The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Disagreeing About 'Elvis'

On this week's episode, we review The Black Phone and Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe. But we differ on Baz Lurhmann's latest. Hear the whole thing down below.

Happy 10th Anniversary, 'Magic Mike'

For MEL, I wrote about Steven Soderbergh's unlikely 2012 summer smash, which helped cement Channing Tatum's stardom and revitalized Matthew McConaughey's. Hope you enjoy.

Steve Carell Is the King of Nice

With Minions: The Rise of Gru about to come out, it seemed like a good time to assess Steve Carell's career up to this point. I wrote about his artistic modesty for MEL.

'Elvis,' 'Amadeus' and Our Fascination With Greatness

Elvis is told from the perspective of Colonel Tom Parker, not Elvis Presley. That got me thinking about other films that use a similar technique, and what they say about our relationship with supernaturally talented individuals. My latest for MEL is here.

'The Deer Hunter,' Roe v. Wade and "God Bless America"

I didn't feel like saying anything about the overturning of Roe v. Wade. But the Democrats' response made me so angry that I had to. For MEL, I wrote about "God Bless America" and its most damning use in a film. My essay is here.

My Interview With Robert Harmon, Director of 'The Hitcher'

All this summer, MEL is publishing pieces about Americans' fascination with the open road. I took the opportunity to spend a little time with Robert Harmon, whose first feature was a horror movie about hitchhiking, although he doesn't consider it a horror movie. Hope you enjoy my look back at 1986's The Hitcher.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': The King, 'The Black Phone,' 'Marcel the Shell' and 'Beavis and Butt-Head'

Amy Nicholson and I were on KCRW on Thursday to review this weekend's new releases. (She and I are just about the only critics who don't love love love Marcel the Shell With Shoes On.) Hear our segment down below.

Danger Mouse & Black Thought (featuring Joey Bada$$, Russ and Dylan Cartlidge) - "Because"

"I don't vacation, dawg, I guilt trip" is one hell of a line.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Lightyear,' 'Spiderhead,' 'Leo Grande' and 'Cha Cha Real Smooth'

So many movies to go through on this week's episode! We've got animated blockbusters, quirky thrillers, a thoughtful character drama about sex, and Cooper Raiff's followup to Shithouse. Hear the whole thing down below.

Welcome Back, Beavis and Butt-Head

For MEL, I shared some thoughts about Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe, which made me laugh a lot.

Tribeca 2022: 'The Cave of Adullam' Review

Laura Checkoway's documentary about a Detroit dojo that caters to troubled Black boys was a prizewinner at the recent Tribeca Festival. I reviewed The Cave of Adullam for Screen International.

Ethan Hawke and the Battle Not to Sell Out

Being a proper Gen-X guy, Ethan Hawke has long struggled with the notion of what it means to be successful. Does it mean unconscionable compromise? Or can you keep from selling your soul? For MEL, I looked back at his nearly 40-year career. It was a pleasure to write about an actor I've long admired.

So, Who Directed the 'Lightyear' Movie Back in the 1990s?

Angus MacLane is the director (and co-writer) of Lightyear. But because the movie is supposed to be something that Toy Story's Andy watched back in the mid-1990s, that means someone else actually made the thing. So which filmmaker of that era would have most likely been the guy? For MEL, I came up with 10 possible choices, but I think my No. 1 pick is correct. Hope you enjoy.

My Interview With Rachel Dretzin, Director of 'Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey'

Ever since it debuted on Netflix early this month, Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey, a documentary series about the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and its leader Warren Jeffs, has been one of the streamer's most popular programs. For MEL, I spoke with director Rachel Dretzin about FLDS' history of sexual abuse and polygamy, and where the sect is today. Gripping stuff, and you can read my interview here.

Let's Rank 'Jurassic Park' Movies

There have been six Jurassic Park films. Which one is the best? And which is the worst? (That first question is easier to answer.) Our rankings are over at Vulture.

My Interview With Lizzo

When the Los Angeles Times asked me if I'd be interested in spending some time with Lizzo, how could I say no? We chatted about her forthcoming album, her recent reality show, and just being fabulous in general. Hope you enjoy.

(Photo by Kayla James.)

Supertramp - "The Logical Song"

I know, I know, but seriously: This song sounds pretty amazing blasting out of the speakers of a top-flight screening room.

'Spiderhead' Review

Spiderhead has an appealing just-messing-around quality that I think ends up working for this slight but funky thriller in which Chris Hemsworth conducts a series of experiments on prisoner Miles Teller. My review is up at Screen International.

My Interview With Joseph Williams, Son of John Williams

This week, MEL is doing a series of pieces connected to Father's Day. So I talked to Joseph Williams, who's a singer in Toto who grew up with John Williams, the man behind the scores for Star Wars and so many other blockbusters. Our conversation is here.

"I'm Alright" and the Birth of the Summer Soundtrack Smash

Kenny Loggins has a memoir out. What better excuse to talk about his Caddyshack hit, which proved that comedies could have standalone singles? My piece is up at MEL.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Dinosaurs, Adam Sandler and 'M'

In this week's episode, we agree that Jurassic World Dominion isn't good, but just how bad is it? Then, we differ on Hustle. Finally, in our Reboot segment, we go back to 1931, looking at Fritz Lang's M. Lots of good stuff, and you can hear it all down below.

