AFI Fest 2016: 'The Comedian' Review

These days, whenever Robert De Niro shows some life in a performance, it's worth celebrating -- and how sad is that to say? Regardless, he's decently compelling in The Comedian, a comedy-drama where he plays a has-been stand-up comic. Weirdly, the movie is at its best when it's not about comedians -- far more enjoyable is his rapport with Leslie Mann, who's dynamite as a possible love interest. My review is live at Screen International.

'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' Review

After seven Harry Potter movies, Warner Bros. is back in the wizarding business with Fantastic Beasts. What did I think of it? Read my review over at Screen International. (Mostly, I was just proud of myself for never accidentally typing the title as Fantastic Beats.)

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: On 'Doctor Strange, Mel Gibson and 'Snatch'

This week's episode of the Grierson & Leitch podcast went live on Tuesday. What a fun day that was! Anyway, Will and I review Doctor Strange and Hacksaw Ridge. Then, for our Reboot segment, we look back at Guy Ritchie's sophomore release, Snatch. You can check it all out here.

Farewell, Leonard Cohen

Like a lot of people, I was sad to hear about Leonard Cohen's passing -- especially this week. For MEL, I wrote about the fact that he used to live in my old neighborhood. I never saw him, but I liked the idea of his being in the general vicinity. Which inspired this essay.

AFI Fest 2016: 'Miss Sloane' Review

Jessica Chastain has a type of role that she seems to gravitate to. Whether it's Zero Dark Thirty or Crimson Peak, she likes playing characters who have a certain no-nonsense ferocity to them that can be pretty hypnotizing. Which is why I wasn't all that amazed by her steely portrayal of a ruthless D.C. lobbyist in Miss Sloane, a political thriller that's better when it's just being silly and juicy, throwing one outrageous twist after another at us. My review is up at Screen International.

AFI Fest 2016: 'Rules Don't Apply' Review

Rules Don't Apply, Warren Beatty's first directorial effort since Bulworth, didn't do a lot for me. Yes, it's a pleasurable bauble, I suppose, but holy moley is it slight. A tale of Howard Hughes and two young people who get sucked into his orbit, the movie is a romantic triangle in which none of the three legs captivated me that much. My review is up at Screen International.

Richard & Linda Thompson - "Just the Motion"

When you're rocked on the ocean
Rocked up and down
Don't worry

When you're spinning and turning 
Round and around
Don't worry
 
You're just feeling seasick
You're just feeling weak
Your mind is confused 
And you can't seem to speak
 
It's just the motion
It's just the motion

'Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk' Review

Ang Lee likes to challenge himself, and his newest movie finds him experimenting with a much higher frame rate than a traditional film. (In simple terms, the image looks like what happens when you have motion-smoothing on a television.) So what did I think of the experiment? My review of Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk is up at The New Republic.

'Moana' Review

A tale of an adventurous Pacific Island teen, Moana is a perfectly pleasant Disney animated movie. You'll have a fine time, but I don't think the film is particularly inspired. My review is up at Screen International.

'Loving' and Racism's Quiet Force

Over at The New Republic, I wrote about Loving, which I saw for the first time at Cannes. I respected what writer-director Jeff Nichols attempted -- a smarter, stripped-down, no-fuss variation on the typical awards-bait drama -- without fully going for it. A second viewing helped put some thoughts into sharper focus. You can read my review here.

My Interview With Brett Story, Director of 'The Prison in Twelve Landscapes'

The biggest discovery at this year's True/False Film Festival was The Prison in Twelve Landscapes, director Brett Story's incisive, poetic look at how prisons are all around us -- even though Americans don't see them. The documentary is made up of 12 vignettes, all of them connected to mass incarceration in ways we don't immediately realize. It's a subtle but powerful film.

For MEL, I spoke with Story to talk about her background in geography, the challenges of making a documentary that doesn't fall into any one category, and why she's an activist who doesn't like activist films. It was a great talk -- you can read it right here.

Leonard Cohen - "You Want It Darker"

At 82, Leonard Cohen has released his latest album, You Want It Darker. There are more songs on it than the opening title track, but I'm having a hard time moving past that one. Cohen provides the lyrics, but former Madonna collaborator Patrick Leonard wrote the spare, ghostly, church-ly music. Play it loud.

