'Tron: Ares' Review

We have a new Tron film. It stars Jared Leto. Nine Inch Nails did the soundtrack. I saw it in 3D. I reviewed Ares for Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Morbius,' 'Apollo 10 1/2' and 'The Bubble'

A supervillain origin story. A nostalgic animated reverie. And the absolute worst movie Judd Apatow has ever made. Step right up for this week's podcast! The whole episode is down below.

What Does Jared Leto Think He's Doing in 'Morbius'?

As one of the few people who actually likes this reviled superhero movie, I devoted a few words to what I think the Oscar-winner does right in Morbius. You can read my essay over at MEL.

'Morbius' Review

The reviews have not been kind to the long-delayed Morbius. So allow me to defend it: My review is up at Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Three Films About Families

I only now realized that this week's episode covered three films that deal with difficult families: House of Gucci, Encanto and The Humans. Guess which one I liked best.

Or you could just listen and find out.

'House of Gucci' Puts the Rich on Blast

There's no shortage of popular entertainment about how awful the wealthy are. But there's always room for one more. For MEL, I indulged in the seductive, tacky pleasures of House of Gucci.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'The Little Things,' 'Saint Maud' and 'Supernova'

We've got three new movies to review this week, although only one of them is worth your time. Plus, we talk about the Super Bowl and the St. Louis Cardinals a little. Check it all out down below.

'The Little Things' Review

Denzel Washington and Rami Malek are on the hunt for a serial killer who just might be Jared Leto. I dug the L.A.-ness of The Little Things, but ultimately I think this whodunit runs out of gas. My review is up at Screen International.

'Suicide Squad' Review

In an ordinary summer, Suicide Squad might be considered one of the worst films of the season. But this year? Eh, it's merely another disappointment -- I've been so beaten down I almost can't summon up the energy to care about all the things that don't work in this supervillain action movie. But for Screen International, I do my best to tell you precisely why this film stinks.

'Dallas Buyers Club' Review

Matthew McConaughey has been on a hot streak for the last several years, and Dallas Buyers Club may snag him his first Oscar nomination. It's not the best thing he's done recently -- Mud, Magic Mike and Killer Joe are all great, too -- but it's a strong, unsentimental performance in a true story about a straight Dallas man in the 1980s who was diagnosed with HIV and went underground to find the drugs that could keep him alive. And, yes, Jared Leto is quite good, too. My review of Dallas Buyers Club is up at Paste.

'Mr. Nobody' Review

Mr. Nobody has had a difficult journey to distribution in the U.S. After premiering in Venice in 2009, the movie (from Belgian director Jaco Van Dormael) got released in other countries but not America. In fact, it wasn't until 2011 that Mr. Nobody screened in the U.S. -- and that was due to the efforts of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association's Films That Got Away committee, of which I'm a proud member. We programmed the film for that summer's Los Angeles Film Festival, and it was a huge hit with a predominantly younger crowd. That was understandable: Mr. Nobody's themes of chance and fate (mixed with some pretty great sci-fi effects) resonate with twentysomethings on the cusp of their own adulthood. Jared Leto is the star of the film, and he's quite good in it. As for the movie itself, my review is up at Paste.