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The Letterboxd Show

The Letterboxd Show

By Letterboxd

Podcasts about movies from the makers of Letterboxd, the social network for film lovers. Hosted by Gemma and Slim and Mitchell and Mia and Brian. Transcripts available.
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Four Favorites: Mia Vicino on Elaine May, Ewan McGregor, stoner movies and Kill Bill

The Letterboxd ShowMar 15, 2022

00:00
01:04:22
Best in Show Season 2 Finale: Letterboxd Goes to the Oscars

Best in Show Season 2 Finale: Letterboxd Goes to the Oscars

For our grand finale, the Best in Show crew heads to the 96th Academy Awards! Brian, who had a golden ticket to the ceremony itself, recaps how it felt for his eyes to see Al Pacino announce, “My eyes see Oppenheimer!”, while Gemma and Mia recount their hectic day on the red carpet and evening in the press room—plus dancing with the Anatomy of a Fall lawyers at the afterparty. Finally, we invite our London correspondent/Best in Show newsletter extraordinaire George Fenwick to reflect on the awards season as a whole, and to submit his winning pick for the inaugural Bradley Moze (and Otis) Awards, named for our beloved cats who kept us grounded over the past few months. Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • Oscars experience (00:02:57)
  • The show itself (00:11:14)
  • George Fenwick interview (40:15)
  • Bradley Moze & Otis Awards (00:53:32)
  • Closing credits (00:59:40)

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles, London and Auckland. Edited by Slim, production manager Sophie Shin, editorial producer Brian Formo. Theme: ‘Hyperlight’ by Letterboxd member Trent Walton (AKA Echo Wolf). Artwork by Danny Haas. Best in Show is a TAPEDECK production. Title courtesy of Christopher Guest.

Mar 15, 202401:10:55
Best in Show: Oscars Honchos, Dune Power and Sleater-Kinney

Best in Show: Oscars Honchos, Dune Power and Sleater-Kinney

This week, Gemma chats with Academy President Janet Yang and CEO Bill Kramer about the importance of the Oscars to the global film community, plus its engaging impact on theater-going in a constantly changing industry. Also, Mia and Brian debrief about the Dune: Part Two hype (Space melodrama! More worms! All hail Denis Villeneuve!) and its entry into the Letterboxd Top 250 at a miraculous number six. For the grand finale, riot grrrl rockers Sleater-Kinney make a special appearance, with Carrie Brownstein recounting her brief appearance in Todd Haynes’ Carol. Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • News (00:01:28)
  • Bill Kramer & Janet Yang interview (00:22:37)
  • Winner Winner Chicken Run Dinner (00:43:39)
  • Sleater-Kinney interview (00:48:00)
  • Closing credits (00:59:40)

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles. Edited by Slim, production manager Sophie Shin, editorial producer Brian Formo. Theme: ‘Hyperlight’ by Letterboxd member Trent Walton (AKA Echo Wolf). Artwork by Danny Haas. Best in Show is a TAPEDECK production. Title courtesy of Christopher Guest.

Mar 08, 202459:11
Best in Show: Indie Spirits with Justine Triet and On Cinema’s Gregg Turkington

Best in Show: Indie Spirits with Justine Triet and On Cinema’s Gregg Turkington

This week, the Best in Show crew is full of Indie Spirit as they mingle on the carpet and out the back of the Film Independent Spirit Awards, where Zoe Lister-Jones, Jordan Firstman and the teams from Kokomo City and The Zone of Interest all stop by for chats about Cassavetes versus Altman, the secrets to a great director-producer relationship and epic movie dog moments. Brian meets his sporting hero Marshawn Lynch, and Mia settles in for a conversation with International Feature Spirit winner Justine Triet about the multiple languages of Anatomy of a Fall. Finally, Neil Hamburger himself (On Cinema’s Gregg Turkington, cast member in the John Cassavetes Award-winning Fremont) tells Mia and Gemma about the first award he ever won (and seems to keep on winning).

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • News (00:03:06)
  • Justine Triet interview (00:33:34)
  • Winner Winner Turkington Dinner (00:49:48)
  • Closing credits (00:54:40)

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles. Edited by Slim, production manager Sophie Shin, editorial producer Brian Formo. Theme: ‘Hyperlight’ by Letterboxd member Trent Walton (AKA Echo Wolf). Artwork by Danny Haas. Best in Show is a TAPEDECK production. Title courtesy of Christopher Guest.

Lists & Links: Best in Show’s HQ Page, Film Independent’s HQ Page

Mar 01, 202457:09
Best in Show: BAFTAs and Barbie with Billie Eilish and Finneas

Best in Show: BAFTAs and Barbie with Billie Eilish and Finneas

This week, the Best in Show crew finds out what they’re made for with Grammy-winning special guests Billie Eilish and Finneas. The superstar sibling duo is behind the Best Original Song Oscar nominee ‘What Was I Made For?’, and Mia chats with them about hiding secrets in their devastating-but-hopeful tune, the music and movies that make them feel emotionally validated and Billie’s directing aspirations. There’s also some queening out over a mutual love of Andrew Scott in Fleabag and Sherlock—relevant because he and Billie are both nominated in acting categories at the Indie Spirits this year (him for All of Us Strangers, her for Swarm), and because Andrew is always relevant. London Editor Ella Kemp pops in as well for a BAFTAs debrief, sharing her interviews with Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Samantha Morton and Best in Show bestie Paul Mescal.

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • BAFTA recap and red carpet interviews (00:01:43)
  • Behind the curtain (00:23:36)
  • Billie Eilish and FINNEAS interview (00:26:08)
  • Winner Winner Chicken Run Dinner (00:45:29)
  • Closing credits (00:59:40)

Sponsor: Sony Pictures

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles and London. Edited by Slim, production manager Sophie Shin, editorial producer Brian Formo. Theme: ‘Hyperlight’ by Letterboxd member Trent Walton (AKA Echo Wolf). Artwork by Danny Haas. Best in Show is a TAPEDECK production. Title courtesy of Christopher Guest.

Lists & Links: List of movies mentioned, Best in Show’s HQ Page, BAFTAs HQ Page

Feb 23, 202456:03
Best in Show: Visual Effects with The Creator creators, plus War is Over! with Sean Lennon

Best in Show: Visual Effects with The Creator creators, plus War is Over! with Sean Lennon

This week, Brian, Gemma and Mia break down the art of visual effects with a little help from our friends: The Creator director Gareth Edwards and his visual effects on-set supervisor Andrew Roberts. More ‘Help!’ arrives in the form of Sean Lennon, co-writer of the Oscar-nominated short War Is Over!, via his chat with our New York correspondent, Julia Barrett-Mitchell. Mia and Brian also recap their Oscars Luncheon experience, which involved press and A-listers alike getting starstruck by Messi the dog, who plays Snoop in Anatomy of a Fall (and was snubbed for Best Supporting Actor). Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • Oscar luncheon and Barbie promo (00:02:03)
  • Behind the curtain: visual effects (00:18:56)
  • Gareth Edwards and Andrew Roberts interview (00:25:54)
  • War is Over! interview (00:43:45)
  • Winner Winner Chicken Run Dinner (00:54:37)
  • Closing credits (01:01:44)

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Auckland. Edited by Slim, production manager Sophie Shin, editorial producer Brian Formo. Theme: ‘Hyperlight’ by Letterboxd member Trent Walton (AKA Echo Wolf). Artwork by Danny Haas. Best in Show is a TAPEDECK production. Title courtesy of Christopher Guest.

Lists & Links: List of movies mentioned, Best in Show’s HQ Page, Gender at the Oscars

Feb 16, 202401:03:31
Best in Show: International Feature Feast with Juliette Binoche and Tran Anh Hung

Best in Show: International Feature Feast with Juliette Binoche and Tran Anh Hung

Bonjour! The Best in Show crew digs into the Best International Feature race, with an entrée of an interview between Brian, Juliette Binoche and Tran Anh Hung about their César-nominated collaboration, The Taste of Things. Gemma, Mia and Brian also divulge the recipe for the International Feature category and how its submissions work—and briefly bring in Perfect Days director Wim Wenders and Society of the Snow's J.A. Bayona as a treat.

