Wrestling With the Problematic Legacy of Sean Connery

Sean Connery died today at the age of 90. He was a titan, but he also had some pretty abhorrent attitudes about women. How do those views dovetail with his most iconic role, James Bond? I wrote about it over at MEL.

Mary J. Blige - "Real Love"

I hope I'm happy in a week. 

'The Life Ahead' Review

Sophia Loren hasn't been the star of a film in quite some time. She returns for her son Edoardo Ponti's sentimental coming-of-age drama The Life Ahead. Sadly, I don't think the movie is very good.

DOK Leipzig 2020: 'The Annotated Field Guide of Ulysses S. Grant' Review

Jim Finn has made an essay film about white supremacy and Confederate monuments. And did you know how many board games there are of Civil War battles? For Screen International, I reviewed The Annotated Field Guide.

Busan 2020: 'Harami' Review

A teen pickpocket feels sorry for his victims. Will that prove to be an occupational hazard on the mean streets of Mumbai? For Screen International, I reviewed Harami.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Sacha Baron Cohen, Robert Zemeckis and 'Bad Hair'

On this week's episode, we review films currently available on Amazon, HBO Max and Hulu. (How many people have all three services?) You can hear all our takes down below.

This Is the History of Rock the Vote

For MEL, I talked to several people involved with Rock the Vote, both those who started it and those who now steer the ship. This is the organization's 30th anniversary. Is it still relevant? Hope you enjoy.

Going Back to 'The Ring'

It's been 18 years since the American remake of the J-horror classic hit theaters. (We were all so much younger back then.) Has it held up? Here are my thoughts.

IDA: My Conversation With Alexander Nanau, Director of 'Collective'

I was beyond pleased to speak with Alexander Nanau about his terrific film, which I think is the best documentary of the year so far. Thanks for having me, IDA.

'Bad Hair' Review

Social commentary and silly scares weave together in Bad Hair, the follow-up film from Dear White People writer-director Justin Simien. My review is up at MEL.

How Is the 2020 Borat Different Than the 2006 One?

 

Has Borat changed? Or have we? I share my thoughts over at MEL.

Chuck Berry - "Roll Over Beethoven"

Robert Zemeckis has a new movie out this weekend. I hate that, to this day, I always think of him when I think of Chuck Berry.

'Roald Dahl's The Witches' Review

The remake of The Witches might be the most generic film that Robert Zemeckis has ever made. So impersonal, so lazy, such a waste. I reviewed the HBO Max movie for Screen International.

'Borat Subsequent Moviefilm' Review

Funny as the first film? No. Still pretty fun? Yes. (And Maria Bakalova is terrific in it.) My review of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is live over at Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Aaron Sorkin, David Byrne and 'Shithouse'

I gushed about American Utopia on this week's podcast. And, hey, we both liked The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Shithouse. Hear the whole episode down below.

'Fight Club' and Male Bonding

I saw Fight Club on opening night October 15, 1999. Today, I look back at a movie that still packs a punch. My piece is up at SyFy.

My Weakness for Aaron Sorkin

Lots of people can't stand Aaron Sorkin. I can't help it: I have a perverse fondness for his showboating style. For MEL, I talked about how his approach makes sense for The Trial of the Chicago 7.

'Social Distance' and the Problem With Quarantine Entertainment

The new Netflix anthology series was all filmed during lockdown, attempting to make sense of our COVID reality. For MEL, I explained why the rise of such programs doesn't work.

"Macho Man" and Donald Trump

The Village People hit is back in the news thanks to Donald Trump ... and Anderson Cooper. I explain the backstory over at MEL.

Robert De Niro, Sans Martin Scorsese

Sure, he's a great actor, but when you're making a list of great Robert De Niro performances, you tend to focus on his work with Martin Scorsese. So, I gave myself the challenge of picking the two-time Oscar-winner's best roles from the rest of his oeuvre. No problem.

'Contagion' in the Time of COVID

Will and I appeared on Who Won the Week? recently to discuss Contagion, which has become a very popular movie this year for obvious reasons. Our thanks to Jackie Jennings and the whole SyFy team for having us on.

'Shithouse' Review

Going off to college can be scary, especially when you're a sensitive kid. For MEL, I reviewed Shithouse, which is about one such guy, who thinks he may have found love. (Not so fast, bub.)

AFI Fest 2020: 'I'm Your Woman' Review

AFI Fest got underway this year with I'm Your Woman, the new film from director Julia Hart, who previously made Miss Stevens and Fast Color. Her latest isn't to the level of those previous movies, but I like how she keeps playing with genres to tell personal stories of characters facing existential crises. My review is up at Screen International.

Bobby Womack - "Across 110th Street"

Of course this song (from the 1972 film of the same name) is used memorably in Jackie Brown, but I was not aware that Bobby Womack used to date Pam Grier back in the day.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'World of Tomorrow Episode Three,' '40-Year-Old Version,' 'Time' and 'Rad'

Sci-fi animated shorts. BMX sports dramas. A documentary about a family held together by a devoted wife and mother. And the charming debut from Radha Blank. Hear us review them all down below.

'David Byrne's American Utopia' Review

Stop Making Sense is one of my favorite films. American Utopia isn't quite as great, but I definitely felt some similarities, and not just because the same man is at the center of both. I raved over at MEL.

Chicago Film Festival 2020: 'Belushi' Review

This year's Chicago Film Festival opens with the portrait of a beloved native son. For Screen International, I reviewed the John Belushi documentary Belushi.

Misleading Men: Dennis Quaid

What does the Innerspace star have to do with Donald Trump? I talk about it over at MEL.

