Cannes 2017: 'Okja' Review

Okja is a mess. Is it a mess I'd recommend? Just barely. But Bong Joon Ho's film has plenty of dark energy, which helps counteract a lot of cutesy stuff elsewhere. And, Jake Gyllenhaal, seriously, I love you -- but you are terrible in this film. I weigh all the pros and cons at Paste.

Cannes 2017: 'Filmworker' Review

The gentleman on the right, you know. The guy on the left is Leon Vitali, who served as Stanley Kubrick's assistant for years. The documentary Filmworker aims to shed some light on the former actor who became the late director's fiercest champion -- even now, years after his death. A Kubrick nut like me should eat up a movie like this. So how come I didn't? I explain over at Screen International.

Bryan Cranston Plays a New Monster in 'Wakefield'

For MEL, I wrote about Wakefield, which stars Bryan Cranston as a man who decides to walk away from his life. He doesn't go too far, though: He hides in the family garage, spying on his loved ones who don't know what's happened to him. The movie's only so-so, but the Oscar-nominated actor delivers an inspired performance about a deeply contemptuous man. There are some shades of Walter White in Wakefield, which I explain here.

Cannes 2017: 'A Ciambra' Review

In 2015, writer-director Jonas Carpignano released Mediterranea, which followed the harrowing journey of an African refugee living in Italy. A side character from that film is the star of his new movie, A Ciambra. It's a coming-of-age story about poverty and isolation. I reviewed A Ciambra for Screen International.

Temple of the Dog - "All Night Thing"

Sad news about the passing of Chris Cornell. Here's his most romantic, loveliest song.

Cannes 2017: 'Wonderstruck' Review

Todd Haynes follows up Carol with Wonderstruck, based on the young-adult novel from Brian Selznick. It concerns two adolescents -- one from 1927, the other from 1977 -- who both journey to New York in search of phantom people in their lives. Haynes often plays with genre; here, he tackles the family film. My review is up at Paste.

Cannes 2017: 'Jupiter's Moon' Review

Jupiter's Moon is the new film from director Kornél Mundruczó, who previously made White God. The follow-up is more ambitious, in ways that are both good and bad. Here's the premise: A Syrian refugee is shot dead -- except, he doesn't die, instead developing the power to levitate. Intriguing idea, right? It is. I wish Mundruczó hadn't decided to get preachy, though. My review is up at Screen International.

Cannes 2017: 'Ismael's Ghosts' Review

The Cannes opener is generally considered a bit of a snooze. So I wasn't expecting a ton out of Ismael's Ghosts, the new film from French director Arnaud Desplechin. Still, this tale of a filmmaker (Desplechin regular Mathieu Amalric) who discovers that his long-lost love (Marion Cotillard) has returned after a 21-year absence, is rather minor. And sorta frustrating. I reviewed the film for Paste.

Cannes 2017: 'Loveless' Review

After loving Elena (and willing to fight anyone about how underrated The Banishment is), I was a little underwhelmed by Leviathan, which helped bring Russian filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev a larger American audience. (It was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film.) Well, his latest has restored my faith. Loveless is a real stunner, telling the story of an unhappy couple about ready to divorce who discover their 12-year-old son has gone missing. Chilly, chilly, chilly. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. My review is up at Paste.

The Shows Spawned by 'Twin Peaks'

With Twin Peaks returning May 21, the gang at Rolling Stone is paying tribute by highlighting the shows inspired by David Lynch and Mark Frost's indelible series. This is where my intimate knowledge of Fringe pays off. Check it out here.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Amy Schumer, Charlie Hunnam and 'Billy Madison'

On the new episode of the podcast, we have some news. (Don't worry: It's all good. And, no, my vocal-cord nodule has not returned.) Then, we dive into two new movies. I try to muster up much enthusiasm for Snatched and King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. It's more fun dissecting our Reboot movie, which is (heaven help us) Billy Madison. Enjoy!

