What's the Best Movie From 1999?

Rolling Stone created a list of the 99 best movies from 1999. Then, the editors asked regular contributors to write capsules for the films. I got to write about Eyes Wide Shut, Three Kings, The Wind Will Carry Us and others. Check out the whole list here.

What's the Funniest Movie to Win the Golden Globe for Best Musical/Comedy?

I offer my rankings over at Cracked.

Is Mark Wahlberg Funny?

In honor of his bad new movie The Family Plan, I ask the tough questions over at Cracked.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Blonde' and 'Bros'

We took a week off, so we're back with reviews of four new movies: Amsterdam, Blonde, Bros and The Greatest Beer Run Ever. Two we liked, two we didn't. Which were which? Find out below.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': 'Tar,' 'Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile' and 'Triangle of Sadness'

I was on KCRW yesterday with fellow critic Shawn Edwards to review this weekend's new movies. We disagreed about Tar, but other than that we're pretty simpatico on Amsterdam, Triangle of Sadness and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. Hear our segment down below.

'Amsterdam' Review

When David O. Russell's latest wasn't featured at any of the fall film festivals, there was concern that it was a stinker. To be fair, 20th Century Studios is in such a weird limbo with its new parent company Disney that it's hard to know exactly what's going on with any of its movies. Still, I'm here to say that Amsterdam is a misfire.

The Mike Myers Comeback

The Austin Powers star has a Netflix series and a role in a David O. Russell movie this year. With that in mind, I wrote about my mixed feelings about his legacy. My piece is up at MEL.

Who Is Mark Wahlberg's Best (Cinematic) Friend?

In Uncharted, Mark Wahlberg and Tom Holland are kinda/sorta buddies (but not really) as they go on a quest together to find some lost gold. That inspired Will and me to rank all of Wahlberg's movie buddies. You can read the results here.

When Movies Sit on the Shelf Forever

Usually, it goes like this: A director shoots a movie, then it's edited, then it's released, all within the span of about a year. But sometimes, problems occur, including the fact that the movie is actively terrible. 

In honor of this past weekend's The King's Daughter, which was delayed for years and years before finally coming out, I did an overview of some ignominious films for MEL.

The 2022 Movies That Aren't Based on Anything

It's become a fun annual tradition: At the start of the new year, I'll put together a list of upcoming movies that aren't sequels, remakes, reboots or in any way based on true stories or preexisting material. My 2022 edition is over at MEL. Hope you enjoy.

What's Christian Bale's Best Performance?

Each Friday, Vulture is doing a movie-club viewing, and last night it was American Psycho. For the occasion, they asked us to rank Christian Bale's performances, which we were happy to do. Check it out right here.

What's Jennifer Lawrence's Best Performance?

Will and I spent a little time ranking the Oscar-winner's roles, including mother! As far as I was concerned, No. 1 boiled down to three possibilities, probably the same ones anyone else would guess. Check out the full list over at Vulture.

'Joy': The Stories David O. Russell Tells About Himself

For the third time in his last four films, director David O. Russell is working from a true story in Joy. But, as usual, the movie is less about the real-life person than it is about himself. For The New Republic, I explain the pros and cons of that approach. Read all about it here.

'Joy' Review

Of all of David O. Russell's recent films, Joy is the most resistible. Starring Jennifer Lawrence as the inventor of a self-wringing mop, the movie is based on the true story of Joy Mangano, but it very much combines elements of the director's The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle. It is, quite frankly, a bit of a mess. Just enough of it works for me to recommend, but you gotta wade through much that doesn't. My review is up at Screen International.

Steely Dan - "Dirty Work"

One of the pleasures of American Hustle is its '70s soundtrack, which includes superb use of Steely Dan's "Dirty Work" early on. Because I'm me, when I recently interviewed director David O. Russell at a Q&A after a screening, I asked him specifically about the choice to include "Dirty Work." He said that they actually filmed that sequence while playing the song. Which is awesome.

'American Hustle' Review

As you may have seen, American Hustle was awarded Best Picture by the New York Film Critics Circle. (My group, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, votes on Sunday.) I was a bit surprised at the announcement. It's not that I don't like American Hustle -- I think it's quite entertaining -- but it's also a bit flawed. Still, I cannot deny how much I enjoyed watching this comedy-drama hum along. My review is up at Screen International.