What's Martin Scorsese's Best Film?

For Vulture, Will and I put our heads together and ranked the Oscar-winner's films, including his latest, The Irishman. A daunting task, but we were up to it. Take a look.

The Greatest Candy Performances

Happy Halloween, everybody. For MEL, I wrote about movie candy ... well, the finest performances by candy in movies, I mean. Hope you enjoy.

'Doctor Sleep' Review

A deft study of trauma is at the heart of this sequel to The Shining. I just wish the plot wasn't so action-movie conventional. My review of Doctor Sleep is up at Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: We Answer Your Questions

On this week's episode, Will and I review The Current War and Dolemite Is My Name. But the bulk of the show is devoted to our listener questions. Folks emailed us things they wanted answered, and we're only too happy to oblige. You can hear the whole thing down below.

What's the Best Terminator Movie (Not Directed by James Cameron)?

That's the subject of this week's Debate Club. You can find our answer here.

Meet the Bad Hombres

In 2016, Donald Trump made an obnoxious comment about "bad hombres." In the three years since, different artists and businesses have used that name as their moniker. I was curious why. For MEL, I spoke to people who run magazines and restaurants, as well as musicians and performers, to understand the impetus behind co-opting "bad hombres." Hope you enjoy.

'Countdown' Review

Let the record show that Countdown is a very silly horror movie. It's about an app that tells you when you're going to die, which mostly makes me think of an old Steven Wright joke. My review is up at Screen International.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': 'The Current War,' 'Black and Blue,' 'Countdown' and 'Frankie'

Nice to be back on KCRW, this time joined by friend and colleague Katie Walsh. We reviewed four new movies, but I was especially glad to talk about Ira Sachs' underrated Frankie. Hear the whole thing down below.

Kate Bush - "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)"

Recently, as part of KEXP's fall pledge drive, the independent Seattle station asked its listeners to vote for their 10 favorite albums of all time. (My ballot is here.) I was very curious to see how things would shake out, mostly because it seemed a very obvious indicator of who, exactly, listens to KEXP -- or, at least, who goes to the trouble of voting in polls.

This is all very unscientific, of course, but among the things that surprised me about the results was the fact that the highest-ranked album from a female artist was ... Kate Bush's Hounds of Love at No. 50. (I'm not counting the Pixies, which had Kim Deal back during the Doolittle days.) Bush charted higher than Joni Mitchell, Liz Phair, Aretha Franklin, PJ Harvey, Neko Case, Sinead O'Connor, you name it. (And I'm going to take this opportunity to say that I was stunned that the KEXP listeners think so little of I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got that it didn't even show up in the Top 666 albums that the station counted down. What's wrong with all you people?)

What accounts for Bush's strong showing? In general, the KEXP audience tends to enjoy artists who fall into the New Wave/art-pop/slightly goth-y sound of the 1980s. (The Cure's Disintegration is all the way up at No. 8.) So I've been trying to give Hounds of Love a chance of late; my wife has the album and is a fan. We'll see if I become a convert.

2019 Gotham Award Nominees

I had the pleasure of being on the committee that helped select the Best Actor and Best Actress nominees for this year's Gotham Awards. (The winners, who are voted on by IFP members, will be announced on December 2.) I was joined by Alissa Wilkinson, Jessica Kiang, David Fear and David Ehrlich. I was quite pleased with our choices. (The nominees are all at that link.)

'Terminator: Dark Fate' Review

Dark Fate is the sixth Terminator film. It can't live up to the legacy of the terrific first two installments, but all in all, it's pretty decent. My review is up at Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Nazis, Lighthouse Keepers, Zombies and 'The Laundromat'

On this week's episode, I review the two big art-house releases, Jojo Rabbit and The Lighthouse. Then, Will and I differ on The Laundromat and equally lament Zombieland: Double Tap. Hear the whole thing down below.

What's the Best Stephen King Movie of the 21st Century?

With Doctor Sleep about to come out, we ranked the best King adaptations of this century. The results are over at SyFy.

My Interview With Ed Perkins, Director of 'Tell Me Who I Am'

Tell Me Who I Am is a Netflix documentary about Marcus and Alex Lewis, twin brothers who have lived extraordinary (and tragic) lives. I spoke to director Ed Perkins, who talks about making a film about abuse and recovery. It's live at MEL.

Some Thoughts on 'The Lighthouse'

For MEL, I wrote about The Lighthouse, one of my favorites of 2019. It's a horror movie, but it's also really funny. Hope you enjoy.

Some Thoughts on 'Living With Yourself'

I wrote about Paul Rudd, clones, regret, "Give It to Me Baby" and Living With Yourself for MEL.

