Lenny Kravitz - "Again"

I've never been the biggest Lenny Kravitz guy. (I thought he was great on Better Things, though.) But I've always had a fondness for "Again." I hope he and Gina Gershon work things out.

My Interview With Robert P. Jones, Author of 'White Too Long'

I really enjoyed this. For MEL, I spoke with Robert P. Jones, religious scholar and author, whose new book White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity is an insightful, statistic-driven look at how white Christians have perpetuated systemic racism. We had a great talk.

'The Fight' Review

The Fight looks at the battle the ACLU has waged against the Trump administration. I found the documentary to be strongest when it didn't stoop to easy applause breaks. My review is up at MEL.

'Inception' at 10

For SyFy, I pondered Inception's impact. Big movie star teams up with big movie director for high-concept, top-secret project. And, hey, it worked. You can read my appreciation here.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'The Rental,' 'Yes, God, Yes' and 'The Host'

On this week's episode, we're dealing with guilt, whether it's characters spending time in an Airbnb (The Rental) or horny Catholic teens at a retreat (Yes, God, Yes.) Then, in our Reboot segment, we look back at Bong Joon Ho's The Host. (I got pretty rapturous there.) Hear the whole thing down below.

All the Oscar Nominees From Every Summer Blockbuster

Good heavens, there are 54 performances that have been nominated from summer hits. (I thought this was supposed to be the season of mindless action movies.) I ranked them all over at MEL.

Five Replacements for 'The French Dispatch'

Wes Anderson was supposed to have a new movie out last Friday. That didn't happen. For Vulture, we offered five streaming alternatives, including Harold and Maude. Check out the whole list here.

Tierra Whack - 'Whack World'

Imagine if Abbey Road was just the second-side suite and you're close to grasping Whack World, which is 15 songs, each of them exactly one minute long. My favorite tracks? The one about her dead dog. And the one about the jerk who reminds her of her deadbeat dad.

'The Rental' Review

Remember Airbnb rentals? Dave Franco's directorial debut is about one that goes very wrong. My review is up at MEL.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: World War II Misery, Scorsese's Religious Epic and 'Demolition Man'

On this week's episode, we differ on The Painted Bird. Then, we have two Reboots: Martin Scorsese's tortured Silence and that nutty slab of 1990s sci-fi, Demolition Man. Hear the whole thing down below.

'Fear City: New York vs the Mafia' Review

You'd think a story about how prosecutors and the FBI took down the Five Families would be pretty exciting. But in the case of a new Netflix documentary series, you'd be very wrong. For MEL, I reviewed Fear City.

The Endless Resonance of "This Land Is Your Land"

Every once in a while, someone online proposes that Woody Guthrie's most famous song should be our new national anthem. For MEL, I wrote about why we can't get enough of "This Land Is Your Land."

This Week in Genre History: 'X-Men,' 20 Years Later

Can it really be 20 years since Wolverine and his pals first burst onto the big screen? I wrote about the film's legacy over at SyFy.

The Four Kinds of Christmas Movies You See During the Summer

It's rare, but Hollywood sometimes releases Christmas-themed films at the multiplex during the warm weather months. I did a taxonomy over at MEL.

Five Replacements for 'Tenet'

Folks, Tenet is probably not coming out this summer. The Christopher Nolan thriller was set to open yesterday, so for Vulture, we offered five streaming alternatives. Hope you enjoy.

'The Painted Bird' Review

My last night in Venice, I was exhausted and decided to skip the evening premiere of The Painted Bird, a nearly-three-hour World War II drama. I've been chasing the film ever since, missing several opportunities to see it. At last, it's out. My review of this harrowing, trying film is live at MEL.

Duke Ellington & John Coltrane - "In a Sentimental Mood"

There's a paucity of jazz on this site. Let's fix that.

'Father Soldier Son' Review

Brian Eisch served his country in the Army, getting injured in Afghanistan and sent home in 2011. His wounds were so bad that it was proposed that he get his leg amputated. That's merely the start of Father Soldier Son, a moving documentary that goes far beyond "support the troops" bromides to say something meaningful about fathers and sons, and also the macho military mindset. My review is up at MEL.

Jimmy Stewart 101

Where do you start if you're wanting to dive into Jimmy Stewart's oeuvre? I have your guide.

My Interview With Alex Winter, Director of 'Showbiz Kids'

You probably know him from Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. But Alex Winter has become a documentary filmmaker over the last 10 years, focusing on political and social issues. His latest is Showbiz Kids, about former child stars, which is something he knows a little about since he used to be one. For MEL, I had a long conversation with Winter about documentaries, parenting during quarantine, sexual abuse, and why he still loves playing Bill. Our interview is here.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: We Review 'The Old Guard,' 'Palm Springs' and 'Greyhound'

Three new movies this week, so there's plenty to discuss. (I also talk briefly about Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets.) Hear the whole thing down below.

My Interview With Rufus Wainwright

What a delight to speak to the fabulous singer-songwriter. He has a new album, Unfollow the Rules, but we talked about everything: life, love, death, family, marriage, fatherhood, addiction, opera, you name it. Hope you enjoy.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Dive Bars, Time Loops and Immortal Beings

I was back on KCRW this week to discuss new movies. Alongside Roth Cornet, I reviewed Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets and also Palm Springs and The Old Guard. Hear our segment down below.

'Ghost,' the Pottery Scene and the Endless Parodies

Sometimes, a film scene becomes so iconic that it's endlessly parodied, spoofed, referenced and mocked. Such is the case with Ghost. I went down the rabbit hole for MEL.

The Spinners - "Rubberband Man"

Sure, we could do the three-minute single. But it's Friday, it's been a long week, so let's enjoy all seven-and-a-half minutes of the album version.

Misleading Men: Matthew Broderick

At 58, the Ferris Bueller star still has a youthful countenance. That thought inspired my latest piece for MEL, which is all about we evaluate baby-faced actors.

‘Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets’ Review

Is it a documentary? Is it fiction? For MEL, I wrote about the latest film from directors Bill and Turner Ross.

'Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado' Review

Walter Mercado was a beloved Latinx astrologer who died last year at the age of 87. The new documentary Mucho Mucho Amor looks at his life, and his role as a gender-nonconforming trailblazer. My review is here.

When Will Smith Ruled the Fourth of July

For a brief moment, Will Smith was the king of Independence Day thanks to Independence Day and Men in Black. But where was his career before that moment? I hop in the time machine for this look back at the Fresh Prince's pre-movie-star era.

My Interview With Hirokazu Kore-eda, Director of 'The Truth'

What a treat to speak with Japanese master Hirokazu Kore-eda. Our conversation happened in March, just as the pandemic was starting to take hold of America. (He was in Japan, and we talked through an interpreter.) Now that his new film The Truth is out, my Q&A is live at MEL.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Hamilton' and the Best Films of 2020 (So Far)

We devote a good chunk of this week's episode to reviewing Hamilton, which neither of us saw on stage. Then, it's the halfway point of 2020, which means it's time for each of us to pick our four favorite films so far from this year. (We have no overlaps in our picks, by the way.) Hear the whole thing down below.

'Palm Springs' Review

Andy Samberg is stuck in a day he can't get out of in Palm Springs. Does that sound similar to Groundhog Day? I reviewed the film for MEL.

'The Old Guard' Review

Charlize Theron is an immortal warrior in The Old Guard, a superhero movie that's least interesting when it's trying to be a superhero movie. I explain over at MEL.

Etta James - "A Sunday Kind of Love"

Happy Fourth. May you always have a love that's on the square.