What Are the Best Films of the 1970s?

Rolling Stone asked me and others to send in ballots for the best 1970s movies. Then, the editors put together a list of the top 100 and had us write up capsules. You can read me on Harlan County U.S.A., Carnal Knowledge, A Woman Under the Influence, Stalker, Scenes From a Marriage, The Last Waltz and The Godfather here.

Let Toni Collette Be Funny

Toni Collette has been terrific in dramas, but Hollywood has failed her as a comedic actor. I lament her wasted genius over at Cracked.

'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' Review

This series is three for three in my book. I reviewed the latest Guardians of the Galaxy for Screen International.

Ministry - "N.W.O."

In the early 1990s, you couldn't go wrong including a George H.W. Bush soundbite in your song. 

Happy 10th Anniversary, 'Pain & Gain'

Michael Bay's Pain & Gain came out April 26, 2013. Today, I talked about its legacy -- and whether even Bay entirely understands what his satire of American excess is about. Hope you enjoy.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Debating 'Beau Is Afraid,' Loving 'Evil Dead Rise' and Mourning 'Ghosted'

Lots of lively discussion on this week's podcast, which I always love. Hope you enjoy the episode, which you can hear down below.

Enough With the Dumb Comedy Cameos

Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan and Ryan Reynolds cameo in #Ghosted

WE WON! pic.twitter.com/nRxmN6516L

— Mark Ridge Lobo (@MR___LOBO) April 21, 2023

You may have heard that Ghosted has a few celebrity cameos in it. They're so dumb, and I'm sick of the trend. I wrote about it for Cracked.

'Breakfast All Day': Tolerating 'Chevalier'

I was back on Breakfast All Day with my buddy Christy Lemire to review the Searchlight biopic about 18th century composer and musician Joseph Bologne. Amadeus, it ain't, but it's not bad.

Grateful Dead - "Morning Dew"

I've never been the biggest Grateful Dead guy. But I do like this song off their first record.

What Was the Worst Film I Ever Reviewed?

I was pleased to be asked by The News-Gazette, the paper for Champaign, Illinois, to contribute to a roundtable of critics who were all asked the same question: What was the worst movie I ever had to review? (This feature was in honor of Ebertfest, which starts today in Champaign.) I gave the matter some thought, and my answer is here.

'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret' Review

I had heard good things about the long-anticipated adaptation of Judy Blume's most beloved novel. Well, the advance buzz was correct: I really loved Are You There God? My review is up at Screen International.

My Interview With James Marsden

I'm not much of a reality-TV guy, but I was surprised by my reaction to Jury Duty, which is amusing but, mostly, very sweet. James Marsden plays an exaggerated version of himself in the series, the latest example of the X-Men star dissecting the hollow appeal of leading men. For Cracked, I had a long talk with him about the show, his career, comedy and his celebrity fantasy football league. (Turns out, the reason why he won last season is the exact same reason I lost my third-place match.) Hope you enjoy.

'Guy Ritchie's The Covenant' Review

Guy Ritchie wanted to tell a story about the Afghan interpreters the American government abandoned during the War on Terror. I wish it was another director telling that story. Here's my review of The Covenant.

My Interview With Gillian Jacobs

 

For Cracked, I had a long conversation with Gillian Jacobs, the star of the new Netflix drama Transatlantic. We talked about comedy, Community and surviving Julliard. Hope you enjoy.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Renfield,' 'De Humani Corporis Fabrica' and 'Something Wild'

One bad new movie and one good new movie are featured on this week's podcast. We both raved about De Humani Corporis Fabrica, and then in our Reboot segment we rhapsodized about Something Wild. Sure made up for suffering though Renfield. Hear the whole thing down below.

'Mafia Mamma' Review

Toni Collette almost makes this fish-out-of-water mob comedy work. Almost. My review of Mafia Mamma is up at Screen International.

The Failure of Mel Brooks' Final Film, 'Dracula: Dead and Loving It'

Renfield is far from the first Dracula comedy. For Cracked, I wrote about Dracula: Dead and Loving It, which was a critical and commercial disaster when it came out. What had happened to Mel Brooks? You can read my piece here.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Air Jordans, 'Dungeons & Dragons' and Mario's Big-Screen Return

A little behind on posting this podcast episode, which was filled with big movies after taking a week off. We both liked Air, one of us liked Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, and we both loathed The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Hear the whole thing down below.

Ryuichi Sakamoto - "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence"

"Generally, I dislike the process of making music based on a blueprint or purpose or aim. If I was an architect, I would be a bad one, because I don’t like having blueprints. Of course, without blueprints, nobody knows what the building will be. But that’s exactly what I like to do. I shouldn’t know what I’m making, or what it will be. I want to make something I don’t know, and that I’ve never done or never known. Hopefully, for me, it’s going to be a surprise, and a new experience." -- Ryuichi Sakamoto 

'Beau Is Afraid' Review

Reviews are very mixed on Ari Aster's latest. Put me on the "pro" side. My review of Beau Is Afraid is here.

'Paint' Isn't About Bob Ross (and Other Movies Very Clearly Based on Real People)

Owen Wilson's new comedy made me think of other films in which we know who the main character is supposed to be, even though the movie itself lightly fictionalizes that person. I did an analysis of these roman a clefs here.

Never Forget How Great Matt Damon Is in 'The Informant!'

With Matt Damon getting good reviews for Air, it got me thinking: What is his funniest performance? The answer was easy. Over at Cracked, I sing the praises of The Informant!

We Don't Need a 'Lethal Weapon 5' Since the 'Always Sunny' Crew Already Made It

Mel Gibson swears that we're going to get a Lethal Weapon 5. I am not excited about that, in part because of the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia episode in which the gang makes their own sequel. Is that episode problematic now in some ways? Yes, which I wrote about for Cracked.

Lil Yachty - "Running Out of Time"

"Whoever gave this guy psychedelics need to give him more." I agree, random YouTube commenter.

My Interview With Michaela Watkins

I had such a fun time talking to Michaela Watkins, an actress and improv performer whose bio says, “I’m that gal from that thing that you watched.” She's everywhere, and she'll be in several things this spring, including Paint and You Hurt My Feelings. For Cracked, we had a long conversation about Julia Louis-Dreyfus, doing impersonations, her tough time at Saturday Night Live, getting older, missing her friend Lynn Shelton, and how she failed in her mission to be a slut. Hope you enjoy.

'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' Review

It's been 30 years since Super Mario Bros. stunk up movie theaters. There's a new, animated film now. It's better! But it's still not good. My review is up at Screen International.

'Ten Thousand Posts': Talking About Rotten Tomatoes and Film Criticism

This was fun: Hussein Kesvani and Phoebe Roy had me on for a special episode of Ten Thousand Posts to discuss how Rotten Tomatoes does or doesn't affect my job. You can hear a taste of our episode down below. If you'd like to hear the whole thing, consider subscribing to their Patreon.