137, a solid procedural about an officer in French internal affairs investigating wrongdoing within the Paris police department. My review is up at Screen International.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': The Most-Anticipated Movies at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival

This year's Cannes is now underway. Before the storm, I jumped on a call with Madeleine Brand to preview four films to keep an eye out for, including Lynne Ramsay's Die My Love. You can hear our conversation down below.

'Deaf President Now!' Review

I missed Deaf President Now! at Sundance, but I'd heard good things about this documentary that looks back at a 1988 student protest at the only all-Deaf university. (The gist: The students wanted a Deaf president. The board of trustees had other ideas.) My review is here.

OK Go - "Upside Down & Inside Out"

Off to Cannes I go. I hope my flights are smoother than this.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: The New Avengers, 'Pavements' and My Preview of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival

Long episode this week, for obvious reasons. For one thing, we had a lot to say about both Thunderbolts* and Pavements. Also, I went long offering a list of the films I'm most excited to see at Cannes, including Mirrors No. 3 (pictured above). And then, hey, we're gonna be on a bit of a break while I'm in France, which tends to make it hard for us to wrap up a show in a succinct manner. Enjoy all of it down below.

'April' Review

When April premiered at Venice, I was feeling pretty tired and didn't want to risk being too sleepy for the film. I'm glad I waited to be fully alert for this fascinatingly opaque film. My review is up at the Los Angeles Times.

Fatboy Slim - "The Rockafeller Skank"

Ladies and gentlemen, the song that topped The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop critics poll in 1998. 

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Ben Affleck, Puppets and Tom Hardy

On this week's episode, we agree on two of the three movies. Which one did we differ on? I won't say. But if you'd like to hear our thoughts on The Accountant 2, The Legend of Ochi and Havoc, click on the box below.

'Thunderbolts*' Review

How is the new Marvel movie? And why does the title have an asterisk in it? I answer all your questions over at Screen International.

My Day at the Criterion Mobile Closet

This weekend, the Criterion Mobile Closet was at Vidiots. For the Los Angeles Times, I spent some time on Saturday with fans in line. I also talked to some of the Criterion brain trust to figure out exactly how the company's tiny closet became the biggest thing in cinema. Hope you enjoy.

(Photo by Etienne Laurent.)

'Killer of Sheep' Review

Charles Burnett's Killer of Sheep got its first proper release in 2007. (The film was shot in the early 1970s, receiving its premiere in the late 1970s.) But the 2007 release was not the complete, complete version of the movie. Now back in theaters, Killer of Sheep has been fully restored. And it's still a wonder. I wrote about it for the Los Angeles Times.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Sinners,' 'The Shrouds' and 'The Wedding Banquet'

Listeners of the podcast who love when we disagree will be pleased by this latest episode. Will and I are pretty much aligned on Sinners, although there are some areas in which we differ on that movie. But we're really split on the latest films from David Cronenberg and Andrew Ahn. Hear it all down below.

'Cheech & Chong's Last Movie' Review

Last week, I spoke with Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong. This week, I'm reviewing their documentary. For Screen International, I shared some thoughts about Cheech & Chong's Last Movie.

Dinah Washington - "This Bitter Earth"

Hope you have a good weekend. Let's take it back to 1960.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': On 'Havoc' and 'On Swift Horses'

Alison Willmore and I were on KCRW today to review this weekend's big releases, including The Accountant 2. But we also dug into some of the smaller offerings, like the romantic drama On Swift Horses and Netflix's Havoc, the latest from The Raid filmmaker Gareth Evans. Check out our thoughts down below.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Warfare' and Looking Back at 'Inside Llewyn Davis'

Apologies: I'm behind on posting last week's podcast. Will was in town! So we recorded in my dining room. We reviewed two new movies, Warfare and The Amateur, and then took our time while revisiting Inside Llewyn Davis. Check out the whole thing down below.

My Interview With Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong

Cheech & Chong have a new movie, a documentary called Cheech & Chong's Last Movie, which chronicles their legacy and their history of fighting. For Cracked, I talked to the guys about spirituality, drugs, Robert Altman, prison, the priesthood, the Palisades fires, and the things they still disagree about. Check it out here.

Cindy Lee - "Dracula"

In an age in which you seemingly can find every song ever online, Cindy Lee's 2024 record Diamond Jubilee was like a cool secret. Not available on your typical streaming services, the album was put on YouTube and that was about it. (You could buy it as well, of course. Imagine that!)  