'Hacksaw Ridge' Review

War is hell, and Mel Gibson drives that point home yet again in Hacksaw Ridge, a very average WWII drama buoyed by a darn-good Andrew Garfield performance. In some stretches, the film is quite arresting. In others, lordy, is it corny. My review is up at The New Republic.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Forget 'Inferno,' Let's Talk 'Jackie Brown' and 'Bottle Rocket'

On this week's episode of the Grierson & Leitch podcast, we dutifully discuss Inferno. But then the fun begins with our Reboot section, where we try to figure out if Jackie Brown actually is Quentin Tarantino's best movie and whether Bottle Rocket holds up as well as Wes Anderson's later films. Very, very enjoyable. You can hear the whole thing here.

Misleading Men: Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan receives an Honorary Oscar next month. For my regular MEL feature "Misleading Men," I take a look at the Hong Kong action star and his uneven path to Hollywood stardom. (And once he achieved it, it wasn't quite what he imagined.) You can read it right here.

Anderson .Paak (Featuring ScHoolboy Q) - "Am I Wrong"

I'd be shocked if Malibu, Anderson .Paak's second album, doesn't end up in the Top 10 on the Pazz & Jop poll. My favorite track off the record? Probably "Am I Wrong."

'Inferno' Review

Tom Hanks is back! In the franchise of his that nobody cares about! For The New Republic, I reviewed Inferno, which is total nonsense but not without some pleasures. Read all about it.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Moonlight' and 'Weekend at Bernie's,' Together at Last

The 40th episode of the Grierson & Leitch podcast focuses on Moonlight, but we also dig into the Jack Reacher sequel and American Pastoral. And, for our Reboot segment, we do an autopsy on 1989's Weekend at Bernie's. Enjoy!

'Doctor Strange' Review

Sufficiently amusing and pretty exciting, Doctor Strange is the Marvel movie where I started suspecting that the MCU may be spreading itself too thin. Even though this is the first chapter in the adventures of the Master of the Mystic Arts, I feel like I've seen many parts of this film before. Doctor Strange is good-enough, which may not end up being good enough. My review is up at Screen International.

Barbara Lewis - "Hello Stranger"

The best movie of the weekend is Moonlight. In its honor, here's a song off the soundtrack.

'Moonlight' and 'Boyhood'

For MEL, I wrote about the magnificent Moonlight. Specifically, I compared it to another movie I love, Boyhood. They serve as excellent companion pieces, which I explain here.

'Jack Reacher: Never Go Back' Review

If you are desperate to watch Tom Cruise run, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, I suppose, will satisfy your craving. But this is pretty weak tea: Two movies in, this franchise is certainly no Mission: Impossible. I reviewed the film for Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Talking Ben Affleck and Pink Floyd

This week's Grierson & Leitch podcast features four films. We lament the mediocre The Accountant. I tell you why Certain Women is terrific. I stick up for Christine. And, in our Reboot section, we dig into Pink Floyd: The Wall, which segued into a discussion about 1970s concept albums and rock star whining. Much to enjoy, and you can hear it all here.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Justin Timberlake and the Modern Concert Film

I was on KCRW today to talk about Justin Timberlake + the Tennessee Kids. Is this a golden age of concert films? I've got some thoughts, and you can hear 'em here.

What's the Greatest Horror Movie of the 21st Century?

Glad you asked. Over at Rolling Stone, a bunch of smart critics and I wrote about this century's 50 best fright films. I had no say over the rankings, but I had plenty to say about the likes of 28 Days Later, The Conjuring and others. Check it out here.

Bob Dylan - "Not Dark Yet"

Congrats on the Nobel, Bob.

On the Sad, Riveting 'Christine'

Christine, about late TV journalist Christine Chubbuck, was one of my favorite films at Sundance. I give it a second look over at The New Republic.

'Justin Timberlake + the Tennessee Kids' Review

For MEL, I reviewed the new Justin Timberlake concert film. All I know is, Netflix is making a terrible mistake not releasing this movie in theaters. Read all about it here.

