i love that any pic of kstew is considered adult content.
Tim Grierson
@timgrierson.bsky.social
Senior U.S. Critic for Screen International. Member: LAFCA and NSFC. Frequently in the Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, Vulture, the A.V. Club and RogerEbert.com. Author of "This Is How You Make a Movie." Q&A moderator. Contact: timothygrierson@gmail.com
Thrilled to share the cover and pub date for my next book! YIPPEE KI-YAY: "DIE HARD," BRUCE WILLIS, AND THE REINVENTION OF THE ACTION MOVIE — an in-depth look at the origin, production, and legacy of the original 1988 classic, as well as its various sequels and rip-offs — is out 5/11/27!
THE END OF OAK STREET: Or, David Robert Mitchell's THE MYTH OF THE AMERICAN BLOCKBUSTER. He's long been interested in the eerie geniality of suburbia, but this time he adds rampaging dinosaurs to the mix. An uneven interrogation of both Spielberg's fondness for escapism and anxiety about family.
Stoner comedies are a mixed bag for me. But I got on the wavelength of THE WRONG GIRLS, mostly because of how enjoyable Kristen Stewart and Alia Shawkat are playing absolute idiots.
‘The Wrong Girls’ review: Kristen Stewart and Alia Shawkat have kooky chemistry in affable stoner comedy
Neon releases Dylan Meyer's irreverent debut in US cinemas on August 14
screendaily.com
COYOTE VS. ACME captures the anarchic, sarcastic spirit of Looney Tunes cartoons. But the live-action stars and filmmakers let the movie down.
’Coyote Vs. Acme’ review: Looney Tunes adaptation is, like its wiley protagonist, more miss than hit
Dave Green's blend of live-action and animation stars John Cena, Will Forte and a host of Looney Tunes characters
screendaily.com
WALL-E: Yup, still the best. It takes real genius (and guts) to make a movie this sappy and yet also so bleak about humanity's potential to destroy itself. More emotional than TOY STORY 3. More trenchant (and a whole lot less smug about it) than IDIOCRACY. And it owns those HELLO, DOLLY! songs now.
When BOYHOOD was first in theaters, I was lucky enough to moderate several Q&As with the creative team. On August 28, thanks to @amcinematheque.bsky.social and @lafilmcritics.bsky.social, I'll be joined by Richard Linklater at the Aero for a screening and conversation about his landmark film.
BOYHOOD - American Cinematheque
americancinematheque.com
JOSEPHINE is an emotionally tricky drama that plays like a psychological horror film. I think it's great -- it hits theaters on November 20.
‘Josephine’ review: Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan star in raw, striking sexual assault drama
Young newcomer Mason Reeves also impresses in Beth de Araujo's arresting second feature
screendaily.com
Update: After watching her Outside Lands set, I'm convinced the MUSIC, FASHION, FILM material is better live. Rocks harder, hits deeper, feels way more urgent. And the BRAT songs aren't losing any of their luster, either.
Tim Grierson@timgrierson.bsky.social · last wk.Charli XCX at Lollapalooza: I keep thinking about that cathartic, clear-eyed finale as "SS26" and "No One Lasts Forever" give way to Cronenberg's stark wisdom, 10 words repeating like a mantra or battle cry. She knows she won't always be this major, so she's gonna enjoy the hell out of it right now.
On July 31, as part of the Academy Museum's “A Weekend With Agnieszka Holland” screening series, I moderated a Q&A for GREEN BORDER at the Ted Mann Theater. It was an honor. (©Academy Museum Foundation, photos by Randy Shropshire.)
Many people are understandably annoyed with Will Gluck's comment about sex in movies. But I'm still thinking about another real quote in that interview: “You know how the acronym for word-of-mouth is WOM? I’m calling it a WOM-com.”
DiscussingFilm@discussingfilm.net · 6d ago‘ONE NIGHT ONLY’ director Will Gluck says they cut out “so much nudity” from the film because he thinks audiences dislike sex on screen. “Whenever people now see nudity or very adult situations in a big theater, they get uncomfortable.” (Source: variety.com/2026/film/fe...)
Was just reminded of this trade ad that George Lucas took out after TITANIC became the highest-grossing film of all time, unseating STAR WARS.
It's always sad when an irrelevant brand tries to bolster its culture currency by shamelessly hitching its wagon to something far cooler.
With BLACKBERRY, Matt Johnson demonstrated his ability to bring fresh ideas to the biopic genre. He does the same with his up-close, unsentimental look at a young Anthony Bourdain in TONY.
‘Tony’ review: Dominic Sessa impresses as young chef Anthony Bourdain
Antonio Banderas and Emilia Jones also star in the feature, which opens in the US on August 7
screendaily.com
TESTAMENT has haunted me since I saw it as a boy. In honor of the film being added to the @criterion.bsky.social, I spoke with director Lynne Littman and star Jane Alexander about death, motherhood, and the fact that we're always on the eve of destruction.
Interview: Lynne Littman and Jane Alexander on Testament | Film Comment
The director and lead actor discuss the making of and response to their 1983 cold-war drama, a starkly realist vision of a suburban family’s experience of nuclear apocalypse
filmcomment.com
Here's my review of ONE NIGHT ONLY, which tries to keep the sexy, R-rated romantic comedy alive at the multiplex. But like Will Gluck's previous rom-com FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS, it's not nearly as provocative as it thinks it is.
