The George Floyd Aftermath: Speaking to Black Lives Matter Filmmakers About Political Protest and Bad Cops

On Friday afternoon, I spoke with both Peter Nicks (the director of The Force) and Smriti Mundhra (the co-director of St. Louis Superman), who have made documentaries about our Black Lives Matter era. In the wake of George Floyd's killing by Minneapolis police, I was curious to get their insights about police reform and the power of social protest. They had a lot to say. I hope you find this illuminating.

Earth, Wind & Fire - "Got to Get You Into My Life"

"You didn't know Earth, Wind & Fire covered that Beatles song?" -- Susan

"No, how have I never heard this?" -- me

My Interview With Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering, Directors of 'On the Record'

I saw On the Record at Sundance and was moved by its chronicling of Drew Dixon, a former music executive and sexual-assault survivor. I figured when the documentary came out that I'd interview the filmmakers. The movie is now on HBO Max, and for MEL, I spoke with Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering. Hope you find our talk illuminating.

This Week in Genre History: 'Super Mario Bros.' Hits Theaters, Sadness Ensues

Over the 1993 Memorial Day weekend, an adaptation of a video game arrived in theaters. It was bad. For SyFy, I wrote about the legacy of Super Mario Bros.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'The Lovebirds,' 'The Trip to Greece' and 'Point Break'

Two new movies this week, folks. We both disliked The Lovebirds and enjoyed The Trip to Greece. Then, we head back to 1991 to talk about Kathryn Bigelow's Point Break. Surf's up, hang 10, etc.

'Hannah Gadsby: Douglas' Review

Nanette was a comedy game-changer, so how could Hannah Gadsby follow it up? For MEL, I reviewed the superb Douglas.

'Space Force' Review

Alas, the much-hyped, super-pricey sitcom from Steve Carell and Netflix is not so good.

When the Song of the Summer Comes From a Movie

For MEL, I did a deep dive into the best (and worst) summer movie songs. Peter Cetera, Prince, Kenny Loggins, Will Smith, Bryan Adams ... step right up.

Misleading Men: Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox had an incredible 1985, when he was only 24. But for MEL, I decided to look at what happened next. (My thesis: The actor's second act has been more inspiring than his first.) Hope you enjoy.

Five Replacements for 'F9'

It's Memorial Day Weekend, which was meant to be the launching pad for F9. Instead, because of the coronavirus, it won't hit theaters until April 2021. What should you watch instead? Here are five streaming options.

'The Trip to Greece' Review

Did Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon save the best trip for last? For MEL, I reviewed The Trip to Greece, the fourth and supposedly final installment in this cheeky franchise.

Thessaloniki 2020: 'The Prophet and the Space Aliens' Review

Meet Rael. Seems like a nice-enough guy. Just one thing: He is the leader of a religion that believes that the human race was created by aliens. (Also, he's been in their U.F.O.) For Screen, I reviewed the documentary The Prophet and the Space Aliens.

Thessaloniki 2020: 'Acasa, My Home' Review

Romanian journalist Radu Ciorniciuc decided to make a film about a family living off the grid that, after 20 years, is forced to relocate to nearby Bucharest. How will they handle the big city? My review of Acasa, My Home is up at Screen International.

George Harrison - "That's What It Takes"

Cloud Nine was a huge album for George Harrison thanks to its hit cover of "Got My Mind Set on You." The single "When We Was Fab" earned him six MTV Video Music Award nominations back when that actually meant something. But my favorite has always been this deep album cut.

'The Lovebirds' Review

Listen, I know the pandemic is a stressful, dispiriting time. I'm feeling it, too. But even in our current reality, The Lovebirds is a pretty mediocre comedy-thriller. My review is up at MEL.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Capone,' 'L'Avventura' and 'In a Year With 13 Moons'

We review an actual new movie on this week's episode. Unfortunately, that movie is Capone. Far more interesting are the two foreign-language films in our Reboot section. Michelangelo Antonioni and Rainer Werner Fassbinder, welcome to the podcast.

'Patton Oswalt: I Love Everything' Review

A lot has changed in Patton Oswalt's life in the three years since his last special, Annihilation. He's here to talk about that with I Love Everything, which is less about being hilarious than it is about being happy. My MEL review is here.

"Kokomo" Has Always Been Terrible

It's been 32 years since this Beach Boys atrocity ruined the summer (and fall) of 1988. I had a blast detailing why this song is horrible, but I also found some interesting covers that might prove rewarding for the curious.

My Tribute to 'Humpday'

I was really sad to hear about the passing of Lynn Shelton. Her Humpday is one of the best movies of the last 15 years, a near-perfect bromance because it's not in any way like so many bromances. I salute the film and the filmmaker over at MEL.

Five Replacements for 'The Woman in the Window'

The Amy Adams thriller was supposed to open this weekend. Thanks to the pandemic, that didn't happen. Over at Vulture, we provide you with some good streaming alternatives, including her breakthrough role (and first Oscar nomination). The list is here.

How 'Back to the Future' Gave the DeLorean a Strange Afterlife

By the time Back to the Future hit theaters in the summer of 1985, the DMC-12 was generally thought of as a novelty or a joke. But that smash movie made it immortal. I looked at the history of the car, and the man who designed it, at MEL.

