The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Let's Talk About the Oscars (and 'Love Lies Bleeding' and 'Ricky Stanicky')

How was your Oscars? We review the show on this week's episode. Then we dig into the latest from Kristen Stewart and Peter Farrelly. (There are many comments about John Cena as well.) Check it all out down below.

'The Iron Claw' Review

Sean Durkin is now three for three. I reviewed his latest, The Iron Claw, for Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Blonde' and 'Bros'

We took a week off, so we're back with reviews of four new movies: Amsterdam, Blonde, Bros and The Greatest Beer Run Ever. Two we liked, two we didn't. Which were which? Find out below.

Toronto 2022: 'The Greatest Beer Run Ever' Review

Four years ago, Green Book premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. Now, Peter Farrelly is back at the festival with his follow-up film, which I think is a lot worse. Yes, really.

'Firestarter' Review

I didn't love the original Firestarter, so the remake didn't have a high bar to get over. Alas, this new version isn't so hot either. My review is up at Screen International.

When Young Actors Pivot to Dad Roles

The internet went into a tizzy about the fact that Zac Efron is now old enough to play a father in the new Firestarter. For all young actors, eventually you have to embrace adulthood and start portraying dads. For MEL, I looked at several of Efron's peers who got there before he did. Hope you enjoy.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': 'Lucy and Desi' and 'Gold'

Christy Lemire and I dug into four new releases on KCRW last week, including Turning Red and The Adam Project. But let me direct you to the two films that are a little more under-the-radar: Zac Efron plays a guy trying to stay alive in the desert in Gold, while Amy Poehler makes a documentary about Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. You can hear our segment down below. 

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Charlize Theron, Ted Bundy and Your 2019 Summer Movie Preview

On this week's episode, we agree that Long Shot is bad (but that Charlize Theron is great in it). We differ on Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. And then we preview summer movie season, including the film we're both worried about. Hear the whole thing down below.

Sundance 2019: 'Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile' Review

Greetings from Park City. I reviewed the new Ted Bundy biopic, which stars Zac Efron as the serial killer. Extremely Wicked has a clever premise, but only so-so execution. I get into all that here.

'The Greatest Showman' Review

Hugh Jackman plays P.T. Barnum in The Greatest Showman, which is chockablock with musical numbers and razzle-dazzle. I found it pretty tiring, as I explained in my Screen International review.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'War Machine,' 'Baywatch,' Johnny Depp and 'George Washington'

We had lots to cover in this week's podcast. First up, I recap the Cannes Film Festival. Then, Will and I review War Machine, Baywatch and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. And finally, we look back at 2000's George Washington for our Reboot segment. It's a supersized episode, and you can hear it below.

'Baywatch' Review

You see these people? They made my life miserable for two hours. Folks, Baywatch stinks. It's just awful. It's not funny. It's just so bad. My review is up at Screen International.

'We Are Your Friends' Review

I'm not so far removed from my youth that I can't feel a kinship to something like We Are Your Friends, which stars Zac Efron as a DJ trying to break into the world of EDM. For a new generation, perhaps this movie will be an American Graffiti or Reality Bites: an impudent, urgent "We are young!" state of the union. But, lordy, the film's story couldn't be more familiar. (Still, I think Wes Bentley is quite good in it as a mentor figure to the young Efron.) I reviewed We Are Your Friends for Screen International.

'Neighbors' Review

It's so rare to find a legitimately funny comedy. But Neighbors is one; it made me laugh pretty consistently. Defiantly lowbrow but with a sweet side, this movie is probably going to do really well. I reviewed Neighbors for Screen International.

'At Any Price' Review

The betting is that most people will think of At Any Price as "the Zac Efron film," but for fans of its director, Ramin Bahrani, this character study is very much in keeping with his previous efforts. Sadly, though, it's not quite as good as Goodbye Solo or Chop Shop. My review is up at Paste.