The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'The Brutalist,' 'Maria' and 'September 5'

Ah, thank goodness for good-movie season. We have three award contenders on this week's episode. Which one is my favorite? Listen below.

My 2024 Venice Film Festival Preview

I'll be going to Venice for the first time since 2019. What I'm looking forward to seeing? Here's a look at the 10 most-intriguing films playing the festival.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Marvel's Worst Movie, 'Spencer' and 'Finch'

On this week's episode, we talk about what happened with Eternals. Plus, one of us is a big fan of Kristen Stewart's latest, while the other one sticks up for Finch. Hear the whole thing down below.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'The Woman in the Window' and Other Stinkers

Three new movies on this week's podcast, and I think they're all bad. First, we differ on Those Who Wish Me Dead. Then, we lament Amy Adams' decision to be in The Woman in the Window. Finally, we try to figure out why Chris Rock is so bad in Spiral: From the Book of Saw. Hear the whole bloody thing down below. 

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': 'The Killing of Two Lovers' Is the Highlight of This Weekend's Movies

I was on KCRW today to discuss Spiral, Those Who Wish Me Dead and Oxygen. But my colleague Shawn Edwards and I most enjoyed Robert Machoian's minimalist drama. You can hear our segment down below.

'Those Who Wish Me Dead' Review

Hitmen, firefighters, kids in peril, Angelina Jolie: Those Who Wish Me Dead has some interesting elements going for it, but I found the film wanting. My review is up at Screen International.

George Clooney and the Modern Actor-Turned-Director

In honor of The Midnight Sky, I ranked 12 movie stars who made the transition to filmmakers. Where does Clooney rank? The answer is over at MEL.

'Maleficent: Mistress of Evil' Review

Did anyone need a Maleficent sequel? Well, too bad, you're getting one anyway. I reviewed Mistress of Evil for 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.

'Kung Fu Panda 3' Review

I dunno, folks. I thought the original Kung Fu Panda was very fun and really sweet. But since then? It seems like a franchise in which diminishing returns kicked in pretty quickly. Kung Fu Panda 3 is the most visually sumptuous yet, but I found its story simplistic. I reviewed the film for Screen International.

Let's Rank Movies Starring Real Couples

Ali. Cruel Intentions. Eyes Wide Shut. What do they have in common? They're all movies featuring real-life couples. In honor of By the Sea, Will and I ranked the greatest. Enjoy!

Love and Marriage and 'By the Sea'

I've continued to think about By the Sea since going to its world premiere last week. I'm not convinced the movie is good, but I do keep wrestling with what it's trying to say. I put down some thoughts over at Deadspin.

AFI Fest 2015: 'By the Sea' Review

Not to be confused with the forthcoming In the Heart of the Sea, By the Sea stars Brad Pitt and writer-director Angelina Jolie Pitt as a married couple on the rocks. This drama's publicity materials mention that "In its style and its treatment of themes of the human experience, By the Sea is reminiscent of European cinema and theater of the ’60s and ’70s—with its concentrated, lean storytelling style, spare dialogue and intimate, often disquieting atmosphere." Those are my kind of movies but, well, it's not the sort of thing one should actively brag about, especially if you can't quite pull it off. My review is up at Screen International.

'Unbroken' Review

It is hard to express how strange it is watching Unbroken, a movie about an extraordinary life that's nonetheless very uninvolving. Louis Zamperini was an Olympic athlete and World War II veteran who suffered terrible torture and survived. But director Angelina Jolie's film just never comes to life. I reviewed the Oscar-seeking film for Deadspin.

'Maleficent' Review

Maybe I'm just not the target audience for these new fantasy/fairytale movies. I didn't like Oz the Great and Powerful or Red Riding Hood or Mirror Mirror or Snow White and the Huntsman. Now comes Maleficent, which I also didn't care for. I get into my reasons in my Deadspin review.