Cannes 2026: 'The Diary of a Chambermaid' Review

Radu Jude can't stop making films. His third in the last 18 months or so is The Diary of a Chambermaid, which is kinda sorta based on the Octave Mirbeau novel. But nothing is ever straightforward with the Romanian provocateur. My review is live over at Screen International.

Cannes 2026: 'All of a Sudden' Review

Ryusuke Hamaguchi has made some wonderful films. But All of a Sudden is something else: an emotional powerhouse that's also filled with scintillating conversation. I sang its praises over at Screen International.  

Cannes 2026: 'Parallel Tales' Review

Asghar Farhadi's latest is loosely based on Dekalog: Six, but in truth it's really more a riff on Krzysztof Kieslowski's sensibility as a whole. I reviewed Parallel Tales here. 

Shocking Blue - "Venus"

The opening night film at this year's Cannes, The Electric Kiss (La Vénus électrique), ends with "Venus," because of course. I've had it rattling around in my head ever since.

Cannes 2026: 'Ashes' Review

Diego Luna's fourth directorial feature is Ashes, about a young Mexican woman (Anna Diaz) who moves to Spain, following her mother, who moved away from her when she was still a girl. That sense of abandonment haunts the character, and the movie. My review is up at Screen International. 

Cannes 2026: 'Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma' Review

Jane Schoenbrun makes their Cannes debut with a meta-satire about slasher films. In Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, Hannah Einbinder plays an indie filmmaker who is hired to reboot a moribund horror franchise. Gillian Anderson plays the star of the 1990s original who is being lured back to reprise her role. You can read my review here.

What Does an Interpreter Do?

During the American press tour of a movie from an international director, it will be necessary for the studio to hire an interpreter to translate what the filmmaker or actors say during interviews or Q&As. (This is also true if those involved in the movie are deaf.) Over the years, I've been impressed by what interpreters do, and so I decided it would be fun to profile these folks, who usually avoid the spotlight. Over at the Los Angeles Times, I spoke with six interpreters, including Jack Jason (who works with Marlee Matlin) and Sheida Dayani (who was with Jafar Panahi during the campaign for It Was Just an Accident). Hope you enjoy.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Talking About Sheep Detectives and Previewing the 2026 Cannes Film Festival

Greetings from Cannes. I just got into town, but before I left, I recorded this week's episode of the podcast, in which I preview five films playing here that I am very excited to see, including Fjord. Also, we review The Sheep Detectives. Check it all out down below.

Us3 (featuring Rahsaan, Gerard Presencer) - "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)"

Dig that Herbie Hancock sample, everybody.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'The Devil Wears Prada 2,' 'Hokum' and 'Animal Farm'

As luck would have it, I didn't actually write about any of the three films we reviewed this week on the podcast. So you can hear me express my disappointment in the Devil Wears Prada sequel, praise Adam Scott in Hokum and shake my head at the animated Animal Farm. The full episode is below:

'Power Ballad' Review

John Carney is the man behind music-related movies like Once and Sing Street. His latest involves a wedding singer (Paul Rudd) and a faded pop star (Nick Jonas) who cross paths, changing each other in the process. Here's my review of the so-so Power Ballad.