Sundance 2025: 'The Legend of Ochi' Review

The Legend of Ochi is a conscious throwback to the type of live-action fantasy film that many Gen-X kids grew up on. But does it work? My review is up at Screen International. 

Sundance 2025: 'Folktales' Review

Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady are back with their latest documentary, which looks at a folk high school in Norway that's like a gap year for students who want a more nature-centric education. That means learning to dogsled, among other things. Here's my review of Folktales. 

Monie Love - "Monie in the Middle"

Raise your hand if you never knew Simone Johnson (a.k.a. Monie Love) was British.

Sundance 2025: 'The Alabama Solution' Review

Some documentaries exist to infuriate. Such is the case with The Alabama Solution, which features footage inside an Alabama penitentiary that was shot on smuggled cellphones by the prisoners. The horrendous conditions are simply appalling. My review is up at Screen International.

Sundance 2025: 'Together' Review

This year's Sundance was pretty quiet in terms of sales. But one movie that did get picked up is Together, a body-horror starring Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a struggling couple who ... well, let's just say they're suddenly about to have some quality time together. You can read my review of this Neon pickup over at Screen International.

Sundance 2025: 'Opus' Review

In Opus, Ayo Edebiri plays a frustrated young music journalist who gets a rare opportunity when she's invited to attend an exclusive listening party for the new album from a brilliant but reclusive pop star (John Malkovich). Unfortunately, this horror-thriller is pretty underwhelming, as I explain in my Screen International review.

Sundance 2025: 'BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions' Review

Kahlil Joseph's art installation BLKNWS has been turned into a feature-length, mixed-media film. It's a dazzling experience that's almost too much to absorb in one sitting. My review is here.

'Sing Sing' Review

With the Oscar-nominated Sing Sing available for streaming on Friday, I figured I should point you in the direction of my review, which is up at Screen International.

The Film Comment Podcast: Talking 'Twinless,' 'By Design' and 'Rabbit Trap' at Sundance

It was a treat to be on The Film Comment Podcast alongside my buddy Robert Daniels and host Devika Girish here in Park City. We discussed some of the early highlights (and lowlights) of the festival. (For those interested, Robert and Devika also reviewed Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, which I haven't seen yet.) 

Enjoy the conversation, which included observations about Dev Patel, Miranda July and David Lynch, down below.

Sundance 2025: 'Sorry, Baby' Review

Eva Victor's remarkable Sorry, Baby, in which they star, is about a twentysomething writer who goes through something terrible. (I won't say what.) How do people cope with trauma? How does it change them on a molecular level? This delicate film offers some answers. I reviewed the movie for Screen International.

Sundance 2025: 'Train Dreams' Review

Train Dreams aspires to be an old-fashioned American epic, telling the story of an everyman living in Idaho at the start of the 20th century. My review of one of Sundance's most-acclaimed films is up at Screen International.

Sundance 2025: 'The Ugly Stepsister' Review

What if the Cinderella story was told from the perspective of one of her ugly stepsister's? For Screen International, I reviewed this intriguing, ultimately disappointing fantasy film. 

Sundance 2025: 'The Perfect Neighbor' Review

Can one documentary encapsulate all that is wrong with America? Probably not, but The Perfect Neighbor comes close. I reviewed this riveting, chilling film here.

Sundance 2025: 'If I Had Legs I’d Kick You' Review

What a stunner If I Had Legs I'd Kick You is. Rose Byrne plays a woman who, for all practical purposes, is a single mom. (Her husband is always gone.) And her daughter is very sickly. Also, she may be losing her grip on reality. My review is here.

Sundance 2025: 'Jimpa' Review

Jimpa is the new film from Good Luck to You, Leo Grande director Sophie Hyde, but this one is a lot more personal. Taking inspiration from her own life, it tells the story of a filmmaker mother (Olivia Colman) with a nonbinary child (Hyde's own child Aud Mason-Hyde) and a gay father (John Lithgow. Not surprisingly, Jimpa is an emotional movie, but I also had some nitpicks. You can read my review here.

Sundance 2025: 'Sly Lives! (aka The Burden Of Black Genius)' Review

Here come the Sundance reviews. First up is Sly Lives!, the new documentary from Questlove about Sly Stone. It's more than just your typical rock doc, which I get into over at Screen International.

Doechii - "Denial Is a River"

Here's the gateway drug to get you into Doechii's Alligator Bites Never Heal.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Wolf Man,' 'Back in Action' and Previewing Sundance 2025

It's January, which means talking about bad movies and getting ready for Sundance, which will hopefully feature some great movies. Check out this week's episode down below.

Angelo Badalamenti - "Twin Peaks Theme"

What else would I have picked? Rest in peace, David Lynch (and Angelo Badalamenti).

 

'Wolf Man' Review

In 2020, Leigh Whannell made The Invisible Man, a modern update of the horror franchise with a contemporary relevance. I was mixed on that film for some of the same reasons I'm mixed on his latest. For Screen International, I reviewed Wolf Man.