Tyler Childers - "Oneida"

Every January, I create a playlist consisting of notable albums that come out that year. I like keeping my ears awake to new stuff, but it does require a lot of time and patience as I work my way through so many records. But I love the exercise. And I love the surprises that it yields. Like the day I stumbled onto the third track from Tyler Childers' Snipe Hunter. 

"Oneida" has been a fan favorite for a while. A live version came out nine years ago. For the rest of us, here's where we catch up.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: The Best Films of 2025

The wait is over: It's time for our most popular podcast of the year. In this episode, Will and I both count down our 10 favorite films of 2025. Hope you enjoy.

'The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants' Review

SpongeBob SquarePants has been around for more than 25 years now. His new movie is a nice reminder of why he's such an enduring character. I reviewed Search for SquarePants for Screen International.  

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Six Movies, One Episode

It has become a fun tradition: On the year's penultimate episode, we do a lightning round of quick reviews of a bunch of different films that have just come out or are about to come out. So, if you'd like to hear our thoughts on The Testament of Ann Lee, Song Sung Blue, My Undesirable Friends: Part I - Last Air in Moscow, No Other Choice, Father Mother Sister Brother and Dead Man’s Wire, click the link below.

'Avatar: Fire and Ash' Review

I dunno, folks: The longer Avatar goes along, the more I dig it. Here's my review of Fire and Ash. 

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Rob Reiner's Impact on Movies and Politics

When someone in the film industry passes, Madeleine Brand will often ask me to come on the show to talk about that person's legacy. I was touched to go on Press Play to eulogize Rob Reiner, both as a filmmaker and as an activist. My segment was up first, if you'd like to listen below.

The Essential Rob Reiner Films

For Rolling Stone, I helped contribute to a list of the late, great Rob Reiner's best films. I tackled his two Aaron Sorkin collaborations: A Few Good Men and The American President. You can read the whole list here. 

Rob Reiner, 1947-2025

What a terrible way to end a terrible weekend of sad news. For Rolling Stone, Althea Legaspi and I wrote about Rob Reiner's legacy. 

'Resurrection' Review

Best movie this weekend? That would be Bi Gan's latest stunner. For the Los Angeles Times, I swooned about Resurrection.

'Breakfast All Day': Talking 'Ella McCay'

One last Breakfast All Day appearance before the end of the year. I was very happy to join Christy to discuss James L. Brooks' misfire, which has had me thinking about Megalopolis recently. I explain in this segment. 

Lily Allen - "Beg for Me"

West End Girl is such an intimate, candid breakup album that I suspect different listeners take up residence in different tracks, spending days burrowing inside them. Grateful not to be in the same situation as Lily Allen is right now relationship-wise, I have nonetheless been drawn to "Beg for Me," whose emotional neediness is a sentiment I can relate to. You never forget what that feeling is like.

Red Sea 2025: 'Kwibuka, Remember' Review

Kwibuka, Remember tells the story of Lia (Sonia Rolland), an aging basketball star who is invited to play for her national team. However, this will require her to return to her homeland of Rwanda, where she hasn't been since she was a child. I reviewed this touching, underwhelming drama about the lingering scars of genocide for Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Ping-Pong, Movie Stars and Stand-Up Comics

This week's episode features three pretty-darn-good movies. You can hear us riff on Marty Supreme, Jay Kelly and Is This Thing On? down below.

'Ella McCay' Review

James L. Brooks has not made a film since How Do You Know. He's back with Ella McCay, which stars Emma Mackey as an idealistic young politician facing myriad personal and professional crises. My review is up at Screen International. 

How the Posters for 'No Other Choice,' 'Bugonia' and 'Sinners' Got Made

I am fascinated by movie posters. They are this special mixture of art and marketing that have to sell a film's essence in a single image. So, how do they do it? For the Los Angeles Times, I talked to the creative teams behind Bugonia, No Other Choice and Sinners to learn the behind-the-scenes secrets. It was very fun. 

(My thanks to Stephanie Jones for this great illustration.) 

'The Secret Agent' Review

For the Los Angeles Times, I reviewed one of the most acclaimed international films of the year. Here's my take on Brazil's The Secret Agent. 

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Debating 'The Chronology of Water,' Digging 'Fackham Hall'

Witney Seibold and I joined Madeleine to discuss the weekend's big movies. You can hear our thoughts on Five Nights at Freddy's 2, The Chronology of Water, The Secret Agent and Fackham Hall down below.

My Interview With Imran Hamdulay and Keenan Arrison, the Team Behind 'The Heart Is a Muscle'

For Screen International, I spoke to writer-director Imran Hamdulay and star Keenan Arrison about The Heart Is a Muscle, which is South Africa's submission for the Best International Feature Film Oscar. We talked about masculinity, fatherhood and depicting Cape Flats in a more nuanced way than it's usually seen on screen. You can check out our conversation down below or read excerpts from it here.

Nick Jonas - "Jealous"

While hardly claiming to be any sort of expert on the Jonas Brothers, I feel confident declaring this the best song any of them have ever made.

'Five Nights at Freddy's 2' Review

I'll give Five Nights at Freddy's 2 this: It's slightly better than the absolutely atrocious original. Still ... well, just read my review.

'Scarlet' Review

In a down year for animation, Scarlet has been one of the few standouts. I reviewed Mamoru Hosoda's unconventional riff on Hamlet for Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: New Films From Chloe Zhao, Rian Johnson and Kleber Mendonca Filho

This week's podcast salutes three auteurs. You can check out our reviews of Hamnet, Wake Up Dead Man and The Secret Agent down below.

'La Grazia' Review

Toni Servillo is terrific in La Grazia, Paolo Sorrentino's salute to a fictional Italian president who's actually a morally upstanding individual. (We could use a couple politicians like that right about now.) I reviewed this quite touching drama for the A.V. Club. 

'Marty Supreme' Review

Josh Safdie's Marty Supreme continues his recent exploration of unabashedly self-centered people chasing their dreams, no matter who gets hurt along the way. And once again, it works. My review is live at Screen International.