The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Conclaves, Symbiotes and the Presidential Election

Will wanted to try a little something different for this episode, the last one we'll record before the presidential election. We did our usual movie-reviewing thing, discussing Conclave and Venom: The Last Dance, but for the final segment, we had an off-the-cuff conversation about how we're feeling with the election right around the corner. I hadn't planned anything in advance, neither had Will, so we just talked some things out. Will others get anything out of it? I honestly don't know. You can hear the entire episode down below.

'Venom: The Last Dance' Review

Is this the last Venom film? Sure seems like it. Is it the best of the bunch? My review is live over at Screen International.

Sundance 2024: Ranking the Best and Worst of the Festival

My first Sundance was 2009. It was my first film festival. Those realizations hit me in the middle of this Sundance, so many years later. Back then I didn't know the basic rules: how you should just have your snow boots on when you board the plane to Salt Lake City, how you should make sure to drink enough water to avoid headaches. I don't think you ever truly master a film festival, but over time at least you're more prepared for what might come your way. 

Last year's edition was deemed an instant classic simply because of Past Lives -- not to mention movies like Passages and All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt -- that it was inevitable that this year's installment must suffer by comparison. But I have to say: I saw several gems, including at least one that's going to merit serious consideration for my end-of-the-year list. And, even better, it wasn't one I was expecting greatness from when this Sundance started. But Jesse Eisenberg's beautiful, hilarious A Real Pain floored me. That's the part of a festival you never can plan for -- the movie that comes out of nowhere and knocks your socks off. (And, also, a special shout-out to In the Summers, pictured above, which won the U.S. Dramatic prize, as well as the directing award.)

Below are my rankings, with links leading to individual reviews.

27. Your Monster
26. Rob Peace
25. Love Lies Bleeding
24. Love Me
23. The Outrun
22. Will & Harper
21. A New Kind of Wilderness
20. Exhibiting Forgiveness
19. Gaucho Gaucho
18. Thelma
17. Power
16. DEVO
15. Union
14. War Game
13. My Old Ass
12. Black Box Diaries
11. Presence
10. I Saw the TV Glow
9. Hit Man
8. Girls State
7. Girls Will Be Girls
6. How to Have Sex
5. Good One
4. Sasquatch Sunset
3. A Different Man
2. In the Summers
1. A Real Pain

Sundance 2024: 'Rob Peace' Review

Chiwetel Ejiofor has directed two movies now, and I'm sad to say that I am not convinced he's a great filmmaker. My review of the true-life drama Rob Peace is here.

Celebrating 20 Years of People Making Fun of That One Scene from 'Love Actually'

You know the scene. I wrote about the backlash to Love Actually's big romantic gesture over at Cracked.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Reviews of 'The Lockdown,' 'The Dig' and 'American Skin'

Welcome to our first podcast of the new year. We've got reviews of three new movies, as well as some thoughts about the Capitol riot and Twitter dummies. Hope you enjoy.

'Locked Down' Review

Anne Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor are a London couple who were thinking of ending things. Then came the pandemic. Locked Down is a film that examines what happens when a relationship comes to a close but you're stuck living together. (Also, there's a heist.) I reviewed the film for Screen International.

'Maleficent: Mistress of Evil' Review

Did anyone need a Maleficent sequel? Well, too bad, you're getting one anyway. I reviewed Mistress of Evil for Screen International.

Sundance 2019: 'The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind' Review

Chiwetel Ejiofor makes his directorial debut with this perfectly solid, slightly dull true-life drama. I reviewed The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind for Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: The Rock, The Android, 'The Rider' and 'Borg vs McEnroe'

We tackle five movies on this week's podcast. Will and I both review Rampage and Come Sunday. I go solo on The Rider and Borg vs McEnroe. And then, in our Reboot section, we look back at A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Oh, and I also go off on Netflix. You can hear the whole thing down below.

'Come Sunday' Review

I saw Come Sunday back at Sundance and thought this...

COME SUNDAY: The filmmaking is hardly scintillating, but this study of faith and doubt is so sincerely, humbly explored that it’s moving. As usual, Ejiofor is effortlessly empathetic. #Sundance

— Tim Grierson (@TimGrierson) January 22, 2018

This biopic of Bishop Carlton Pearson, a minister who came to believe that sinners weren't destined for Hell, hits Netflix (and a few theaters) this Friday. I watched the movie again for Screen International ... and ended up feeling the same as I did at Sundance. You can read my review here.

Sundance 2018: The Festival's Best Performances

A little bit of Sundance wrap-up: For Paste, I highlighted 10 great performances from the festival. I can hardly wait to watch Hereditary again. Read the whole list here.

Sticking Up for 'Triple 9'

Unhappy with the lukewarm critical consensus around Triple 9, I decided to plead the movie's case over at The New Republic. It's a well-acted, smart, snarling little thriller, and it reminds me of Killing Them Softly and The Counselor, which I consider a good thing. Read all about it.

'Triple 9' Review

If you can survive the macho overkill of Triple 9, it's a fun, nasty little crime thriller with one heck of a cast, including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anthony Mackie, Casey Affleck, Kate Winslet and Aaron Paul. Like Heat, but without the delusions of grandeur, this is B-movie pulp done right. My review is live at Screen International.

Sundance 2015: 'Z for Zachariah' Review

My most anticipated film of this year's Sundance, Z for Zachariah isn't as violently divisive as director Craig Zobel's last movie, Compliance, was. Still, I once again think I like it more than my colleagues do. A look at the end of the world populated by three mismatched individuals (played superbly by Chiwetel Ejiofor, Margot Robbie and Chris Pine), this low-key drama is very effective as a study of human behavior, a specialty of Zobel's. You can read my review over at Screen International.

Toronto 2013: '12 Years a Slave' Review

Here it is, my review of the most acclaimed movie of the fall film festival season. I loved director Steve McQueen's last movie, Shame, so my expectations were high. 12 Years a Slave is quite good, but it's no Shame, which is hardly a shame. Ugh, yes, I made that joke. I'm sorry. My review is up at Screen International.