Misleading Men: Alec Baldwin

Alec Baldwin is the voice of The Boss Baby. I have not seen the movie, which looks rather dreadful. But for MEL, I took this opportunity to dedicate the latest installment of my Misleading Men column to the Oscar-nominated, Emmy-winning actor. In the early 1990s, he was primed to become the next action star thanks to The Hunt for Red October. That didn't work out ... leading, ironically, to his recent renaissance in a very roundabout way. Check out my piece here.

The Magnetic Fields - "How to Play the Synthesizer"

I have yet to fully absorb 50 Song Memoir -- gimme a break, there are 50 songs -- but I'm really liking what I hear so far. And I definitely like this track, which documents 1981 in Stephin Merritt's life. Witty, catchy, clever -- very Magnetic Fields, in other words.

'Gifted' Review

I don't need to be told that Chris Evans is a good actor. Just because he's Captain America, that doesn't he mean he doesn't have depth, which was obvious to anyone who saw Sunshine or Snowpiercer. (And for that matter, he's a pretty solid Captain America, too.) So, it's not really news to report that Evans is the best thing in Gifted, a schmaltzy custody drama that I found increasingly irritating as it became more and more formulaic. Seriously, this movie infuriated me, which I get into in my Screen International review.

'Ghost in the Shell' Review

Critics shouldn't take these things under consideration before they see a movie, but when a film doesn't screen before the Wednesday it comes out, well, it does create an impression that the studio is hiding it. The thought had certainly entered my mind when I sat down to watch Ghost in the Shell last night. And yet, lo and behold, it's actually a pretty good sci-fi action-thriller, bringing its own energy to the 1995 anime that inspired it. A lot of credit has to go to Scarlett Johansson -- and, as far as the accusations of whitewashing are concerned, well, I get into that in my Popular Mechanics review.

'After the Storm' Review

After the Storm is the latest from writer-director Hirokazu Kore-eda. It's lovely, like so many of his films, telling the story of a deadbeat dad who only slowly comes to the realization that he's kind of a screw-up. I reviewed the film for Paste.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Looking Back at 'The Trouble With Harry' and 'Big Business'

I make my glorious return to the podcast this week: Will and I reviewed Life, CHIPS and Power Rangers. It's good to be back. If you'd like to hear how my voice sounded before surgery, check out the Reboot segment, which was prerecorded. There, we dig into The Trouble With Harry and Big Business. Enjoy!

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Cops, Superheroes, Grumps and Aliens

I was very happy to be back on Madeleine Brand's show yesterday, and even happier to be hanging out with my buddy Christy Lemire. We talked about Life, Wilson, CHIPS and Power Rangers. We only liked one movie -- can you guess which one? Check out our Press Play episode here.

'Life' Review

Of the three big releases this weekend, I'll take Life over the not-that-bad CHIPS and the truly dreadful Power Rangers. Yes, it's a total Alien ripoff. But well-done ripoffs are still worthwhile, right? Right. My review is up at The New Republic.

Vince Staples (featuring Jhené Aiko and DJ Dahi) - "Lemme Know"

You can't pick the earworms that consume you. "Lemme Know" has been lodged in my brain this week for reasons I could not begin to fathom.

'CHIPS' Review

After last night's all-media screening of CHIPS, I could sense that certain colleagues were feeling very sheepish about how much they laughed during this utterly dumb, raunchy action-comedy. Me, I just wish I'd laughed more. This is, again, a dumb, raunchy movie, but it has its moments. Enough to recommend? Not quite, but close. My review is up at Screen International.

'I Called Him Morgan' Review

Jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan was a major star in the 1960s. But he ended up murdered by his common-law wife in 1972 at the age of 33. What happened? I Called Him Morgan is an involving documentary that investigates his life -- and that of his lover Helen. It's a sad story. My review is up at Paste.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Christy Lemire, 'Easy Rider' and 'Repo Man'

I'm still on vocal rest, so you won't hear me doing new reviews on this week's episode of our New Republic podcast. Thankfully, my good buddy Christy Lemire was kind enough to pinch-hit for me. She and Will discuss Beauty and the Beast and T2 Trainspotting. I am, however, part of the Reboot segment: Will and I look back at Easy Rider and Repo Man. Take a listen here.

