Will Ferrell and Adam McKay Have Broken Up

For MEL, I wrote about the end of a comedy era.

In Praise of 'Drive My Car'

Now that it's out (in New York, anyway), I wanted to write a little about Drive My Car. A film about grief and shame and being rejected and also Uncle Vanya: What more could you ask for? You can read my thoughts here.

Little Simz (featuring Cleo Sol) - "Woman"

Hope you're having a lovely Thanksgiving weekend.

In Praise of Wesley Snipes in the (Early) 1990s

What a run Wesley Snipes had about 30 years ago. You know what happened after. I weigh both aspects of the actor's legacy over at MEL.

My Interview With Harry Hamlin

Harry Hamlin turned 70 last month. He was once People's "Sexiest Man Alive." He has spent the last 30 years advocating for the environment. Truly, the man contains multitudes, and I tackled all of them in my lengthy conversation with the actor. Our talk is over at MEL.

'The Unforgivable' Review

What if Sandra Bullock was in a movie that's out and you had no idea? Such is the case with The Unforgivable, based on the British miniseries, which finds her playing a released convict trying to adjust to the outside world. The film isn't good, as I explain over at Screen International.

Tallinn 2021: 'On Our Way' Review

Actress Sophie Lane Curtis' directorial debut is about a director (Micheál Richardson) struggling to bring his artistic vision to life. (Curtis plays his girlfriend and onscreen partner.) There are actually two different movies-within-the-movie going on in On Our Way, which I found too tortured and insular to fully connect. My review is up at Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Ghostbusters, Tennis Players, Uncles and Andrew Garfield

On this week's episode, we do a bit of dividing and conquering. I review C'mon C'mon, while Will grabbed Tick, Tick... Boom! But we both talked about Ghostbusters: Afterlife and King Richard, and we don't see eye-to-eye on either of those. Check out the whole episode down below.

Paul Thomas Anderson Has Found His Happy Place

For MEL, I wrote about how, with Licorice Pizza, the Oscar-nominated auteur continues a shift toward a more reflective, openhearted kind of filmmaking. That hadn't seemed possible from the guy who gave us Boogie Nights. You can read my thoughts here.

'House of Gucci' Puts the Rich on Blast

There's no shortage of popular entertainment about how awful the wealthy are. But there's always room for one more. For MEL, I indulged in the seductive, tacky pleasures of House of Gucci.

Why We're Still Obsessed With Who "You Oughta Know" Is About

It's been more than 25 years since Alanis Morissette's first hit ... and people still ask her who inspired the song. I think that's missing the point. I did a deep dive into "You Oughta Know" for MEL.

My Interview With Mike Mills, Writer-Director of 'C'mon C'mon'

It's been almost 10 years exactly since I last interviewed Mike Mills. He's back with a great new movie, C'mon C'mon, and for MEL we chatted about depression and being emotional. Hope you enjoy.

Are Documentary Sequels Ever Good?

Did you want a sequel to Tiger King? Well, Netflix put one out this week anyway. For MEL, I looked at documentary sequels over the years, picking some of the best and the worst. Hope you enjoy.

David Bowie - "Life on Mars?"

For whatever reason, I've never been the biggest David Bowie guy. But the hits are hits for a reason, and I've been especially feeling this one of late.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Raving About 'Passing,' Meh on 'Belfast'

Completely forgot to post this week's episode of the podcast. And it's a good one, too, tackling three very different films: Passing, Red Notice and Belfast.

Hear the whole thing down below.

Jeremy Renner: From Character Actor to Hawkeye

For MEL, I looked at Jeremy Renner's career with Hawkeye about to come out. My thesis: Maybe he wasn't meant to be a blockbuster action hero. Read on.

Why Is 'King Richard' About Richard Williams?

Richard Williams believed that his daughters Venus and Serena could be champions. King Richard tells the story of how he made that dream a reality. But is it a problem that the movie isn't more about the Williams sisters? I get into that over at MEL.

'The Power of the Dog' and the Myth of the Macho Cowboy

I'm slightly lower on Jane Campion's latest than most are, but I still think it's a fine Western that explores masculinity from several interesting angles. My thoughts are over at MEL.

AFI Fest 2021: 'Swan Song' Review

Mahershala Ali gives not one but two good performances in Swan Song, a sci-fi drama about a dying man who decides to clone himself without telling his family, who have no idea of his terminal condition. You can read my Screen International review here.

Thessaloniki 2021: 'The Hole in the Fence' Review

The Hole in the Fence is a drama set at a Catholic summer camp that definitely gives off some Lord of the Flies vibes. Joaquin del Paso's film tackles a lot of themes, including toxic masculinity, mostly successfully. My review is live over at Screen International.

Enough With 'Ghostbusters'

Watching Ghostbusters: Afterlife, I thought, "This franchise really needs to die." I laid out my argument over at MEL.

AFI Fest 2021: 'Bruised' Review

Halle Berry stars in Bruised, which also is her directorial debut. She plays a former MMA fighter looking for a shot at redemption. If that sounds like a familiar story, well, that's part of the problem. My review is up at Screen International.

