A dispatch from Missouri's True/False Film Fest, and discussion of Terrence Malick’s latest, the new Tina Fey movie, and a thriller/sequel starring Gerard Butler. Plus, a revisit to listener-suggested horror flick "Goodnight Mommy."

"Knight of Cups," "Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot," "London Has Fallen," and Film Fest Favorites

Tim Grierson—along with a bevy of directors, models, movie stars, and critics—heads to the Cannes Film Festival in France this week. He and Will discuss the movies and roles they’re most excited to see, and what might win this year's Palme d’Or. Weekly Reboot: a 1988 gangster flick with a young Alec Baldwin, and the 2006 Bond movie starring Daniel Craig in his first turn as 007. If you want a movie you love to be selected for a reboot, leave a review on iTunes and include the name of that movie—it just might get picked.

Cannes Film Festival, “Married to the Mob,” and “Casino Royale”

It's down to the nit and the grit, folks: We have only three shows left in 2016, and we have a LOT of movies to get to. So we kick off our show this week with a deep-dive discussion of early Oscar favorite "La La Land," the new musical from "Whiplash" director Damien Chazelle starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. We both think it's great and, yes, it reminds us of vintage Woody Allen.

In our Reboot section -- our final Reboot section of 2016 -- we look at Bryan Singer's "The Usual Suspects" from 1995, and Robert Townsend's "The Five Heartbeats" from 1991.

Timestamps:
7:01: "La La Land"
24:45 "The Usual Suspects"
38:25 "The Five Heartbeats"

We will back on Friday with a special "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" episode. We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@newrepublic.com. (We're doing a mailbag show after the new year, so send us questions.) As always, give us a review on iTunes with the name of a movie you'd like us to review, and we'll discuss it on a later podcast.

The New Republic

"La La Land," "The Usual Suspects" and "The Five Heartbeats"

We've all settled down from the Oscars and are back into the grind of regular releases, and we've had two universally beloved in two weeks: Last week's "Get Out" and this week's "Logan." But maybe we shouldn't consider it that universally beloved, because, well, we're the low men on the totem pole for "Logan." Listen to us explain why.

Then, in our Reboot section, we look back at two well-regarded comedies of the past: 1998's "Waking Ned Devine" and 1989's "The Burbs." We also start the show off with a special announcement. It involves polyps.

Timestamps:
7:30 "Logan"
28:40 "Waking Ned Devine"
40:25 "The 'Burbs"

We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@newrepublic.com. (We're doing a mailbag show after the new year, so send us questions.) As always, give us a review on iTunes with the name of a movie you'd like us to review, and we'll discuss it on a later podcast.

Opening Song: "I Wipe My Ass With Wolverine Fur," The Dead Schembechlers
Closing Song: "Let Me Clear My Throat," DJ Kool

We miss Grierson already!

"Logan," "Waking Ned Devine," "The 'Burbs"

Podcast strong. Ape proud. This week in the Grierson &amp; Leitch podcast, we discuss the final film in the much-lauded "Planet of the Apes" trilogy, "War for the Planet of the Apes." Grierson is a huge fan of the first two films, especially the second one, but they left Leitch cold. So it's a little surprising where they both land here.   Then we have two Reboot movies. First, it's 2001's "Mulholland Drive," David Lynch's masterwork that is considered by some to be the best movie so far this century. We're not quite willing to go that far, but it's still great. Then, they tackle 1995's "Kicking and Screaming," which is not the Will Ferrell soccer movie: It's Noah Baumbach's first feature. It's the '90s again!  

Timestamps:  
5:55 "War the Planet of the Apes"  
24:15 "Mulholland Drive"  
46:52 "Kicking and Screaming"   

We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@gmail.com. As always, give us a review on iTunes with the name of a movie you'd like us to review, and we'll discuss it on a later podcast. 

Opening Song: "Very Ape," Nirvana  
Closing Song: "In the Mouth a Desert," Pavement

"War for the Planet of the Apes," "Mulholland Drive," "Kicking and Screaming"

Audiences hate it, critics are divided (but mostly like it) and everyone's sort of scandalized now that it exists ... but what do Grierson &amp; Leitch think of Darren Aronofsky's "mother!"? This week's episode, taped live in Grierson's dining room in Los Angeles, digs into it. It's the movie everyone is talking about, for better or worse. Also, Grierson praises Ben Stiller's new film "Brad's Status." (Leitch hasn't seen it, thanks to a faulty print.) Then, in our Reboot segment, we head back to 1994 and the Coen brothers' first big Hollywood movie, "The Hudsucker Proxy." Timestamps: 7:25 Toronto Film Festival roundup 13:45 "mother! 40:37 "Brad's Status" 50:49 "The Hudsucker Proxy" We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@gmail.com. As always, give us a review on iTunes with the name of a movie you'd like us to review, and we'll discuss it on a later podcast. Opening Song: "Mother," Danzig Closing Song: "That Was Your Mother," Paul Simon

