'Mother Mary' and Male Filmmakers' Fascination With Female Pop Stars

David Lowery's Mother Mary is just the latest film about a female superstar in peril. Why do male directors love making these movies? I have some theories.

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. 

The Best Movies of 2025 Without a Single Oscar Nomination

Always appreciative that the fine folks at RogerEbert.com let me pay tribute to the forgotten films of Oscar season. Here's my annual rundown of 10 great movies that you won't hear mentioned during the Academy Awards on March 15.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: We Answer Your Questions and Disagree About 'Rocky'

It's always fun to do a mailbag episode. This week, we talk about erasing movies from history, running our own theater, Siskel & Ebert and Carter Burwell. Then, we go back to 1976 and revisit Rocky. Has it held up? We don't agree on the answer. Check out the show down below.

'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. 

The Films That Got Overlooked This Oscar Season

This year's Oscar nominees are fairly decent, but I'd like to take a moment to recognize 10 superb films we won't hear mentioned at all during Sunday's telecast. The voters forgot about these movies, but I have not.

My Interview With Justin Baldoni

It's been a while since I've done a profile in which I hang out with my subject for an extended period of time. But a couple weeks ago, I spent a morning (and early afternoon) with Justin Baldoni, the director of the forthcoming It Ends With Us. His production company Wayfarer Studios, according to its website, is committed to "championing inspirational stories which unite as true agents for social change." What does that look like in real-world terms? Here's my story.

'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' and Hollywood's Spin-Off Era

In 2009, Fox wanted to extend its lucrative X-Men franchise by doing a spin-off film for Wolverine. The resulting movie wasn't that good, but it did help show the studios what they could do with their hit properties, unfortunately. For RogerEbert.com, I wrote about X-Men: Origins: Wolverine's legacy.

My 2024 Venice Film Festival Preview

I'll be going to Venice for the first time since 2019. What I'm looking forward to seeing? Here's a look at the 10 most-intriguing films playing the festival.

The Best Documentaries About Love

In honor of Skywalkers: A Love Story, I spent a little time thinking about other documentaries focused on relationships and commitment. I picked 10 great films and made the case for each here.

My Interview With Levan Akin, Writer-Director of 'Crossing'

Levan Akin heard a story about a Georgian grandfather who publicly supported his trans grandchild, an uncommon (and, frankly, courageous) act. It made Akin wonder how his own grandparents would have reacted in the same situation. Out of that came his touching new film Crossing. For RogerEbert.com, I talked to the writer-director about researching Istanbul's trans community, his early love of Anne Rice, and that time he almost talked to Madonna. Hope you enjoy.

My Interview With Ibrahim Nash’at, Director of 'Hollywoodgate'

In 2021, when U.S. forces pulled out of Afghanistan, the Taliban assumed control of the country, including taking over a U.S.-run base known as Hollywood Gate. Around that same time, Egyptian journalist Ibrahim Nash’at decided he wanted to see how Afghanistan's new rulers would handle power. The result is the documentary Hollywoodgate. I spoke to him about what he endured, and what he learned, while spending a year with the Taliban. Our conversation is here.

My Interview With Jan de Bont, Director of 'Twister'

Back in 1996, in the wake of his directorial debut Speed, Jan de Bont made a movie about killer tornadoes. With Twisters about to hit theaters, I spoke with de Bont about Twister, love stories in blockbusters, and why he wouldn't be interested in doing modern-day event movies. Hope you enjoy.

Shelley Duvall's Greatest Performances

In honor of her passing, I highlighted five must-see films from Shelley Duvall. You can check out my list here.

On Christina Applegate's Greatness in 'Anchorman'

In honor of the film's 20th anniversary, I decided to pay tribute to Anchorman's underrated MVP. Here's my salute to Christina Applegate.

Happy 30th Anniversary, 'Forrest Gump' Soundtrack

The blockbuster movie won Best Picture, but the accompanying album was also a sensation, going 12-times platinum. I wrote about the soundtrack's legacy here.

What's the Best Fourth of July Release This Century?

I offer a Top 10 here.

Kevin Costner, Director

As we prepare for Horizon, I went back and rewatched Kevin Costner's first three films as a director. Some themes emerged, which I wrote about here.

When Will These Movies Get a U.S. Distributor?

For RogerEbert.com, I banged the drum for some films that haven't been picked up yet. Some I've seen, some I haven't, but all of them seem pretty worthwhile. Check 'em out.