'Red One' Review

In Red One, Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans play, respectively, an elite security officer and a cynical tracker who have to find Santa Claus, who's been kidnapped. Will they save the day? And is the movie any good? My review is live at 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.

Khruangbin - "Christmas Time Is Here"

Merry Christmas, everybody.

'Merry Little Batman' Review

Batman and Christmas don't usually go hand-in-hand -- until now. For Cracked, I wrote about the slight but endearing Merry Little Batman.

The Lonely Island (featuring Justin Timberlake) - "Dick in a Box"

You know it's Christmas / And my heart is open wide...

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Raving About 'The Eternal Daughter' and 'Aftersun'

Three new movies to review this week, and they're all good. One is Violent Night, but the other two are the stunning The Eternal Daughter and Aftersun. Lots to dig into, which we do down below.

'Violent Night' Review

Santa packs a wallop in Violent Night, which proudly mixes Die Hard and Home Alone. It's a fun, nasty little movie enlivened by David Harbour as St. Nick. Head over to Screen International to see my full review.

The Best Christmas Movies on Amazon Prime

The fine folks at Vulture asked us to pick the Christmas movies on Prime Video that will make your yuletide season complete. We were more than happy to put together this list.

My Interview With Brett Kelly, the Kid in 'Bad Santa'

Brett Kelly was only eight years old when he auditioned to play Thurman Merman in the R-rated Billy Bob Thornton Christmas comedy. For Cracked, I talked to him about what happened after that, and how he almost didn't get the part. Hope you enjoy.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Wakanda Forever,' 'Armageddon Time' and 'Spirited'

I liked two out of the three movies we reviewed this past week. Can you guess which one I didn't care for? You can hear the whole thing down below.

My Interview With Zack Ward, the Bully in 'A Christmas Story'

Gen-X kids know Scut Farkus, the mean kid who picks on Ralphie in A Christmas Story. I spoke to the actor who played him, Zack Ward, to discuss his own experiences being bullied as a boy, and how that movie has impacted his life and career. My profile is up at Cracked. 

'Spirited' Review

Much to my surprise, Spirited is a fairly earnest, sweet Christmas musical-comedy, with Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds largely playing it straight, as well as singing and dancing a lot. My review is up at Screen International.

Boris Karloff Was Always the Best Grinch

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! turned 55 recently. For MEL, I wrote about Boris Karloff and the special he brought to life.

Thinking of 'Eyes Wide Shut' as a Christmas Movie

I still remember seeing Eyes Wide Shut opening night. Funny enough, my future wife was at the same screening. This article is not about that, though: It's about how Kubrick's final film has been embraced as a holiday film. Read on.

Vince Guaraldi Trio - "Cast Your Fate to the Wind"

Good luck getting all your work done before the holidays, everybody. Remember to stay chill.

I Love "Christmas Time Is Here"

Every Christmas, this Peanuts tune pops up. But I realized I didn't know much about it, so I did a deep dive into the song and its creator, Vince Guaraldi. My appreciation is here.

The Complicated Legacy of the Red Ryder BB Gun

For MEL, I did a deep dive into an air rifle that's been around since 1940. For the first 40 years of its existence, it was associated with boys' love of cowboys. Then came A Christmas Story, which remains a beloved holiday staple. That BB gun is part of a larger cultural conversation, and I talked to some folks about that. Hope you enjoy.