The Letterboxd Show
By Letterboxd
The Letterboxd ShowSep 01, 2022
Weekend Watchlist: Summer 2024 Preview Extravaganza
The podcast hosts of summer a back! This time around â â â â â â Slimâ â , Mia, and Mitchell discuss the upcoming SUMMER slate of movies and why you might need to add them to your own watchlists including MaXXXine, Kinds of Kindness, Furiousa: A Mad Max Saga, and Longlegs just to name a few*.* They also look ahead outside the most popular movies and shuffle their watchlists just like old times.
â â â â Weekend Watchlist â Updated Weekly listâ â â â > movies mentioned in this episode.
Chapters:
- Opening credits + The Fall Guy (00:00:00)
- Summer 2024 preview Top 10 through 3 (00:05:43)
- Summer 2024 preview Top 3 (00:30:55)
- Our summer watchlists (00:39:02)
- Watchlists shuffles (00:49:15)
Credits: Recorded in Philadelphia PA, Newark DE and Los Angeles CA. Edited by Slim. Theme music: ââ IZONâ by Trent Walton. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.
Lists & Links: David on Tombstone; Tripp on La Belle Noiseuse; Mason on Critters
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, âMy eyes see Oppenheimer!â, while Gemma and Mia recount their hectic day on the red carpet and evening in the press roomâplus 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: âHyperlightâ by Letterboxd member Trent Walton (AKA Echo Wolf). Artwork by Danny Haas. Best in Show is a TAPEDECK production. Title courtesy of Christopher Guest.
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 Haynesâ 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: âHyperlightâ by Letterboxd member Trent Walton (AKA Echo Wolf). Artwork by Danny Haas. Best in Show is a TAPEDECK production. Title courtesy of Christopher Guest.
Best in Show: Indie Spirits with Justine Triet and On Cinemaâs 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 Cinemaâs 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: âHyperlightâ 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 Showâs HQ Page, Film Independentâs HQ Page
Best in Show: BAFTAs and Barbie with Billie Eilish and Finneas
This week, the Best in Show crew finds out what theyâre made for with Grammy-winning special guests Billie Eilish and Finneas. The superstar sibling duo is behind the Best Original Song Oscar nominee âWhat Was I Made For?â, 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 Billieâs directing aspirations. Thereâs also some queening out over a mutual love of Andrew Scott in Fleabag and Sherlockârelevant 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 DaâVine 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: âHyperlightâ 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 Showâs HQ Page, BAFTAs HQ Page
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 âHelp!â 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: âHyperlightâ 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 Showâs HQ Page, Gender at the Oscars
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 entrĂ©e of an interview between Brian, Juliette Binoche and Tran Anh Hung about their CĂ©sar-nominated collaboration, The Taste of Things. Gemma, Mia and Brian also divulge the recipe for the International Feature category and how its submissions workâand 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 Featuresâ Lisa Frankenstein
Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles and Auckland. Edited by Slim, production manager Sophie Shin, editorial producer Brian Formo. Theme: âHyperlightâ 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 Showâs HQ Page
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 DĂŹdi (ćŒćŒ). Then, Mia and Gemma head to Osage County with five-time Oscar-nominated costume designer Jacqueline West for an in-depth interview on her âmethod costumingâ techniques for Killers of the Flower Moonâwhich included close collaboration with fellow nominees Lily Gladstone and Martin Scorsese, as well as Osage wardrobe consultant Julie OâKeefe. She also shares how she creates a real-life closet to help her actors inhabit their charactersâ 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: âHyperlightâ 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 Showâs HQ Page
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 fĂȘted!). Plus, Spider-Slim swings Across the Spider-Verse to chat with the directors behind Letterboxdâs 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: âHyperlightâ 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 Showâs HQ Page
Best in Show: Sound Design in the Snow, in Osage country and The Zone of Interest
The BAFTA nominations are inâLily Gladstone and Andrew Scott are out. Whatâs that about? London Editor Ella Kemp joins Mia and Gemma for a rant. Plus: the invisible but visceral art of sound design with The Zone of Interest and Poor Things sound designer Johnnie Burn, Society of the Snow director JA Bayona, and Killers of the Flower Moon sound mixer Mark Ulano.