True/False 2017: The Rankings and the Rundown

As per norm, I had a great time in Columbia, Missouri, and as per norm, I wrote a massive tome for Paste that chronicled just about everything I saw at True/False. That rundown, you can read here. If you're more interested in a conventional ranked list, here you go. Links lead to individual reviews...

23. Long Strange Trip
22. Dina
21. Distant Constellation (work-in-progress)
20. The War Show
19. Step
18. Brimstone & Glory
17. Whose Streets?
16. Safari
15. Railway Sleepers
14. Abacus: Small Enough to Jail
13. Did You Wonder Who Fired the Gun?
12. Manifesto
11. Communion
10. Quest
9. Strong Island
8. Miss Kiet's Children
7. The Force
6. Stranger in Paradise
5. The Graduation
4. Lindy Lou, Juror Number 2
3. Casting JonBenet
2. Rat Film
1. I Am Not Your Negro

I am very curious to check out Lindy Lou and Rat Film again. The latter has, more or less, been a big hit on the festival circuit. As for Lindy Lou, I know many who were underwhelmed by it at True/False, where it had its premiere. I think it's really remarkable. But, like I said, you can read all about those movies (and many more) over in my Paste piece.

'The Zookeeper's Wife' Review

Jessica Chastain is suitably restrained as, you guessed it, a zookeeper's wife in this fact-based World War II drama about a Polish couple who helped protect Jews from the Nazis. There's much to admire here, especially Daniel Bruhl as one of those Nazis, but I kept wishing The Zookeeper's Wife was a little more gripping, a little sharper, a little better. I reviewed the film for Screen International.

The Legacy of "The Next Woody Allen" Actors

For decades, different actors and auteurs have been dubbed (or have sought to be dubbed) the next Woody Allen. In honor of Paul Rust, the star and co-creator of Love, I took a look back at nine such individuals (including Jesse Eisenberg, pictured). The story of these artists is also sort of the story of how Allen's stature has shifted over the years. My piece is over at MEL.

'Power Rangers' Review

Transformers is back, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is back, so why not Power Rangers? No. No, let's not let that happen. The new film is just wretched. Awful. I hope I don't see anything worse this year, although that new Pirates of the Caribbean movie still looms ominously on the horizon. My review is up at Screen International.

Why Does the Alt-Right Love Taylor Swift and 'The Matrix'?

For MEL, I spent a little time researching artists that are beloved in the alt-right world. Why? Because I'm fascinated why these cretins enjoy some of the same stuff that I do -- albeit for really different reasons. Dive in.

'T2 Trainspotting' Review

It's been 21 years since Trainspotting, the movie, and Danny Boyle has brought back the gang for T2 Trainspotting, which couldn't afford a colon in its title, apparently. I confess I'm not the biggest fan of the original, so I was curious how I'd respond to this sequel. I walked away from T2 impressed with its thematic ambition. Which is something, I suppose. My review is live at The New Republic.

Parquet Courts - "One Man No City"

Sorry, I'm still not entirely sold on Parquet Courts. But this track off last year's Human Performance gets me bopping. I'm always fond of a good Velvet Underground rip.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Mark Lisanti and 'A Fish Called Wanda'

So happy to have our old Yahoo editor Mark Lisanti as a special guest for this week's episode. He and Will discuss Kong: Skull Island and Personal Shopper. But fear not: You do get some Tim as well. Will and I take a look back at A Fish Called Wanda. I can't remember the last time I heard Will laugh as hard as he does talking about Kevin Kline in that movie. Check it out.