"mother!" "Brad's Status," "The Hudsucker Proxy"

Yorgos Lanthimos had one of the indie hits of last year with "The Lobster," and now he's back with "The Killing of a Sacred Deer," starring "Lobster" star Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman and "Dunkirk" star Barry Keoghan. Does it work as well as "The Lobster," or even "Dogtooth?" We discuss! Also, Grierson goes solo on Todd Haynes' "Wonderstruck" and Joseph Kosinski's "Only the Brave," and then Leitch tries, and fails spectacularly, to make sense of the insane fiasco that is "The Snowman." Then, in our Reboot segment, we travel back to 1993, and Andrew Davis' "The Fugitive." But, to quote Tommy Lee Jones, "you don't care!" Timestamps: 4:35 "The Killing of a Sacred Deer" 31:02 "Wonderstruck" 36:12 "Only the Brave" 43:02 "The Snowman" 58:20 "The Fugitive" We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@gmail.com. As always, give us a review on iTunes with the name of a movie you'd like us to review, and we'll discuss it on a later podcast. Opening Song: "Deer Dance," System of a Down Closing Song: "Find the River," R.E.M.

"A Killing of a Sacred Deer," "Wonderstruck," "Only the Brave," "The Snowman," "The Fugitive"

It's here! It's here! It's our annual extravaganza, both of our lists of the best movies of 2018. It's our favorite show every year. Let it get you through the holiday season. Thanks to Dylan Mayer and My Friend Mary, both of which are wonderful, for the music. We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@gmail.com. As always, give us a review on iTunes with the name of a movie you'd like us to review, and we'll discuss it on a later podcast.

Dorkfest 2018: The Best Movies of 2018

Grierson is in Cannes! But he takes a break from all the Cannes business to talk with Will about "John Wick Chapter Three" and "The Souvenir." Then, an Oscar-winning Reboot: The Coen brothers' "No Country For Old Men." How does it hold up? Timestamps (approximate) 9:15 "John Wick: Chapter Three" 33:10 "The Souvenir" 40:49 "No Country For Old Men" Thanks to Dylan Mayer and My Friend Mary, both of which are wonderful, for the music. We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@gmail.com. As always, give us a review on iTunes with the name of a movie you'd like us to review, and we'll discuss it on a later podcast.

"John Wick Chapter Three," "The Souvenir," "No Country For Old Men"

Grierson is back from Cannes! He tells us about his favorite movie from Cannes, as well as a brief scoop on Quentin Tarantino's movie and that movie with all the butts. Then it's time for the two big movies of the weekend, the "Aladdin" remake with Will Smith and Olivia Wilde's "Booksmart." And hey, it's Reboot time, with the original "Mad Max" from 1979. Timestamps (approximate): 6:55 2019 Cannes Film Festival Wrapup 24:55 "Aladdin" 43:55 "Booksmart" 54:49 "Mad Max" Thanks to Dylan Mayer and My Friend Mary, both of which are wonderful, for the music. We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@gmail.com. As always, give us a review on iTunes with the name of a movie you'd like us to review, and we'll discuss it on a later podcast.

2019 Cannes Wrapup, "Aladdin," "Booksmart," "Mad Max"

Wait, there's another Godzilla movie? There is! It's "Godzilla: King of the Monsters." It's ... another Godzilla movie. Also, there is another movie about a classic rock star. This time Elton John gets the biopic treatment in "Rocketman." We disagree on that one. Also, in our Reboot segment, we have another "Will and Tim soil the favorite movies of your youth" entry, as we talk about 1978's "Animal House." Timestamps (approximate): 9:52 "Godzilla: King of the Monsters" 29:10 "Rocketman" 54:00 "Animal House" Thanks to Dylan Mayer and My Friend Mary, both of which are wonderful, for the music. We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@gmail.com. As always, give us a review on iTunes with the name of a movie you'd like us to review, and we'll discuss it on a later podcast.

"Godzilla: King of the Monsters," "Rocketman," "Animal House"

Congratulations, America: You are finally done with the "X-Men" movies. OK, not really, but "Dark Phoenix" is a lackluster end to a once-excellent franchise. We discuss. We also get into Mindy Kaling's "Late Night." (We're split on that one.) Grierson solos on "The Last Black Man in San Francisco," and then, in our Reboot segment, we check out the 2008 pseudo-zombie Canadian thriller "Pontypool." Timestamps (approximate): 8:00 "Dark Phoenix" 23:50 "Late Night" 44:15 "The Last Black Man in San Francisco" 50:00 "Pontypool" Thanks to Dylan Mayer and My Friend Mary, both of which are wonderful, for the music. We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@gmail.com. As always, give us a review on iTunes with the name of a movie you'd like us to review, and we'll discuss it on a later podcast.