Chapters:
- Opening credits (00:00:00)
- BAFTAs (00:02:39)
- Sound design (00:13:13)
- JA Bayona interview (00:20:50)
- Mark Ulano interview (00:28:26)
- Johnnie Burn interview (00:29:42)
- Winner Winner Chicken Run Dinner (00:46:13)
- Closing credits (00:58:06)
Sponsor: Searchlight Picturesâ All of Us Strangers
Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles, London, and Auckland. Edited by Slim, production manager Sophie Shin, editorial producer Brian Formo. Theme: âHyperlightâ 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 Showâs HQ Page, Gemmaâs interview with Molly Manning Walker, Ellaâs interview with Charlotte Regan
Weekend Watchlist: Giant-Sized 2024 Preview Spectacular
We are so temporarily back. This time around â â â â â â Slimâ â , 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. â â â â Weekend Watchlist â Updated Weekly listâ â â â > 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: ââ IZONâ by Trent Walton. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.
Lists & Links: Paul Oyamaâs The Bikeriders review; Jeff Zhangâs Hit Man review; Zacâs Love Actually review, Dareâs Cop Land review, lorddnewtonâs Wonka review
Best in Show: Poor Things, Lord of the Rings, and those pesky Golden Globes
In this art direction-focused episode of Best in Show, Mia chats with the production designers behind the mad world of Poor ThingsâJames Price and Shona Heathâabout their human anatomy-inspired sets, and Gemma catches up with an old friend: Grant Major, Academy Award-winning production designer of a little film saga called The Lord of the Rings. The crew also hears from a few contenders at the Governors Awards (including a serenade from The Holdoversâ Dominic Sessa), rages against the SAG nomination snubs (WHERE is Charles Melton?!) and goes in on those Golden Globes (Stone and Gladstone world domination). Oh, and Mark Ruffalo, Yorgos Lanthimos and olâ blue eyes Cillian Murphy may just stop by, too.
Chapters:
- Opening credits (00:00:00)
- Governorâs Awards (00:02:17)
- SAG Nominations (00:15:05)
- Golden Globes (00:17:47)
- Production Design (00:26:45)
- Grant Major interview (00:28:00)
- James Price + Shona Heath interview (00:46:25)
- Winner Winner Chicken Run Dinner (01:06:12)
- Closing credits (01:15:17)
Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, and Auckland. Edited by Slim, production manager Sophie Shin, editorial producer Brian Formo. Theme: âHyperlightâ 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 Showâs HQ Page, Wood & Ellaâs Playtime reviews
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 Yearâs present from the creative team behind our communityâs #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: âHyperlightâ 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 Showâs HQ Page, list of movies mentioned, Emoji Movie Channelâs Blue Giant review, Ruth Panâs Barbie review, Val The Movieguyâs Falling in Love Like in Movies review, Jackâs The Swan review
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 Batisteâthe composer and subject at the center of American Symphonyâthen Gemma goes behind the camera with Maciek Hamela, director of In the Rearview, which chronicles the immediate refugee crisis created by Russiaâs invasion of Ukraine. Plus, Mia discovers the cat-centric Chlotrudis Awards, leading to her and Brianâs 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: âHyperlightâ 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 Showâs HQ Page, Sydneyâs Society of Snow review
Best in Show: Chopping it up with Oppenheimer film editor Jennifer Lame
This special episode includes interviews with two renowned film editors: first up, Letterboxdâs own video editor AJ tells us what makes good editing and lists his favorite examples of movie cutting from 2023. And then, one of AJâs 2023 picks, Jennifer Lame, joins Mia Lee Vicino and Brian Formo for a chat about working with Christopher Nolan, Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach and Ari Aster. Lame breaks down why she loves editing talking scenes and why she really wants to work on a comedy. And finally, because Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget has finally been released, Gemma Gracewood brings her thoughts on the overdue sequel home to roost.
Chapters:
- Opening credits (00:00:00)
- AJâs editing favorites (00:03:59)
- Jennifer Lame interview (00:22:59)
- Winner Winner Chicken Run Dinner (00:46:58)
- Closing credits (00:59:37)
Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Christchurch and Auckland. Edited by Slim, production manager Sophie Shin, editorial producer Brian Formo. Theme: âHyperlightâ 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 Showâs HQ Page, AJâs Letterboxd profile, Assemble
âLove Actuallyâ Spectacular
Seasonâs greetings! Join us as the Letterboxd crew sits down with their hot chocolate for a roundtable discussion about Love Actually.
Slimâ watches this âclassicâ for the first time in preparation and welcomes â Gemmaâ , â Miaâ , 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. Itâs 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: NEONâs Ferrari. Credits: Recorded in Auckland, LA, London, and Philadelphia. Edited by Slim. Theme music: âVampiros Danceotequeâ by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production. Email us!