‘One Night Only’ review: Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro spark in otherwise limp romantic comedy
Will Gluck's follow-up to 'Anyone But You' opens in the US on August 7 and the UK on August 28
screendaily.com
Dafoe has rarely been so tender, playing a man allowing himself to dream again for the first time in forever. www.avclub.com/late-fame-re...
Going to see this at #NZIFF this afternoon, and looking forward to seeing how two of my favourite things (Willem Dafoe and Arthur Schnitzler) go together. #FilmSky #MovieSky
Tim Grierson@timgrierson.bsky.social · last wk.For the @avclub.com, I reviewed LATE FAME, a tender but unsentimental story about the danger in believing that your genius was never appreciated in its own time.
For the @avclub.com, I reviewed LATE FAME, a tender but unsentimental story about the danger in believing that your genius was never appreciated in its own time.
Mimicking life, Willem Dafoe becomes a hit among the hip kids in the tender Late Fame
Playing a forgotten poet rediscovered by young hipsters, Willem Dafoe leads the lovely and thoughtful Late Fame.
avclub.com
In TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA, Jane Schoenbrun once again grapples with the emotional fallout of filtering all of life through the pop culture you consumed way too young.
‘Teenage Sex And Death At Camp Miasma’ review: Fear and desire are potent bedfellows in Jane Schoenbrun’s twisty satire
Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson star in Schoenbrun's follow-up to 'I Saw The TV Glow'
screendaily.com
For the @latimes.com, I had a great conversation with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II about his terrific Marvel series WONDER MAN. Neither he nor I knew that Disney was about to announce that the show was getting killed.
'Wonder Man' may be canceled, but Yahya Abdul-Mateen II's big year isn't over
The recent cancellation of Marvel's 'Wonder Man' may put a damper on the actor's Emmy campaign, but he still has Netflix's 'Cliff Booth' movie to look forward to.
latimes.com
For the @latimes.com, I had a great conversation with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II about his terrific Marvel series WONDER MAN. Neither he nor I knew that Disney was about to announce that the show was getting killed.
'Wonder Man' may be canceled, but Yahya Abdul-Mateen II's big year isn't over
The recent cancellation of Marvel's 'Wonder Man' may put a damper on the actor's Emmy campaign, but he still has Netflix's 'Cliff Booth' movie to look forward to.
latimes.com
Charli XCX at Lollapalooza: I keep thinking about that cathartic, clear-eyed finale as "SS26" and "No One Lasts Forever" give way to Cronenberg's stark wisdom, 10 words repeating like a mantra or battle cry. She knows she won't always be this major, so she's gonna enjoy the hell out of it right now.
Kiyoshi Kurosawa's THE SAMURAI AND THE PRISONER isn't as titanic as Akira Kurosawa's RAN. But I definitely thought about that 1985 film a lot while watching this thoughtful, despairing historical drama.
Review: Horror's Kiyoshi Kurosawa pivots to power plays in the absorbing 'The Samurai and the Prisoner'
A director best known for eerie thrillers like 'Cure' and 'Pulse' leans into a mystery set at a feudal castle, where rivalry blooms into unlikely conversation.
latimes.com
Kiyoshi Kurosawa's THE SAMURAI AND THE PRISONER isn't as titanic as Akira Kurosawa's RAN. But I definitely thought about that 1985 film a lot while watching this thoughtful, despairing historical drama.
Review: Horror's Kiyoshi Kurosawa pivots to power plays in the absorbing 'The Samurai and the Prisoner'
A director best known for eerie thrillers like 'Cure' and 'Pulse' leans into a mystery set at a feudal castle, where rivalry blooms into unlikely conversation.
latimes.com
It's #EHG 625 with Tim Grierson! #Furious, #MAFS S20, #TheWesties, #TheUnauthorizedBashBrothersExperience, a #DocumentaryNow Canon pitch, and more! Out on all podcast platforms now! extrahotgreat.com/eh...
I had the best time with the #EHG crew. I pushed back on the FURIOUS acclaim and rhapsodized about the Lonely Island's BASH BROTHERS "visual poem." Plus: Some of us tried out our Werner Herzog impressions.
Extra Hot Great@extrahotgreat.com · 2w agoIt's #EHG 625 with Tim Grierson! #Furious, #MAFS S20, #TheWesties, #TheUnauthorizedBashBrothersExperience, a #DocumentaryNow Canon pitch, and more! Out on all podcast platforms now! extrahotgreat.com/eh...
This Friday night, I'll be moderating a Q&A after a screening of GREEN BORDER at the Academy's Ted Mann theater with filmmaker Agnieszka Holland. Tickets and info here:
Green Border (Zielona granica) with Agnieszka Holland
Agnieszka Holland presents Green Border, her Venice Special Jury Prize–winning drama on the 2021 Poland-Belarus migrant crisis, Fri, Jul 31 at 7:30pm.
academymuseum.org
The Anthony Bourdain biopic TONY isn't a hagiography of a genius-in-training. Instead, it's a look at a snot-nosed kid who's got a lot of growing up to do.
‘Tony’ review: Dominic Sessa impresses as young chef Anthony Bourdain in Matt Johnson’s bittersweet coming-of-age drama
Antonio Banderas and Emilia Jones also star in the feature, which opens in the US on August 7
screendaily.com
Got my ticket for Sunday. Pretty excited for this one
Tim Grierson@timgrierson.bsky.social · 2w agoSPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY is easily the best of Tom Holland's Peter Parker movies: emotional, thoughtful, thrilling.