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • News (00:02:22)
  • Behind the curtain: J.A. Bayona (00:14:07)
  • Juliette Binoche and Tran Anh Hung interview (00:27:28)
  • Winner Winner Chicken Run Dinner (00:48:07)
  • Closing credits (00:59:40)

Sponsor: Focus Features’ Lisa Frankenstein

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles and Auckland. Edited by Slim, production manager Sophie Shin, editorial producer Brian Formo. Theme: ‘Hyperlight’ by Letterboxd member Trent Walton (AKA Echo Wolf). Artwork by Danny Haas. Best in Show is a TAPEDECK production. Title courtesy of Christopher Guest.

Lists & Links: List of movies mentioned, Best in Show’s HQ Page

Feb 09, 202401:01:09
Best in Show: Sundance sum-ups and Flower Moon costumes with Oscar nominee Jacqueline West

Best in Show: Sundance sum-ups and Flower Moon costumes with Oscar nominee Jacqueline West

The Best in Show team welcomes our East Coast correspondent Adesola Thomas to chat about her best of the Park City fest, among them the raucous Irish-language rap-musical Kneecap, sisterly drama In the Summers and coming-of-age charmer Dìdi (弟弟). Then, Mia and Gemma head to Osage County with five-time Oscar-nominated costume designer Jacqueline West for an in-depth interview on her “method costuming” techniques for Killers of the Flower Moon—which included close collaboration with fellow nominees Lily Gladstone and Martin Scorsese, as well as Osage wardrobe consultant Julie O’Keefe. She also shares how she creates a real-life closet to help her actors inhabit their characters’ wardrobes, an insightful approach that Jessica Chastain has requested on all of her films since working with West on The Tree of Life.

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • News (00:01:28)
  • Sundance (00:07:27)
  • Jacqueline West interview (00:19:58)
  • Winner Winner Chicken Run Dinner (00:50:31)
  • Closing credits (00:59:42)

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles, New York and Auckland. Edited by Slim, production manager Sophie Shin, editorial producer Brian Formo and our newsletter edited by George Fenwick. Theme: ‘Hyperlight’ by Letterboxd member Trent Walton (AKA Echo Wolf). Artwork by Danny Haas. Best in Show is a TAPEDECK production. Title courtesy of Christopher Guest.

Lists & Links: List of movies mentioned, Best in Show’s HQ Page

Feb 02, 202459:60
Best in Show: 2024 Oscar noms and an Animation Celebration with the directors of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Best in Show: 2024 Oscar noms and an Animation Celebration with the directors of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

The 96th Academy Award nominations have been announced, and the Best in Show crew have both axes to grind (Charles Melton of May December, you will be avenged!) and champagne bottles to pop (Justine Triet of Anatomy of a Fall, you will be fêted!). Plus, Spider-Slim swings Across the Spider-Verse to chat with the directors behind Letterboxd’s highest rated film of 2023: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson.

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • Oscar noms (00:01:47)
  • Behind the curtain: Animation (00:23:18)
  • Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse interview (00:39:02)
  • Winner Winner Chicken Run Dinner (00:50:27)
  • Closing credits (01:00:58)

Sponsor: Sony Pictures

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles and Auckland. Edited by Slim, production manager Sophie Shin, editorial producer Brian Formo. Theme: ‘Hyperlight’ by Letterboxd member Trent Walton (AKA Echo Wolf). Artwork by Danny Haas. Best in Show is a TAPEDECK production. Title courtesy of Christopher Guest.

Lists & Links: List of movies mentioned, Best in Show’s HQ Page

Jan 25, 202401:02:18
Best in Show: Sound Design in the Snow, in Osage country and The Zone of Interest
Jan 19, 202459:09
Weekend Watchlist: Giant-Sized 2024 Preview Spectacular

Weekend Watchlist: Giant-Sized 2024 Preview Spectacular

We are so temporarily back. This time around ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slim⁠⁠, Mia, and Mitchell discuss the upcoming slate of movies and why you might need to add them to your own watchlists including Challengers, Nosferatu, Dune: Part Two, and also tease new podcast plans. They also look ahead outside the most popular movies and shuffle their watchlists just like old times. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekend Watchlist – Updated Weekly list⁠⁠⁠⁠ > movies mentioned in this episode. Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • 2024 preview Top 10 through 6 (00:02:09)
  • 2024 preview Top 5 through 1 (00:20:03)
  • Watchlists shuffles (00:39:02)
  • Watchlist check-in (00:52:04)
  • Closing credits (00:57:48)

Credits: Recorded in Philadelphia PA, Newark DE and Los Angeles CA. Edited by Slim. Theme music: ‘⁠IZON’ by Trent Walton. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.

Lists & Links: Paul Oyama’s The Bikeriders review; Jeff Zhang’s Hit Man review; Zac’s Love Actually review, Dare’s Cop Land review, lorddnewton’s Wonka review

Jan 16, 202458:46
Best in Show: Poor Things, Lord of the Rings, and those pesky Golden Globes

Best in Show: Poor Things, Lord of the Rings, and those pesky Golden Globes

Jan 12, 202401:16:29
Best in Show: 2023 Year in Review Extravaganza!

Best in Show: 2023 Year in Review Extravaganza!

The Letterboxd crew pops the champagne and rounds up a roundtable for a celebration of 2023 cinema! We detail the results of our annual Year in Review, highlight the highest rated films of the year across categories and continents, reflect on the controlled chaos of our own personal stats and anticipate what 2024 has in store (the returns of Robert Pattinson and Bong Joon-ho). Plus, a New Year’s present from the creative team behind our community’s #1 favorite: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

Featuring the voices of Slim, Mia Lee Vicino, Gemma Gracewood, Brian Formo, Mitchell Beaupre, Sophie Shin, Ella Kemp, Flynn Slicker and Aaron Yap.

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • Highest Rated Overall (00:05:09)
  • Highest Rated Animated (00:14:41)
  • Most and Highest (00:20:29)
  • Mailbag / Most Hearts to Watches (00:32:03)
  • World of Cinema (00:34:17)
  • Canada + Music Films (00:36:06)
  • Highest Rated Genres (00:44:45)
  • Highest Rated Horror (01:00:32)
  • Highest Rated Romance / Short Films (01:08:17)
  • Stat Surprises Roundtable (01:21:28)
  • Closing credits (01:41:50)

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles, New York City, Auckland, London, Toronto, Nantucket, Delaware and Philadelphia. Edited by Slim, production manager Sophie Shin, editorial producer Brian Formo. Theme: ‘Hyperlight’ by Letterboxd member Trent Walton (AKA Echo Wolf). Artwork by Danny Haas. Best in Show is a TAPEDECK production. Title courtesy of Christopher Guest.

Lists & Links: 2023 Year in Review, Best in Show’s HQ Page, list of movies mentioned, Emoji Movie Channel’s Blue Giant review, Ruth Pan’s Barbie review, Val The Movieguy’s Falling in Love Like in Movies review, Jack’s The Swan review

Jan 05, 202401:43:36
Best in Show: Documentary shortlist special with Jon Batiste, Maciek Hamela, listener mailbag questions and award cats!

Best in Show: Documentary shortlist special with Jon Batiste, Maciek Hamela, listener mailbag questions and award cats!

This week, the Best in Show crew dives deep into two documentaries that just made the 96th Academy Awards shortlist. After answering some mailbag questions about pesky release dates and Oscars eligiblity rules, London Editor Ella Kemp swoops in to take us in front of the camera with Jon Batiste—the composer and subject at the center of American Symphonythen Gemma goes behind the camera with Maciek Hamela, director of In the Rearview, which chronicles the immediate refugee crisis created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Plus, Mia discovers the cat-centric Chlotrudis Awards, leading to her and Brian’s creating a new awards body for film and feline fans.