Best in Show: Inside the Actorâs 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 âshadyâ Letterboxd account. Meanwhile in Los Angeles, our birthday girl Mia enjoyed a casual chat about movies with Paulâs co-star Andrew Scott at the filmâs premiere, and in Atlanta, our East Coast correspondent Adesola Thomas rocked our centerpiece interview with Jeffrey Wright about American Fiction, AndrĂ© 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: âHyperlightâ 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 Showâs HQ Page, Jackâs An Oscar-worthy life list
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 Burchâs 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: âHyperlightâ 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:
Film Independentâs HQ page on Letterboxd
Ella & Georgeâs Letterboxd profiles
Brianâs interview with Todd Haynes
Christian Jacob RamĂłn & Josiah Morganâs May December reviews
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 availableâall thanks to your listsâand 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: âHyperlightâ 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 Showâs new HQ page on Letterboxd; Awards Season 2023-2024 list; Sean Fennesseyâs Letterboxd profile; Miaâs interview with Martin Scorsese; Martin Scorseseâs Letterboxd profile Lists mentioned: List of movies mentioned, Sean Fennesseyâs David Fincher, Ranked, The Killer List, Men, Alone
Four Favorites with Scott Pilgrim Takes Offâs 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: âVampiros Danceotequeâ by Moniker. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production. Email us!
Four Favorites with Screen Crushâs 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: âVampiros Danceotequeâ by Moniker. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production. Email us!
âKillers of the Flower Moonâ with author David Grann, Martin Scorsese and Chief Standing Bear
On this very special episode of The Letterboxd Show, we focus on Martin Scorseseâs latest film, Killers of the Flower Moon. This special is structured like the book that itâs based on: in three acts. The main interview is with staff writer for The New Yorker and National Book Award finalist, David Grann, whose searing account of the Osage murders is the basis of Scorseseâs new film. We speak to not just Grann, but also include two bits from a roundtable interview with Scorsese himself, paired with Osage Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear. Youâll hear from Scorsese himself about adapting Grannâs book, then an in interview with Grann, wherein he talks at greater length about some of the broader history that he charts in his phenomenal book and about some of the Osage writing that made it into the film. And finally this special will close with some words from Chief Standing Bear about their trust in Grann and the trust that Scorsese had to earn.
Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles and New York City; produced by Brian Formo, edited by Slim; features music from Robbie Robertsonâs score for Killers of the Flower Moon.
Lists & Links: Martin Scorseseâs Letterboxd account
âThe Exorcistâ Spectacular
The power of podcasting compels you to listen as the Letterboxd crew gathers for a roundtable discussion about The Exorcist.
Slimâ puts on his seasonable vestments and welcomes â Gemmaâ , â Miaâ , Brian and â Mitchellâ 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: âVampiros Danceotequeâ by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production. Email us!
Four Favorites with Dread Centralâs Mary Beth McAndrews: found footage, righteous revenge and more Halloweâen 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 Andersonâs Lake Mungo, Kiyoshi Kurosawaâs Cure, Bob Clarkâs Black Christmas and Dusty Mancinelli & Madeleine Sims-Fewerâs Violation. Our conversation covers Mary Bethâs academic specialties in found footage horror and woman-helmed rape-revenge narratives, Hugh Grantâs shocking middle name (hidden in one of these filmâs 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 Miaâs deep-dive into Letterboxdâs 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: âVampiros Danceotequeâ by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production. Email us!
Lists & Links:
Mary Bethâs podcasts Scarred For Life and Watched Once, Never Again
Holliâs Black Christmas review
âNo One Will Save Youâ with Brian Duffield
Horror and alien fans, itâs 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 itâs been one of the most-watched movies on Letterboxd. Aliens, no dialog, great lighting, gorgeous house, Kaitlyn DeverâŠwhat more do you need? Brian and Slim talk about his horror inspirations, Signs (of course), the design of that house, Kaitlynâs amazing performance, how he uses his own Letterboxd account, and much more.
Credits: Recorded in Philadelphia PA and Burbank CA. Edited by â Slimâ . Music: âInto Townâ by Joseph Trapanese. Editorial producer: â Brian Formoâ . Production manager: â Sophie Shinâ . The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.
Four Favorites with Horrorvilleâs Brett Petersel: Waxworks, night breeds & zombies
Itâs 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 Barkerâs Nightbreed, Karyn Kusamaâs The Invitation, Bruce McDonaldâs Pontypool and Waxwork from Anthony Hickox. Weâre talking uncomfortable dinner parties, single-location horror, Gemmaâs terror of wax museums, Slimâs fear of terrible podcasting etiquette and how Brettâs 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)
- Brettâs 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: âVampiros Danceotequeâ 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
Reviews of Nightbreed by Cinemonster, Brett, Felix and Ryan; The Invitation by Nathan, Jeremy; PontyPool by Mr Saxon (and Graham Williamsonâs Claustraphilia list); Waxwork by KaijuMan, Brian and Lucas.