'The Accountant' Review

The Accountant is this close to being a good movie that successfully executes its mixture of ludicrousness and drama. Alas, it doesn't quite get there. Ben Affleck plays an accountant who's also a butt-kicking, Jason Bourne-like killing machine. And he's autistic. It's a strange film, and I reviewed it for Screen International.

Why You Need to See 'Certain Women'

I've been singing the praises of writer-director Kelly Reichardt for a while. But, really, her latest is especially terrific. It's called Certain Women, and I get into its greatness over at The New Republic.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'The Birth of a Nation' and 'L.A. Confidential'

On this week's Grierson & Leitch podcast, we dive into The Birth of a Nation. But we also grapple with The Girl on the Train, which is so ugh. I ask Will some questions about Newtown. And in our Reboot section, we look back at L.A. Confidential. You can hear the whole thing here.

'20th Century Women' Review

20th Century Women had its premiere on Saturday at the New York Film Festival. I reviewed the film for Screen International, and found it to be very reminiscent of writer-director Mike Mills' last movie, Beginners. It's lovely, a bit precious and definitely worth your time. Read all about it here.

Sampling 'The Birth of a Nation' for a Second Time

I was at the epic premiere screening for The Birth of a Nation at Sundance -- the one where there was a standing ovation before the movie and then an even longer one afterward. I thought the movie was solid but not amazing, but certainly affecting. Nine months later, how does it hold up? I let you know at The New Republic.

Wu-Tang Clan - "C.R.E.A.M."

Good lord, why has Wu-Tang Clan never been featured on Friday Video? That ends today.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'American Honey' and 'Barry Lyndon'

Do you like discussions about lengthy movies? Then this week's Grierson & Leitch podcast is for you. I sing the praises of American Honey, and in our Reboot section we tackle the mighty Barry Lyndon. Also, we've got reviews of Deepwater Horizon and Crisis in Six Scenes. You can hear the whole thing here.

'The Girl on the Train' Review

Yowza, The Girl on the Train is dumb dumb dumb. It's trashy and silly ... but, y'know, not in a good way. I survey the wreckage over at Screen International.

'Saturday Night Live' and the Donald Trump Pivot

On Saturday Night Live, Donald Trump has often been portrayed as an adorable buffoon. Not on Saturday, when Alec Baldwin played him as a monster. I didn't laugh so much as recoil, and I think that's the point. For MEL, I wrote about the show's (and the country's) changing attitude toward the Republican presidential candidate. You can read it right here.

'I Am Not Your Negro' Review

Recently premiering at the Toronto Film Festival and now screening as part of the New York Film Festival, I Am Not Your Negro is a darn fine documentary about James Baldwin's unfinished book about the killing of three African-American activists of the 1960s. But the film also doubles as a solid Baldwin bio. Read all about it here.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Talking 'Deepwater Horizon' and 'American Honey'

I was on KCRW's Press Play on Friday alongside Amy Nicholson to discuss this weekend's releases. This allowed me another chance to tell the world how dumb Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is. Amy reviews Masterminds, and the two of us weigh in on Deepwater Horizon and American Honey. You can listen to the whole thing here.

My Interview With Andrea Arnold

As you may have gathered, it's American Honey week around these parts. For Rolling Stone, I spoke with writer-director Andrea Arnold about her remarkable film. Hope you enjoy.

Bruce Springsteen - "Dream Baby Dream"

Bruce Springsteen's cover of "Dream Baby Dream," which appeared on his 2014 album High Hopes, is having a moment. Alan Vega, the co-founder of the band Suicide that wrote the song, died this summer, which prompted Springsteen to pen a eulogy for the musician, which brought more attention to his version of this song.

Also, the cover is used prominently in American Honey, which opens this weekend. The movie is fabulous, and so is the placement of the track within the film.

'Crisis in Six Scenes' Review

Woody Allen makes a move to the small screen for Crisis in Six Scenes, his 1960s-set political satire for Amazon. How is it? Slightly worse than Irrational Man and Cafe Society. Slightly better than Magic in the Moonlight. Yeah, sorta in that neither/nor range. My review is up at The Wrap.

