Venice 2026: 'Musk' Review

"God, I have to hear about him enough on a regular basis. I can't imagine sitting through a four-hour documentary about the guy." That's what a colleague said when I told him I'd be seeing Alex Gibney's Musk, which goes deep on the Tesla billionaire's personal and professional life. Is the film worth the time investment? My review is up at Screen International. 

Venice 2026: 'Look Back' Review

Sad to say, but Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Koreeda has put out not one but two disappointing films this year. I was underwhelmed by Sheep in the Box at Cannes, and now comes Look Back, a story of childhood friendship and tragedy. You can read my review here.

'The Screen Podcast': My Top Three Films From Venice 2026

Always a pleasure to be on Screen International's podcast. I joined host Wendy Mitchell to talk about the movies that most impressed me on the Lido. A hint: It's a documentary and two competition films. Check out the conversation down below.

Venice 2026: 'Possible Love' Review

Lee Chang-dong's Possible Love has some spiritual connections to his last film, the incredible Burning. But it's very much its own astounding creation. My review is live over at Screen International. 

Venice 2026: 'Father Joe' Review

I'll say this about Father Joe: It sure ain't boring. In this 1990s action-thriller, Kiefer Sutherland plays a humble priest who wants to end New York's drug problem by killing the dealers. Trying to stop him is Al Pacino as a very hammy mob boss. Written by Luc Besson, the movie is decidedly bonkers. My review is up at Screen International.  

Venice 2026: 'Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger' Review

Don't Look Back in Anger isn't a straightforward concert film. Instead, it combines live footage with a meditation on the beloved 1990s band's legacy. Would I have preferred that Oasis just play the hits? My review is up at Screen International. 

Telluride 2026: 'The Idiot(s)' Review

Anna and Fyodor Dostoevsky's marriage sure seemed complicated. In The Idiot(s), the couple are on their honeymoon and flat broke. Maybe if Fyodor works on his next book, called The Idiot, perhaps their fortunes will change? This is not a conventional biopic, and my review is here. 

Venice 2026: 'My Undesirable Friends: Part II — Exile' Review

I think I made it pretty clear how much I loved My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow. Now comes its superb sequel. For Screen International, I reviewed Part II — Exile.

RJD2 & Supastition - "Back Talk"

Old-school hip-hop, complete with a glorious amount of scratching and hard beats. Hell yeah. Happy Labor Day.

Venice 2026: 'Too Much Sugar' Review

Robert Greene makes nonfiction films in which he collaborates with his subjects on the final product, which often has a therapeutic element to it. Too Much Sugar is his latest documentary, and one of his strongest. My review is live over at Screen International. 

Venice 2026: 'Bucking Fastard' Review

Werner Herzog tells the story of two unusually close sisters in Bucking Fastard, which stars real-life sisters Rooney and Kate Mara. The movie doesn't always make narrative sense, but its emotional logic is unimpeachable. My review is up at Screen International. 

Venice 2026: 'Ink' Review

The 83rd installment of the Venice Film Festival kicked off with Danny Boyle's Ink, which looks at the rise of The Sun, the notorious English tabloid. Jack O'Connell, Guy Pearce and Claire Foy are all in fine form. My review is here. 

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Previewing Venice, Telluride and Toronto 2026

Greetings from Venice. The screenings started today, so for a fun bonus episode of the podcast, I picked five films I'm most curious to see at the fall festivals. Then, we look at the big movies coming out later in 2026. Folks, it's officially awards season. You can listen to our conversation down below.

Let's Rank Ridley Scott's Movies

For the fine folks at Rolling Stone, I helped contribute write-ups for the site's ranking of every Ridley Scott film. As always, I have to remind you that I had no say in the overall rankings, so don't yell at me. But if you'd like to hear my thoughts on Legend, Napoleon and other films, go here. 

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Coyote vs. Acme,' 'The Dog Stars' and 'Tony'

After a week off, we're back. You can hear us talk about Looney Tunes, Will Forte, the Roadrunner, Ridley Scott, Jacob Elordi, Anthony Bourdain, Dominic Sessa, Matt Johnson and the WNBA down below.

'Press Play With Madeleine Brand': Wile E. Coyote, Ridley Scott, 'Idiots' and 'Buddy'

I was on KCRW this week, alongside Shawn Edwards, to discuss this weekend's big releases. That includes Coyote vs. Acme and The Dog Stars, but also the indies Idiots and Buddy (pictured above). You can hear our thoughts down below.

Tool - "Sober"

Between this video and The Nightmare Before Christmas, the mid-1990s were a great time for stop-motion animation.

'The Dog Stars' Review

I get the sense that a lot of my colleagues are down on Ridley Scott's latest. I have mixed feelings about The Dog Stars, but I ultimately found it pretty moving. I get into why over at Screen International. 

'American Doctor' Review

 

Poh Si Teng's documentary chronicles three U.S. physicians who volunteer in Gaza hospitals, operating on Palestinians attacked by the Israeli military. But Teng never turns her subjects into heroes or saints. I reviewed American Doctor for the Los Angeles Times. 

'Insidious: Out of the Further' Review

Most of the principal characters from the original Insidious are no longer with us in this sixth installment of the franchise. That's just one of the problems with Out of the Further, which I rip into over at the Los Angeles Times.