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • Oscar shortlist reckons (00:01:51)
  • Listener mailbag (00:09:59)
  • American Symphony thoughts (22:51)
  • Jon Batiste interview (00:27:33)
  • Maciek Hamela interview (00:44:29)
  • Winner Winner Chicken Run Dinner (00:53:08)
  • Closing credits (01:04:53)

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles, Auckland, London, and Toronto. Edited by Slim, production manager Sophie Shin, editorial producer Brian Formo. Theme: ‘Hyperlight’ by Letterboxd member Trent Walton (AKA Echo Wolf). Artwork by Danny Haas. Best in Show is a TAPEDECK production. Title courtesy of Christopher Guest.

Lists & Links: List of movies mentioned, Best in Show’s HQ Page, Sydney’s Society of Snow review

Dec 29, 202301:07:30
Best in Show: Chopping it up with Oppenheimer film editor Jennifer Lame
Dec 22, 202301:01:31
‘Love Actually’ Spectacular

‘Love Actually’ Spectacular

Season’s greetings! Join us as the Letterboxd crew sits down with their hot chocolate for a roundtable discussion about Love Actually.

Slim⁠ watches this “classic” for the first time in preparation and welcomes ⁠Gemma⁠, ⁠Mia⁠, and Ella into the Letterboxd Studio to walk down memory lane on their first-time watches, how viewings of certain movies change over time, favorite moments, and much more. Ella explaining the haunted inner workings of a Build-a-Bear workshop to Gemma will likely stay with you for several years. They also discuss how not to seduce someone, the bonkers fashion and musical choices, if Mr. Firth has rebounded into fully formed human being on-screen, and of course offer up some other holiday romantic comedy recommendations. It’s a miracle!

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • Love Actually roundtable (00:005:23)
  • Holiday Rom Com Recommendations (00:56:35)
  • Closing credits (01:03:24)

Sponsor: NEON’s Ferrari. Credits: Recorded in Auckland, LA, London, and Philadelphia. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production. Email us!

Dec 19, 202301:06:51
Best in Show: Inside the Actor’s Studio with Paul Mescal, Andrew Scott and Jeffrey Wright

Best in Show: Inside the Actor’s Studio with Paul Mescal, Andrew Scott and Jeffrey Wright

This special episode features multiple interviews with award-winning actors: first up, London editor Ella Kemp speaks with Oscar nominee and Letterboxd pal Paul Mescal about All of Us Strangers, his wider reflections on awards season and his “shady” Letterboxd account. Meanwhile in Los Angeles, our birthday girl Mia enjoyed a casual chat about movies with Paul’s co-star Andrew Scott at the film’s premiere, and in Atlanta, our East Coast correspondent Adesola Thomas rocked our centerpiece interview with Jeffrey Wright about American Fiction, André 3000 and Westworld. ACTING!

Sponsor: Disney Bundle

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles, London and Auckland. Edited by Slim, production manager Sophie Shin, editorial producer Brian Formo. Theme: ‘Hyperlight’ by Letterboxd member Trent Walton (AKA Echo Wolf). Artwork by Danny Haas. Best in Show is a TAPEDECK production. Title courtesy of Christopher Guest.

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • LA Film Critics Association winners (00:02:16)
  • Mailbag (00:09:45)
  • Paul Mescal interview (00:19:50)
  • Jeffrey Wright interview (00:34:20)
  • Winner Winner Chicken Run Dinner (00:51:02)
  • Closing credits (01:03:24)

Lists & Links: List of movies mentioned, Best in Show’s HQ Page, Jack’s An Oscar-worthy life list

Dec 15, 202301:05:16
Best in Show: Screenplay Edition with May December Writer Samy Burch

Best in Show: Screenplay Edition with May December Writer Samy Burch

May December screenwriter Samy Burch joins Mia and Gemma for a chat, fresh from her New York Film Critics Circle win for Best Screenplay. Topics range from Melanie Lynskey to Sister Act to Persona (and Burch’s favorite Letterboxd review), and how the presence of major tabloid figures such as Monica Lewinsky informed her themes of media obsession, performance and agency. We also welcome our London editor Ella Kemp and Best in Show newsletter scribe George Fenwick to give us the lowdown on their attending the British Independent Film Awards, including its big winner All of Us Strangers. Cheers!

Sponsor: Film Independent

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles, London and Auckland. Edited by Slim, production manager Sophie Shin, editorial producer Brian Formo. Theme: ‘Hyperlight’ by Letterboxd member Trent Walton (AKA Echo Wolf). Artwork by Danny Haas. Best in Show is a TAPEDECK production. Title courtesy of Christopher Guest.

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • BIFA (00:04:06)
  • Samy Burch (00:16:32)
  • Winner Winner Chicken Run Dinner (00:39:55)
  • Closing credits (00:44:15)

Lists & Links:

List of movies mentioned

Film Independent’s HQ page on Letterboxd

Ella & George’s Letterboxd profiles

Brian’s interview with Todd Haynes

Christian Jacob Ramón & Josiah Morgan’s May December reviews


Dec 08, 202345:59
Best in Show: Ringing in Awards Season 2023 with Sean Fennessey

Best in Show: Ringing in Awards Season 2023 with Sean Fennessey

The season two premiere of Best in Show kicks off with a very special guest: Sean Fennessey, Head of Content at The Ringer, co-host of The Big Picture podcast and fellow awards obsessive. Gemma, Mia and Brian interrogate Sean about his favorite films of the year so far, and he talks about finding Letterboxd more useful than Wikipedia (his words!) for the sheer encyclopedic knowledge of awards season available—all thanks to your lists—and the time he watched Sunshine with Drew Barrymore.

Sponsor: GKIDS/The Boy and the Heron

Chapters:

  • The Boy and the Heron (00:00:00)
  • Opening credits (00:01:27)
  • Sean Fennessey (00:08:12)
  • What we watched (00:54:50)
  • Closing credits (01:01:37)

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles and Auckland. Edited by Slim, production manager Sophie Shin, editorial producer Brian Formo. Theme: ‘Hyperlight’ by Letterboxd member Trent Walton (AKA Echo Wolf), artwork by Danny Haas. Best in Show is a TAPEDECK production. Title courtesy of Christopher Guest.

Links: Best in Show’s new HQ page on Letterboxd; Awards Season 2023-2024 list; Sean Fennessey’s Letterboxd profile; Mia’s interview with Martin Scorsese; Martin Scorsese’s Letterboxd profile Lists mentioned: List of movies mentioned, Sean Fennessey’s David Fincher, Ranked, The Killer List, Men, Alone

Dec 01, 202301:05:25
Four Favorites with Scott Pilgrim Takes Off’s BenDavid Grabinski: Stop Making Sense, John Carpenter, and Thanksgiving

Four Favorites with Scott Pilgrim Takes Off’s BenDavid Grabinski: Stop Making Sense, John Carpenter, and Thanksgiving

Writer and Executive Producer of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off BenDavid Grabinski joins slim and Flynn to chat about Big Trouble in Little China, Stop Making Sense, Midnight Run, and The Legend of Billie Jean.

They also discuss their favorite concert experiences, Harry Potter midnight releases, forcing their relatives to watch Planes, Trains, and Automobiles every Thanksgiving, poorly marketed rom-coms, and much more.

Chapters:

  • Searchlight (00:00:00)
  • Big Trouble in Little China (00:04:44)
  • Stop Making Sense (00:12:16)
  • Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (00:20:14)
  • Midnight Run (00:27:53)
  • Legend of Billie Jean (00:37:52)
  • Closing credits (00:48:00)

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles, Massachusetts, and Philadelphia. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production. Email us!

Nov 21, 202349:01
Four Favorites with Screen Crush’s Matt Singer: Gymkata, Siskel & Ebert, and Los Angeles

Four Favorites with Screen Crush’s Matt Singer: Gymkata, Siskel & Ebert, and Los Angeles

Editor and critic of ScreenCrush.com and writer of a brand new book on Siskel & Ebert, Matt Singer joins slim and Brian to talk Los Angeles Plays Itself, Gymkata, his new book Opposable Thumbs, Classic Albums: Steely Dan - AJA, and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

They also discuss their connections to LA through film, memories of reading their favorite film critics, learning to love bad films, what the heck a mixing board even does, and grappling with emotional films later in life.

