Sundance 2021: 'R#J' Review

Romeo and Juliet is endlessly adaptable, right? Well, what if Shakespeare's great love story took place in the era of TikTok and FaceTime? For Screen International, I reviewed the unconvincing R#J. 

Justin Timberlake at 40 or: A Look Back at "Cry Me a River"

JT hits the big 4-0 today. On this special occasion, I decided to write about the song that defines his post-NSYNC career. Don't it make you sad about it?

Sundance 2021: 'Wild Indian' Review

Two Native American boys are witnesses to the murder of a classmate. What becomes of them? Wild Indian is a pretty terrific look at guilt and moral ambiguity, as well as a close study of cultural identity. I raved over at Screen International.

Ralph Fiennes Before and After 'The Avengers'

No, not the Avengers with all the Marvel characters. I'm talking about the one based on the British spy series. That infamous bomb was a defining moment in Ralph Fiennes' career, as I explain over at MEL.

Misleading Men: Jason Segel

Of late, Jason Segel has moved away from doing comedy. But whether he's going for drama or laughs, he's always playing the buddy. I wrote about that dynamic for MEL.

Sundance 2021: 'Passing' Review

Going into this year's Sundance, Passing was one of the films I was most curious to see. Well, Rebecca Hall's directorial debut lives up to its promise. I reviewed this muted stunner for Screen International.

My Interview With Directors Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton

When my editors at Rolling Stone asked me who I'd want to profile as part of a series of pieces they're doing about creative teams, I had an easy answer: Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton, the married filmmakers behind Little Miss Sunshine and Battle of the Sexes. They were an absolutely delight. We talked about marriage, family and art, and how they all intertwine. Hope you enjoy.

Sundance 2021: 'How It Ends' Revew

Filmmakers Daryl Wein and Zoe Lister-Jones follow a woman (Lister-Jones) as she journeys across Los Angeles on the last day before Earth is destroyed by an asteroid. It's a gentle, whimsical film. It's also more than a tad self-indulgent. I reviewed How It Ends for Screen International.

Tag Team - "Whoomp! (There It Is)"

“I’ll take being a one-hit wonder over anything. It’s really about how you adapt to everything that comes your way. Our whole progression has just been different things at different times in life. Now it’s a Geico commercial.” -- Cecil Glenn, part of the duo Tag Team, in Adweek.

Sundance 2021: 'Summer of Soul' Review

It was known as the Black Woodstock: a series of shows in Harlem in the summer of 1969 that celebrated blues, R&B, jazz and funk. For 50 years, the footage had been lost. Now, it's here. And it's amazing. I reviewed Summer of Soul for Screen International.

Sundance 2021: 'CODA' Review

Welcome to the virtual Sundance. My first review is for a real crowd-pleaser that focuses on a teenager who longs to be a singer ... and her deaf parents and brother who make that dream challenging. You can read all about CODA over at Screen International.

'The Little Things' Review

Denzel Washington and Rami Malek are on the hunt for a serial killer who just might be Jared Leto. I dug the L.A.-ness of The Little Things, but ultimately I think this whodunit runs out of gas. My review is up at Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Here's Your Sundance 2021 Preview

No new movies this week. Instead, I give a preview of this year's surreal Sundance Film Festival. And then we dig into two Reboots: The Insider and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. Get it while it's hot.

'Malcolm & Marie' Review

Zendaya and John David Washington spend a night in a house fighting. Who'd want to watch that? For MEL, I stick up for the divisive Malcolm & Marie.

The O'Jays - "Give the People What They Want"

Lots of good songs on the official Joe Biden/Kamala Harris inauguration playlist. For this week's Friday Video, I decided to pick one I didn't know. Get funky, everybody. People dig understanding, people dig freedom.

Donald Trump and "My Way"

The Don's presidency started and ended with "My Way." For MEL, I wrote about the history of an anthem to self-pity. Hope you enjoy.

