Screen International: My Screen Life

Screen International runs a regular feature in its print edition called "My Screen Life," in which the publication's editors, critics and reporters discuss the films and moments that shaped them. My turn was up recently, so I talked about 2001, George Clooney and Cannes. Check it out here.

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 Best Political Comedy?

Because we all could use a laugh right now, right? I picked 20 classics for Cracked.

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.

The Movies That Got Sued Before They Got Released

In honor of this weekend's The People's Joker, I looked at six other films that had to deal with lawsuits before seeing the light of day. Whether it's the State of Massachusetts or Aretha Franklin, sometimes the powers that be have an issue with a movie, and they'll do whatever they can to stop its release. Hope you enjoy.

My Interview With Ridley Scott, Director of 'Napoleon'

I talked about history, violence, war, Joaquin Phoenix, Stanley Kubrick, dead dogs and not slowing down with the one and only Ridley Scott. Hope you enjoy.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Our Big Fall Film Festival Preview and 'Dr. Strangelove'

On this week's episode, we select the films playing in Venice, Telluride and Toronto that we're most excited about. Then, we go back to 1964 to discuss Dr. Strangelove. Where does it rank among my favorites of Stanley Kubrick? Listen here:

What's the Funniest Film Comedy Punchline of All Time?

I spent a lot of time figuring this out for Cracked.

In Praise of 'The Shinning'

It's almost Halloween, so for Cracked I had to write about my favorite segment of The Simpsons' "Treehouse of Horror." Hope you enjoy.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: David Cronenberg, 'Fire Island' and 'A Clockwork Orange'

On this week's episode, we're basically aligned on Crimes of the Future and Fire Island. Then, we go back to 1971 for our Reboot, discussing a Stanley Kubrick movie that, honestly, I'm not the biggest fan of. Hear the whole thing down below.

Thinking of 'Eyes Wide Shut' as a Christmas Movie

I still remember seeing Eyes Wide Shut opening night. Funny enough, my future wife was at the same screening. This article is not about that, though: It's about how Kubrick's final film has been embraced as a holiday film. Read on.

The Four Kinds of Christmas Movies You See During the Summer

It's rare, but Hollywood sometimes releases Christmas-themed films at the multiplex during the warm weather months. I did a taxonomy over at MEL.

The Therapeutic Properties of Watching People Scream in Movies

Random neighborhoods are organizing primal-scream sessions, where people go outside and just yell their heads off in frustration and anger over the pandemic. This got me thinking about how, in movies, characters are yelling all the time. There's something incredibly cathartic about that, which I explore over at MEL.

Cinema's Most Sweeping Films

Wanna get away? Can't say I blame you right now. For MEL, I wrote about the movies I find most "transporting," however you choose to define that word. Up, up and away.

The Never-Nominated

For MEL, I paid tribute to 10 all-time terrific films that didn't get any nominations -- no Oscar nods, no Golden Globes attention, not even a BAFTA. These are the great unloved of awards-season. Hope you enjoy.

The Best British Sci-Fi

With Doctor Who back for a new season, we decided to spend some time celebrating British science-fiction. For Debate Club, we look back at five great films from the U.K.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Horror, Christmas and World War II

On this week's episode, we both review Doctor Sleep and Last Christmas. Then Will asks me some questions about Midway. Check out the whole podcast down below.

Some Thoughts on 'Doctor Sleep'

How does Doctor Sleep critique The Shining?

Is it fun to watch Kubrick's movie forwards and backwards simultaneously?

Remember when Stephen King had a column at Entertainment Weekly?

I get into those topics, and others, over at MEL.

'Doctor Sleep' Review

A deft study of trauma is at the heart of this sequel to The Shining. I just wish the plot wasn't so action-movie conventional. My review of Doctor Sleep is up at Screen International.

The Best Horror Movies of the 1980s

One slasher film. One sequel. One remake. One kinda-sorta remake. The Shining. For this week's Debate Club, we look back at the five best horror flicks from the Reagan era. Enjoy.