The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: The Best Films of the First Half of 2024

We're already halfway through the year, which means it's time for each of us to offer up our picks for the best films of 2024 (so far). We also spend a little time reviewing the mediocre Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. Check it all out below.

'Pinocchio' Review

What a colossal disappointment the new Pinocchio is. This Robert Zemeckis live-action remake stinks in all kinds of ways.

'The Trial of the Chicago 7' Review

Aaron Sorkin takes on the 1960s with his latest. The Trial of the Chicago 7 is very, very Sorkin-y, but I think it works pretty well.

What's the Difference Between a Stupid-Dumb Action Movie and a Smart-Dumb Action Movie?

And what does Project Power have to do with it? I explain all over at MEL.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Boys State, Power Pills and 'The Scarlet Letter'

Two new movies on this week's episode: One is good (Boys State), one is not (Project Power). Then, in our Reboot segment, we look back at 1995's mega-bomb The Scarlet Letter. (Our Reboot requester's note to us made it all worthwhile.) Hear the whole thing down below.

'Project Power' Review

Superpowers! Political commentary! Rapping! I wasn't too enthused by Project Power.

'Inception' at 10

For SyFy, I pondered Inception's impact. Big movie star teams up with big movie director for high-concept, top-secret project. And, hey, it worked. You can read my appreciation here.

Must-See LGBTQ Movies

For Pride Month, Rolling Stone put together a list of 50 essential films that encapsulate queer culture. I was honored to be asked to contribute: I wrote about Keep the Lights On, Portrait of a Lady on Fire and Mysterious Skin. You can read the whole thing here.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Reviewing 'Snowden,' 'Blair Witch' and 'Bullitt'

I'm back from Toronto, and for this week's installment of the Grierson & Leitch podcast, I recap the festival briefly. Plus, we talk about two disappointing new releases, Snowden and Blair Witch. Then, in our Reboot section, I totally flip out for Bullitt. (It's more than a movie with a great car chase, folks.) You can hear the whole thing here.

Toronto 2016: 'Snowden' Review

Snowden has the makings of a classic Oliver Stone film: a man against the system, an attack on government hypocrisy, etc. etc. So what happened? Joseph Gordon-Levitt does a decent impression of the whistle-blower, but this biopic is surprisingly conventional and uninspired. My review is up at Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Talking 'Suicide Squad,' 'Shallow Grave,' 'Brick'

On this week's episode, Will and I try to explain what happens in Suicide Squad. (It's such a bad movie.) But we have more fun in our Reboot segment, which focuses on two stylish debuts: Danny Boyle's Shallow Grave and Rian Johnson's Brick. You can hear the whole thing here.

Is It Time for Seth Rogen to Stop Making Bromances?

That's the question I pose in my piece on The Night Before over at Deadspin. If I'm asking it, that probably means my answer is "yes." And, in fact, that is my answer! You can read the piece here.

'The Night Before' Review

Bah humbug. The merely fitfully hilarious The Night Before isn't a new Christmas comedy classic but, rather, a predictable sex-and-drugs comedy from Seth Rogen's creative team. What once was funny is now just familiar. I reviewed the film for Screen International.