'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Rob Reiner's Impact on Movies and Politics

When someone in the film industry passes, Madeleine Brand will often ask me to come on the show to talk about that person's legacy. I was touched to go on Press Play to eulogize Rob Reiner, both as a filmmaker and as an activist. My segment was up first, if you'd like to listen below.

'Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere' Review

How did Bruce Springsteen make his risky, groundbreaking 1982 album Nebraska? Deliver Me From Nowhere dives into this pivotal period in the songwriter's career. My review is up at Screen International. 

'Peak Movies: 1985': Let's Revisit 'Agnes of God' and 'Ran'

I was very flattered to be asked to join my buddies Eric Normington and Scott Rognlien on their podcast Peak Movies: 1985, which looks back at the major films released each weekend during that year. And I was especially thrilled to talk about Ran, which might be my favorite Kurosawa. We also discussed Agnes of God, which I had never seen. Both films came out September 27, 1985. You can hear our thoughts down below:

Robert Redford's Essential Films

I teamed up with other Rolling Stone colleagues to list 20 must-see Robert Redford movies. You can read me on The Natural, Indecent Proposal and All Is Lost here. 

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Previewing Fall Festival Season and 'Paris, Texas'

Greetings from Venice. Before I left for the festival, Will and I recorded an episode looking at the movies we're most intrigued by that will be premiering here, Telluride or Toronto. Lots of good stuff there. Then, we go back to 1984's Paris, Texas, which I now really need to see on the big screen. Check out our conversation down below. 

My Interview With Spinal Tap

They're back, and they're louder and dumber than ever. For the Los Angeles Times, I sat down with Spinal Tap to talk about politics, doves and their new movie, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. Check it out. 

(Photo by Jason Armond.) 

'Devo' Review

I saw Devo at Sundance in 2024. At long last, the film is now available to watch for everybody else. My review is up at the A.V. Club.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Marvel's First Family, 'Happy Gilmore 2' and 'Tampopo'

Great episode, but not necessarily because of the new movies we reviewed. We start by discussing The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Happy Gilmore 2. But the real fun comes during our Reboot segment, when we look back at 1985's Tampopo, which is a wonderful film. Check it out down below.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Lamenting 'Smurfs,' Debating 'Eddington'

Katie Walsh and I were at the KCRW studios yesterday to talk about this weekend's major movie releases. My big takeaway? Lots of stinkers! 

You can hear our reviews of Eddington, Smurfs and I Know What You Did Last Summer down below. (We also discuss an upcoming 70mm screening of 1984's Streets of Fire.)

What's the Funniest Moment in 'This Is Spinal Tap'?

This Is Spinal Tap returns to theaters this weekend in a remastered, restored version. For Cracked, I ranked this all-time comedy's 50 best moments. Enjoy! 

My Interview With Jonathan Gould, Author of 'Burning Down the House'

Burning Down the House: Talking Heads and the New York Scene That Transformed Rock is an exhaustive biography of the seminal band and the city that shaped them. For Paste, I talked to author Jonathan Gould (himself a musician) to discuss many things: David Byrne's autism, Stop Making Sense's greatness, and why the band is never ever getting back together. You can read my Q&A here.

'Deaf President Now!' Review

I missed Deaf President Now! at Sundance, but I'd heard good things about this documentary that looks back at a 1988 student protest at the only all-Deaf university. (The gist: The students wanted a Deaf president. The board of trustees had other ideas.) My review is here.

'The Next Picture Show': Let's Talk About 'Bull Durham'

So, this was fun: The gang over at The Next Picture Show asked me on as a guest. For those unfamiliar with that podcast, the hosts pair a current movie with an older, thematically-linked film. (The first episode is about the older film. The second episode focuses on the new film.) My episodes' theme was baseball movies, which makes sense since we're in the midst of spring training. This week: We talked about 1988's Bull Durham. Next week: To be continued. (But if you're paying attention to the indie release calendar, you can probably guess.)

The Police - "Every Bomb You Make"

You're never too old to learn new things, even about one of your favorite songs. 

Last year, the Police released a "Super Deluxe Edition" of their final album, Synchronicity. Included on there was "Every Bomb You Make," an alternate version of the band's finest song, "Every Breath You Take." I assumed it was a demo of some kind -- an early snapshot of the hit it would become. I was wrong: "Every Bomb You Make" was a new version made in 1985 for the influential U.K. series Spitting Image, which is probably best known in the U.S. because Genesis worked with the show (and its caricaturish puppets) for their "Land of Confusion" video. Sting's song was reworked to be a commentary on the world powers' obsession with nuclear weapons. But before the new edition of Synchronicity, apparently the full track had never been released.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Joker 2,' 'Will & Harper' and 'The Dead'

No surprise that we didn't like the Joker sequel, although it inspired some interesting conversation. On this week's episode, we also discussed the well-intentioned but flawed Netflix documentary Will & Harper and went back to 1987 to assess John Huston's The Dead. Hear the whole thing down below.

The Art of Noise (featuring Duane Eddy) - "Peter Gunn"

Hey there. Have a good weekend.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Trap,' 'War Game' and 'Cutter's Way'

On this week's episode, we dig into two very different new movies: M. Night Shyamalan's latest and a documentary about the possibilities of another insurrection after this year's presidential election. Then, in our Reboot segment, we look back at 1981's superb Cutter's Way. Check it all out down below.

My Interview With Michael O'Keefe, Star of 'Caddyshack'

He plays the main character in Caddyshack, not that you necessarily think of Danny as the film's main character. It's been nearly 45 years since that comedy opened in theaters, so how does Michael O'Keefe feel about the movie today? I had a long talk with him about that, and also Buddhism, addiction and learning from your bad career choices. Hope you enjoy.

'Til Tuesday - "Voices Carry"

"'Voices Carry' was like the first or second or third song I ever wrote by myself, except [for] a couple terrible garbage-y things when I was 16." -- Aimee Mann

The Story Behind "Axel F"

How did an instrumental that was stitched together at the last minute end up being the indelible theme song to Beverly Hills Cop? For Cracked, I wrote about Harold Faltermeyer, synth-pop and "Axel F." Hope you enjoy.