Chapters:

  • Annual Letterboxd Sale (00:00:00)
  • Opening credits (00:02:00)
  • Los Angeles Plays Itself (00:05:55)
  • Gymkata (00:17:44)
  • Opposable Thumbs (00:30:03)
  • Steely Dan (00:45:11)
  • The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (00:53:15)
  • Closing credits (01:04:07)

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production. Email us!

Nov 14, 202301:05:10
‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ with author David Grann, Martin Scorsese and Chief Standing Bear
Nov 09, 202333:34
‘The Exorcist’ Spectacular

‘The Exorcist’ Spectacular

The power of podcasting compels you to listen as the Letterboxd crew gathers for a roundtable discussion about The Exorcist.

Slim⁠ puts on his seasonable vestments and welcomes ⁠Gemma⁠, ⁠Mia⁠, Brian and ⁠Mitchell⁠ into the Letterboxd Studio to walk down memory lane on their first-time watches, favorite moments, and much more. They also spend time on The Exorcist: Believer, The Exorcist III, and offer up some other religious horror recommendations. Happy Halloween!

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:45)
  • The Exorcist roundtable (00:04:24)
  • Sequels (00:34:31)
  • Religious horror recommendations (00:43:16)
  • Closing credits (00:53:20)

Credits: Recorded in Auckland, Delaware, LA, and Philadelphia. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production. Email us!

Oct 31, 202355:22
Four Favorites with Dread Central’s Mary Beth McAndrews: found footage, righteous revenge and more Hallowe’en horrors

Four Favorites with Dread Central’s Mary Beth McAndrews: found footage, righteous revenge and more Hallowe’en horrors

Horror maven and Dread Central editor-in-chief Mary Beth McAndrews joins Mia and Flynn to trauma bond with the girlies over her four favorite films: Joel Anderson’s Lake Mungo, Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Cure, Bob Clark’s Black Christmas and Dusty Mancinelli & Madeleine Sims-Fewer’s Violation. Our conversation covers Mary Beth’s academic specialties in found footage horror and woman-helmed rape-revenge narratives, Hugh Grant’s shocking middle name (hidden in one of these film’s titles), the coming-of-age ritual of showing your friends The Midnight Meat Train on a high school sleepover and how all three of us have survived EMDR therapy. Plus! Read Mia’s deep-dive into Letterboxd’s most obsessively rewatched horror movies on Journal.

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • Lake Mungo (00:04:43)
  • Cure (00:19:14)
  • Black Christmas (00:27:51)
  • Violation (00:37:34)
  • Closing credits (00:52:33)

Sponsor: Apple Original Film: Fingernails.

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles CA, Nantucket MA and Washington DC. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production. Email us!

Lists & Links:

Mary Beth’s podcasts Scarred For Life and Watched Once, Never Again

Holli’s Black Christmas review

Oct 24, 202353:35
‘No One Will Save You’ with Brian Duffield

‘No One Will Save You’ with Brian Duffield

Horror and alien fans, it’s our time. Slim sits down with Brian Duffield to chat about his movie No One Will Save You. Brian wrote and directed this alien home invasion story (with much more) and since release it’s been one of the most-watched movies on Letterboxd. Aliens, no dialog, great lighting, gorgeous house, Kaitlyn Dever…what more do you need? Brian and Slim talk about his horror inspirations, Signs (of course), the design of that house, Kaitlyn’s amazing performance, how he uses his own Letterboxd account, and much more.

Credits: Recorded in Philadelphia PA and Burbank CA. Edited by ⁠Slim⁠. Music: “Into Town” by Joseph Trapanese. Editorial producer: ⁠Brian Formo⁠. Production manager: ⁠Sophie Shin⁠. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.

Oct 13, 202334:29
Four Favorites with Horrorville’s Brett Petersel: Waxworks, night breeds & zombies

Four Favorites with Horrorville’s Brett Petersel: Waxworks, night breeds & zombies

It’s a match made in hell as Horrorville editor Brett Petersel joins Gemma and Slim in a basement studio surrounded by zombies to talk through four of his favorite horror films: Clive Barker’s Nightbreed, Karyn Kusama’s The Invitation, Bruce McDonald’s Pontypool and Waxwork from Anthony Hickox. We’re talking uncomfortable dinner parties, single-location horror, Gemma’s terror of wax museums, Slim’s fear of terrible podcasting etiquette and how Brett’s love of Nightbreed could rescue people from cults. Plus: that one time Brett and Slim met Tom Cruise together.

Chapters:

  • Sponsored by the Disney Bundle (00:00:00)
  • Opening credits (00:00:45)
  • Nightbreed (00:10:42)
  • The Invitation (00:24:46)
  • Pontypool (00:35:57)
  • Waxwork (00:44:47)
  • Brett’s stats (00:53:20)

Sponsor: Disney Bundle plans starting at $9.99 a month. Terms apply.

Credits: Recorded in Long Island NY, Philadelphia PA and Auckland NZ. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production. Email us!

Lists & Links:

List of movies mentioned

Horrorville on Letterboxd

Brett’s Letterboxd profile

Hooptober X

Reviews of Nightbreed by Cinemonster, Brett, Felix and Ryan; The Invitation by Nathan, Jeremy; PontyPool by Mr Saxon (and Graham Williamson’s Claustraphilia list); Waxwork by KaijuMan, Brian and Lucas.

Letterboxd Visits the Criterion Closet

Slim and Brett meet Tom Cruise

Oct 10, 202301:01:59
Weekend Watchlist: Giant-Sized Fall Preview Spectacular

Weekend Watchlist: Giant-Sized Fall Preview Spectacular

We are so temporarily back. This time around ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slim⁠⁠, Mia, and Mitchell discuss the upcoming Fall slate of movies and why you might need to add them to your own watchlists including Killers of the Flower Moon, Poor Things, The Killer and much more. They also look back on their favorites of the year so far and shuffle their watchlists just like old times.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekend Watchlist – Updated Weekly list⁠⁠⁠⁠ > movies mentioned in this episode.

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • Fall Season preview (00:03:52)
  • Faves of the year so far (00:47:09)
  • Watchlist check-in (00:52:04)

Credits: Recorded in Philadelphia PA, Newark DE and Los Angeles CA. Edited by Slim. Theme music: ‘⁠IZON’ by Trent Walton. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production. Letterboxd reviews and links mentioned:

Brian’s chat with Martin Scorsese Josiah Morgan’s May December review

Steph Green’s Poor Things review

Robert DanielsThe Burial review

Serena’s The Killer review

Pate Duncan All of Us Strangers review

Becky Rice’s Thirst review

Iana and Marya’s Watching the Detectives review

Oct 05, 202359:42
Saw X-travaganza with Kevin Greutert

Saw X-travaganza with Kevin Greutert

Jigsaw’s long-term apprentice Mia Lee Vicino sat down with the director of Saw X, Kevin Greutert, to pick his brain about the long-running horror franchise. Kevin has edited the first five Saw films, directed fan-favorite Saw VI and Saw 3D, and now returns to the electric director’s chair for the tenth installment, which is—as of recording—the most critically acclaimed Saw since Lawrence and Adam initially got trapped in that fateful bathroom nineteen years ago. We chat about the beauty and brutality of New French Extremity and practical gore, which Saw traps we could most likely survive and whether or not Jigsaw’s claims of “never having killed anyone” are credible, or just delusional. Blades up, little murder puppets!

Credits: Recorded in Brooklyn NY and Los Angeles CA. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.

Oct 03, 202323:28
Four Favorites with Flynn Slicker: Wong Kar-wai, Weerasethakul, Sing Street and lost love

Four Favorites with Flynn Slicker: Wong Kar-wai, Weerasethakul, Sing Street and lost love

We are Boonsong and Flynn Slicker is our Monkey Ghost. Letterboxd’s elusive social media manager joins hosts Gemma and Slim from the seaside for a deep chat about her four favorite films: Wong Kar-wai’s Fallen Angels, Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, John Carney’s Sing Street and René Liu’s Us And Them. We celebrate siblings and hot people, commiserate about how hard it is to be alive, calculate how long Raphina and Cosmo would have taken to get to Wales in that tiny boat, normalize hanging out with ghosts and marvel at the genius of running other people’s businesses at night. Plus! Read Flynn’s Q&A with John Carney on Journal.

