The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Our Oscar Recap, 'Undertone' and 'Casino'

The Oscars happened on Sunday: What did we think of the broadcast? We talk about it on this week's podcast. Plus, we review the new horror film Undertone and revisit 1995's Casino. A fun show, which you can hear below.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Gangsters, Princesses, Killers and 'Ash'

I was pleased to be on KCRW alongside Alison Willmore to discuss this weekend's movies. I like Misercordia and Ash. I do not like The Alto Knights and Snow White. Hear all of our thoughts down below.

'The Alto Knights' Review

You get two Robert De Niros for the price of one in The Alto Knights, a real-life gangster drama about childhood friends who became mob rivals. The Oscar-winning actor plays both roles, a decision I think ultimately doesn't help the movie all that much. My Screen International review is here.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Our Oscar Reactions and Don Hertzfeldt's 'ME'

What a night. We talked about the Oscars on our new episode. We also finally got around to discussing ME, Don Hertzfeldt's terrific 2024 animated short. Then, in our Reboot segment,we went back to Robert De Niro's directorial debut, A Bronx Tale. Hope you enjoy.

Robert De Niro and 'Analyze This,' 25 Years Later

Want to pinpoint the moment Robert De Niro pivoted to being a comedy superstar? It's actually not Meet the Parents, it's Analyze This, which came out 25 years ago this month. I talk about the transition here.

Martin Scorsese's 10 Best Director Nominations

With Killers of the Flower Moon, Martin Scorsese has now been nominated 10 times for the Oscar for Best Director. Which film is the best? I have the answers.

'All Of It With Alison Stewart': Talking Martin Scorsese

Will and I were on WNYC to discuss Martin Scorsese's career and our Vulture ranking of the man's films. (We also took listener questions.) You can check out the segment down below.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Digging Into 'Killers of the Flower Moon' and 'The Pigeon Tunnel'

Apple is currently backing two major filmmakers: Martin Scorsese and Errol Morris. On the podcast, we review both of their new movies. And then, we go back to the early 21st century to revisit In America. Check it out below.

The Long Legacy of 'The King of Comedy'

In its time, Martin Scorsese's 1983 picture seemed strange, cruel and off-putting. But now? It's influenced a ton of cringe comedy. I wrote about the film's cultural impact for Cracked.

What's the Greatest Action-Comedy Ever?

And what even is an action-comedy? I answer both questions over at Cracked.

'Amsterdam' Review

When David O. Russell's latest wasn't featured at any of the fall film festivals, there was concern that it was a stinker. To be fair, 20th Century Studios is in such a weird limbo with its new parent company Disney that it's hard to know exactly what's going on with any of its movies. Still, I'm here to say that Amsterdam is a misfire.

The Best Films About America

Rolling Stone put together a list of movies that have encapsulated America over the last 50 years. I didn't have a say in the rankings, but I was asked to write the capsules for Selma, Moonlight, O.J.: Made in America, Safe, Taxi Driver and Wendy and Lucy. A pleasure to write about such mighty films. The whole list is here.

'The Deer Hunter,' Roe v. Wade and "God Bless America"

I didn't feel like saying anything about the overturning of Roe v. Wade. But the Democrats' response made me so angry that I had to. For MEL, I wrote about "God Bless America" and its most damning use in a film. My essay is here.

Joe Pesci ... Musician?

You know him from films like Goodfellas and The Irishman. But wait until you hear Little Joe Sure Can Sing! I wrote about Joe Pesci's forgotten musical career for MEL.

Robert De Niro, Sans Martin Scorsese

Sure, he's a great actor, but when you're making a list of great Robert De Niro performances, you tend to focus on his work with Martin Scorsese. So, I gave myself the challenge of picking the two-time Oscar-winner's best roles from the rest of his oeuvre. No problem.

The Best Films About Gambling

For the Super Bowl, Vulture asked us to pick 25 great movies about gambling. Pretty pleased with this list.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'The Irishman,' 'The King' and 'Motherless Brooklyn'

Sure, we review Terminator: Dark Fate on this week's podcast, but it's actually more interesting to dig into The King and Motherless Brooklyn. But the majority of the show is given over to The Irishman, for obvious reasons. Hear the whole thing down below.

Some Thoughts on 'The Irishman'

I think The Irishman is terrific. I tried to explain why over at MEL.

What's Martin Scorsese's Best Film?

For Vulture, Will and I put our heads together and ranked the Oscar-winner's films, including his latest, The Irishman. A daunting task, but we were up to it. Take a look.

What's the Best Heist Film?

In honor of Ocean's 8, Will and I wrote about the 25 greatest heist movies. Will yours make the list? Probably not: Feel free to yell at us on social media. The piece is up at Vulture.