'Breakfast All Day': Talking 'Ella McCay'

One last Breakfast All Day appearance before the end of the year. I was very happy to join Christy to discuss James L. Brooks' misfire, which has had me thinking about Megalopolis recently. I explain in this segment. 

'Now You See Me: Now You Don't' Review

To be fair, I have come around to enjoying Jesse Eisenberg in these magician-thief movies. On the other hand ... this franchise is just so dumb. I reviewed Now You Don't for Screen International. 

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. 

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': 'Last Breath,' 'My Dead Friend Zoe' and 'The Accidental Getaway Driver'

Katie Walsh and I were on KCRW today to discuss this weekend's new movies with guest host Brian Hardzinski. We tacked the deep-sea diving drama Last Breath, the melancholy comedy My Dead Friend Zoe, the woeful thriller Cold Wallet and the atmospheric true-life tale The Accidental Getaway Driver. Check it all out down below.

'Last Breath' Review

Oscar weekend tends to be a pretty slow one in terms of new releases. But I can recommend Last Breath, a true-life survival thriller about three deep-sea divers in the North Sea who face a life-or-death crisis. Read all about it over at Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Suncoast' and 'Up in the Air'

Super Bowl Weekend tends to be a little barren at the multiplex. On this week's episode, Will and I both reviewed Suncoast and then I asked him about Lisa Frankenstein. Plus, we made one Reboot requester happy by taking a look back at Up in the Air. Did the movie hold up? Check out our thoughts below.

What's the Best Comedy of the 1990s?

I provide the answer over at Cracked.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: So, How Did Jimmy Kimmel Do at the Oscars?

Well, that's it for another Oscar season. On the podcast, we go long talking about the show. (Mostly, it's me venting about the things I think the broadcast keeps doing wrong.) Then, we review Scream VI and Champions, which we also don't see eye-to-eye on. Lots of disagreement! Hear the whole thing down below.

'Champions' Review

Bobby Farrelly directs his first solo feature with Champions, in which Woody Harrelson plays a disgraced coach guiding a basketball team with intellectual disabilities. My review is up at Screen International.

Let's Talk About That Scene From 'Triangle of Sadness'

The first poster for Ruben Östlund’s ‘Triangle of Sadness’ has been released. pic.twitter.com/uNM4QWBrUX

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) August 8, 2022

You know the one I mean. I wrote about that moment, and the beauty of comedic vomit scenes, over at Cracked.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Triangle of Sadness,' 'Till' and a New 'All Quiet on the Western Front'

Will was able to see Ruben Östlund's latest, so we talked about the Palme d'Or winner. Then, we focus on two very different period pieces. You can hear our whole conversation down below.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': 'Tar,' 'Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile' and 'Triangle of Sadness'

I was on KCRW yesterday with fellow critic Shawn Edwards to review this weekend's new movies. We disagreed about Tar, but other than that we're pretty simpatico on Amsterdam, Triangle of Sadness and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. Hear our segment down below.

The 2022 Movies That Aren't Based on Anything

It's become a fun annual tradition: At the start of the new year, I'll put together a list of upcoming movies that aren't sequels, remakes, reboots or in any way based on true stories or preexisting material. My 2022 edition is over at MEL. Hope you enjoy.

In Praise of Wesley Snipes in the (Early) 1990s

What a run Wesley Snipes had about 30 years ago. You know what happened after. I weigh both aspects of the actor's legacy over at MEL.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Sopranos' Prequels, French Provocations and the New 'Venom'

 

We were split on The Many Saints of Newark.

One of us was bowled over by Titane.

And we both had to admit we fell for Venom: Let There Be Carnage.

Hear the whole episode below.

What Is Tom Hardy Trying to Tell Us About Himself by Playing Venom?

Tom Hardy plays dual roles in Venom: Let There Be Carnage, as he did in the first film, but it's clear that Venom is the character he more relates to. Why is that? For MEL, I wrote about the actor's connection to the gnarly alien, which feels like an extension of his feelings about celebrity and good guys in general.

'Venom: Let There Be Carnage' Review

Much to my surprise, I vastly preferred the Venom sequel to the original. Having a much better bad guy definitely helps. I reviewed the film for Screen International.

Woody Harrelson's Risk-Taking 1990s

At the start of the 1990s, Woody Harrelson was part of a hit sitcom. But would he ever be a movie star? For MEL, I looked at a defining decade for a performer who's turned into a pretty darn good character actor. My piece is here.

'Midway' Review

The Battle of Midway! Directed by Roland Emmerich! No thanks!

My review of Midway is up at Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Nazis, Lighthouse Keepers, Zombies and 'The Laundromat'

On this week's episode, I review the two big art-house releases, Jojo Rabbit and The Lighthouse. Then, Will and I differ on The Laundromat and equally lament Zombieland: Double Tap. Hear the whole thing down below.