The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Deadpool and Wolverine, Curtis and Samantha, Mikey and Nicky

Three unforgettable duos are the highlight of this week's podcast. First, we review Deadpool & Wolverine. Then, we dig into two great Reboot suggestions. There's Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain in Take Shelter. And there's Peter Falk and John Cassavetes in Mikey and Nicky. Check it out down below.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Debating 'Quantumania,' Revisiting 'The Tree of Life' and 'Life Is Beautiful'

We disagree about the latest Ant-Man adventure, which opens the door to a larger discussion about the state of the MCU. Also in this episode, we have two Reboot segments. Has The Tree of Life lost a little of its stature over the years? And how would the world react to Life Is Beautiful if it came out today? We've got the answers below.

My Interview With Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne

Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne waited six years to make The Good Nurse. For the Los Angeles Times, I spent some time with the Oscar-winners finding out what they learned along the way. Hope you enjoy.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Our Oscar Predictions, 'Deep Water' and 'Windfall'

Ladies and gentlemen, the Oscars are Sunday. On this week's podcast, we make our picks in the six major categories. (We disagree on what's winning Best Picture.) Before that, though, we review two new films: the erotic thriller Deep Water and the crime drama Windfall. Hear the whole thing down below.

Maybe Skip 'The 355' and Rewatch 'Haywire' Instead

In 2011 at AFI Fest, Steven Soderbergh premiered a secret new project, called Haywire, starring an MMA fighter (Gina Carano) as an elite operative who gets betrayed. It was a hoot. The movie opened in January 2012, which has now been 10 years. For MEL, I revisit the film in light of this weekend's The 355. Read all about it here.

Kristen Stewart Has Made Five Really Good Films. Who Else Has in That Same Time Frame?

 

Inspired by Stewart's recent claim that she thinks she's only made five good films in her career, I started doing some research to determine what other actors have made that many since Twilight came out. Turns out, it's only a handful of folks.

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.

Toronto 2021: 'The Forgiven' Review

Ralph Fiennes and Jessica Chastain play a rich married couple who travel to Morocco for a friend's lavish weekend party. But then they accidentally kill someone with their car. There's a lot to like in The Forgiven, but ultimately I came away from it disappointed. My review is up at Screen International.

Toronto 2021: 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye' Review

And now it's time for the story of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. The Eyes of Tammy Faye dives into their colorful world, but it still ends up feeling pretty superficial. My review is up at Screen International.

Venice 2021: 'Scenes From a Marriage' Review

The original Scenes From a Marriage miniseries is terrific. The HBO remake has two excellent actors in it, but it's not nearly as good. What happened? I get into that over at MEL.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Scammers, Assassins and 'Enola Holmes'

On this week's episode, we review three new movies, all about women in different kinds of peril. I liked Kajillionaire and Enola Holmes. As for Ava, eh, what can you do?

Listen to the whole thing down below.

'Ava' Review

Jessica Chastain kicks a lot of butt in the action-thriller Ava. But the movie is very not good.

Some Thoughts on 'Dark Phoenix'

Why can't male filmmakers figure out female superheroes?

Is Jessica Chastain right about her character?

Why do I hate car crashes in movies?

And why was my screening such a disaster?

I answer those questions, and more, about Dark Phoenix over at MEL.

'Dark Phoenix' Review

Dark Phoenix is the final Fox film for the X-Men, which will soon be absorbed into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. (Disney's acquisition of Fox will see to that.) Unfortunately, that's more of a business story than a creative one, as the new movie's subpar execution only further illustrates. My review is up at Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Triple Frontier,' 'Zero Dark Thirty' and 'High Tension'

On this week's podcast, we differ on Triple Frontier, but we're in complete agreement about the greatness of Zero Dark Thirty in our Reboot section. (But then we're disagreeing again with High Tension.) Hear the whole thing down below.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Reviewing 'The Post,' 'Phantom Thread' and 'Molly's Game'

We're coming to the end of the year, and this week's podcast is devoted to some of the high-profile Christmas releases. I'm a big fan of The Post and Phantom Thread, while I get a kick out of the supreme Sorkin-ness of Molly's Game. You can hear the whole episode down below.

'The Zookeeper's Wife' Review

Jessica Chastain is suitably restrained as, you guessed it, a zookeeper's wife in this fact-based World War II drama about a Polish couple who helped protect Jews from the Nazis. There's much to admire here, especially Daniel Bruhl as one of those Nazis, but I kept wishing The Zookeeper's Wife was a little more gripping, a little sharper, a little better. I reviewed the film for Screen International.

AFI Fest 2016: 'Miss Sloane' Review

Jessica Chastain has a type of role that she seems to gravitate to. Whether it's Zero Dark Thirty or Crimson Peak, she likes playing characters who have a certain no-nonsense ferocity to them that can be pretty hypnotizing. Which is why I wasn't all that amazed by her steely portrayal of a ruthless D.C. lobbyist in Miss Sloane, a political thriller that's better when it's just being silly and juicy, throwing one outrageous twist after another at us. My review is up at Screen International.

'Crimson Peak' Review

Never the biggest Guillermo del Toro fan, I report with delight that I enjoyed his latest, the Gothic horror throwback Crimson Peak. It's very much an homage to bygone horror flicks, and I found it quite pleasing in the regard. You can read my review over at Screen International.

'Zero Dark Thirty' Review

Zero Dark Thirty is the follow-up film from director Kathryn Bigelow, who won an Oscar for her last one, The Hurt Locker. I respected the hell out of The Hurt Locker without necessarily thinking it was as terrific as other people did. So keep that in mind when I say that Zero Dark Thirty is the superior movie -- for me, it addresses some of my quibbles with the earlier film. I don't get into that much in my Screen International review, however -- instead, I focus on what makes Zero Dark Thirty such a singular experience. You can read my review here.