2026 Gotham Awards Nominees

I am always so flattered to be asked to participate in a Gotham Awards committee, and this year I was part of the group that picked the nominees for both original and adapted screenplay. You can see our choices here (as well as all of this year's nominees). And thanks to my fellow committee members: Imani Davis, Jon Frosch, Illyse Singer and Esther Zuckerman.

Every Sketch Show Is Better Than 'Saturday Night Live'

Or, at least that's how it seems when journalists and critics talk about The Kids in the Hall, Mr. Show, Key & Peele, I Think You Should Leave...

For the A.V. Club, I wrote about the new documentary SCTV: The Greatest Show You've Never Heard Of, which celebrates the bygone Canadian series. But what's interesting is that the movie spends a decent amount of time using SCTV to bash SNL. Why does the media have this tendency with sketch shows that aren't SNL? My essay is here. 

'Who Killed Alex Odeh?' Review

Alex Odeh was a Palestinian-American activist who was murdered in 1985 in Santa Ana from a tripwire bomb. His case remains unsolved after all these years. The documentary Who Killed Alex Odeh? investigates this miscarriage of justice. It's co-directed by Jason Osder, whose Let the Fire Burn I think is a major film of this century. You can read my review of Who Killed Alex Odeh? over at the Los Angeles Times.

'Gentle Monster' Review

I saw Marie Kreutzer's new film in Cannes and was left weirdly unmoved by it. I say "weirdly unmoved" because Gentle Monster is about some emotionally-charged matters: Lea Seydoux plays a wife and mother who discovers her loving husband traffics in child pornography. I got another chance to see the film for the Los Angeles Times, and I have to say: I remain at a remove. I explain why here. 

Gurriers - "Nobody's Coming to Save You"

Hope is there if we feel it 
Don't wait for someone else to seek it 

Please vote. 

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: South Korea, Portland and Postwar Germany

We go all over the world on the most recent episode of the podcast. We both rave about Possible Love and Fatherland. But we differ on Laika's latest, Wildwood. You can hear our discussion down below.

'Fatherland' Review

Pawel Pawlikowski returns for his first film since Cold War. Fatherland is a real stunner as well, and I was very happy to review it for the Los Angeles Times.

Wunderhorse - "The Rope"

Every generation gets its "Everybody Hurts."

Sacha Baron Cohen Is Still Obsessed With America

 
For more than 25 years now, the British performer's biggest comedic target has been the United States. But does his satire still have any teeth? For the A.V. Club, I wrote about his career and his latest provocation, Ali G: Who Iz I? 

'Klara and the Sun' Review

Taika Waititi used to make good movies. Klara and the Sun is a blunt reminder of what he's become of late. My review of this sappy sci-fi film is up at the Los Angeles Times. 

'Clayface' Review

Did you ever wonder how Batman villain Clayface became a monster? A new film presents his origin story. My review is up at Screen International.