Grierson & Leitch

Latest Episodes:

"Alien: Covenant," "The Big Chill," "Game 6" May 22, 2017

Show notes

Grierson is in Cannes, but that will not stop him from his appointed podcast rounds. So he takes a break from his constant partying in France to ask Leitch about "Alien: Covenant," which Will thinks is a lot better than it is being given credit for. Then, in our Reboot segment, we tackled Lawrence Kasdan's smash 1983 hit "The Big Chill," which your parents (and our parents) have many thoughts about. And then we look at 2005's "Game 6," the one Don DeLillo screenplay on record and a film that's almost a dry run for "Birdman." Timestamps: 4:30 "Alien: Covenant" 20:55 "The Big Chill" 41:40 "Game 6" 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: "Sigourney Weaver," The Smith Street Band Closing Song: "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft," "The Langley Schools Music Project" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Snatched," "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword," "Billy Madison" May 15, 2017

Show notes

We come to you with announcements! This is our first show of the rest of our lives! Grierson & Leitch are leaving our friends at The New Republic and heading to Paste Magazine! We have details and warm memories, and also much excitement. But don't worry, we don't talk TOO much about it: We have movies to get to. We discuss Amy Schumer's new film "Snatched," which brings back Goldie Hawn about 15 years away ... to no positive result. Also, we discuss Guy Ritchie's "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword," which is basically King Arthur v. Young Pope. Then, in our Reboot section, we try to gleam something positive from 1995's Billy Madison. Timestamps: 6:20 "Snatched" 21:12 "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword" 36:35 "Billy Madison" 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: "Roll With the Changes," REO Speedwagon Closing Song: "Call to Arms," Sturgill Simpson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2," "Cast Away," "Streets of Fire" May 08, 2017

Show notes

It's not really a summer movie season until the new Marvel movie is released, which means, well, now it's summer movie season: Here comes "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2," the sequel to the smash James Gunn hit that redefined what a Marvel movie could be. Turns out: Tim and Will actually like the second one even better. Find out why. Then, in our Reboot segment, we look at Robert Zemeckis' 2000 hit "Cast Away," which features an incredibly shrinking Tom Hanks and a volleyball named Wilson. We also dig into Walter Hill's incredibly strange but admirably driven "rock and roll fable" from 1984, "Streets of Fire." Timestamps: 5:00 "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2" 22:45 "Cast Away" 44:15 "Streets of Fire" We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@newrepublic.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: "Fox on the Run," Sweet Closing Song: "Nowhere Fast," Meat Loaf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The Circle," "A Streetcar Named Desire," "A History of Violence" May 01, 2017

Show notes

Tom Hanks. Emma Watson. John Boyega. Dave Eggers. Patton Oswalt. Bill Paxton, in his last film. The kid from "Boyhood." The guy who directed "The End of the Tour" and "The Spectacular Now." Yes, "The Circle" is a movie with nearly unparalleled pedigree, based off a well-regarded book by one of America's most beloved authors. So how in the world did "The Circle" end up being so jaw-droppingly horrible? We try to dig into what happened. Then, in our Reboot segment, we look back at 1951's "A Streetcar Named Desire," with Vivien Leigh, Kim Hunter, Karl Malden and, of course, a feral, animalistic Marlon Brandon in a performance that changed screen acting forever. And we wrap up with 2005's "A History of Violence," David Cronenberg's adaptation of a famous graphic novel that features Viggo Mortensen, Mario Bello, Ed Harris and William Hurt grappling with, well, violence, and its history. Timestamps: 6:05 "The Circle" 27:40 "A Streetcar Named Desire" 46:02 "A History of Violence" We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@newrepublic.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: "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" Nitty Gritty Dirty Band Closing Song: "Me, Marlon Brando, Marlon Brandon and I," R.E.M. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Free Fire," "Network," "The Royal Tenenbaums" Apr 24, 2017

Show notes

A slow week for new releases -- it's apparently all "Boss Baby" all the time these days -- gives us only one major new release this week, Ben Wheatley's "Free Fire," starring Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy and Armie Hammer. We disagree on it: One of our critics thinks it's a fun experiment, but the other found it mostly tiresome. Then, in our Reboot segment, we discuss how that Sidney Lumet's "Network" doesn't hold up nearly as well as you might remember, and Wes Anderson's "The Royal Tenenbaums" was a step forward for the filmmaker ... but just a peek at what he'd be able to do even better more than a decade later. Timestamps: 4:30 "Free Fire" 17:40 "Network" 38:58 "The Royal Tenenbaums" We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@newrepublic.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: "Firestarter," The Prodigy Closing Song: "Judy Is a Punk," The Ramones Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The Fate of the Furious," "The Lost City of Z," "Zero Effect," "Man of the West" Apr 17, 2017

