The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: The Best Films of 2026 (So Far)

We've reached the halfway point of the year. So it's time for Will and me to each reveal our picks for the six best films of 2026 so far. My list includes a big studio movie, a three-hour road trip shot on a crappy old smartphone, a semi-autobiographical drama a Kafkaesque nightmare, a satire about the Israel/Palestine conflict, and a ghostly tale about a missing boat that returns. Check out our choices down below.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'The Christophers,' Another 'Mummy' and 'Normal'

Susan and I were away this past weekend, but that did not stop Will and me from recording our podcast. (We taped some segments beforehand and some during the trip.) You can hear us discuss Steven Soderbergh's latest, as well as Lee Cronin's The Mummy and Normal, both of which stink. Oh, and I talk about Citizen Kane a little as well. Hope you enjoy.  

What Is the Best Sundance Movie of All Time?

Before I left for Park City, Screen Rant invited me to join their senior film critic Gregory Nussen for a podcast episode in which we each made our choice for the greatest Sundance movie ever. What did "greatest" mean? That was left to us to determine. Gregory went with Sex, Lies, and Videotape. I went with Hoop Dreams. Below, we talk about our picks. Hope you enjoy.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: The 'One Battle After Another' Episode

We devoted most of this week's show to one film, Paul Thomas Anderson's explosive political action-thriller. Lots to dig into there. Then, in our Reboot segment, we look back at 1999's The Limey in honor of the late Terence Stamp. Check it out below.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Debating 'Magazine Dreams,' Raving About 'Black Bag'

After a week off, we're back, and we're reviewing four new movies. Want to hear our thoughts on Snow White? No problem. Interested in what we make of Opus? You're in luck. Curious about Black Bag and Magazine Dreams? We're on 'em. Check out the episode down below.

'Black Bag' Review

Steven Soderbergh's best in a good long while? I sure think so. My review of Black Bag is up at Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Companion,' 'Presence,' 'Perfect Days' and My Sundance Recap

I'm back from Sundance, and so is the podcast. This week, I give some quick thoughts about the festival. Then, we dive into two new movies: Companion and Presence. Finally, we look back at a 2023 film we never talked about, Wim Wenders' Perfect Days. Check out the episode down below.

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: 'Presence' Review

Is Presence a horror movie? I suppose technically it is: Steven Soderbergh tells the story of a family who move into a new house, which is already occupied by a ghostly presence. But the film is more of a fun cinematic exercise than a fright fest, as I explain over at Screen International.

My Interview With Godfrey Reggio, Director of 'Once Within a Time'

Like many people, I was knocked sideways when I first saw Koyaanisqatsi. The man behind that visionary film, Godfrey Reggio, has slowly but surely kept making movies ever since. His latest is Once Within a Time, and like all his films, it's talking about humanity's unsteady relationship with technology. For the Los Angeles Times, I spoke with Reggio, who's now in his 80s, about death, the future and smoking a pack a day. (I also chatted with his frequent executive producer, Steven Soderbergh, about what makes Reggio so special.) Hope you enjoy.

Never Forget How Great Matt Damon Is in 'The Informant!'

With Matt Damon getting good reviews for Air, it got me thinking: What is his funniest performance? The answer was easy. Over at Cracked, I sing the praises of The Informant!

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Magic Mike's Last Dance,' 'Sharper' and 'Your Place or Mine'

We disagree about the final installment in the Magic Mike trilogy, but we're pretty much aligned on the twisty Sharper. As for Your Place or Mine, well, I got angry. Check out the latest episode of the podcast down below.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Reviewing 'Somebody I Used to Know,' 'The Blue Caftan' and 'Magic Mike's Last Dance'

Christy Lemire and I teamed up to be on KCRW (alongside guest host Michell Eloy) to review this weekend's big releases. You can hear our thoughts on Sharper, Somebody I Used to Know, The Blue Caftan and Magic Mike's Last Dance down below.

'Magic Mike's Last Dance' Review

My guess is that Magic Mike's Last Dance is going to throw some folks who just want a sexy good time. It's more melancholy, and more muted, than its predecessors. I reviewed the sequel for Screen International.

Happy 10th Anniversary, 'Magic Mike'

For MEL, I wrote about Steven Soderbergh's unlikely 2012 summer smash, which helped cement Channing Tatum's stardom and revitalized Matthew McConaughey's. Hope you enjoy.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Kimi,' 'Death on the Nile' and 'Testament'

This week was an in-person episode. (Will was in Los Angeles for the Super Bowl.) So we enjoyed recording face-to-face, with both of us tackling Kimi. Then, Will asked me about Death on the Nile and Marry Me. Finally, in our Reboot segment, we talked about Testament, a film that impacted us as teenagers. Does it hold up? You can hear the whole thing down below.

Maybe Skip 'The 355' and Rewatch 'Haywire' Instead

In 2011 at AFI Fest, Steven Soderbergh premiered a secret new project, called Haywire, starring an MMA fighter (Gina Carano) as an elite operative who gets betrayed. It was a hoot. The movie opened in January 2012, which has now been 10 years. For MEL, I revisit the film in light of this weekend's The 355. Read all about it here.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Space Jam: A New Legacy,' 'Pig' and My Cannes Report

Lots of movies to cram in this week. We reviewed Black Widow, Space Jam: A New Legacy, No Sudden Move and Pig. Then I asked Will about The Tomorrow War. But first, I talked about my time at Cannes. Hear the whole thing down below.

Tribeca 2021: 'No Sudden Move' Review

Steven Soderbergh's latest is rich in atmosphere, which is good because I'm not convinced its plot entirely makes sense. But, then again, that's kind of the point with these kinds of moody crime dramas. My review of No Sudden Move is up at Screen International.

Let's Rank George Clooney's Movies

Where does The Midnight Sky place among George Clooney's performances? We break it all down over at Vulture.