Every Sketch Show Is Better Than 'Saturday Night Live'

Or, at least that's how it seems when journalists and critics talk about The Kids in the Hall, Mr. Show, Key & Peele, I Think You Should Leave...

For the A.V. Club, I wrote about the new documentary SCTV: The Greatest Show You've Never Heard Of, which celebrates the bygone Canadian series. But what's interesting is that the movie spends a decent amount of time using SCTV to bash SNL. Why does the media have this tendency with sketch shows that aren't SNL? My essay is here. 

'Who Killed Alex Odeh?' Review

Alex Odeh was a Palestinian-American activist who was murdered in 1985 in Santa Ana from a tripwire bomb. His case remains unsolved after all these years. The documentary Who Killed Alex Odeh? investigates this miscarriage of justice. It's co-directed by Jason Osder, whose Let the Fire Burn I think is a major film of this century. You can read my review of Who Killed Alex Odeh? over at the Los Angeles Times.

'Gentle Monster' Review

I saw Marie Kreutzer's new film in Cannes and was left weirdly unmoved by it. I say "weirdly unmoved" because Gentle Monster is about some emotionally-charged matters: Lea Seydoux plays a wife and mother who discovers her loving husband traffics in child pornography. I got another chance to see the film for the Los Angeles Times, and I have to say: I remain at a remove. I explain why here. 

Gurriers - "Nobody's Coming to Save You"

Hope is there if we feel it 
Don't wait for someone else to seek it 

Please vote. 

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: South Korea, Portland and Postwar Germany

We go all over the world on the most recent episode of the podcast. We both rave about Possible Love and Fatherland. But we differ on Laika's latest, Wildwood. You can hear our discussion down below.

'Fatherland' Review

Pawel Pawlikowski returns for his first film since Cold War. Fatherland is a real stunner as well, and I was very happy to review it for the Los Angeles Times.

Wunderhorse - "The Rope"

Every generation gets its "Everybody Hurts."

Sacha Baron Cohen Is Still Obsessed With America

 
For more than 25 years now, the British performer's biggest comedic target has been the United States. But does his satire still have any teeth? For the A.V. Club, I wrote about his career and his latest provocation, Ali G: Who Iz I? 

'Klara and the Sun' Review

Taika Waititi used to make good movies. Klara and the Sun is a blunt reminder of what he's become of late. My review of this sappy sci-fi film is up at the Los Angeles Times. 

'Clayface' Review

Did you ever wonder how Batman villain Clayface became a monster? A new film presents his origin story. My review is up at Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Three Big Documentaries, One Great Episode

For the first time ever, we devoted an entire episode just to documentary releases. And they're all pretty worthwhile. You can hear our thoughts on You Can See Everything, Musk and Once Upon a Time in Harlem down below.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Elizabeth Holmes, Street Fighters, 'Whalefall' and 'La Bola Negra'

We tackle movies big and small, action flicks and sweeping period romances, on KCRW this week. Alison Willmore and I teamed up to review You Can See Everything, Street Fighter, Whalefall and La Bola Negra. Lots to talk about, and you can hear our conversation down below.

'Street Fighter' Review

This is the third attempt to make Street Fighter a film franchise. Not on my watch! My review of the pretty meh movie is up at the Los Angeles Times. 

White Zombie - "More Human Than Human"

I got to the premiere of Street Fighter early on Monday, which meant I sat inside the Chinese listening to the pre-show music on a loop. "More Human Than Human" came on at some point. "Man," I thought, "that song still slays." 

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'The Social Reckoning,' 'My Undesirable Friends: Part II' and 'Animals'

We've got a little bit of everything on this week's episode. We disagree on Aaron Sorkin's The Social Reckoning and then we take a look at Julia Loktev's follow-up to the incredible My Undesirable Friends. Finally, we kick Ben Affleck's terrible thriller Animals around. Check out the banter and reviews down below.

Los Dug Dug's - "I Don't Care (Yo No Se)"

It doesn't always matter how I find cool songs. It just matters that I do.

My Interview With Cristian Mungiu, Writer-Director of 'Fjord'

Cristian Mungiu makes searing dramas. But what's he like to talk to? For the Los Angeles Times, I chatted with the director of Fjord about fatherhood, his brief time making comedies, and why he hopes his movies inspire a little debate. Hope you enjoy.

'You Can See Everything' Review

Since its secret premiere at Telluride, You Can See Everything has been roundly proclaimed the movie of the year. Is it? My review is up at Screen International.

Eva Marie Saint, 1924-2026

The star of North by Northwest and On the Waterfront is gone. For Rolling Stone, I eulogized Eva Marie Saint. 

New York 2026: 'Artificial' Review

Wanna hate the people responsible for foisting AI on us? Then perhaps Artificial will do the trick, with Andrew Garfield playing controversial OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. My review is live. 

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Digger,' 'Verity' and 'Fjord'

We've now entered awards season, so the podcast is gonna be jam-packed with Oscar hopefuls and the occasional fall blockbuster for the next few months. This week, we debate Tom Cruise's risky satire but are much more aligned on the hit thriller Verity and Christian Mungiu's Palme d'Or winner. You can check out the conversation down below. 

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Tom Cruise, Colleen Hoover, 'The Last First: Winter K2' and 'Atonement'

Lots to talk about on KCRW as Christy Lemire and I review the weekend's new releases. We discuss Digger, disagree about Verity and look at two smaller films: a documentary about a deadly mountain climb and an indie about the aftermath of the Iraq War. You can hear our conversation down below.

Kevin Morby - "Badlands"

I think I may be close to officially slotting Little Wide Open as "exceedingly melodic but not especially affecting," but I will continue to enjoy its title track. 

'Atonement' Review

It was on my second viewing of Reed Van Dyk's Atonement when its quiet power really got to me. I reviewed this sensitive, astute drama for the Los Angeles Times.