'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Michael Jackson, 'Blue Heron' and 'I Swear'

I was back on Press Play, this time alongside Christy Lemire, to discuss a variety of new movies. We've got biopics: Michael and I Swear. We've got violent dark comedies: Over Your Dead Body. And we've got the critically acclaimed indie Blue Heron. You can hear our thoughts down below.

'Michael' Review

Sight unseen, there were reasons to dread Michael. And, indeed, the movie is a stinker, both in terms of what it shows and what it leaves out about Michael Jackson's life. My review is up at Screen International. 

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Denzel Washington, 'Sherlock Jr.' and 'American Movie'

Greetings from Toronto. I'll be at the festival for the next week or so, but here's a podcast episode to tide you over. We review The Equalizer 3, and then we go back to evaluate Sherlock Jr. and American Movie. Lots of fun stuff to dig into down below.

'Breakfast All Day': Disagreeing on 'The Equalizer 3'

I liked the first installment in the Equalizer series and wasn't a big fan of the second. So where did I land on The Equalizer 3? Christy Lemire and I debated the new movie's merits.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: The Lightning-Round Episode

Every December, we devote one podcast to covering a bunch of movies in quick fashion. This year, we tackle Women Talking, The Whale, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, Emancipation and White Noise. It's fun to have to condense your thoughts into just a few minutes. You can hear our lightning-round episode here.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Going to Bat for 'One Fine Morning'

Christy Lemire and I were on KCRW to review five new movies, and there's a lot to discuss in a short segment. We talked about The Whale, Empire of Light, Emancipation and Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio. But I spent a little extra time raving about Mia Hansen-Love's latest. Check it all out down below.

'Emancipation' Review

Will Smith is back. I imagine a lot of people aren't ready to see him in a new movie. (I wasn't sure if I was ready.) But Emancipation is a solid drama, based on the true story of an escaped slave in the 1860s on the run to freedom. My review is up at Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Dear Evan Hansen,' 'The Starling' and 'The Guilty'

Huge disagreement on Dear Evan Hansen in this week's episode. But we're pretty closely aligned on the two Netflix stinkers. Hear the whole thing down below.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Bad Musicals, American Remakes and German Love Stories

Very happy to be joined by Katie Walsh on Madeleine Brand's show this week: We reviewed Dear Evan Hansen, The Guilty and I'm Your Man. Hear our segment down below.

'The Guilty' in the Age of Defund the Police

In his new movie, Jake Gyllenhaal plays a disgraced cop looking for a shot at redemption. But as the media (and American culture at large) are rethinking our relationship with law enforcement, where does that leave a film like The Guilty? I wrote about that for MEL.

Toronto 2021: 'The Guilty' Review

Jake Gyllenhaal plays a 911 operator who has to endure a stressful night in The Guilty. Do you like movies that are intense featuring a very intense character? Then maybe this will be for you. I wasn't a fan.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'In the Heights,' 'Infinite' and 'Sideways'

 

It was the best of new releases, it was the worst of new releases. We both quite liked In the Heights, but Infinite just about snuffed out our will to live. Then, in our Reboot segment, we look back at 2004's Sideways, which I never loved as much as some many other moviegoers did. Hear the whole thing down below.

 

'The Equalizer 2' Review

I quite liked The Equalizer (the movie, not the TV show): It was fun to watch Denzel Washington in no-nonsense, R-rated, elite-enforcer mode. So what happened with the sequel? I reviewed the disappointing follow-up for Screen International.

Toronto 2016: 'The Magnificent Seven' Review

Welcome to this year's Toronto Film Festival. The opening night film, The Magnificent Seven, kicks us off on a sluggish note. I didn't think it was possible, but Denzel Washington actually delivers a less-than-impressive performance. And I'm not sure what's up with Chris Pratt. My review is up at Screen International.