Sponsor: mubi.com/letterboxd

Credits: Recorded in Nantucket MA, Philadelphia PA and Auckland NZ. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.

Chapters:

  • Sponsored by MUBI (00:00:00)
  • Opening credits (00:01:10)
  • Fallen Angels (00:10:12)
  • Uncle Boonmee (00:23:29)
  • Sing Street (00:40:15)
  • Us and Them (00:54:45)
  • Closing credits (01:12:19)

Links:

List of movies mentioned

Flynn’s Letterboxd profile

Letterboxd Visits the Criterion Closet

Gemma’s interview with Kamila Andini on Journal

Apichatpong Weerasethakul profile in The New Yorker

Lists mentioned:

When You’re Young, Vibrant, and Lost in This World by hungcat

Letterboxd 100: Chinese Cinema by Rahat Ahmad

Reviews mentioned:

Flynn & Josh Lewis’s Fallen Angels reviews

Carol Grant’s Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives review

Jae’s Us and Them review

Sep 26, 202301:13:22
Four Favorites with David Jenkins: Almodóvar, Daft Punk and Little White Lies

Four Favorites with David Jenkins: Almodóvar, Daft Punk and Little White Lies

Little White Lies editor David Jenkins joins Mia and Ella to celebrate the 100th edition of London-based cinema magazine, and chat about the films behind his four favorite illustrated LWL covers: Volver, Attack the Block, Eden and Licorice Pizza. We dig into the magical realism of Pedro Almodóvar, why we’re all so drawn to the thoughtful dramas of Mia Hansen-Løve, a perfectly logical reason as to why Daft Punk and Greta Gerwig should collab, the magnetism of Alana Haim and more. Cheers to 100 issues of Little White Lies!

Sponsor: Bottoms

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • Issue 100 (00:10:01)
  • Volver (00:12:31)
  • Attack the Block (00:21:28)
  • Eden (00:32:23)
  • Licorice Pizza (00:42:14)
  • Closing credits (00:52:25)

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles and London. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.

Lists & Links:

Volver cover

Attack the Block cover

Eden cover

Licorice Pizza cover

patmacri13’s Attack the Block review

Evan’s Eden review

Will Menaker’s Licorice Pizza review

Josh LewisLicorice Pizza review

Sep 12, 202354:24
Four Favorites with Robert Daniels: Beale Street, messy masterpieces and sad robots

Four Favorites with Robert Daniels: Beale Street, messy masterpieces and sad robots

Hey Joe, what do ya know? Film critic Robert Daniels (New York Times, LA Times, RogerEbert.com, etc.) is here to chat with Slim and Mitchell about his four favorites: Killer of Sheep, If Beale Street Could Talk, A.I. Artificial Intelligence and Bamboozled. If you think that sounds like a Mount Rushmore of titles, you’d be exactly right! Strap in as Robert takes us on an incredibly insightful tour through the complicated themes and explosive emotions of these gems. Topics include: what it means to be human, blackface through Hollywood’s history, the adaptability that comes with being Black in America, the glimmer of hope that must be held for the next generation, a call for The Underground Railroad to get more attention and why “masterpiece” doesn’t always mean “perfect”.

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • Killer of Sheep (00:07:44)
  • If Beale Street Could talk (00:19:41)
  • A.I.: Artificial Intelligence (00:35:46)
  • Bamboozled (00:52:52)
  • Stats talk (01:10:08)
  • Closing credits (01:13:29)

Credits: Recorded in Newark DE, Philadelphia PA and Chicago IL. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.

Lists & Links:

List of movies mentioned

Robert’s Letterboxd profile

Robert’s Sight & Sound 2022 ballot; Robert’s Criterion essay on Beasts of No Nation; Robert’s IndieWire interview with Charles Burnett on My Brother’s Wedding; Robert’s interview with Barry Jenkins for Medicine for Melancholy; Robert’s interview with Barry Jenkins for The Underground Railroad; Robert’s Polygon essay on Brian Tyree Henry’s big scene in If Beale Street Could Talk; Robert’s ranking of Spike Lee movies for Okayplayer; Robert’s essay on Bamboozled for The Playlist

Lists mentioned:

Films that took an already amazing and well-known song and made it better by adding a cinematic moment to it that you are always reminded of when you hear the song by Starboy

Reviews mentioned:

Graham Williamson’s Killer of Sheep review

Kambole Campbell’s Bamboozled review

Aug 29, 202301:14:20
Best in Show: Fall Festival Preview, plus Our Labor Film Festival

Best in Show: Fall Festival Preview, plus Our Labor Film Festival

On a special musical episode of Best in Show, our crew—Mia Lee Vicino, Gemma Gracewood and Brian Formo unpacks what the fall film festival season has in store for movie lovers and awards voters. It all goes down once Venice kicks off on August 30, so we’re here to hand-pick some highlights from acclaimed directors like Michael Mann, Sofia Coppola, Wes Anderson, Yorgos Lanthimos, Ryûsuke Hamaguchi and David Fincher. Plus, with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes on our minds, we’ve programmed our own labor-themed film festival—including Silkwood (1983), The Killing Floor (1984) and Pride (2014) and more!—so you can add some solidarity to your forever watchlist.

Best in Show is a limited podcast series brought to you by The Letterboxd Show.

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • Fall film fest season (00:01:08)
  • Labor-themed film festival (00:18:27)
  • Lightning round (00:54:26)
  • Closing credits (01:04:10)

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles and Melbourne. Edited by Slim, editorial producer Brian Formo. Theme: ‘Hyperlight’ by Letterboxd member Trent Walton (AKA Echo Wolf). Best in Show is a TAPEDECK production. Title courtesy of Christopher Guest.

Lists & Links: Donate to SAG-AFTRA; WGA’s Take Action info; List of movies mentioned; Best in Show’s list of 45 labor movement movies

Aug 25, 202301:05:32
‘Command Z’ with Steven Soderbergh

‘Command Z’ with Steven Soderbergh

Karaoke, time travel, screen chemistry and art as activism: As his new, satirical time-travel web series Command Z drops (starring an A.I. Michael Cera and a time-travelling tumble-dryer), Oscar-winning filmmaker Steven Soderbergh tells Gemma Gracewood about activist art, why he loves the reality show Below Deck, how he dealt with being bullied as a child, why governments should give tax credits for doing karaoke and watching comedy, why bad ideas travel faster than good, Steven’s “no assholes” policy, how to create better film sets, and the 25th anniversary of Out of Sight.

Plus: Gemma shares how Contagion got her through the pandemic, Steven reveals his favorite time-travel devices in movies, the enduring influence of film critic Pauline Kael and the American New Wave, using your juice to help other people, and a debate about which song should be Soderbergh’s karaoke go-to.

Watch Command Z online for a small fee — proceeds go to several good causes.

Note: This episode contains explicit language (f-bombs and assholes). The interview was recorded during the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strike in accordance with the DGA agreement with AMPTP.

Sponsor: LG OLED

Credits: Hosted by Gemma Gracewood, edited by Slim, production manager Sophie Shin, editorial producer Brian Formo. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.

Links:

The Letterboxd list of films mentioned; Soderbergh’s Extension 765 merch store; Steven Soderbergh is thanked in the end credits” list; a list of Steven Soderbergh’s Command Z film recommendations. Reviews of Command Z by Josh Lagle, Stephen Gillespie, and Dan Scannan. Books mentioned: The Heat Will Kill You First; Assholes: A Theory; Evil Geniuses.

Aug 18, 202353:52
Best in Show: Strike Mailbag with Kate Comer

Best in Show: Strike Mailbag with Kate Comer

As we march past Day 100 of the WGA strike, the Best in Show team—Mia Lee Vicino, Gemma Gracewood and Brian Formo—are here to help film fans support both the art of cinema and the rights of the workers who make it.

For this episode, we’ve called upon two guests who are deep in the movie biz: filmmaker Steven Soderbergh and actress/SAG-AFTRA strike captain Kate Comer. Come for Sodey’s thoughts on the insidiousness of studios’ hoarding of dark data, stay for Kate’s insider knowledge of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, including how she’s been staying resilient on the Hollywood picket lines during the dog days of summer, and why “interim agreements” are the new “waivers”. Plus, if you enjoyed hearing Magic Mike’s Soderbergh on our own magic mic, stay tuned for Gemma’s full-length, in-depth interview with him, dropping at the end of the week.