'Lightyear' Review

Lightyear is so aggressively average that I spent most of the film's runtime arguing with it. "Why aren't you better? Why aren't you more interesting? When is this going to get more exciting?" (The robot cat is adorable, though.) My review is up at Screen International.

Tribeca 2022: 'McEnroe' Review

John McEnroe is a fascinating figure, the subject of several recent films. The latest is a documentary with access to him and his inner circle. For Screen International, I reviewed McEnroe.

Happy 40th Anniversary, 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'

On June 11th, 1982, Steven Spielberg's most endearing film opened. For MEL, I wrote about the movie, which is a tribute to friendship and saying goodbye.

Why Are the Characters in Legacy Sequels (Almost) Always Less Interesting Than the Original Characters?

Jurassic World Dominion underscored a problem I've noticed for a while, which is that when sequels try to combine the original cast and the new cast, the new cast often looks pretty feeble by comparison. Is that because of nostalgia or something else? Here's my latest for MEL.

Billy Crystal Wants You to Feel Something

Billy Crystal (and Mr. Saturday Night) are up for multiple Tonys tonight. For MEL, I did a deep dive into his career, and my own misgivings about an undisputed comic legend. Hope you enjoy.

Tribeca 2022: 'Somewhere in Queens' Review

Funny enough, Adam Sandler isn't the only veteran comic out with a drama about basketball. Ray Romano's feature directorial debut just premiered at Tribeca, focusing on a father who's trying to ensure that his teenage son can pursue his hoop dreams. For Screen International, I reviewed Somewhere in Queens.

Seals & Crofts - "Summer Breeze"

Rest in peace, Jim Seals.

What Is the Best Song for Social Change Grammy?

It's a new awards category that will start at next year's ceremony. For MEL, I discuss why I think it's a bad idea.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: David Cronenberg, 'Fire Island' and 'A Clockwork Orange'

On this week's episode, we're basically aligned on Crimes of the Future and Fire Island. Then, we go back to 1971 for our Reboot, discussing a Stanley Kubrick movie that, honestly, I'm not the biggest fan of. Hear the whole thing down below.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: My Cannes Recap and 'Top Gun: Maverick'

Well, this is embarrassing: I completely forgot to post last week's podcast, which was our first after me being away at Cannes for two weeks. I talked a bit about my festival experience, including my favorite films I saw there, and we also reviewed Tom Cruise's massive hit. Check out the episode below.

'Jurassic World Dominion' Review

Good news: I actually think Jurassic World Dominion is the best of the recent trilogy. Bad news: It's still not all that good. My review is up at Screen International.

Talking About Film Festivals and Scouting (and 'The Godfather') With Keith Law

Recently, I was thinking about how Keith Law's job isn't that different than mine when I go to a film festival. Weirdly enough, completely independently he was thinking the same thing. So we had a talk about it. (Plus, he and his wife just watched all three Godfather movies for the first time, and he wanted to discuss that trilogy and Al Pacino's role in it.) Very happy to be back on The Keith Law Show. You can hear my episode below.

Revisiting 'The Book of Henry'

It was one of those infamous critical and commercial disasters that can seriously derail a director's career. Five years ago, The Book of Henry came out, and Colin Trevorrow became a laughing stock. As we wait for his next film, something to do with dinosaurs, I decided to look back at what went wrong with that tonally bizarre film.

The Endurance of "Running Up That Hill"

Initially, I wasn't going to write about "Running Up That Hill," figuring that everyone and his mother had already weighed in on the sudden surge of popularity for the Kate Bush song thanks to Stranger Things. But then a thought occurred to me. For MEL, I wrote about how Bush has shied away from the spotlight in recent years, only to see her stature grow during her absence. Hope you enjoy.

On the Greatness of 'The Fly'

David Cronenberg has a new movie out. But I want to talk about his film from 1986. For MEL, I rhapsodized about The Fly.

The Intensity of Kendrick Lamar's "We Cry Together"

I quite like Kendrick Lamar's new album, but "We Cry Together" may be the hardest song to listen to off it. So, of course, I had to explore why that is. My essay is live over at MEL. 

Why Are People Always Knocking 'The Irishman'?

Netflix is reportedly moving away from high-priced, auteur-driven cinema. So where does that leave films like The Irishman? For MEL, I pondered why that Martin Scorsese movie, even before it came out, was a target for such ridicule. Hope you enjoy.

How 'Val' Informs 'Top Gun: Maverick'

Top Gun: Maverick's most emotional scene, involving Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer, hits a little harder if you seen Kilmer's 2021 documentary. For MEL, I wrote about the poignancy of Val.

'Hustle' Review

Two things I knew going into Hustle: Adam Sandler is a good actor when he chooses to be, and he's a huge basketball fan. So I wasn't surprised that he'd make an inspirational sports drama, and that he'd be compelling in it. Unfortunately, I think this film is nonetheless pretty flawed, which I talked about over at Screen International.

The Weather Station - "Robber"

I need Tamara Lindeman's suit.