When the World Hated Rod Stewart's "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"

Rod Stewart wanted to make a song that captured the spirit of the disco craze. And out came a No. 1 hit that lots of people despised. For MEL, I did a deep dive into "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"

Tom Hanks Just Really Loves 'Cloud Atlas'

This past week, the Oscar-winner reconfirmed his love for the sci-fi film that was a commercial disaster (and not all that beloved by critics). For MEL, I wrote about why Hanks is still fond of the movie, which I'm fond of, too.

The Legacy of the Frat Pack

There's a new Apple TV+ series, The Shrink Next Door, that stars Paul Rudd and Will Ferrell, two actors who were part of what was known as the Frat Pack. Remember that? For MEL, I looked back at the early Aughts to determine what the big deal was.

'Encanto' Review

Stephanie Beatriz is a delight as the main character in Encanto, playing the one member of her large family who doesn't have magical powers. But once the family's magic is threatened, what will happen? I reviewed this touching film for Screen International.

AFI Fest 2021: 'Sing 2' Review

So much singing, so much dancing, so little resonance. For Screen, I reviewed Sing 2.

'Licorice Pizza' Review

Where does Paul Thomas Anderson's latest stack up in his impressive oeuvre? Honestly, I may need a second viewing to know for sure. As for now, let me just say I think the film is very, very good. My Screen International review is here.

Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir - "Like a Ship"

My parents got married 50 years ago this past summer. There's been a lot of celebrations this year for all the great music that came out in 1971. Also released that year: a gospel album called Like a Ship ... (Without a Sail). That T.L. Barrett was a complicated fellow, though.

My Interview With Robert Greene, Director of 'Procession'

Robert Greene makes documentaries that are described as self-reflexive. His latest is no exception: Procession follows the process of him working in collaboration with six men who were sexually assaulted by priests in their childhood, turning that trauma into therapeutic short films. For MEL, I had a lengthy chat with Greene about drama therapy and dealing with anger. Hope you enjoy.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Marvel's Worst Movie, 'Spencer' and 'Finch'

On this week's episode, we talk about what happened with Eternals. Plus, one of us is a big fan of Kristen Stewart's latest, while the other one sticks up for Finch. Hear the whole thing down below.

I Miss the Dwayne Johnson of 'Central Intelligence'

The last comedy from the Rock that I really enjoyed? This one.

My Interview With Alonso Ruizpalacios, Director of 'A Cop Movie'

A Cop Movie mixes actors and real-life police officers to look at the everyday corruption rampant among Mexican cops. Is it different there than here? I spoke to filmmaker Alonso Ruizpalacios about our two countries' law enforcement for MEL.

Kenneth Branagh: From 'Henry V' to 'Belfast'

This Friday, the Oscar front-runner Belfast hits theaters. For MEL, I took the opportunity to reconsider Kenneth Branagh's career trajectory, starting with his splashy directorial debut, Henry V. Really enjoyed wrestling with the man's legacy. You can read my thoughts here.

Tokyo 2021: 'Arisaka' Review

A lone, injured cop is fighting for her life in the middle of the forest, hunted down by some bad dudes. Can she make it out alive? For Screen International, I reviewed the Filipino action-thriller Arisaka, which I wish I liked better.

Lou Rawls - "You've Made Me So Very Happy"

Over the last couple years, I've tried to only pick artists on Friday Video that have never previously been spotlighted. But today is the first time I've chosen a song that's been on here before. I'm giving myself permission because Lou Rawls' version of "You've Made Me So Very Happy" features a melody that De La Soul later sampled for "I Am I Be," and I never knew where it had come from. Enjoy.

Remember When Nick Hornby Hated 'Kid A'?

A fancy new edition of Kid A comes out tomorrow. For MEL, I recalled one of my favorite memories associated with the album's release: Nick Hornby's scathing review in The New Yorker. Hope you enjoy.

'Red Notice' Review

Three big stars, very few sparks: That's the short review of Red Notice. My longer one is over at Screen International.

What If Tom Hanks Made an Apple Movie and Nobody Saw It (Again)?

 
Tom Hanks is in Finch, which is streaming on Apple TV+ starting Friday. Have you heard of it? What about last year's Greyhound, which was also on Apple TV+? What's going on here? I talked about it over at MEL.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Last Night in Soho,' 'Antlers' and 'The Souvenir Part II'

One very good movie, two very mediocre ones in this week's episode. You can hear all our thoughts down below.

'The Sparks Brothers' Is Now on Netflix

When The Sparks Brothers came out this summer, I (and others) commented on the fact that the documentary doesn't really delve into the personal lives of Ron and Russell Mael. Now that the film has hit streaming, I considered that question a little deeper. My thoughts are over at MEL.

'Eternals' and the Limits of Teamwork

A lot of films recently have been about family, either real or manufactured. But Eternals suggests the limitations of that theme, especially when the family members aren't that interesting. My piece is up at MEL.