SXSW 2017: 'Bill Nye: Science Guy' Review

Let me start by saying this: I've never been a big Bill Nye guy. I didn't watch his show as a kid, and I find his shtick to be awfully tiresome. Still, I was willing to give the man a fair hearing, which is where the documentary Bill Nye: Science Guy comes in. The movie is a pretty affectionate portrait, and it does a good job showing what he's fighting against it: bozos who deny climate change and think humans lived side-by-side with dinosaurs. I think Science Guy missteps too often, though, which I explain in my Screen International review.

'Song to Song' Review

Song to Song is Terrence Malick's weakest film, which won't be a surprise to the people who have written him off after his last few movies. But as a true disciple, I'm here to tell you that I still liked Song to Song, although I see all the reasons why most people won't. I reviewed it for Screen International.

'The Belko Experiment' Review

It's Battle Royale in a corporate high-rise with The Belko Experiment, a low-budget, undernourished thriller. There's a grim fascination to the proceedings, but I kept wishing the movie would be edgier, smarter, darker. My review is up at Screen International.

SXSW 2017: 'A Critically Endangered Species' Review

What an odd beast A Critically Endangered Species is. Starring Lena Olin as a writer who decides to kill herself, this insular character drama is a meditation on aging, literature and the lasting value of art. It's also about power dynamics between this novelist and the impressionable young men she's auditioning to be her executor. It's an intriguing film but not an entirely successful one. My review is up at Screen International.

Why Do Certain Movies Cause Us to Faint?

For MEL, I decided to do some looking into the history of movies and bands that have provoked powerfully visceral reactions in some fans. Vomiting, seizures, heart attacks, uncontrollable sobbing ... what's going on here? I talked to some experts to get answers. Check it out.

Tracy Chapman - "Fast Car"

It's hard to convey how titanic a song "Fast Car" was when it hit radio in 1988. Pop music is known for its bright, shiny, energetic surface -- and then along came this stripped-down, plaintive tune about poverty scored to an acoustic guitar. With echoes of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska, "Fast Car" felt like a thunderbolt of quiet, sad first-person storytelling. It topped the Pazz & Jop Singles poll that year, and Tracy Chapman was No. 3 on the album poll. It's fair to say that Chapman never put out a song so momentous the rest of her career. No matter: "Fast Car" still demands that you slow down to its rhythm, leaning your ear close to the speakers.

My Interview With 'Raw' Filmmaker Julia Ducournau

This was fun. For Rolling Stone, I spoke with Julia Ducournau, whose feature debut is the much-buzzed-about horror film Raw. What I most enjoyed: talking to her about the reasons she's not happy that her movie has been reduced to "Oh man, people fainted at a screening!" hype. You can read my profile of her and Raw right here.

All Hail Kristen Stewart

Personal Shopper was one of my favorites at last year's Cannes. (I'm still annoyed at the idiots who booed after its premiere.) For The New Republic, I revisit the film, which contains the best performance Kristen Stewart has maybe ever given. Read all about it.

True/False 2017: 'Dina' Review

Dina was a hit at Sundance, but I have to say: I'm not as blown away as many of my colleagues. I caught up with the documentary at True/False, and while I still recommend the film, about two autistic people in love, I have my reservations. You can read my review over at Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Talking 'Logan' and My Brief Hiatus

There is much going on in this week's episode. We review Logan and marvel at the fact that we're among the few critics who didn't actually like the movie. We take a look back at The 'Burbs and Waking Ned Devine in our Reboot section. But, most importantly, we talk about why I'm going to be taking a brief break from the podcast. Don't worry, I'm fine -- but I'm already excited to be back on the show soon. Hear it all here.

Movie Marathons: Wild About Hairy

In honor of Logan, I decided to do a Movie Marathon over at MEL that celebrates other famous hairy movie characters. Some stuff I write is passionately argued and deeply considered. This was just silly fun. Hope you enjoy.

The Wrens - "Thirteen Grand"

Is this the year the Wrens finally release their follow-up to 2003's The Meadowlands? It sure seems possible -- and, of course, best wishes to Charles Bissell.