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • News (00:01:23)
  • Steven Soderbergh (00:06:51)
  • Kate Comer answers mailbag questions (00:15:21)
  • Closing credits (00:46:35)

Best in Show is a limited podcast series brought to you by The Letterboxd Show.

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles and Auckland. Edited by Slim, production manager Sophie Shin, editorial producer Brian Formo. Theme: ‘Hyperlight’ by Letterboxd member Trent Walton (AKA Echo Wolf). Best in Show is a TAPEDECK production. Title courtesy of Christopher Guest.

Lists & Links: Donate to SAG-AFTRA; WGA’s Take Action info; Best in Show’s list of 45 labor movement movies; Kate Comer’s Instagram

Aug 15, 202347:53
‘Passages’ with Ira Sachs

‘Passages’ with Ira Sachs

On this special episode of The Letterboxd Show, Mitchell Beaupre speaks with filmmaker Ira Sachs about his latest feature Passages, in theaters worldwide now from MUBI. This delicious love triangle follows Tomas (Franz Rogowski), a narcissistic filmmaker whose marriage to Martin (Ben Whishaw) hits the rocks when Tomas starts up an affair with Agathe (Adèle Exarchopoulos). Mitchell and Ira give you a taste of what to expect in Passages, a self-described “very horny film,” while diving deep into some of Ira’s personal favorites, including Dodsworth, The Innocent, Taxi Zum Klo and Je, Tu, Il, Elle.

Note: this interview was conducted as the WGA and SAG-AFTRA unions are on strike for better working conditions and fairer compensation for their work. Passages was an entirely independent production, shot in Europe with European actors, and is being released by an independent distributor that is isn't in the AMPTP, and therefore is not a struck company. We will never ask anyone to cross a picket line.

Chapters:

  • LG sponsorship (00:00:00)
  • Opening credits (00:01:16)
  • Dodsworth (00:13:06)
  • The Innocent (00:27:50)
  • Je, Tu, Il, Elle (00:32:36)
  • Taxi Zum Klo (00:43:59)
  • Closing credits (00:58:30)

Credits: Recorded in Newark, DE and New York, NY. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. Art by Samm. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.

Lists & Links:

List of movies mentioned

Aug 08, 202359:38
Four Favorites with Claira Curtis: Twilight, menstruation, DILFs and Miyazaki

Four Favorites with Claira Curtis: Twilight, menstruation, DILFs and Miyazaki

It’s Twihard season on The Letterboxd Show! We’re traveling all the way to Forks, Washington to bring on extraordinary Letterboxd member and House of Cinema podcast co-host Claira Curtis, who takes us through their four favorites: The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Eve’s Bayou, Howl’s Moving Castle and Honeymoon. Topics include: the Robert Pattinson masturbating cinematic universe, male protagonists Claira can beat up in a fight, the New Moon breakup montage, the DILF canon, Roger Ebert naming Eve’s Bayou the best film of 1997, talking about periods, Miyazaki the antiwar king, gender is everywhere, redhead discrimination and Mia brings back #HoleHorror.

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • The Twilight Saga: New Moon (00:05:05)
  • Eve’s Bayou (00:22:29)
  • Howl’s Moving Castle (00:40:20)
  • Honeymoon (00:48:24)
  • Closing credits (01:05:20)

Credits: Recorded in Newark DE, Los Angeles CA and Seattle WA. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.

Lists & Links:

Reviews mentioned:

Aug 01, 202301:06:39
Best in Show: Strike FAQ for film fans

Best in Show: Strike FAQ for film fans

Is it crossing the picket line to go to the cinema? Is it scabbing to write a review on Letterboxd? Will cancelling a streaming subscription help writers and actors? Is this a good time to make that low-budget indie film? The Best in Show team—Mia Lee Vicino, Gemma Gracewood and Brian Formo—is back for a minisode about the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and what it all means for film fans, fall festivals, awards season, Letterboxd members and creative workers alike.

From the arrival of ChatGPT a mere 48 hours after the Oscars, to the damning statistics around what actors actually earn, to the other current industrial action in California, to the current restrictions around what union members can and can’t do, there’s a lot to talk about. This episode is a catch-up conversation along with some film recommendations for great histories of labor movements. Best in Show will be back again soon, with a strike captain, for a mailbag episode. Send your strike questions, your favorite picket signs, and your recommendations for the best workers’ rights films to podcast@letterboxd.com.

Best in Show is a limited podcast series brought to you by The Letterboxd Show.

Credits:

Recorded in Los Angeles and Auckland. Edited by Slim, production manager Sophie Shin, editorial producer Brian Formo. Theme: ‘Hyperlight’ by Letterboxd member Trent Walton (AKA Echo Wolf). Best in Show is a TAPEDECK production. Title courtesy of Christopher Guest.

Lists & Links:

Donate to SAG-AFTRA; WGA’s Take Action info; LA Times opinion article; Best in Show’s list of 45 labor movement movies

Jul 28, 202332:50
Magic Hour: George Miller (Mad Max) and Danny & Michael Philippou (Talk to Me)

Magic Hour: George Miller (Mad Max) and Danny & Michael Philippou (Talk to Me)

Magic Hour is an occasional Letterboxd series in which perfectly matched filmmakers have a conversation with each other. In this episode, Talk to Me directors Danny and Michael Philippou (of YouTube channel RackaRacka fame) get into the details of directing with Australian legend George Miller, creator of the Mad Max franchise and the Babe films. The trio talk editing, being twins, Buster Keaton, making Babe better, pure film language, building great action sequences, Australia’s film history, great one-shot scenes, banging trailers, editing on the go and the great Margaret Sixel. Watch this conversation on our YouTube page.

A note from the team: This interview was conducted during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in accordance with the DGA contract, which was ratified in June 2023. Without the labor of writers and actors currently on strike, many of the films we cover wouldn’t exist.

Sponsor: Talk to Me (A24) in theaters everywhere July 28th.

Credits: Produced by Gemma Gracewood, edited by @CultPopture and slim. Production coordinator: Sophie Shin. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. With thanks to Courtney Mayhew and Ahi. Music from Junkie XL, Takara, and Sadistik.

Films mentioned, Talk to Me, Mad Max, Mad Max 2, Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa, The General, Safety Last!, Ben-Hur, The French Connection, Bullitt, Duel, The Story of the Kelly Gang, Breaker Morant, Picnic at Hanging Rock, My Brilliant Career, Jedda, Nursery Rhymes, Babe, The Godfather: Part II, The Fabelmans

Also mentioned: Kevin Brownlow’s book on the silent screen, The Parade's Gone By.

Jul 26, 202345:21
Four Favorites with Light the Fuse: Dead Reckoning Special

Four Favorites with Light the Fuse: Dead Reckoning Special

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to listen to this podcast. OK, sorry that was corny. In this episode we welcome Drew and Charles from the official Mission: Impossible podcast, Light the Fuse!

We asked them to give us four movies they felt relate to the brand new Dead Reckoning: Part One and boy did they deliver. We discussed The Hunt For Red October, The Wrong Trousers, Police Story 3: Supercop, and The Lone Ranger(??). Additional topics include: becoming friends with Tom Cruise thanks to their podcast, not asking him his four faves, McQ and Tom’s collaboration style, our favorite Hong Kong stunts and out-takes, our REAL personal four faves, and much more. On a personal note, this episode is dedicated to slim’s dog Chloe. You can hear barking in the background a few times. Chloe, we miss and love you. 🧡💚💙

Chapters:

  • Opening credits + Introductions (00:00:00)
  • The Hunt for Red October (00:08:02)
  • The Wrong Trousers (00:17:45)
  • Dead Reckoning (00:27:20)
  • Supercop (00:35:40)
  • The Lone Ranger (00:46:33)
  • Closing credits (01:01:35)

Credits: Recorded in Philadelphia, LA, and New York. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK productions.

