Venice/Telluride/Toronto 2022: The Wrap-Up and the Rankings

Does it feel like awards season? Like it or not, we've entered fall, when the more serious, prestigious (or, at the very least, the ones that pretend to be prestigious) movies start taking center stage. And I was very happy to back in the thick of it: For the first time in three years, I attended the Toronto Film Festival, which along with Venice and Telluride kick-start the annual Oscar conversation. I had very much missed Toronto, and while it's premature to say that any festival is all the way "back" after the pandemic, TIFF did its best to create a reasonable facsimile of its pre-Covid editions.

But because Toronto doesn't encompass everything that screened at other fall fests, I decided to put together the below rankings by including movies I've seen that premiered at Toronto or Telluride or Venice. (To further complicate things, I opted not to rank any films screened in Toronto that had bowed at Cannes back in May. You can see my rankings for Cannes 2022 right here.)

There were several strong movies near the top of my list, and no clear-cut "best," but for No. 1, I went with a bit of a surprise. Coming out of Venice, the reviews for Joanna Hogg's continuation of The Souvenir were polite but not exactly rapturous. So imagine my shock when I attended a 9am press screening of The Eternal Daughter and was fairly knocked out. The less one knows about this third chapter the better, but suffice it to say Tilda Swinton is remarkable. In a fair world, she and Cate Blanchett would be battling it out for acting prizes this awards season. But in life as in the movies, "fair" rarely factors into the equation.

Links lead to individual reviews. And, yes, The Greatest Beer Run Ever is as awful as you've heard.

31. The Greatest Beer Run Ever
30. Don't Worry Darling
29. Dalíland
28. My Policeman
27. Wendell & Wild
26. Butcher's Crossing
25. Blueback
24. Catherine Called Birdy
23. My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock
22. Athena
21. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
20. Good Night Oppy
19. The Inspection
18. The Wonder
17. Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
16. A Compassionate Spy
15. The Woman King
14. Pearl
13. Bros
12. Other People's Children
11. Viking
10. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
9. Women Talking
8. Unruly
7. The Banshees of Inisherin
6. All the Beauty and the Bloodshed
5. Saint Omer
4. Tár
3. No Bears
2. The Fabelmans
1. The Eternal Daughter

Toronto 2022: 'Daliland' Review

You know what they say about closing-night films: They tend to be stinkers. Sadly, that proves true again with Toronto's final offering, Daliland, in which Ben Kingsley plays Salvador Dali near the end of his life. My review is up at Screen International.

Toronto 2022: 'Blueback' Review

At some point in my life, perhaps I will stop thinking of George Costanza whenever a movie character is a marine biologist. But not yet: Blueback stars Mia Wasikowska as one, and she must return home after she learns that her mother has had a debilitating stroke. The film is about these two women, with flashbacks interwoven throughout the story. It's a movie I found touching but not very substantial. My review is here. 

Ramsey Lewis - "Wade in the Water"

Happy Friday, everybody.

Toronto 2022: 'Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues' Review

Can you encapsulate the magnitude of Louis Armstrong's life and career in a 100-minute documentary? Probably not. But I appreciated Black & Blues nonetheless. Here's my review.

Remembering Roberto Benigni's 'Pinocchio' 20 Years Later

Robert Zemeckis got terrible reviews for his new Pinocchio, deservedly so, which inspired me to revisit another disastrous Pinocchio. That would be the one Roberto Benigni made as his follow-up to Life Is Beautiful. For Decider, I wrote about how it all went so wrong.

Toronto 2022: 'The Wonder' Review

Florence Pugh's other movie this awards season is the superior one. For Screen International, I reviewed the 19th-century psychological drama The Wonder.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Talking About Jean-Luc Godard

Very appreciative of Madeleine to have me on yesterday to discuss the passing of a legend. (I recorded my segment at the TIFF headquarters, but I did my best to find a relatively quiet spot.) The segment is down below.