'Get Me Roger Stone' Made Me Really Angry

For MEL, I wrote about Netflix's new documentary Get Me Roger Stone, about the GOP operative. On one hand, getting incensed about a political bully is a waste of mental energy. (And it's not like Stone's reputation isn't well-established already.) On the other, well, the guy infuriated me. So I went off on a rant here.

On Norm Macdonald's Very Funny 'Hitler's Dog, Gossip & Trickery'

Netflix debuted the new Norm Macdonald stand-up special on Tuesday. For MEL, I suggest that the acerbic comic may be showing his softer side of late. Well, in the way that Norm would. You can read my thoughts here. You can read Norm's thoughts below:

Thank you, Tim. Thank you. https://t.co/ez6KbLxoN5

— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) May 13, 2017

Bruno Mars - "24K Magic"

On Sunday, I head off to Cannes. It's one of my favorite times of the year, but it does mean being away from my wonderful wife for two weeks. So today's Friday Video goes out to her and the song she's (mostly) convinced me is good.

'Snatched' Review

Hey, ladies, don't overreact: I didn't hate your movie that much. I actually found a lot of it pretty amusing. But Snatched only rises to the level of amusing: It's never quite uproarious, and it's rarely that inspired. My review is up at Screen International.

Your Guide to Cinema's Best and Worst King Arthurs

With King Arthur: Legend of the Sword opening Friday, I decided to take a look back at the previous King Arthurs on the big screen. I wrote up my findings for MEL.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Guardians,' 'Cast Away' and 'Streets of Fire'

Will and I both like Vol. 2 more than the original Guardians of the Galaxy, which puts us in the minority. So we talked about it on the podcast. Then, in our Reboot segment, we tackle Cast Away and Streets of Fire. I use the phrase "street toughs" at one point, and Will and I laugh at Willem Dafoe's outfits. A very fun episode, and you can hear it here.

'King Arthur: Legend of the Sword' Review

Do we need another King Arthur movie? Probably not, but Warner Bros. has decided to gift us with Legend of the Sword anyway. Guy Ritchie is an interesting filmmaker: I don't necessarily like his movies, but I am also not bored by them. His sensuous collision of images and sounds is hypnotic -- too bad it never adds up to much. I reviewed King Arthur for Screen International.

Marvel's Secret Superheroes: The Films' Directors

For Rolling Stone, I wrote a longer essay about the secret to Marvel's success. For nearly a decade now, the studio has been on a critical and commercial hit streak, continuing with this past weekend's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. My theory: It's their directors, many of whom were oddball choices to helm major blockbusters. In the process, some of these filmmakers have ended up producing the best work of their careers. How exactly did that happen? Read on.

'The Wall' Review

Are you aware that there's a movie coming out next week called The Wall? I'm guessing not: There seems to be just about no advertising for it. It's the latest from director Doug Liman, and it stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson and John Cena as American soldiers facing off with an Iraqi sniper. Does The Wall work? I suppose, but it feels more like a cinematic exercise than an actual movie. My review is up at Screen International.

Misleading Men: Kurt Russell

Kurt Russell is in two of the world's biggest franchises: Fast and the Furious and Guardians of the Galaxy. So it seemed an appropriate time to write about him for Misleading Men. My take: He's the sort of reliable actor who's very easy to overlook. You can read the whole thing over at MEL.

Run the Jewels (featuring Danny Brown) - "Hey Kids (Bumaye)"

No Run the Jewels album has been a home run for me from top to bottom. But when they lock into a particular mood or groove, they're pretty arresting. RTJ3 has several gems, but today I'm going with "Hey Kids (Bumaye)."

'Burden' Review

When my family comes to Los Angeles, we'll sometimes visit Metropolis II at LACMA. It's a great installation -- playful and endlessly watchable -- and it was constructed by artist Chris Burden. The superb documentary Burden looks back at his life and work, much of which was far more combative and upsetting than Metropolis II. My review is live on Paste.