On the Great 'American Honey'

When I saw American Honey at Cannes, I walked out and tweeted this:

AMERICAN HONEY: Utterly absorbing and deeply moving, this is the culmination of everything Andrea Arnold has been building toward. #Cannes

— Tim Grierson (@TimGrierson) May 14, 2016

For The New Republic, I make the case for this great film. Read all about it.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: What Went Wrong With 'Magnificent Seven'?

That's the question Will and I try to answer on the latest edition of the Grierson & Leitch podcast. Also, in our Reboot section, we look back at Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and Shakes the Clown, two movies about alcoholics. (No, really.) You can hear the whole thing here.

'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children' Review

I'm not sure it's possible for me to ever enjoy another of Tim Burton's super-Burton-esque films. With his latest, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, he again indulges his favorite themes and visual tics. It's so exhausting. I reviewed the movie for Screen International.

Misleading Men: Danny Glover

For the latest installment of my "Misleading Men" column for MEL, I took a look at Danny Glover. There's a new Lethal Weapon on Fox, which made me think of the venerable stage and screen actor. It would be a shame if anyone considered Glover's career since that franchise as some sort of letdown. If anything, I argue that he's been a more major figure since. Read all about it.

Let's Rank All Denzel Washington's Movies

With Denzel Washington's painfully mediocre The Magnificent Seven out now, Will and I took to Vulture to offer a comprehensive guide to the man's movies. He has made so many movies, people, but we were up to the task. Take a look.

Stephen Malkmus - "Jo Jo's Jacket"

I wrote a piece about the original Westworld this week, which made me think of this great Stephen Malkmus song. Also, I tracked down this quote, since I'd always been wondering about it:

"I didn't plan [the song's satiric subject] to be Moby -- I have to set the record straight," he said of the very bald dance music producer. "He'll have his day in court with God one day, just like all of us, and I'm not going to be the judge on him."

I will forever love how Malkmus says "medicinal jellllly."

'The Exorcist' Review

On Friday, Fox debuts The Exorcist, a small-screen reboot of the super-popular 1970s horror classic. (I actually don't love the movie that much, but that's for another time.) Anyway, what do I think of the show? It is, uh, really atmospheric. My review is up at The Wrap.

Taking a Look Back at 'Westworld'

For Popular Mechanics, I rewatched the 1973 sci-fi/Western Westworld to see if it still resonates in the culture. Sure does! With the new HBO series ready to debut, I wrote about the original film right here.

Hooray for 'Better Things'

Better Things, the new show from Pamela Adlon, is pretty darn good and, more importantly, it's not just a Louie knockoff. It's its own beast, and I'm glad FX has renewed it for a second season. Over at The Wrap, I talk about why the show matters.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Reviewing 'Snowden,' 'Blair Witch' and 'Bullitt'

I'm back from Toronto, and for this week's installment of the Grierson & Leitch podcast, I recap the festival briefly. Plus, we talk about two disappointing new releases, Snowden and Blair Witch. Then, in our Reboot section, I totally flip out for Bullitt. (It's more than a movie with a great car chase, folks.) You can hear the whole thing here.

Jerry Gergich and the Rise of the TV Schlub

With Kevin Can Wait premiering last night, I was thinking of the popularity of sitcoms starring dumpy everymen. And I decided to write about the greatest of them all, Jerry from Parks and Recreation. And, really, he's so different than his schlub contemporaries. For MEL, I explain why, really, the character type should have died with Jerry.

Toronto 2016: Ranking the Best and the Worst

Among other things, what the 2016 installment of the Toronto Film Festival demonstrated convincingly is that this has been a fabulous year for movies. Combining the best of Sundance, Berlin and Cannes -- as well as the gems of Venice and Telluride -- this Toronto ought to kill any notion that we're not living in a great time for film.

There were films I missed -- Arrival, Frantz, Fire at Sea, Nocturnal Animals, etc. -- but the below ranking is pretty stacked even without those omissions. What's clear is that I'm going to have a hell of a time coming up with a Top 10 in a couple months. There will be at least two or three really great movies that will miss the cut.

