'Outcry' Review

Greg Kelley was a beloved Texas high school football star. Then, he was charged with a heinous crime, sexual assault of a child. He was convicted and sentenced to a 25-year sentence. But many were convinced he was innocent. Outcry tells Kelley's story quite powerfully. My review is up at MEL.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Irresistible,' 'Eurovision Song Contest' and 'Manhunter'

On this week's episode, we review two new comedies. Then, in our Reboot segment, we look back at one of Michael Mann's earliest films, Manhunter. Folks, it's good. Hear the whole thing down below.

My Interview With David France, Director of 'Welcome to Chechnya'

Welcome to Chechnya goes deep inside the Russian republic, highlighting the systemic eradication of LGBTQ individuals that's going on there. It's a harrowing story told well by David France, a journalist and filmmaker who's often chronicled the struggles of gay activists. For MEL, I had a lovely conversation with France about his new film and his two previous documentaries, How to Survive a Plague and The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson. Hope you enjoy.

I Come to Bury Skids and Mudflap

Michael Bay wanted to create some hip, cool robots to be the comic relief in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. He wanted them to appeal to kids. Instead, he hatched some horribly racist Black caricatures. For MEL, I look back at the ugly legacy of Skids and Mudflap.

On ABBA and "Waterloo"

In honor of Eurovision Song Contest, which references it early on, I wrote about ABBA's "Waterloo," the winner of the 1974 edition of the show. That tune changed things for the band, and it's an interesting story. Check it out over at MEL.

Must-See LGBTQ Movies

For Pride Month, Rolling Stone put together a list of 50 essential films that encapsulate queer culture. I was honored to be asked to contribute: I wrote about Keep the Lights On, Portrait of a Lady on Fire and Mysterious Skin. You can read the whole thing here.

Frank Sinatra 101

He's one of the 20th century's greatest singers. But how was he as an actor? Over at MEL, I look at some of the highlights of his movie career.

'Athlete A' Review

Wanna get mad? Watch this Netflix documentary about the myriad scandals inside USA Gymnastics. For MEL, I wrote about Athlete A.

Five Replacements for 'Top Gun: Maverick'

The long-awaited Top Gun sequel was supposed to come out today. Well, now you have to wait until Christmas. For Vulture, here are five streamable alternatives to tide you over, including a forgotten 1980s Clint Eastwood thriller.

LL Cool J - "Mama Said Knock You Out"

The beginning of “Mama Said Knock You Out,” where LL Cool J calls out, “Come on, man,” might seem like a battle cry, but it was actually never even supposed to be on the song. “He was screaming at the engineer,” says [producer Marley] Marl. “He was yelling at him, because he kept messing up all night. So he was like, ‘Come on, man!’ And the engineer was actually recording vocals, and then the beat dropped. And I was like, ‘Oh, that’s classic.’”

-- from Vanity Fair's 2015 story "Why LL Cool J’s Most Famous Album Almost Never Happened"

The Summer of Spielberg vs. Schwarzenegger

It was June 1993: Jurassic Park squared off against Last Action Hero. Years later, we're still obsessed with that showdown. I explain why over at MEL.

This Week in Genre History: The Failure of 'Superman Returns'

Back in 2006, Warner Bros. thought they had successfully rebooted the Man of Steel. So what happened with Superman Returns? I have some theories over at SyFy.

‘Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga’ Review

Advance buzz for Eurovision Song Contest was high. But I gotta say: I think it's pretty average. Still, Rachel McAdams almost makes it worthwhile. I reviewed the Netflix comedy for MEL.

The Best Albums From Artists in Their 70s (or Older)

In honor of Rough and Rowdy Ways, which Bob Dylan put out at age 79, I spotlighted 11 great albums from musical senior citizens, including the one and only Willie Nelson. Hope you enjoy.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Reviews of 'Babyteeth' and 'Miss Juneteenth'

Two directors make their feature debut on this week's podcast: Shannon Murphy's Babyteeth and Channing Godfrey Peoples' Miss Juneteenth. (We liked them both.) Then, it's time for a Reboot: 2014's horror-romantic drama Spring. Check it all out below.

'Irresistible' Review

Jon Stewart has made his second film, Irresistible, a political satire about a small-town election. The movie made me think about the final years of his Daily Show, which is not a good thing. I explain why over at MEL.

'I'll Be Gone in the Dark' Review

Writer Michelle McNamara was obsessed with uncovering the identity of the Golden State Killer. She died before her book was published, but her friends, colleagues and loved ones helped finish it for her. The new HBO documentary series I'll Be Gone in the Dark chronicles her story and the man who terrorized California for decades. My review is here.

Five Replacements for 'Soul'

Soul was supposed to be out this weekend. Instead, let us offer you some streaming alternatives over at Vulture.

Mavis Staples - "You Are Not Alone"

An open hand
An open heart
There's no need to be afraid
Open up this is a raid
I wanna get it through to you
You're not alone

Written and produced by Jeff Tweedy, sung by Mavis Staples.

Sheffield Doc/Fest 2020: 'Southern Journey (Revisited)' Review

Alan Lomax traveled across the South in the late 1950s to make field recordings of traditional songs. In 2018, two British documentarians decided to retrace his steps. The result is Southern Journey (Revisited), a portrait of America I wish had a little more depth. My review is up at Screen International.