'Hermia & Helena' Review

One more review from the recent Locarno in Los Angeles film festival. I'd heard great things about Matías Piñeiro's Hermia & Helena, which concerns two young women (neither of them named Hermia or Helena) and their romantic travails. Shakespeare buffs will recognize the allusion, but even if you don't, that won't hamper your enjoyment of this lovely little drama. My review is up at Paste.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'The Circle,' 'A Streetcar Named Desire' and 'A History of Violence'

In Episode 66 of the podcast, Will and I perform an autopsy on The Circle: Seriously, what happened here? Much more satisfying is digging into our two Reboots movies. Neither of us had ever seen A Streetcar Named Desire. And we were both excited to revisit A History of Violence, a much-acclaimed film that neither of us loved when it came out in 2005. You can hear the whole thing here.

Tribeca 2017: 'Bobbi Jene' Review

No, this isn't a movie about the Bruce Springsteen song. Bobbi Jene is a very affecting documentary about Bobbi Jene Smith, an American dancer who decides to come home after making her name as part of an acclaimed Israeli dance troupe. But will the move hurt her career? And what about her romantic relationship with a younger dancer in the company who stays behind? Lots to really savor here, as I explain in my Screen International review.

'All the Cities of the North' Review

A new festival debuted in Los Angeles a couple weeks ago, giving itself the commendable task of bringing some of the most ambitious movies from Locarno to L.A. for their Southern California premiere. It's called Locarno in Los Angeles, cleverly enough, and I was happy to finally check out All the Cities of the North, the feature debut from writer-director Dane Komljen, who also co-stars in the movie. It's about two utterly silent men who live in an abandoned building complex -- and how their lives are changed by the appearance of a third utterly silent man (played by Komljen). All the Cities of the North is described as "slow cinema," which is a term that scares a lot of people. For Paste, I argue against that tendency.

'The Circle' Review

I was on a mini-vacation this weekend, so I didn't have a chance to post my review of The Circle. The short version: It's stunningly bad. The longer version: Read all about it here.

My Interview With Kitty Green, Director of 'Casting JonBenet'

At Sundance, I flipped for Casting JonBenet, a documentary that interviews people in the Boulder area who responded to an open casting call for a JonBenet Ramsey feature. But director Kitty Green was actually more interested in talking to these people about their feelings on the case, and the movie shows her subjects revealing much about themselves. For MEL, Green and I discuss why the movie was so therapeutic for its subjects, the strangeness of beauty pageants, and why everybody seems so harsh on JonBenet's mother Patsy. Check it out here.

Madonna - "What It Feels Like for a Girl"

"What It Feels Like for a Girl" was the third single off Madonna's 2000 album Music. The first two, "Music" and "Don't Tell Me," went to No. 1 and No. 4., respectively. This track didn't even crack the Top 20. Seventeen years later, I still don't know why.

'How to Be a Latin Lover' Review

How to Be a Latin Lover is the feature directorial debut of Ken Marino, who (as someone will no doubt tell you) was really funny on Party Down. Latin Lover is not very funny: It stars Eugenio Derbez as an aging lothario who gets dumped by his rich wife and must learn to fend for himself. (Salma Hayek plays his down-to-earth sister who reluctantly lets him crash at her place.) Neither a raucous comedy nor a satisfyingly sappy family film, Latin Lover didn't do much for me at all. My review is up at Screen International.

In Praise of 'Rachel Getting Married'

For MEL, I wrote about a Jonathan Demme movie that didn't get as much ink today as some of his acknowledged masterpieces. That would be Rachel Getting Married, which helped solidify Anne Hathaway's emergence as a serious actress. It's also another example of a film full of Demme's compassionate view of people. You can read my appreciation here.

(P.S. If you need more Demme recommendations, I contributed to Rolling Stone's overview of his all-time greats.)

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Saying Goodbye to Jonathan Demme

I was very pleased to be asked to appear on Press Play to talk about Jonathan Demme's legacy. I did my best to talk about such a varied, meaningful career. You can hear the segment here.