Show notes

This week, our critics can neither agree nor disagree: Tim is blissfully ignorant of the "Fast and the Furious" franchise -- he's only see the Tokyo Drift one -- and Will hasn't seen James Gray's "The Lost City of Z" yet. So they ask each other about each film, spoiler-free, so you can make your own decision. (But they're positive on both.) In their weekly Reboot segment, they head back to the late '90s to discuss Jake Kasden's "Zero Effect" and then go WAY back, all the way back to Gary Cooper, for 1958's "Man of the West." Timestamps: 4:00 "The Fate of the Furious" 21:25 "The Lost City of Z" 31:30 "Zero Effect" 48:12 "Man of the West" We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@newrepublic.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: "Fast Car," Wyclef Jean (featuring Paul Simon) Closing Song: "Two States," Pavement Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Graduation," "Colossal," "The Last of the Mohicans" Apr 10, 2017

Show notes

Two new releases highlight the podcast this week which, last week's show notwithstanding, will not in fact turn into a weekly podcast about "The Room." First, Will and Tim did into the Romanian moral drama "Graduation," which feels like '90s "Crimes and Misdemeanors"-era Woody Allen, but even more spare and despairing. Then they discuss Nacho Vigalondo's "Colossal," which features Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis as two Americans who have the strange, unwitting ability to control monsters attacking downtown Seoul. In this week's Reboot segment, we dig into Michael Mann's "The Last of the Mohicans," which features a brawny Daniel Day-Lewis being hyper intense. There's even a fun skit from the old "Ben Stiller Show" that we added. Stay alive, no matter what occurs! We will find you! Timestamps: 4:06 "Graduation" 18:50 "Colossal" 36:41 "The Last of the Mohicans" We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@newrepublic.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: "Graduation Day," The Beach Boys Closing Song: "Got A Woman," Eagles of Death Metal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Ghost in the Shell," "The Last Picture Show," "The Room" Apr 03, 2017

Show notes

The big new release of the week was "Ghost in the Shell," and Tim and Will actively disagree on it, though neither can arguing that critics of its "whitewashing" have a point. But you should probably just watch "Under the Skin" instead. But that's all fine and dandy, but the REAL fun of this week's show comes in the Reboots. Our first Reboot is Peter Bogdanovich's masterpiece "The Last Picture Show," which feels even more urgent today. But that movie may still not live as long as our second Reboot, Tommy Wiseau's infamous "The Room." Neither Tim nor Will had never seen it. It is fair to say now that they will never forget it. Timestamps: 3:40 "Ghost in the Shell" 21:12 "The Last Picture Show" 38:55 "The Room" We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@newrepublic.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: "Ghost," Neutral Milk Hotel Closing Song: "Song From A Room," Rachel Glassberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Life," "CHIPs," "Power Rangers," "The Trouble With Harry," "Big Business" Mar 27, 2017

Show notes

Grierson is back! Grierson is back! After two weeks away resting his voice after surgery to remove a polyp/nodule from his throat, our beloved co-host returns this week, and man, did we miss him. We dig right into the "Alien" homage/ripoff "Life," starring Ryan Reynolds, Rebecca Ferguson and Jake Gyllenhaal, and Grierson also answers Leitch's questions about "CHIPs" and "Power Rangers," which he didn't see because, hey, life's too short. Also, we have two Reboots, both taped pre-surgery, in case you're wondering why Grierson sounds rougher. First, we tackled Alfred Hitchcock's "The Trouble With Harry," which featured the first on-screen appearance of Shirley MacLaine. Then we delve into the 1988 twins comedy "Big Business," with Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin. Timestamps: 6:35 "Life" 22:26 "CHIPs" 31:27 "Power Rangers" 43:40 "The Trouble With Harry" 56:50 "Big Business" But yes: The real story here is that Grierson is back. We hope you enjoy. Let us know what you think @griersonleitch on Twitter, or griersonleitch@newrepublic.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: "Lust For Life," Iggy Pop Closing Song: "Dead Ringer For Love," Meat Loaf and Cher Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Beauty and the Beast," "T2 Trainspotting," "Easy Rider," "Repo Man" Mar 20, 2017

Show notes

Grierson is out for a second consecutive week after having a polyp removed, so we are delighted to welcome the incomparable Christy Lemire, of RogerEbert.com and "What the Flick?" and so many other places to be our guest host this week. She is one of the best film critics on the planet, and without question the nicest. She is also so much smarter than either Grierson or Leitch. So Christy and Will dig into the remake/reboot/rewhatever of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," and then Will asks Christy about "T2: Trainspotting," and whether it will mess with one's affections for the original. But don't fret: We still have some Grierson, with our previously taped Reboot segments. In those, we discuss cultural touchstone "Easy Rider," man, and we tackle '80s cult hit "Repo Man." Timestamps: 7:30 "Beauty and the Beast" 28:40 "T2: Trainspotting" 42:10 "Easy Rider" 1:01:36 "Repo Man" 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: "Beauty and the Beast," David Bowie Closing Song: "Feel the Pain," Dinosaur Jr. Also: Grierson *should* be back next week. Fingers crossed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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