Crystal Castles (featuring Robert Smith) - "Not In Love"

Because vaguely euphoric/apocalyptic dance music just sounds right at the moment.

This Week in Genre History: 'The Matrix Reloaded' Tries to Live Up to 'The Matrix'

On May 15, 2003, The Matrix Reloaded opened, having to contend with the expectations of folks like me who had loved the 1999 movie. Was it a catastrophe? Or just a mild step down from the original? I dig into those questions over at SyFy.

My Interview With Robert Pattinson for 'The Lighthouse'

OK, so this is weird. For reasons not worth getting into, I just realized that I never posted my interview with Robert Pattinson from last year when he and I hung out and talked about The Lighthouse. How did I forget this? I have no idea. Regardless, it was a delightful conversation. (I've now talked to him twice and immensely enjoyed it both times.) Here's our chat for Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Stalag 17,' 'Big Night' and Looking Back at 1999

This week on the podcast, I lead the discussion about movie year 1999, which was awash in films bracing for this exciting/scary new century. Then, in our Reboot section, we dig into an underrated Billy Wilder gem and the debut directorial effort from actors Stanley Tucci and Campbell Scott. Hope you enjoy.

'Snowpiercer' TV Review

I've never really loved Bong Joon Ho's Snowpiercer. Solid sci-fi film, but nothing amazing. But it's definitely better than the new TNT series, which is adapted from the same graphic novel. Many viewers will want to compare the two, but for me, the real precedent is the terrific Battlestar Galactica reboot from the early 2000s. My review is here.

'Capone' Review


Capone looked pretty bad. And now that I've seen it, I can confirm that, yes, it is pretty bad.

Sidney Poitier 101

For MEL, I decided to salute the Oscar-winning actor and trailblazer. What are his essential films? Read on.

Tom Cruise and the Death of the Dark Universe

This week's installment of MEL's Ultimate Summer Movie Guide focuses on 2017's The Mummy. Poor Tom Cruise. Poor Universal. Poor Dark Universe. I went back to see what went wrong with this aborted cinematic universe here.

Little Richard, 1932-2010

RIP to the man who put the sex in rock 'n' roll before just about anyone. For MEL, I paid tribute to Little Richard.

'I Know This Much Is True' Review

Mark Ruffalo is very sad in this TV adaptation of the Wally Lamb novel. And his character -- actually, both of his characters -- has much to be sad about. But unceasing misery does not necessarily guarantee great drama. For MEL, I reviewed I Know This Much Is True.

My Interview With Matt Wolf, the Director of 'Spaceship Earth'

In 1991, a group of eight adventurers went into a biosphere to see if they could survive in a closed-off, artificial environment similar to our own. Two years later, they came out. For MEL, I spoke to Matt Wolf, who's made Spaceship Earth, a documentary about what happened and what went wrong. Hope you enjoy.

Bjork - "Unison"

"Hidden Place" was the "big hit" off Vespertine, but for whatever reason, I've been digging the album-closer a lot lately.

'23 Hours to Kill' Review

Jerry Seinfeld is a comedy machine. He's also a bit mechanical in his new Netflix special. For MEL, I reviewed 23 Hours to Kill.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Blow Out,' 'The Counselor' and Looking Back at 1982

On this week's episode, we look at the movie year 1982, when E.T. and Tootsie ruled the box office. Then, we have two Reboots. I rave about Brian De Palma's Blow Out and stick up for Ridley Scott's The Counselor. Enjoy!

Misleading Men: Jude Law

I'm bringing back my regular feature Misleading Men, which looks at actors who, for a moment, were a big deal in Hollywood. First up: Jude Law ... and how his career shifted after a Chris Rock joke. My essay is over at MEL.

This Week in Genre History: 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' Finally Comes to the Big Screen

Almost 30 years after it first debuted on radio, Douglas Adams' tale of an everyman who goes traveling across the galaxy came to theaters. Over at SyFy, I look back at the movie's making -- and how it ended up being a commercial disappointment.

Five Replacements for 'Black Widow'

I can't comprehend that, if not for this pandemic, Black Widow would be out right now. There hasn't been a Marvel movie in forever. But in the meantime, we offer five films that might address your MCU craving. Enjoy our insights over at Vulture.

The Cultural Impact of "Why So Serious?"

Summer movie season isn't happening, but that's not stopping me from writing about it. At MEL, we're launching "The Ultimate Summer Movie Guide," which will look back at the most interesting, amazing and novel aspects of bygone blockbuster seasons. First up: I dove into the legacy of "Why So Serious?," the brilliant Dark Knight catchphrase that became a shorthand for a certain kind of moody comic-book movie. Hope you enjoy.

My Interview With Chris Bolan, Director of 'A Secret Love'

Chris Bolan is the great-nephew of Terry Donahue, former All-American Girls Professional Baseball League standout, who was secretly involved in a seven-decade-long lesbian relationship with Pat Henschel. Bolan decided he needed to make a movie about them. For MEL, I talked to him about aging, Parkinson's, family feuds, baseball and A Secret Love.

The-Dream - "Wedding Crasher"

What will wedding season look like this year?