Gene Hackman's Finest Films

I was flattered to be asked to help contribute to this Rolling Stone piece that provides a primer on Gene Hackman's best performances. These 20 films constitute a hall-of-fame career.

My Interview With Nicholas Hoult

The man who will be the next Lex Luthor had a pretty great 2024. For the Los Angeles Times, I chatted with the actor about Juror #2, The Order and Nosferatu. We also talked about fatherhood and staying out of the limelight. Check it out here.

(Photo by Marcus Ubungen.)

AFI Fest 2024: 'Juror #2' Review

Clint Eastwood is 94 years old, and he's still making movies. Good movies. For Screen International, I reviewed Juror #2.

Keith Law and I Talk About Baseball Movies

Welcome to a new baseball season. To celebrate the occasion, I had a long Zoom talk with my buddy Keith Law to discuss the best and worst baseball films. We had a blast. (And, seriously, you should see Sugar and Everybody Wants Some!!)

Super Bowl Weekend Isn't for the Fellas at the Multiplex

Traditionally, romantic comedies and horror movies open on the Friday before the Super Bowl. The thinking is that men tend to be too focused on the game to care about films. But that's been changing lately. I wrote about this shift for MEL.

When Directors Try Their Hand at Musicals

Steven Spielberg has made his first musical with West Side Story. For MEL, I looked at the track record of other major filmmakers and their one musical: Did they ace the assignment? Read on.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Clint, Tammy Faye and 'The Nowhere Inn'

Last episode, I liked all three movies. This week? A very different story. 

You can hear our reviews of Cry Macho, The Eyes of Tammy Faye and The Nowhere Inn down below.

Clint Eastwood at 90

Clint Eastwood is now 91, but he was 90 when he made Cry Macho. It is a remarkable thing to watch a film in which someone of his age is the star. I wrote about what that realization stirred in me over at MEL.

'Cry Macho' Review

Cry Macho is Clint Eastwood's 39th film as a director. It's not one of his stronger efforts, unfortunately. I reviewed the movie for 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.

All the Oscar Nominees From Every Summer Blockbuster

Good heavens, there are 54 performances that have been nominated from summer hits. (I thought this was supposed to be the season of mindless action movies.) I ranked them all over at MEL.

Five Replacements for 'Top Gun: Maverick'

The long-awaited Top Gun sequel was supposed to come out today. Well, now you have to wait until Christmas. For Vulture, here are five streamable alternatives to tide you over, including a forgotten 1980s Clint Eastwood thriller.

Jim Carrey and 'The Dead Pool'

It was 1988. Jim Carrey was trying to make his name as an actor. And then he was cast as a rock star with a drug problem. For MEL, I wrote about that time Carrey lip-synced to a Guns N' Roses song in a Clint Eastwood movie. Hope you enjoy.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Little Women,' 'Just Mercy' and Our Lightning Round of December Releases

This week, we celebrate our 200th episode. Thanks to all who have listened and enjoyed what they heard. We go through five films in quick fashion: Uncut Gems, Little Women, Richard Jewell, Bombshell and Just Mercy. Hear the whole thing down below.

Some Thoughts on 'Richard Jewell'

Why does America treat its homegrown heroes so shabbily?

What is "Macarena" doing in a Clint Eastwood movie?

And what are we to make of the Kathy Scruggs controversy?

I talk about all that, and Muhammad Ali, over at MEL.

AFI Fest 2019: 'Richard Jewell' Review

Clint Eastwood does that thing he does with Richard Jewell, a biopic about the security guard who helped save lives during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bombing ... only to be suspected of the crime. Solid, professional, a little simplistic, but still affecting. You know the drill. My review is up at Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: On the Terrific 'Her Smell' and 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly'

On this week's episode, we trash Hellboy. But skip past that to hear us dig into Her Smell, which is marvelous, and our Reboot review of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, which remains pure pleasure. The whole thing is down below.

A Brief History of Good (and Bad) Movie Makeup

I didn't have a chance to post this over the weekend -- it was a busy time, folks -- but for MEL, I selected some examples of memorable old-age makeup in movies. What distinguishes the good from the bad? Read on.

Some Thoughts on 'The Mule'

I wrote about The Mule for MEL, focusing on Clint Eastwood's obsession with characters who want to ride off into the sunset. (Also, I looked back at the man's musical career.) You can read it right here.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Let's Talk About 'The Mule,' 'Beale Street,' Spider-Man and 'Vice'

We're nearly at the end of the year, but before we do our special Top 10 show, we have two more episodes for your enjoyment.

In the first, we review The Mule, If Beale Street Could Talk and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Then, we recorded a special show for Vice that would air after the film's embargo lifted. (It's a long story.) Lots to dig into below.