Sneaker Pimps - "6 Underground"

A band that got their name from a Beastie Boys reference had a hit in the mid-'90s with "6 Underground," which is now the name of a forthcoming Michael Bay movie. Big wheel keeps on turning.

'Black and Blue' Review

Black and Blue is a good ol' fashioned, meat-and-potatoes action-thriller about a good cop (Naomie Harris) who's trying to stay alive after running afoul of some criminals and crooked policemen. The ambitions are modest, but the execution is solid. My review is up at Screen International.

Some Thoughts on 'Zombieland: Double Tap'

I enjoyed Zombieland. Was I pining for a second installment? No. For MEL, I wrote about the dangers of making sequels to so-called "cult classics." (I also talked about Twinkies and Donald Trump.) The whole thing is right here.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Gemini Man,' 'Parasite' and 'El Camino'

On this week's episode, we dispense with Gemini Man rather quickly so we can focus on two good (and very different) movies: Bong Joon Ho's Cannes-winner Parasite and Netflix's El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. Dive in below.

'Maleficent: Mistress of Evil' Review

Did anyone need a Maleficent sequel? Well, too bad, you're getting one anyway. I reviewed Mistress of Evil for Screen International.

'El Camino' Review

Is it TV? Is it a movie? Is it Netflix? Whatever it is, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie is very, very good. I wrote about the whatchamacallit for MEL.

Some Thoughts on 'Parasite'

For MEL, I wrote about the most acclaimed film at this year's Cannes -- a film I needed a second viewing to entirely get. Hope you enjoy.

Some Thoughts on 'Gemini Man'

Why is Gemini Man an apt metaphor for Will Smith's recent career crossroads?

When will he stop talking about the fact that he turned down The Matrix?

And have you ever seen his video for "A Nightmare on My Street"?

I answer those questions, and more, over at MEL.

Pink Floyd - "The Great Gig in the Sky"

For people who know me, probably one of the more surprising things is that I really love The Dark Side of the Moon. Admittedly, it doesn't make much sense. I'm not a stoner. Not into psychedelics. Concept albums aren't necessarily my cup of tea. And, truth is, I don't really love Pink Floyd all that much. And yet, I've been moved and captivated by that 42-minute album for nearly 30 years now. It's just the right combination of sad, thoughtful, angry and panicked -- it reasonably articulates the sensation of how life can drive you crazy. It's an album I periodically check back with to see what it has to tell me.

Recently, I listed The Dark Side of the Moon among my choices for the 10 greatest albums ever made. It's a record you need to listen to from beginning to end. It doesn't quite work otherwise. But today, I'm feeling "The Great Gig in the Sky," which is the album's nice little interlude smack dab in the middle. Plus, it's sure pretty.

The Best Horror Movies of the 1980s

One slasher film. One sequel. One remake. One kinda-sorta remake. The Shining. For this week's Debate Club, we look back at the five best horror flicks from the Reagan era. Enjoy.

'Gemini Man' Review

Ang Lee's new action film is the second in a row he's shot in a higher frame rate than is traditional for studio movies. I find his commitment to this technology ... fascinating. Which is not the same thing as saying that Gemini Man is good. I reviewed the movie for Paste.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Joker,' 'Pain and Glory' and 'Lucy in the Sky'

Joker, Joker, Joker. We spend most of this week's episode dissecting that movie. Then, I solo on Pedro Almodovar's latest and Natalie Portman's nervy astronaut drama. Hear the whole thing down below.

Some Thoughts on 'Dolemite Is My Name'

What can Eddie Murphy's new movie tell us about his feelings regarding his return to the spotlight?

What remains Murphy's best Saturday Night Live sketch?

And what would have happened if he had gotten to host the Oscars?

I answer those questions, and others, while discussing Dolemite Is My Name at MEL.

The Best Horror Taglines

Over at SyFy, we looked back at some of the most memorable horror taglines: those pithy, evocative phrases that, occasionally, become ingrained in the public consciousness. Be afraid, be very afraid.

'Gary Gulman: The Great Depresh' Review

For MEL, I wrote about Gary Gulman's new stand-up special. He has a lot to say about his battles with depression, and a lot of it is quite funny. My review is here.

Big Thief - "Century"

U.F.O.F. is one of my favorite albums of the year, and now those showoffs in Big Thief are about to release another record, Two Hands. They're like the Steven Soderbergh of indie rock.

Some Thoughts on 'Joker'

Todd Phillips is not a great director, but he's made a great film. How did that happen? I wrote about Joker for MEL.