One last thing: If I'd seen the whole thing, I would have included Justin Timberlake + the Tennessee Kids on my list. Directed by Jonathan Demme, it's a revelatory concert film from the guy who made the greatest of all time. I'm hoping I'll have a chance to write more about it later. For now, though, here are my rankings, with links leading to individual reviews.

1. American Honey
2. Paterson
3. Moonlight
4. La La Land
5. Jackie
6. Christine
7. Graduation
8. Toni Erdmann
9. Elle
10. Certain Women
11. Things to Come
12. Personal Shopper
13. Manchester by the Sea
14. Ma’ Rosa
15. The Unknown Girl
16. Sieranevada
17. Neruda
18. Safari
19. Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer
20. Abacus: Small Enough to Jail
21. The Salesman
22. Aquarius
23. Lion
24. I, Daniel Blake
25. The Birth of a Nation
26. My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea
27. Free Fire
28. The Cinema Travellers
29. Mascots
30. Blair Witch
31. American Pastoral
32. Maudie
33. Loving
34. The Edge of Seventeen
35. Barry
36. Wakefield
37. Snowden
38. LBJ
39. The Levelling
40. Blue Jay
41. The Magnificent Seven
42. Queen of Katwe
43. The Exception
44. The Promise
45. The Bad Batch
46. Dog Eat Dog
47. Daguerrotype
48. It’s Only the End of the World
49. (Re)Assignment

Toronto 2016: 'The Edge of Seventeen' Review

The Toronto Film Festival closed with The Edge of Seventeen, a thoughtful but, ultimately, kinda familiar coming-of-age story. What's most interesting about it is what it promises for its filmmaker (first-timer Kelly Fremon Craig) and its star (Oscar-nominated True Grit actress Hailee Steinfeld) in the future. My review is up at Screen International.

Justin Timberlake - "SexyBack"

There were plenty of very good films that played at this year's Toronto Film Festival. But none was more of a high than Justin Timberlake + the Tennessee Kids, the exceptional concert documentary from director Jonathan Demme, who made the greatest of all time. Granted, I only caught the last hour of Justin Timberlake, but it's utterly brilliant. Hopefully, I'll have more to say about it soon enough. For now, here's the song that's the film's highlight. 

Toronto 2016: 'LBJ' Review

Sight unseen, the assumption was that Rob Reiner's biopic LBJ was a stinker. Screening late in the Toronto Film Festival, which is usually a black hole in terms of quality, the movie didn't look so good. So, the best than can be said about the movie is that, actually, it's not that bad. Woody Harrelson makes for an interesting Lyndon Johnson, but Reiner's conventionality drags down the proceedings. My review is up at Screen International.

Toronto 2016: 'The Exception'

Aside from Christopher Plummer, The Exception is rather, uh, unexceptional. The problem, as it often is, is Jai Courtney, who's a dud as a German soldier in 1940 assigned to keep an eye on the exiled Kasier (Plummer). There's a romance, there's intrigue, there's a lot of stuff that doesn't add up to much. My review is up at Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Talking 'Sully,' 'Body Heat' and 'Teen Witch'

For this week's episode, Will and I reviewed Sully. But I highly recommend our Reboot section, where we totally flip for Body Heat and affectionately check back on 1989's Teen Witch. Top that ... and check out the whole thing here.

Tom Hanks and the Complexity of the Good Guy

Beloved as he is, Tom Hanks is sometimes dismissed as an actor because he "only" plays good guys. But as he shows with Sully, being a hero is more difficult than it appears. My piece is live over at MEL.

Toronto 2016: 'Blue Jay' Review

Blue Jay dramatizes a familiar scenario: Two old flames run into each other years later, taking the opportunity to catch up and reminisce. This one stars Mark Duplass and Sarah Paulson, and it's certainly very likeable. But, man oh man, you have seen this movie before in so many ways. I reviewed Blue Jay for Screen International.

Toronto 2016: 'Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer' Review

Norman is a treat. Richard Gere plays a New York fixer who's desperately trying to impress people with his access and connections, when in fact he's a flailing failure. This offbeat character piece is very funny but also pretty darn sad. Read all about it.