Eva Marie Saint, 1924-2026

The star of North by Northwest and On the Waterfront is gone. For Rolling Stone, I eulogized Eva Marie Saint. 

My Review of David Thomson's Terrific Book 'A Sudden Flicker of Light'

For the A.V. Club, I wrote about film historian David Thomson's bracing A Sudden Flicker of Light, in which he argues that movies may have done more harm to us than we're willing to acknowledge. You can read my thoughts here.

Why Audiences (Still) Love Seeing Movies on Film

So, this was fun. For Screen International's "The Future of Film" issue, I suggested we reach out to theaters that show movies on celluloid. They still exist! And, in fact, they're thriving. I was very happy to interview the fine folks at BFI, the Music Box and the American Cinematheque to get a sense of why audiences are excited to see film prints, even when those prints are no longer sparkling and new. Hope you enjoy. 

The Legacy of 'Leaving Neverland'

It has now been seven years since I saw Leaving Neverland. I've never forgotten it. Sadly, curious viewers will be unable to track the film down. For the A.V. Club, I wrote about a stunning documentary that has been buried. 

My Review of the 2026 Academy Awards

It was a night billed as One Battle After Another versus Sinners. The show itself reflected those films' visionary qualities. Here's my review of last evening's Oscars. 

Frederick Wiseman, 1930-2026

Frederick Wiseman was one of my filmmaking heroes. I was lucky enough to interview him twice. I knew one day he'd be gone, but still I'm very sad to see him go. For Rolling Stone, I paid tribute to a legend. 

Robert Duvall, 1931-2026

Robert Duvall had died. He was 95. I paid tribute to the Oscar-winning actor over at Rolling Stone. 

Bela Tarr, 1955-2026

A couple years ago, I had the immense pleasure of moderating a Q&A with Bela Tarr after a screening of his final film, The Turin Horse. He was great. Today for Rolling Stone, I pay tribute to an iconic filmmaker. You can read my piece here. 

The 2025 Movies About the Making of Great Art

For Screen International, I wrote about three movies that came out this year that examined the behind-the-scenes drama that led to monumental works. They don't all take the same approach, though. You can read my thoughts on Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, Nouvelle Vague and Hamnet here. 

Brigitte Bardot, 1934-2025

Brigitte Bardot was one of cinema's most indelible sex symbols. Then she walked away from stardom. My tribute on the occasion of her passing is over at Rolling Stone. 

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': What 'Siskel & Ebert' Meant to Me

I was honored to be asked to join Press Play to talk about the legacy of Siskel & Ebert on the show's 50th anniversary. You can hear my segment at the 19:22 mark.

'Siskel & Ebert' at 50

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Siskel & Ebert, the folks over at RogerEbert.com asked a bunch of writers and critics to reflect on the show's legacy. You can read my thoughts, and everyone else's, here. 

Diane Keaton, New Hollywood Heavyweight

It's a sad day: Diane Keaton has died. For Rolling Stone, I tried to sum up her brilliance. 

Robert Redford, 1936-2025

For Rolling Stone, I wrote about the passing of Robert Redford, the movie star and the man behind Sundance, in two ways. Rest in peace, sir.

What 'Dogma' Did to Kevin Smith

Kevin Smith's controversial 1999 comedy Dogma returns to theaters tomorrow. For Cracked, I looked back at the film's legacy, and why he never made as interesting a movie afterward. Hope you enjoy.

Gene Hackman, 1930-2025

For Rolling Stone, I eulogized Danville, Illinois' favorite son, Gene Hackman.

My LAFCA Awards Presentation for Jomo Fray, Cinematographer of 'Nickel Boys'

The devastating Los Angeles fires in January forced the postponement of this year's Los Angeles Film Critics Association awards dinner. But on February 6th, the show went on, resulting in an evening that was a little more subdued but, nonetheless, still rather joyous. It was my honor to present our award for Best Cinematography, which deservedly went to the year's best film. Here were my remarks from the stage:

Few cinematographers today are more exciting than Jomo Fray. He has shot some of the most distinctive feature debuts in recent memory, including Selah and the Spades and All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt. His images are tactile, lived-in — they stun without feeling showy. His camerawork, which is often centered on Black narratives, has the grace of a poem.

Tonight, we celebrate his crucial contribution to Nickel Boys, deservedly praised for its audacious use of first-person POV. Working alongside first-time feature director RaMell Ross, Fray had to determine precisely how the film’s teenage characters would take in their world, shooting on locations that often had to be 360-degree environments, with a nimble camera meant to replicate Elwood and Turner’s sentient perspective. From a craft standpoint, Nickel Boys was an enormous undertaking.

But anyone moved beyond words by this film doesn’t talk about aspect ratios or SnorriCam rigs. Instead, we marvel at myriad indelible shots that feel like childhood memories. Nickel Boys is full of pain and sorrow, but there’s also an incredible innocence to it — we don’t just see the film from Elwood and Turner’s perspective, we reconnect with the spirit of being young, back when our impressionable eyes were hungrily absorbing everything around us. Fray’s camera is attuned to these terrors and joys. We practically smell the stench of the so-called White House, where the Black students of Nickel are beaten. But we also delight at the sight of an adorable girl smiling under our seat on a bus.

The film invites us to experience it all in this most extraordinary of coming-of-age dramas, to bear witness to a country’s history of racism and cruelty — a history that remains so very present. Nickel Boys is an act of love and an act of defiance. And Jomo Fray makes sure we never look away.

Please join me in congratulating our winner for Best Cinematography, Jomo Fray.

I was so glad to have Jomo Fray there. I hadn't met him, and he was, unsurprisingly, terrific. (Also, everybody loved his outfit.) All of our winners can be found here. This photo was taken by Shiloh Strong.

A History of the Joker Being Funny (or Not)

In honor of Joker: Folie à Deux, I wrote a little something for Cracked about the Clown Prince of Crime. Specifically, I tried to answer this question: Is the Joker actually a funny supervillain? Hope you enjoy.

Remembering Brandon Lee, Who Made 'The Crow' Fly

I was there opening weekend 30 years ago when The Crow debuted in theaters. Like most everyone, I was aware that the film's rising star, Brandon Lee, had died tragically during an accidental shooting in the midst of production. I haven't seen the film since, so now that there's a new version of the film out this weekend, it seemed like a good time to revisit the original, which still holds up. My appreciation of Lee is up at Rolling Stone.

'The Sixth Sense' at 25

There were twist endings before The Sixth Sense. But in the 25 years since that film hit theaters, no twist has been as monumental, discussed or debated. For the Los Angeles Times, I looked back at the twist, and even talked to a couple folks who were working in Hollywood when M. Night Shyamalan's spec script went out on the market. Really enjoyed writing this, and I hope you enjoy reading.