Remembering Jonathan Demme, the King of the Concert Film

Jonathan Demme passed away today at the age of 73. For Rolling Stone, I focused on a crucial aspect of his career: his concert films. Of course, that means a lot of love is shown to Stop Making Sense, but I also talk about his Neil Young movies and Justin Timberlake+ the Tennessee Kids. It's an incredible legacy, and I try to do it justice here.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Free Fire,' 'Network' and 'The Royal Tenenbaums'

The 65th episode of the podcast finds us debating Free Fire, a movie that crashed and burned at the box office this past weekend. But I particularly liked our conversations in the Reboot section. Much to my surprise, we both have similar reservations about the Oscar-winning, much-beloved Network. And The Royal Tenenbaums gave us a chance to revisit our ongoing discussion about Wes Anderson. Lots of goodness in this episode: Take a listen.

'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' Review

Summer movie season begins in fine fashion with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Though not without its issues -- I'm more convinced that Chris Pratt just isn't a major Hollywood star -- I found it very fun and surprisingly emotional. I reviewed the film for Screen International.

Tribeca 2017: 'The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson' Review

Marsha P. Johnson died around Fourth of July 1992. The police ruled it a suicide, but her friends suspected she was murdered. Decades later, an advocate tries to get the case reopened. That's the setup for The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson, a documentary that doesn't necessarily uncover the truth but does have much to say about the transgender community and the many hardships it faces. This is sobering stuff nicely rendered, as I say in my Screen International review.

Stephin Merritt, '50 Song Memoir' and the Art of "Personal" Songs

For MEL, I wanted to write about 50 Song Memoir, the superb new album from the Magnetic Fields. I started thinking about how Magnetic Fields leader Stephin Merritt inadvertently joined a recent trend of indie artists who are writing about themselves in intensely personal ways. Merritt, who abhors autobiographical lyrics, decided to write a song per year of his life for 50 Song Memoir -- and to draw from his real-life experiences for once. Along the way, he has created a new way of thinking about "personal" songs. You can read my piece here.

Stevie Wonder - "Sir Duke"

My wife and I got married 11 years ago tomorrow. She loves this song, and I love it more now because it makes me think of her loving it.

'Free Fire' Review

Pew! Pew! Pew! Free Fire isn't exactly nonstop gunplay, but there is a lot of shooting in this action-comedy-thriller about an arms deal that goes wrong. I've seen the movie twice now, and both times I've appreciated the exercise without necessarily caring all that much about what happens. My review is up at The New Republic.

Summer 2017: The Must-Sees of the Season

Yup, it's that time of year again. Summer movie season is about to launch, and over at The New Republic, Will and I take a look at the next few months of the release calendar. There are some blockbusters that excite us. There are some auteurist indies that could be amazing. We'll find out soon enough. But for now, here's our preview.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Car Chases, Lost Cities, 'Zero Effect' and 'Man of the West'

This week's edition of the podcast finds me asking Will about The Fate of the Furious and him asking me about The Lost City of Z. But we team up to debate our two Reboot films: the late-1990s cult film Zero Effect and the Anthony Mann western Man of the West. Hear it all here.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': 'Fate of the Furious,' 'The Lost City of Z' and 'Norman'

Barbara Bogaev filled in as host for Madeleine this week, as Jen Yamato and I talked about the Easter weekend's movie options. Jen is a massive, massive, massive Fast and the Furious fan, so being on with her was a treat -- especially since I haven't seen the new movie. (She interviewed Vin Diesel this week for the Los Angeles Times.) And any opportunity I have to sing the praises of The Lost City of Z and Norman I will. Hear it all here.

Misleading Men: Richard Gere

In honor of his new film Norman, which I like, I devoted the latest column in my Misleading Men series to Richard Gere. What's his appeal, exactly? Why is he underrated? And does he have a signature role? I get into all of that over at MEL.

R.E.M. - "Pilgrimage"

On April 12, 1983, R.E.M. released their full-length debut, Murmur. They have probably made better albums since, but none of them feel as cohesive as this one. I said a lot about the record back in this 2008 piece (scroll down), and I still stand behind every word. On an album full of highlights, perhaps my favorite deep cut is "Pilgrimage." No idea what the song means, but Michael Stipe and Mike Mills' vocals say so much.

'The Lost City of Z' Review

For its first half, The Lost City of Z was a perfectly solid, old-fashioned adventure film. Then, something shifted for me. By the end, I was pretty enraptured. I wrote about the movie for The New Republic.

