The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'The Assistant,' 'The Rhythm Section,' 'Inglourious Basterds' and Our Oscar Predictions

Lots to get to on this week's show. (I also talk a little about Sundance 2020.) Hear the entire episode down below.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Oscar Predictions, 'Alita: Battle Angel' and 'Interview With the Vampire'

Interview With the Vampire is as bad as I remember. That's the bad news on this week's podcast; much more fun is our lengthy breakdown of the Oscars. (I hope my Best Picture prediction is wrong.) We also reviewed Alita: Battle Angel. Hear the whole thing down below.

'Downsizing' Review

Alexander Payne's latest is his weakest. But it's not without its rewards; it's a flawed but still affecting work. Matt Damon plays a man who decides to get miniaturized, and let's just say it doesn't work out how he imagined. I reviewed the film, warts and all, for 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.

'Southpaw' and Our Obsession With Actors' Preparation

At the end of last year, I interviewed Christoph Waltz for Big Eyes and asked him about how he prepared for the role. His response was refreshing: He didn't want to talk about it, he didn't think it was interesting, and he didn't think audiences should even care. Watching Southpaw the other day, I thought about Waltz's comments. He's absolutely right: Much of the pre-release story around the film has been about Jake Gyllenhaal's preparations to play this hardened boxer. Why do we care, especially when the movie isn't that hot? I wrote about this strange phenomenon for Deadspin.

My Interview With Christoph Waltz

For Rolling Stone, I spoke with Christoph Waltz, who is a highlight of the forthcoming Big Eyes. I like a subject who's thoughtful with his answers, who doesn't just give me the same rehearsed spiel he'd delivered to everyone else. That didn't feel like the case when he and I talked: He seemed genuinely mystified by journalists' fascination with the acting process, and he wanted to have a conversation about it. You can read my profile of Mr. Waltz here.

'Big Eyes' Review

With the exception of Ed Wood and Mars Attacks!, the last two decades haven't been very kind to Tim Burton. So what a relief it is to say that his new movie is a kick. Based on the life of painter Margaret Keane, Big Eyes features very good performances from Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz. Plus, it's a fun little treatise on artistic expression. My review is up at Screen International.