As a result, Diamond Jubilee felt like something that had been found in an old vault, especially because of the songs' retro-indie, lo-fi vibe. I would have definitely used "Dracula" as the soundtrack to my early-1990s student films.

My Interview With Pam Brady

You may not know her name, but you know her credits: Pam Brady has been a writer on everything from South Park to Hot Rod. For Cracked, I talked to the Emmy winner about her animated series she co-created, #1 Happy Family USA, but we also discussed filthy jokes, her upcoming Smurfs movie and why she thinks real life is overrated. Hope you enjoy.

'One to One: John & Yoko' Review

In the early 1970s, John Lennon and Yoko Ono were living in New York City, their creativity, advocacy and marriage all in full bloom. Kevin Macdonald's documentary One to One: John & Yoko seeks to encapsulate this era, including the benefit concert they performed at Madison Square Garden in 1972. My review of the film is here.

LL Cool J (featuring Eminem) - "Murdergram Deux"

This single off The Force came out late last summer, but it only invaded my life early this year. It's my favorite thing at the moment.

'Sinners' Review

An ambitious vampire film, Sinners wants to meld kills with social commentary. It has its missteps, but I was pretty darn impressed. My review is here.

'G20' Review

I was so intrigued by G20, a Prime Video action flick that stars Viola Davis as the U.S. president who gets trapped in a Die Hard-like situation in which she has to rescue her family and save the day. The very nice folks at the A.V. Club let me review this algorithm-driven curiosity, which inspired some thoughts about how streaming-service movies are like fantasy camps for respected actors. You can read my piece here. 

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'The Friend,' 'The Luckiest Man in America' and 'North by Northwest'

On this week's episode, we review two new movies. One we liked; one we didn't. Then, in our Reboot segment, we go back to 1959's North by Northwest, which is just so damn wonderful. Check out the whole thing down below.

'The Amateur' Review

In The Amateur, Rami Malek plays a nerdy CIA analyst who has to go out in the field to avenge his wife, who was killed by terrorists. Will he succeed? Will I like the movie? My review is up at Screen International.

I Talked to OK Go

This past Wednesday, I moderated a Q&A for an event celebrating the power-pop band OK Go. Titled "From Treadmills to Industrial Robots — A Retrospective + Premiere," the evening consisted of a screening at the Fine Arts in Beverly Hills of a bunch of their iconic videos, following by a conversation with some of the band and one of their co-directors, Aaron Duffy. It was a fun night, and The Hollywood Reporter was there to cover what went down. You can read all about it here. 

(Photo by Danielle Directo-Meston.)

'Eric LaRue' Review

 
Michael Shannon has finally directed his first film. For the Los Angeles Times, I reviewed Eric LaRue, which stars Judy Greer as a mother reeling from the fact that her teen son shot three classmates dead at school. You can read my thoughts here.

Anohni and the Johnsons - "It Must Change"

March 31 was International Transgender Day of Visibility, and in honor of that I wanted to put up a song from Anohni and the Johnsons' soulful 2023 album My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross, which I think is their best record. The opening track, "It Must Change," has a video that features transgender model Munroe Bergdorf. The song is pure old-school silky.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Remembering Val Kilmer

 

Val Kilmer died on Tuesday at the age of 65. I went on Press Play to talk about his career and legacy, spending extra time focusing on his best performance, as Jim Morrison in The Doors. You can listen to my segment down below.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Dead Unicorns, Jason Statham and 'Enemy of the State'

Two dud new movies lead off this week's episode: Death of a Unicorn and A Walking Man. But things brighten up a bit when we go back to the 1990s for a Reboot request: Tony Scott's Enemy of the State. Check it all out down below.

My Interview With Riki Lindhome

Last year, Riki Lindhome debuted a one-woman musical, Dead Inside, about her struggles with infertility. Now, she's putting out an album based on that show. For Cracked, I had a long, fun conversation with Lindhome about the album, No Worries If Not, as well as marriage, motherhood and life as a solo artist after years of being in Garfunkel and Oates. Hope you enjoy.

Charli XCX (featuring Billie Eilish) - "Guess"

Look, I like Brat and Hit Me Hard and Soft quite a lot. By my favorite 2024 song from those two women is a track that didn't appear on either of their records.

'Grand Tour' Review

When I saw Grand Tour last year at Cannes, I swooned. So it was a pleasure to revisit the film, twice, this past week in order to write my glowing review for the Los Angeles Times. 