Garth Brooks, the Inauguration and "Friends in Low Places"

 

The country superstar talked about wanting to make "a statement of unity" by performing at Joe Biden's inauguration. Then he should have played his most beloved hit, which is all about bringing people together. For MEL, I wrote about "Friends in Low Places."

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Reviews of 'The Lockdown,' 'The Dig' and 'American Skin'

Welcome to our first podcast of the new year. We've got reviews of three new movies, as well as some thoughts about the Capitol riot and Twitter dummies. Hope you enjoy.

"Jenny From the Block" and the Legacy of Bennifer

Once, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were a power couple. Then they were in a video together and everybody lost their mind. For MEL, I look back at "Jenny From the Block."

My Interview With Sam Pollard, Director of 'MLK/FBI'

Sam Pollard turned 18 just a few days before Martin Luther King Jr. was killed. A half-century later, he's made a movie about the man and his fight against J. Edgar Hoover. You can read our interview over at MEL.

Manu Chao - "Bongo Bong"

I first encountered "Bongo Bong" when I bought Manu Chao's 2001 record Próxima Estación: Esperanza, not realizing that album's version was merely a riff on the original, which itself was a cover. Enjoy the groove, which is buttressed by a sentiment we can all get behind: "I'm so happy there's nobody in my place instead of me."

'Locked Down' Review

Anne Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor are a London couple who were thinking of ending things. Then came the pandemic. Locked Down is a film that examines what happens when a relationship comes to a close but you're stuck living together. (Also, there's a heist.) I reviewed the film for Screen International.

'WandaVision' Review

WandaVision is Marvel's first excursion into television. Does it work? Kinda.

Remember When Ethan Hawke Was a Vampire?

In January 2010, Daybreakers came out. In January 2021, I wrote about it for SyFy.

Bahamas 2021: '25 Years of Innocence' Review

Tomasz Komenda was a 23-year-old man arrested in 2000 and accused of raping and killing a 15-year-old girl. He swore he was innocent. For Screen International, I reviewed 25 Years of Innocence, which turns that story into a gripping, restrained drama. 

Bahamas 2021: 'Roommate Wanted' Review

One thing I don't miss is having a roommate ... especially if you're looking for someone off the street. The horror film Roommate Wanted explores the worst-case scenario while trying to have some fun with slasher-movie tropes. It is not very successful, as I explain over at Screen International.

The 2021 Movies That Aren't Based on Anything

Wanna see something original this year? For MEL, I offer a preview of 10 promising movies coming out in 2021 that aren't sequels, prequels, remakes, reboots or adaptations. Hope you enjoy.

'The Mauritanian' Review

In the wake of 9/11, Mohamedou Ould Slahi spent about 14 years in Guantanamo Bay. He was never charged with a crime, and he continually swore he wasn't involved in the attacks. The Mauritanian is a drama about his ordeal. I wish it were better.

'The Marksman' Review

My brother-in-law has a weakness for Liam Neeson action movies. I think he'll like The Marksman, although I was a little more mixed on it. My review is up at Screen International.

Misleading Men: Ted Danson

Did you ever wonder what Sam Malone would be like as an older man? I think we have the answer. For MEL, I wrote about the beautiful second act of Ted Danson.

My Interview With Matthew Hamachek, Co-Director of 'Tiger'

Documentarians Matthew Heineman and Matthew Hamachek sought a complex depiction of Tiger Woods, one of the most famous athletes in the world. But Woods couldn't participate in their film. So what now? I spoke to Hamachek for MEL.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Reviews of 'The Reason I Jump,' 'Herself' and 'Pieces of a Woman'

Jacqueline Coley and I were on KCRW yesterday to talk about new releases. And there are several gems, which you can hear us talking about down below. 

Yves Tumor - "Gospel for a New Century"

 Love the TV on the Radio vibe of the opening cut off Heaven to a Tortured Mind.

Let's Rank George Clooney's Movies

Where does The Midnight Sky place among George Clooney's performances? We break it all down over at Vulture. 

Donna Summer - "Hot Stuff"

I have this album on vinyl and can listen to it whenever I want.