Toronto 2022: 'Unruly' Review

Festivals are especially fun when you make little discoveries. One of mine for this year's Toronto is Unruly, a superb drama about a young woman in Copenhagen in the 1930s who's sent away because of her "immoral tendencies." I reviewed the film for Screen International.

Toronto 2022: 'The Greatest Beer Run Ever' Review

Four years ago, Green Book premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. Now, Peter Farrelly is back at the festival with his follow-up film, which I think is a lot worse. Yes, really.

Toronto 2022: 'Butcher's Crossing' Review

It is, perhaps, an indication of the merits of Butcher's Crossing that it's a Nicolas Cage movie that nobody is talking about. This western stars the Oscar-winner as a buffalo hunter who leads an expedition, leading to disastrous results. My review of this existential drama is here.

Toronto 2022: 'Wendell & Wild' Review

Henry Selick hasn't made a film since Coraline. Is Wendell & Wild worth the wait? My Screen International review has the answer.

Jean-Luc Godard, 1930-2022

One of the true titans of cinema has died. For Rolling Stone, I wrote the obituary for the great Jean-Luc Godard.

'See How They Run' Review

Who doesn't love a good whodunit? The 1950s-set See How They Run actively calls out the cliches and conventions of the genre, resulting in a film that's way too proud of its own cleverness. My review is up at Screen International.

Toronto 2022: 'Catherine Called Birdy' Review

Catherine Called Birdy is Lena Dunham's second film this year, following the recently released Sharp Stick. In this medieval comedy, Bella Ramsey plays a young woman in 13th-century England who's not ready to be married off, so she takes matters into her own hands. My review is up at Screen International.

Toronto 2022: 'My Policeman' Review

Harry Styles got a lot of press for Don't Worry Darling and that whole "Did he spit on Chris Pine?" nonsense. But that's not the only film he has premiering at the fall film festivals. For Screen International, I reviewed My Policeman. (Leans over to date: "He's the policeman.")

Toronto 2022: 'The Fabelmans' Review

Finally, the Meek's Cutoff reunion of Michelle Williams and Paul Dano we've all been waiting for!

(For Screen International, I reviewed Steven Spielberg's great new movie.)

Toronto 2022: 'The Inspection' Review

It's 2005 and French (Jeremy Pope), a young gay homeless man, decides to join the Marines, deciding he has nowhere else to go. The Inspection is based on filmmaker Elegance Bratton's own experiences; I reviewed this boot-camp drama for Screen International.

Toronto 2022: 'Weird: The Al Yankovic Story' Review

Who doesn't love "Weird Al" Yankovic? So why didn't I love the spoof biopic he co-wrote about himself that stars Daniel Radcliffe? I work through my mixed feelings about the film over at Screen International.

Toronto 2022: 'The Woman King' Review

When I interviewed Viola Davis for Widows, she talked about how hard it was to train to carry those big, heavy bags for that film's heist scenes. I can't even imagine the workout that went into preparing for The Woman King, where she plays the leader of a formidable all-woman army in 1820s West Africa. The film starts slow, but it really gets cooking in its final stretches. I reviewed The Woman King for Screen International.

Toronto 2022: 'Bros' Review

Judd Apatow often makes (or produces) comedies about smart, somewhat cynical people who need to get over themselves in order to find love. That trend continues with Bros, which follows a sarcastic New Yorker (co-writer Billy Eichner) who lets down his guard when he meets a cute lawyer (Luke Macfarlane). Apatow only produced the film, Nicholas Stoller directed, but you can see the template at work. It doesn't matter when it's this charming, funny and touching. My review is now live.

Drugdealer - "Madison"

Enjoy the feel-good 1970s vibes.

'Pinocchio' Review

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

'Barbarian' Review

What a pleasant surprise Barbarian is. This horror movie doesn't have big stars and may be a little under the radar, but it's a damn good (and damn clever) genre piece. I reviewed the film for Screen International.

