Toronto 2024: 'The Assessment' Review

The Assessment is set in a near future where society has gone to hell. How bad is it? Couples have to be "assessed" to determine if they are allowed to have children. Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel play one such couple, with Alicia Vikander as their assessor. Things get weird from there, as I describe in my Screen International review.

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.

Cannes 2023: 'Firebrand' Review

Alicia Vikander plays Katherine Parr, the last of Henry VIII's six wives, in Firebrand. I reviewed this feminist period costume drama for Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Let's Talk About 'Beckett' and John David Washington

On this week's episode, we review Free Guy and Respect. But I was especially jazzed about discussing Beckett, which I think is a really interesting movie, as opposed to a good one. Hear our conversation down below.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Talking About Bill Murray, Gloria Steinem and Kirsten Johnson

Several disagreements this week on the show. I like The Glorias more than Will does. He likes On the Rocks more than I do. But we're aligned on Dick Johnson Is Dead. You can hear the whole episode down below.

Sundance 2020: 'The Glorias' Review

What might sound like an I'm Not There-style biopic of Gloria Steinem turns out to be its own thing. Four different actresses play Steinem at different points of her life, and Alicia Vikander and Julianne Moore are both great in a movie that means to get you riled up. Mission accomplished. My review is up at Screen International.

What's the Best Video Game Movie?

That's the question we try to answer on this week's Debate Club. Our list is now live on SyFy.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Lara Croft, 'Eyes Wide Shut' and 'Street Smart'

On this week's episode, we review Tomb Raider, but the more interesting stuff dwells in our Reboot section. There, we look back at Eyes Wide Shut and Street Smart. Plenty to dissect and discuss. You can hear the whole thing down below.

Some Thoughts on 'Tomb Raider'

For MEL, I offered some random thoughts about Tomb Raider, including why I hated its ending and what makes Alicia Vikander such a good action-movie runner. Plus, I investigated underground bike races and the secret to getting jacked like Lara Croft. You can read the whole thing here.

'Tomb Raider' Review

Alicia Vikander is so good in Tomb Raider that you may be tricked into thinking this is a good movie. I confess that I dug this action flick for a while, too ... until I didn't. My review is up at Paste.

'Tulip Fever' Review

I was one of the few critics the Weinstein Company actually allowed to see Tulip Fever in advance. We had to hold our reviews until Friday, though, and I'm just now bothering to post it here. Is the movie as terrible as its advance buzz suggested? No, it's just dull. My review is live at Screen International.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': 'Tulip Fever,' 'I Do ... Until I Don't' and Awards Season

I was on Press Play on Friday to talk about this holiday weekend's new releases. Spoiler Alert: Those movies are no good. And then, Alicia Malone and I discuss what we're excited to see as the fall film festivals start up. You can hear the whole thing here.

What's the Best Sci-Fi Film of the 21st Century?

Rolling Stone put together a list of the century's greatest sci-fi movies. They ranked the 40 best and then asked their contributors to say a few words about the choices. Yours truly took on Arrival, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Edge of Tomorrow, Ex Machina and (an inspired choice) 2046. Check out the whole thing here.

Venice 2016: 'The Light Between Oceans' Review

And now ... fall film festival season begins. We start with The Light Between Oceans, the latest from Blue Valentine director Derek Cianfrance. It stars Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander as lovers who find an abandoned baby and decide to pretend it's theirs. As you might imagine, things don't go well. My review is live at Screen International.

On 'The Danish Girl' and the Art of the Well-Meaning Movie

The Danish Girl, I imagine, will be the sort of film a lot of folks will feel like they "should" see. It's about a worthy subject, it's based on a true story ... you know the drill. The movie is very, very well-meaning, but does that mean it can't be good as well? I explore all that in my review over at Deadspin.

'What the Flick?!': Dinosaurs, Boxers and 'The Danish Girl'

My thanks to Christy Lemire for having me back on What the Flick?! alongside special guest Scott Mantz from Access Hollywood. Below, we review The Good Dinosaur, Creed and The Danish Girl.

Toronto 2015: The Rankings

"I heard Toronto wasn't that great this year."

A few people have said this to me since I got back to Los Angeles, and it's true: The good-to-respectable films outnumbered the stunners, although after reading a few other people's recaps of the festival, I'm reminded that it's always possible that I just didn't make my way to some of the gems. (I didn't have a chance to catch, for instance, new films from Hong Sang-soo, Chantal Akerman and Jafar Panahi.) So, as always, think of these rankings as a sketch written in pencil, not ink. Links lead to individuals reviews, and I've also included films I caught earlier at Sundance or Cannes that made their way to Toronto.

51. Demolition
50. Lolo 
49. Families
48. Where to Invade Next
47. Eye in the Sky 
46. Brooklyn
45. A Tale of Love and Darkness
44. I Smile Back
43. Our Brand Is Crisis 
42. Hyena Road
41. Sleeping Giant 
40. Five Nights in Maine
39. Freeheld 
38. About Ray
37. High-Rise
36. Keith Richards: Under the Influence
35. Green Room
34. Sicario
33. Office
32. Mustang
31. Homesick
30. Maggie's Plan 
29. Eva Doesn't Sleep
28. The Idol
27. Black Mass
26. The Family Fang 
25. Dheepan
24. Room
23. The Treasure
22. Mountains May Depart
21. Embrace of the Serpent
20. One Floor Below
19. Truth 
18. The Assassin 
17. The Danish Girl
16. Love
15. Our Little Sister
14. Youth
13. Un Plus Une
12. The Martian  
11. The Devil's Candy
10. In Jackson Heights
9. Mississippi Grind
8. Spotlight
7. 45 Years
6. Louder Than Bombs
5. The Witch
4. Son of Saul
3. Cemetery of Splendour
2. The Lobster
1. Anomalisa

Toronto 2015: 'The Danish Girl' Review

The Danish Girl seems a lock for a decent amount of Oscar nominations. But is it actually any good? For Biography, I reviewed the Eddie Redmayne-Alicia Vikander drama.