Franchise Scorecard: The Series With More Films Than 'Fast and the Furious'

The Fate of the Furious is the eighth movie in the franchise, so how does that compare to other long-running series? For MEL, I do a little number-crunching, digging into everything from James Bond to Jason. Check out my findings here.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Reviewing 'Graduation' and 'Colossal'

This past weekend's major releases all looked negligible, so Will and I focused the latest installment of the podcast on two foreign/indie movies. First, we dig into Graduation. Then, we turn our attention to Colossal, which we disagree about. Finally, our Reboot segment is dedicated to Michael Mann's The Last of the Mohicans. Will loved it back in the day -- I was a lot less impressed. Anything changed in 25 years? Take a listen.

I Was on 'The News Reel' to Talk About Alec Baldwin

The folks over at The News Reel were nice enough to have me on. We talked about my recent piece on Alec Baldwin and my feelings about movie stars in an era when they seem less important than the property they're in. You can hear the whole thing here.

'Born in China' Review

There are certain movies I see that, when I give them negative reviews, I think, "Oh, my mother is going to be so disappointed in me." Nonetheless, it is my duty to inform you that I think the Disney documentary Born in China suffers from aggressive cuteness. Yes, it has pandas. Yes, it's about making people realize that animals have complex lives. But I still found myself resisting the whole enterprise. I get into it over at Screen International.

Remembering 'Tough Guys'

In honor of this weekend's Going in Style, a movie about older guys pulling off a heist, I decided to look back at another movie about older guys pulling off a heist, 1986's Tough Guys. How has the movie held up? Not so well! But, man, is it fascinating. Here's my piece for MEL.

Teenage Fanclub - "The Cabbage"

If you're trying to write mopey-boy music about a girl breaking up with you, "We were together/But now we're not/Asked you for nothing/That's what I got" sure does the trick.

'Going in Style' Review

You know what you're gonna get from Going in Style, but I still wish it was a little more inspired. Who doesn't love Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Alan Arkin? Well, their relaxed charm is all this heist comedy has going for it. My review is up at Screen International.

Prince's Short, Tragic Fatherhood

It's been nearly a year since Prince died. This week, his ex-wife Mayte Garcia has released a memoir, The Most Beautiful: My Life With Prince, about their time together. The most heartbreaking section, though, covers the death of their days-old son, Amiir. For MEL, I give readers a preview of how Garcia remembers her husband from the initial pregnancy to the boy's tragic death. It's an ordeal no one should have to experience.

My Interview With Dan Stevens

For Rolling Stone, I talked to Dan Stevens, who's in everything at the moment. He was the star of the fantastic Legion, and he's also the hairy creature in a little movie called Beauty and the Beast. But we mostly focused on a new indie drama where he plays a blind man who inexplicably gets his sight back, The Ticket. How does the former Matthew Crawley of Downton Abbey fame feel about his big moment? Read on.

On the Great 'Graduation'

I dug Graduation when I saw it at Cannes, taking issue with colleagues who thought it was merely one more good Romanian moral drama. In my book, you can't have enough of those. I reviewed the film for The New Republic.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Ghost in the Shell,' 'The Last Picture Show' and 'The Room'

My voice feeling back to normal, I very much enjoyed this week's installment of the Grierson & Leitch podcast. First, I come to the defense of Ghost in the Shell. Then, in our Reboot segment, I sing the praises of the anti-nostalgia The Last Picture Show. Finally, I give in and watch The Room, which I had suspected I would live my whole life without seeing. Turns out, I wasn't so lucky. Hear the whole thing here.

Let's Rank American Presidents' First Pitches

In honor of the fact that Donald Trump isn't throwing out the first pitch today at Nationals Park, I decided to rank presidential tosses. You can read the whole thing over at MEL. I did a bunch of research and found lots of fun sports-related tidbits for each commander-in-chief. Oh, and if you're looking for my MLB predictions, I think the Dodgers will beat the Indians in the World Series. In seven months, we'll know if I'm right.