Toronto 2022: 'Women Talking' Review

Greetings from Canada. My first review from the Toronto Film Festival is a biggie: It's Sarah Polley's first movie in 10 years, the somber drama Women Talking. You can read my thoughts over at Screen International.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Previewing the 2022 Toronto Film Festival

Guess where I am? On this week's episode, I offered a preview of some of the movies I'm curious to see here in Toronto. Hear the conversation down below.

Telluride 2022: 'My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock' Review

If Alfred Hitchcock was alive today, what would he say? That's the intriguing premise of Mark Cousins' new documentary, which I don't think entirely works. I explain why over at Screen International.

Venice 2022: 'Don't Worry Darling' Review

Before its Venice premiere, Don't Worry Darling had to deal with a lot of bad buzz, which all started in earnest after I saw the film a few weeks ago. I bring that up only to mention that my review doesn't take any of that into account. Over at Screen International, I lament a fairly disappointing sophomore effort from director Olivia Wilde.

Venice 2022: 'Pearl' Review

I wasn't sure if I needed a prequel to X, which I liked quite a lot, but Pearl proves to be a very satisfying origin story. My review is up at Screen International.

Telluride 2022: 'Good Night Oppy' Review

Good Night Oppy is a pretty straightforward documentary about the launch of two Mars rovers, Opportunity and Spirit, that NASA sent to the Red Planet in the early 2000s. But despite the film's cutesy, rah-rah tone, I found it entertaining enough, and also surprisingly moving. My review is up at Screen International.

Venice 2022: 'Athena' Review

The murder of a young man in France by the police provokes riots in the streets in Athena, a film that incorporates ambitious single-shot sequences. I found this thriller stunning in terms of its technical skill. But emotionally and narratively, I think it's a bit lacking. My Screen International review is here.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: George Miller's Latest, 'Funny Pages' and 'Samaritan'

Dog days of August, folks. We review three new movies on the podcast, and only one of them is worthy your time -- and it's not Three Thousand Years of Longing. Hear the whole episode down below.

Venice 2022: 'A Compassionate Spy' Review

Ted Hall was the youngest physicist working on the Manhattan Project. But he felt that no one nation should own the designs on making nuclear weapons, so he did something radical: He shared that intel with the Soviets. Steve James' new documentary is about Hall, his wife Joan, and the life they led -- and the secret they kept. Here's my review of A Compassionate Spy.

Mac Ayres - "Nothing Else"

Have a good Labor Day weekend. The Toronto Film Festival awaits.

Venice 2022: 'Tar' Review

I have no clue how others feel about Tar, but I think it comes very close to being remarkable. I get into that, and my reservations, over at Screen International.

Mac Miller - "That's on Me"

Next month, it will have been four years since Mac Miller died.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Going Back to 'Collateral' and 'Dog Day Afternoon'

This week's episode only features one new review, the so-so Beast. But the real fun comes from our two Reboot movies, a classic Los Angeles crime film and a classic New York crime film. You can hear the whole thing down below.

Hollywood's Take on Mike Tyson

Hulu's new series Mike is just the latest attempt to tell Iron Mike's story. Why do filmmakers so often get it wrong? I have some thoughts over at GQ.

Ranking the 'John Wick' Team's Non-'John Wick' Movies

Now that the folks who came up with John Wick have started branching out into other films, Will and I decided to put together a little guide to these non-John Wick properties. Not surprisingly, these movies often ... feel like John Wick movies, except with some small differences. Our rankings are live over at Vulture.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Raving About 'The Territory,' Lamenting 'Spin Me Round'

Madeleine had the day off, so Michell Eloy took over hosting duties for this week's segment. She, Katie Walsh and I talked about the weekend's new releases, although there's only one worth seeking out, The Territory. You can hear our segment down below.