Lists & Links:

Light the Fuse Podcast

List of movies mentioned

Reviews mentioned:

Dom Watches’s The Wrong Trousers review

Jul 18, 202301:04:34
‘The Watermelon Woman’ with Cheryl Dunye

‘The Watermelon Woman’ with Cheryl Dunye

On this special episode of The Letterboxd Show, Mia chats with Cheryl Dunye about the Criterion Collection’s new release of her groundbreaking 1996 film The Watermelon Woman, which was the first feature directed by an out Black lesbian. Written, directed and starring Cheryl herself, The Watermelon Woman follows a young Black lesbian who works a day job in a video store while trying to make a film about a Black actress from the 1930s, known for playing the stereotypical “mammy” roles relegated to Black actresses during that period. Cheryl talks to Mia about her signature “Dunyementaries,” finding cinematic inspiration from the likes of Julie Dash and Charles Burnett, and how sometimes you have to create your own history.

Sponsor: Searchlight Pictures presents Theatre Camp playing in select theatres on July 14.

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles, CA. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show and Weekend Watchlist are TAPEDECK productions.

Jul 11, 202327:55
‘Insidious’ with Patrick Wilson

‘Insidious’ with Patrick Wilson

On this special episode of The Letterboxd Show, Slim chats with filmmaker Patrick Wilson about his directorial debut Insidious: The Red Door, in theaters now courtesy of Sony. The horror movie follows the Lambert Family 10 years after the events of Insidious Chapter 2. They decided to completely block out those events…. BUT those forgotten memories have caused unforeseen problems over the years and their family life now kinda sucks... and Josh is off to college unable to find common ground with his dad. Patrick and Slim talk about focusing on a realistic family issues coming to the Lamberts, the importance of Goblin to horror cinema, how Fast 5 showed him you CAN rejuvenate a franchise, his popularity on my Man Ass Letterboxd List, and slim calling Insidious: The Red Door “The Babadook for divorced dads.”

Credits: Recorded in Philadelphia PA. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show and Weekend Watchlist are TAPEDECK productions.

Jul 07, 202320:21
‘Indiana Jones’ Spectacular

‘Indiana Jones’ Spectacular

With Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny out in cinemas, the Letterboxd Show crew mounts a Four Favorites debate to determine once and for all which of the previous four Indy crusades is the best overall, which one has the best puzzles, and which is the horniest! Slim punts for Raiders of the Lost Ark (“No one has ever lost a debate speech by saying they love seeing Nazis explode”). Gemma is all in for the PG-13 horror-show that is Temple of Doom (“It’s freaky!”). Mia has only love for Last Crusade, and Mitchell is the president of the Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull admiration society.

Plus: that singular, torn-off sleeve, why Paul Mescal’s Gladiator workout is nothing compared to Ford’s shredding, why Slim sees himself in Temple of Doom’s Willie Scott, Spielberg as the ultimate ally for rats, Gemma and Mia thirst-riding the Disneyland Indiana Jones ride, and why Dial of Destiny is great for mathletes like Mitchell.

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • Raiders of the Lost Ark (00:05:06)
  • Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (00:15:52)
  • Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (00:28:43)
  • Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (00:41:40)
  • Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (00:54:06)
  • Closing credits (01:03:49)

Sponsor: Bleecker Street’s The Lesson out in theatres on July 7.

Credits: Recorded in Philadelphia PA, Auckland NZ, Los Angeles CA and Newark DA. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show and Weekend Watchlist are TAPEDECK productions.

Lists & Links:

List of movies mentioned

Written by Women’ by aobh

Reviews mentioned:

Hayley & Stephanie & Will Sloan’s Raiders of the Lost Ark reviews

Gemma’s Kingdom of the Crystal Skull review

David Ehrlich & Slim & Ella’s Dial of Destiny reviews

Jul 04, 202301:05:07
‘Past Lives’ with Celine Song

‘Past Lives’ with Celine Song

On this special episode of The Letterboxd Show, Mia Lee Vicino chats with filmmaker Celine Song about her directorial debut Past Lives, in theaters now courtesy of A24. The romantic drama stars Greta Lee as Nora and Teo Yoo as Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, who are wrest apart after Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea. 20 years later, they are reunited for one fateful week as they confront notions of love and destiny. Mia and Celine talk about bridges both literal and figurative, the challenges of filming a pivotal dramatic scene on location in New York City, and the surprisingly salacious results of her own past life reading.


Credits: Recorded in New York, NY. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show and Weekend Watchlist are TAPEDECK productions.

The song used in this episode is titled In Yun from Past Lives soundtrack.


Links: Journal article: Missed Connections

Jun 27, 202324:27
Four Favorites with Georgia Oakley: Juliette Binoche, the perfect club scene, sewing your own Pride flags

Four Favorites with Georgia Oakley: Juliette Binoche, the perfect club scene, sewing your own Pride flags

Happy Pride Month, folks! On this episode, writer and director Georgia Oakley joins Gemma and Ella to discuss her debut feature Blue Jean, now in theaters across the US. We unspool the past and present queer–and unintentionally political–histories in the UK via Oakley’s film, while also celebrating four more striking female performances in her four favorites: Three Colors: Blue, Safe, A Woman Under the Influence and Morvern Callar. Topics include: coming out as a daily thing, Juliette Binoche’s unpredictable behavior, the greatest performance by any actor ever, lessons from low-budget theater, Cate Blanchett doing things, the hostility of pastel colors, the unknowability of good actors, queer-coded kids films, missing your tube station to process your post-movie thoughts, the one movie that made Ella change her own Four Faves, and the one scene that makes Georgia want to get up in the morning.

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • Pride Month plans (00:01:12)
  • Blue Jean political context (00:06:10)
  • Three Colours: Blue (00:09:52)
  • Blue Jean needle drops (00:22:00)
  • Safe (00:25:25)
  • Tomboy (00:38:40)
  • A Woman Under the Influence (00:41:01)
  • Morvern Callar (00:50:50)
  • Blue Jean and club scenes (00:55:45)
  • Closing credits (01:01:35)

Credits: Recorded in Auckland NZ, Los Angeles CA and London UK. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show and Weekend Watchlist are TAPEDECK productions.

Lists & Links:

List of movies mentioned

Ella’s interview with Georgia on Journal

What will I do with this life?” by C

Movies that you (initially) thought were “okay” but hit you so damn hard when they ended” by Hungkat

The Feminine Grotesque” by Angelica Jade Bastién

Reviews mentioned:

Hari Nef’s Safe review

Issy’s Blue Jean review

Filipe’s A Woman Under the Influence review

Jun 20, 202301:04:48
Magic Hour: Zoe Lister-Jones (Beau Is Afraid) and Emma Seligman (Bottoms) on hiring women, high school comedies, and conveying pleasure

Magic Hour: Zoe Lister-Jones (Beau Is Afraid) and Emma Seligman (Bottoms) on hiring women, high school comedies, and conveying pleasure

Welcome to a special Magic Hour brought to you by The Letterboxd Show! Magic Hour is our video series that has lived primarily on YouTube and it features two filmmakers having a conversation with each other. In this special audio episode, actress-writer-director Zoe Lister-Jones (Slip, Beau Is Afraid) chats with Emma Seligman (Bottoms, Shiva Baby). They discuss the difficult jump from indie to studio films, some words of advice from Ron Howard, Adam McKay and Elizabeth Banks, and sticking up for members from your indie film crew when trying to hire them onto the larger features.

Beau Is Afraid concerns a horrifying trip home to visit mother, with Lister-Jones as the mother in psychological flashbacks. And it’s available on VOD now. Lister-Jones also became the first woman to create-write-direct and star in every episode of a tv series which is Slip on the Roku Channel. It follows a woman who can travel through the multiverse via her orgasm. And Bottoms, directed by Seligman, is a high school comedy about two queer women who start an after-school fight club program in an attempt to lose their virginities to cheerleaders they have crushes on. After its premiere at SXSW, Bottoms hits theaters at the end of the summer.

Links:

Bottoms trailer. Slip trailer.