"Dark Phoenix," "Late Night," "The Last Black Man in San Francisco," "Pontypool"

No Reboot this week, because we've got four spanking new movies for us both to discuss. There's the "Men in Black" branding exercise, Jim Jarmusch's new film "The Dead Don't Die," Martin Scorsese's Netflix documentary (sort of) about Bob Dylan "Rolling Thunder Revue" and ... another Shaft movie. (This has not been the best summer.) Timestamps (approximate): 7:23 "Men In Black: International" 24:28 "The Dead Don't Die" 45:33 "Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story" 1:08:15 "Shaft" Thanks to Dylan Mayer and My Friend Mary, both of which are wonderful, for the music. We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@gmail.com. As always, give us a review on iTunes with the name of a movie you'd like us to review, and we'll discuss it on a later podcast.

"Men In Black: International," "The Dead Don't Die," "Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story," "Shaft"

It's the Pixar movie you've been waiting nine years for, another one that'll make you cry: It's "Toy Story 4." Don't worry: It doesn't kill your childhood. We also look at the new version of the '80s horror "classic" "Child's Play." And then there's a big fun Reboot, John McTiernan's thriller "The Hunt for Red October." Timestamps (approximate): 10:12 "Toy Story 4" 39:00 "Child's Play" 1:00:53 "The Hunt for Red October" Thanks to Dylan Mayer and My Friend Mary, both of which are wonderful, for the music. We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@gmail.com. As always, give us a review on iTunes with the name of a movie you'd like us to review, and we'll discuss it on a later podcast.

"Toy Story 4," "Child's Play," "The Hunt for Red October"

We're halfway through 2019! Can you believe that? That's crazy. That means it's time for our annual Best Movies of the First Half of the Year show. We only have one crossover. We also discuss one new movie, the Danny Boyle Beatles fantasy "Yesterday." Our Reboot is another musical movie, Tom Hanks' directorial debut "That Thing You Do!" Timestamps (approximate): 48:41 "Yesterday" 1:09:24 "That Thing You Do!" Thanks to Dylan Mayer and My Friend Mary, both of which are wonderful, for the music. We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@gmail.com. As always, give us a review on iTunes with the name of a movie you'd like us to review, and we'll discuss it on a later podcast.

Best Movies of the First Half of 2019, "Yesterday," "That Thing You Do!"

Hey, hope you had a great Fourth! We've got two really big new movies for you this week. First, it's the next Marvel movie -- and last for a while, maybe? -- with "Spider-Man: Far From Home." Then we look at Ari Aster's, uh, polarizing new horror film "Midsommar." Then, in our Reboot segment, we go back to 2001, and Steven Soderbergh's "Ocean's 11." Timestamps (approximate): 6:45 "Spider-Man: Far From Home" 32:00 "Midsommar" 57:09 "Ocean's 11" Thanks to Dylan Mayer and My Friend Mary, both of which are wonderful, for the music. We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@gmail.com. As always, give us a review on iTunes with the name of a movie you'd like us to review, and we'll discuss it on a later podcast.

"Spider-Man: Far From Home," "Midsommar," "Ocean's 11"

There was only one new movie we could get Will and Tim to even agree on watching this week: Lulu Wang's heralded "The Farewell." Grierson saw "Stuber," and Leitch saw "Crawl." Eh! Much better business in the Reboot, when we discussed Lee Chang-Dong's "Poetry" from 2012. Timestamps: 7:52 "The Farewell" 27:00 "Stuber" 35:18 "Crawl" 49:10 "Poetry" Thanks to Dylan Mayer and My Friend Mary, both of which are wonderful, for the music. We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@gmail.com. As always, give us a review on iTunes with the name of a movie you'd like us to review, and we'll discuss it on a later podcast.

"The Farewell," "Stuber," "Crawl," "Poetry"

It has been a long time since critics were as actively divided about a big movie as they are "The Lion King." We are no different: One of us is down, and one is definitely not. Also, some fun, very different Reboots this week. We look at Rob Reiner's "The Princess Bride" and Michael Haneke's "Cache." As we said: Different. Timestamps: 10:06 "The Lion King" 34:30 "The Princess Bride" 55:25 "Cache" Thanks to Dylan Mayer and My Friend Mary, both of which are wonderful, for the music. We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@gmail.com. As always, give us a review on iTunes with the name of a movie you'd like us to review, and we'll discuss it on a later podcast.

"The Lion King," "The Princess Bride," "Cache"

Film critics Tim Grierson and Will Leitch discuss the week’s latest movies, as well as classic films and directors that deserve a second look.

Grierson & Leitch

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