Car Seat Headrest - "There Must Be More Than Blood"

Two years later, I still think Making a Door Less Open is a good album, damn it. I know I am alone in this feeling, but that's fine: That means I don't have to share "There Must Be More Than Blood" with anyone.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Emily the Criminal,' 'Bodies Bodies Bodies' and 'Day Shift'

One real good movie, two not-so-good movies: That's the story of this week's episode. I'll let you guess which is which, or you can just listen down below.

'Beast' Review

Wanna know how you can tell it's mid-August? Check out this week's new release, the very B-movie-ish Beast, in which Idris Elba has to battle a hungry lion. Yup, it's that time of year on the film calendar. My review is up at Screen International.

Edinburgh 2022: 'Whina' Review

I was not familiar with Dame Whina Cooper before watching Whina, which tells her story. Dying at the age of 98, she spent her long life fighting for the rights of her fellow Maori in New Zealand, whose government marginalized and displaced its Indigenous population. My review is up at Screen International. 

Edinburgh 2022: 'A Bunch of Amateurs' Review

A Bunch of Amateurs introduces us to Bradford Movie Makers, an amateur film club in England whose numbers are thinning. A touching tribute to cinephilia and aging, the documentary is a crowd-pleaser but also pretty bittersweet. My review is here.

Edinburgh 2022: 'Neon Spring' Review

A Latvian 20-year-old has an unhappy life. Will plugging into the local rave scene help her find her groove? For Screen International, I reviewed Neon Spring.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Is 'Bullet Train' or 'Luck' Worse?

It's August, which is when the movies start getting worse. Need proof? Just check out this week's episode, where I disparage both Brad Pitt's latest and Luck. (We did have nice things to say about Prey, though.) Hear the whole thing down below.

Olivia Newton-John - "Hopelessly Devoted to You"

Who's strong enough to deny this song?

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Super-Pets,' 'Resurrection' and 'Sharp Stick'

We didn't see eye-to-eye on DC League of Super-Pets and Resurrection, but we were both fascinated by Lena Dunham's latest, which doesn't quite work but has a lot going on thematically. You can hear the episode down below.

The Tom Hanks We Don't See Anymore

Amazon will be releasing a TV version of A League of Their Own on Friday. For Decider, I revisited the original movie, which features a Tom Hanks performance that is so unlike what we've seen from him in the last several decades. Truth is, the film was something of a demarcation point between his early, goofier career and the serious, Oscar-winning one that was about to begin. You can read my piece here.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Nope,' 'The Gray Man' and 'Where the Crawdads Sing'

Somehow, I completely forgot to post the recent episodes of the podcast on here. Whoops! So let me rectify that by first putting this one up. I liked Jordan Peele's latest a little more than Will did, but we're pretty much aligned on The Gray Man and Where the Crawdads Sing. You can hear our chat down below.

My Interview With Patricia Arquette

For the Los Angeles Times, I spoke with Patricia Arquette, who's Emmy-nominated for her superb work on Severance. We talked about tech companies, Roe vs. Wade, and putting her faith in her director (and friend) Ben Stiller. Hope you enjoy.

In Praise of 'Elvis: That's the Way It Is'

Now that Elvis is available for rental/purchase, I wanted to take a moment to spotlight an older, better film about the King. That would be Elvis: That's the Way It Is, the 1970 documentary about his Las Vegas residency, which is actually featured in Elvis. My thoughts are over at Decider.

Let's Rank the Predator Films

Prey is the seventh Predator movie, including those two Alien vs. Predator flicks. So where does the new one rank in the series? We've got the answer over at Vulture.

Justin Bieber - "Sorry"

All these years later, I still think this song's pretty terrific.

 

'Prey' Review

What if the Predator landed in North America back in the 1700s? What chance would humans back then have against that creature? That's the premise of Prey, which ends up being surprisingly entertaining. My review is up at Screen International.

'Bullet Train' Review

Boy, is Bullet Train irreverent! This action-comedy, about a bunch of bad guys all on the same Japanese high-speed train, wants very badly to be hip and amoral. It's mostly just exhausting. My review is up at Screen International.