Bottoms on Letterboxd

Beau Is Afraid on Letterboxd

Shiva Baby on Letterboxd

Band Aid on Letterboxd

Slip on The Roku Channel

Credits:

Recorded in Los Angeles. Produced by Brian Formo; edited by AJ (aka CultPopture) for video and Slim for audio; production coordination by Sophie Shin; artwork by Matthew Buchanan; features some music by Bobby Krlic from his score for Beau Is Afraid. Intro’d by Mia Lee Vicino and Brian Formo.

Special thanks to MGM Studios and Independent PR.

Jun 14, 202301:10:18
Four Favorites with Kyle Turner: Greta Gerwig, dancing Pacino and messy queers

Four Favorites with Kyle Turner: Greta Gerwig, dancing Pacino and messy queers

Ahoy sexies! Self-described “writer person” Kyle Turner joins Mitchell and Mia to discuss his new book, The Queer Film Guide: 100 Great Movies That Tell LGBTQIA+ Stories, available now online and in bookstores. We take a deep dive into Kyle’s chronicling of over a century in queer film, while also exploring his four favorites: Cruising, Clue, Frances Ha and Spa Night. Topics include: Gregg Araki’s unique autograph style, sleeveless shirts are gay rights, Al Pacino dancing in an S&M bar, loving our problematic faves, Clue’s alternate ending gamble, be gay do communism, “MY WIFE”, the delightful messiness, fluidity and evolution of queer representation, Greta Gerwig is White Mother, the beauty in naïveté and the miracle that is The Christmas List.

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • Cruising (00:05:45)
  • Clue (00:25:54)
  • The Queer Film Guide (00:34:47)
  • Frances Ha (00:46:41)
  • Spa Night (00:58:08)
  • Closing credits (01:10:41)

Credits: Recorded in Newark DE, Los Angeles CA and Brooklyn NY. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show and Weekend Watchlist are TAPEDECK productions.

Lists & Links:

List of movies mentioned

The Queer Film Guide: 100 Great Movies That Tell LGBTQIA+ Stories

The Queer Film Guide Letterboxd list

The Queer Film Guide: Director’s Cut by Kyle Turner

An actor gets the chance to say “MY WIFE” and really makes a meal of it by Angela Ferraguto

Reviews mentioned:

feat. dante from the dmc series & Persia’s Clue reviews

nabeel’s Frances Ha review

Darryl James’s Spa Night review

Jun 06, 202301:09:21
Weekend Watchlist: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Past Lives and the Boogeyman

Weekend Watchlist: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Past Lives and the Boogeyman

This week ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slim⁠ and Mia discuss their growing watchlists including Weekend Watchlist: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Past Lives and the Boogeyman. They also discuss not being NYC experts. After a quick ⁠⁠⁠look back at recent releases⁠⁠⁠ and community reviews they discuss their watchlists including one last look at their progress so far this year.

⁠⁠⁠Weekend Watchlist – Updated Weekly list⁠⁠⁠ > movies mentioned in this episode.

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (00:02:20)
  • Past Lives (00:07:05)
  • The Boogeyman (00:11:08)
  • Last week (00:14:23)
  • Watchlists (00:20:09)
  • Letter time (00:28:03)

Letterboxd reviews and links mentioned:

Credits:

Jun 01, 202333:18
'In the Cut' 20th Anniversary Special with Jane Campion

'In the Cut' 20th Anniversary Special with Jane Campion

Oscar-winning filmmaker Jane Campion joins The Letterboxd Show for a very special episode, marking the 20th anniversary of one of Gemma Gracewood’s Four Favorites: In the Cut (2003). Campion’s erotic thriller stars height-of-her-fame box office darling Meg Ryan and pre-Hulk, pre-13 Going on 30 Mark Ruffalo as a literary professor and a detective, respectively, who dive headlong into a red-hot sexual romance, while a serial killer is on the loose in New York City.

In the Cut received an infamous CinemaScore ‘F’ grade on release, with many major critics panning the film. But the Letterboxd average rating has only grown over the years as the misunderstood noir masterpiece finds its audience at last. Now, with a new uncut director’s cut Blu-ray on the market, Gemma reads Campion some thirsty Letterboxd reviews and gets the goods from Jane about her favorite sex scenes, intimacy coordination, earning trust with actors, what it really means to win an Oscar, and why the structures of filmmaking need to change.

Credits: Recorded in New Zealand. Edited by Slim. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. Special thanks to Stuart McKenzie. The Letterboxd Show and Weekend Watchlist are TAPEDECK productions.

The songs in this episode are from the soundtrack for In the Cut: Pink Martini’s cover of Que Sera Sera, and Betty Everett’s You’re No Good.

Lists & Links:

List of movies mentioned

In the Cut uncut director’s cut Blu-ray from Mill Creek Entertainment.

Reviews of In the Cut by Jeffrey Chen, Jaime Rebenal, Mia Vicino, Kanane and Sophie Shin.

May 31, 202337:36
Weekend Watchlist: The Little Mermaid, Your Hurt My Feelings and Reality

Weekend Watchlist: The Little Mermaid, Your Hurt My Feelings and Reality

This week ⁠Slim⁠ and ⁠Mitchell discuss their growing watchlists including The Little Mermaid, Your Hurt My Feelings and Reality. They also discuss this show’s impending summer vacation. After a quick ⁠⁠⁠look back at recent releases⁠⁠⁠ and community reviews they discuss their watchlists including thinking your Jesus and also evil Sean Penn.

⁠⁠⁠Weekend Watchlist – Updated Weekly list⁠⁠⁠ > movies mentioned in this episode.

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • The Little Mermaid (00:02:50)
  • You Hurt My Feelings (00:06:08)
  • Reality (00:09:49)
  • Last week (00:12:54)
  • Top 50 of 2023 (00:15:03)
  • Watchlists (00:16:56)

Letterboxd reviews and links mentioned:

Credits:

May 25, 202328:24
Four Favorites with David Ehrlich: Letterboxd popularity, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and the meaning of life

Four Favorites with David Ehrlich: Letterboxd popularity, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and the meaning of life

You don’t get to over 125,000 Letterboxd followers without making a few enemies… unless you’re David Ehrlich! IndieWire’s chief film critic joins Slim and Mitchell to discuss mortality across existential masterpieces and Apatow-produced rom-coms. As we make our way through his four favorite films (Ikiru, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters, Titanic) we hit a range of topics including: the pressure of David’s yearly video countdowns, how the canon has changed in “the age of Letterboxd”, stealing your mom’s credit card to buy movies, finding meaning in small and invisible acts, Forgetting Sarah Marshall’s controversial marketing campaign and how it’s more quotable than Casablanca, Paul Schrader’s hot dog stains, Mishima as “the most Schrader” movie, David’s alleged personal connection to Titanic and the meditative quality of the DVD menu. PLUS: Find out which of David’s children is his favorite!

Chapters:

  • Opening credits (00:00:00)
  • Ikiru (00:07:07)
  • Forgetting Sarah Marshall (00:17:10)
  • Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (00:27:47)
  • Titanic (00:45:00)
  • Cannes 2023 talk (00:55:50)
  • Closing credits (00:59:58)

Credits: Recorded in Newark DE, Philadelphia PA and Brooklyn NY. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show and Weekend Watchlist are TAPEDECK productions.

Lists & Links:

Reviews mentioned:

May 23, 202301:01:02
Weekend Watchlist: Fast X, Sanctuary and Master Gardener

Weekend Watchlist: Fast X, Sanctuary and Master Gardener

This week ⁠⁠Slim and Mia discuss their growing watchlists including Fast X, Sanctuary and Master Gardener. They also discuss smuggling a baked potato into a movie theater. After a quick ⁠⁠look back at recent releases⁠⁠ and community reviews they discuss their watchlists and young Al vs young Robert.

⁠⁠Weekend Watchlist – Updated Weekly list⁠⁠ > movies mentioned in this episode.


Chapters:

Opening credits (00:00:00)

Fast X (00:01:01)

Sanctuary (00:08:12)

Master Gardener (00:11:41)

VOD (00:14:18)

Last week (00:15:17)

Watchlists (00:17:55)


Letterboxd reviews and links mentioned:


Credits:

May 18, 202331:10