I Had a Long Conversation With Tim Robbins About 'Bob Roberts'

In late March, I did two interviews with Tim Robbins, both lasting over an hour, to dig into his seminal 1992 political satire. Today, my article about Bob Roberts, all 8,500 words of it, is up at MEL. We talked about documentaries, Bob Dylan, Harvey Weinstein, Cannes, Robert Altman, "Addicted to Love," gentrification, Woody Guthrie, Jack Black, Alan Rickman, Gore Vidal, Giancarlo Esposito, Saturday Night Live, voting and why the Republicans are "sociopaths." Also, Robbins thinks it's fine if you bootleg his movie since it's not streaming anywhere. 

This was a real treat. I hope you enjoy.

My Interview With Garrett Bradley, Director of 'Time'

"When we think about America — and we think about the prison system and this particular story — a lot of the challenge is, How does one prove racism? How does one actually explain that? And I felt that to try to actually explain the sentencing would be to try to explain racism — and as a filmmaker, I wanted to put my energy in other places. Because I knew who I was speaking to, and I knew everybody would know what it was."

For MEL, I spoke to Time director Garrett Bradley.

'The Lie' Review

Peter Sarsgaard and Mireille Enos are a divorced couple who must team up for a horrible task: hiding the accidental death caused by their daughter Joey King. For Screen International, I reviewed the "Welcome to the Blumhouse" moral thriller The Lie.

'Black Box' Review

Amazon is streaming an anthology of horror/thriller films, called "Welcome to the Blumhouse," which are all produced by the celebrated horror company. First up: Black Box, a silly movie about grief and memory loss. My review is up at Screen International.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo - "Nansi Imali"

Like just about everyone in America, I learned about Ladysmith Black Mambazo because of Paul Simon and Graceland. The South African choral group started up in 1960, but they received international prominence in 1986 when the Grammy-winning artist included them on the tracks "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" and "Homeless." (Both songs were co-written by Simon and Ladysmith leader Joseph Shabalala.) As a kid, I'd never heard anything like Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and not knowing the language was hardly an obstacle: To untrained ears, they sounded spiritual, soulful and transcendent -- like a hymn to some divine being. But at the same time, there was something rhythmic about their delivery, even though they used no instruments. They created a groove entirely through their mixture of rough and heavenly voices. They're the sound of Graceland but, of course, they're a lot more than that.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo's discography is formidable, and I wouldn't even begin to know where to start. (They've won five Grammys as well.) So I decided to go with their closing track off the seminal compilation The Indestructible Beat of Soweto, which was released in 1985 but didn't hit the States until the following year. What is "Nansi Imali" about? Best I can tell, it's a lament for mine workers who suffered through terrible hardships to do their job. I find it incredibly calming but also joyous and melancholy.

Shabalala died earlier this year at the age of 78. In 2003, he talked about the power of his group's singing style. "It uplifts the spirit. It makes you respect yourself, respect your father, your mother," he said. "It makes you share ideas with your family at home and then it takes you to church also. You get into church like a person who is ready."

That's it exactly.

'Wild Card: The Downfall of a Radio Loudmouth' Review

Craig Carton was once one of the stars of sports talk radio, working alongside Boomer Esiason to earn big ratings on their hit New York morning show Boomer and Carton. Then, well, things happened. Does he deserve a second chance? For MEL, I reviewed Wild Card.

Misleading Men: Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner was on top of the world. Then he went backstage to talk to Madonna after one of her concerts. Therein lies my latest MEL piece.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Talking About Bill Murray, Gloria Steinem and Kirsten Johnson

Several disagreements this week on the show. I like The Glorias more than Will does. He likes On the Rocks more than I do. But we're aligned on Dick Johnson Is Dead. You can hear the whole episode down below.

'The Right Stuff' Review

It has been 37 years since the Oscar-winning film came out. Now, a new Disney+ series arrives on Friday. I have some thoughts.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': 'Forty-Year-Old Version,' Sofia Coppola, Dick Johnson and 'Save Yourselves!'

Lots of new movies to review: Katie Walsh and I spent a little time with Madeleine Brand on Friday to talk documentaries, sci-fi comedies and whatnot. Hear the episode down below. 

My Interview With Wayne Coyne, Frontman of the Flaming Lips

I saw the Flaming Lips live for the first time in 1993. Twenty-seven years later, I talked about that (and a lot of other things) with Wayne Coyne for MEL.

IDA: My Conversation With the 'Lance' Team

I had not realized that my interview with the creative team behind Lance was now online. This was conducted a few months ago, and I was very happy to speak with executive producer Mike Hughes, executive producer Libby Geist, editor Allan Duso and director/producer Marina Zenovich. We talked about Lance Armstrong, the "30 for 30" series in general, and the importance of listening as a documentarian.

I hope you enjoy.

'On the Rocks' Review

Frothy comedies from major filmmakers are almost critic-proof. Complain that they're frothy and, the pushback will be, "Well, you see, it's supposed to be a light treat." Still, I found On the Rocks unsatisfying. 

For MEL, I wrote about the movie's most interesting dynamic: its study of infidelity, both in the past and the present, and how it challenges the bond between a daughter and her dad. Hope you enjoy.

Sampa the Great - "Final Form"

"I was born in Zambia, but I was raised in Botswana, which is the country right next to Zambia. My dad got a job offer [as an insurance broker] ... better opportunity, better way of life, better school opportunity for us. At age 18, I decided to get out of Africa and see what the world is like outside of what I have grown up around. It was my best friend who said we should do directing and music at this school in San Francisco [at Academy of the Art University]."

And that's only the beginning of Sampa Tembo's story.