'A Working Man' Review

Jason Statham is back! And he's out to save a kidnapped teenager! For Screen International, I reviewed A Working Man.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Debating 'Magazine Dreams,' Raving About 'Black Bag'

After a week off, we're back, and we're reviewing four new movies. Want to hear our thoughts on Snow White? No problem. Interested in what we make of Opus? You're in luck. Curious about Black Bag and Magazine Dreams? We're on 'em. Check out the episode down below.

SXSW 2025: 'Slanted' Review

The final film I was going to review out of SXSW was one that I'd grab when I got home: the narrative jury winner. The prize went to Slanted, which is about a Chinese-American teenager who wants to be prom queen. Her plan? Undergo a procedure that will turn her into a blonde white girl. My review is here.

Patti Smith Group - "Because the Night"

Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith should have written more songs together.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Gangsters, Princesses, Killers and 'Ash'

I was pleased to be on KCRW alongside Alison Willmore to discuss this weekend's movies. I like Misercordia and Ash. I do not like The Alto Knights and Snow White. Hear all of our thoughts down below.

My Interview With Naomi Watts

Naomi Watts has a new movie (The Friend) and a new book (Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I’d Known About Menopause). These seemed like excellent excuses to spend some time with the Oscar nominee to talk about life, resilience and her dear friend David Lynch. You can read my interview over at the Los Angeles Times. 

(Photo by Jennifer McCord.)

'Snow White' Review

There's a new Snow White. It is not as good as the old Snow White. It's not even better than some of the other recent Disney live-action remakes. I reviewed this stinker for Screen International.

'The Alto Knights' Review

You get two Robert De Niros for the price of one in The Alto Knights, a real-life gangster drama about childhood friends who became mob rivals. The Oscar-winning actor plays both roles, a decision I think ultimately doesn't help the movie all that much. My Screen International review is here.

Film Independent: My Conversation With Brendan Bellomo, Co-Director of 'Porcelain War'

A few months ago, I moderated a Q&A with Brendan Bellomo, one of the directors of the Oscar-nominated documentary Porcelain War, which looks at Russia's war with Ukraine through a different lens, focusing on Ukrainian artists who split their time between fighting on the front line and honing their craft. You can check out our conversation down below.

'Ash' Review

Ash premiered at SXSW, but I was already back in Los Angeles when that screening happened. So I caught it here at its West Coast premiere. I had a lot of fun with this low-budget sci-fi horror/head-trip, which I reviewed for Screen International.

Lady Gaga - "Disease"

Yeah, dark synths are what I need right now.

SXSW 2025: The Documentary Jury Winners

I attended SXSW for the first time for a good reason: I was invited to be part of the festival's Documentary Competition jury, alongside Aisha Harris and Jen Yamato. We saw eight films, all of them good (or better), and had a happily painless deliberation as we selected our top prize, as well as two special jury awards. 

Our winner was Shuffle, which opens the door to another reason why you should hate the way this country treats addiction. We also gave shout-outs to The Python Hunt and Remaining Native, two portraits of under-seen sections of America that are illuminating in different ways. 

You can read our write-ups here, as well as check out the winners in other section. Thanks for having me, Austin.

'The Next Picture Show': Let's Talk About 'Eephus'

Last week, I was on The Next Picture Show to talk about a baseball movie from the past, Bull Durham. This week, I return to talk about a new baseball film, Eephus. It was a very fun conversation. Hope you enjoy.

The Film Comment Podcast: Talking About 'Opus' and 'Misericordia'

Very happy to be back on Film Comment's podcast, alongside Devika Girish and Clinton Krute, to discuss new and upcoming releases. We chatted about Opus, Mickey 17, Misericordia and Eephus. Hear our wise words down below.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Clones, Murderers and Baseball

I recorded this week's episode from my hotel at SXSW. We had movies to talk about, darn it! You can check out our reviews of Mickey 17, Chaos: The Manson Murders and Eephus down below.

SXSW 2025: 'Holland' Review

Nicole Kidman is trapped in suburbia in Holland, a psychological thriller that doubles as a prickly character study. My review is live over at Screen International.

SXSW 2025: 'Death of a Unicorn' Review

Is it a horror movie? A dark comedy? A twisted fairy tale? A social commentary? A story about grief? All of the above: For Screen International, I reviewed the very uneven Death of a Unicorn.

SXSW 2025: 'Another Simple Favor' Review

I wasn't a fan of A Simple Favor. Did the long-awaited sequel change my mind about this stylish franchise? My review is up at Screen International.

SXSW 2025: 'The Accountant 2' Review

Greetings from Austin. My first review from SXSW is The Accountant 2, which is one of those rare cases where I didn't like the original, but I like the sequel. You can read my thoughts here.