Weekend Watchlist: Giant-Sized Fall Preview Spectacular
We are so temporarily back. This time around â â â â â â Slimâ â , 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.
â â â â Weekend Watchlist â Updated Weekly listâ â â â > 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: ââ IZONâ by Trent Walton. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production. Letterboxd reviews and links mentioned:
Brianâs chat with Martin Scorsese Josiah Morganâs May December review
Steph Greenâs Poor Things review
Robert Danielsâ The Burial review
Serenaâs The Killer review
Pate Duncan All of Us Strangers review
Becky Riceâs Thirst review
Saw X-travaganza with Kevin Greutert
Jigsawâs 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 directorâs chair for the tenth installment, which isâas of recordingâthe 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 Jigsawâs claims of ânever having killed anyoneâ are credible, or just delusional. Blades up, little murder puppets!
Credits: Recorded in Brooklyn NY and Los Angeles CA. Edited by Slim. Theme music: âVampiros Danceotequeâ by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.
Four Favorites with Flynn Slicker: Wong Kar-wai, Weerasethakul, Sing Street and lost love
We are Boonsong and Flynn Slicker is our Monkey Ghost. Letterboxdâs elusive social media manager joins hosts Gemma and Slim from the seaside for a deep chat about her four favorite films: Wong Kar-waiâs Fallen Angels, Apichatpong Weerasethakulâs Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, John Carneyâs Sing Street and RenĂ© Liuâs 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 peopleâs businesses at night. Plus! Read Flynnâs 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: âVampiros Danceotequeâ 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:
Letterboxd Visits the Criterion Closet
Gemmaâs interview with Kamila Andini on Journal
Apichatpong Weerasethakul profile in The New Yorker
Lists mentioned:
When Youâre Young, Vibrant, and Lost in This World by hungcat
Letterboxd 100: Chinese Cinema by Rahat Ahmad
Reviews mentioned:
Flynn & Josh Lewisâs Fallen Angels reviews
Carol Grantâs Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives review
Jaeâs Us and Them review
Four Favorites with David Jenkins: AlmodĂłvar, 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 AlmodĂłvar, why weâre all so drawn to the thoughtful dramas of Mia Hansen-LĂžve, 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: âVampiros Danceotequeâ by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.
Lists & Links:
patmacri13âs Attack the Block review
Evanâs Eden review
Will Menakerâs Licorice Pizza review
Josh Lewisâ Licorice Pizza review
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, youâd 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 Hollywoodâs 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 âmasterpieceâ doesnât always mean âperfectâ.
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: âVampiros Danceotequeâ by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.
Lists & Links:
Robertâs Sight & Sound 2022 ballot; Robertâs Criterion essay on Beasts of No Nation; Robertâs IndieWire interview with Charles Burnett on My Brotherâs Wedding; Robertâs interview with Barry Jenkins for Medicine for Melancholy; Robertâs interview with Barry Jenkins for The Underground Railroad; Robertâs Polygon essay on Brian Tyree Henryâs big scene in If Beale Street Could Talk; Robertâs ranking of Spike Lee movies for Okayplayer; Robertâs essay on Bamboozled for The Playlist
Lists mentioned:
Reviews mentioned:
Graham Williamsonâs Killer of Sheep review
Kambole Campbellâs Bamboozled review
Best in Show: Fall Festival Preview, plus Our Labor Film Festival
On a special musical episode of Best in Show, our crewâMia 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 weâre here to hand-pick some highlights from acclaimed directors like Michael Mann, Sofia Coppola, Wes Anderson, Yorgos Lanthimos, RyĂ»suke Hamaguchi and David Fincher. Plus, with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes on our minds, weâve programmed our own labor-themed film festivalâincluding Silkwood (1983), The Killing Floor (1984) and Pride (2014) and more!âso 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: âHyperlightâ 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; WGAâs Take Action info; List of movies mentioned; Best in Showâs list of 45 labor movement movies
âCommand Zâ 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, Stevenâs âno assholesâ 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 Soderberghâs karaoke go-to.
Watch Command Z online for a small fee â 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; Soderberghâs Extension 765 merch store; Steven Soderbergh is thanked in the end creditsâ list; a list of Steven Soderberghâs 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.
Best in Show: Strike Mailbag with Kate Comer
As we march past Day 100 of the WGA strike, the Best in Show teamâMia Lee Vicino, Gemma Gracewood and Brian Formoâare here to help film fans support both the art of cinema and the rights of the workers who make it.
For this episode, weâve called upon two guests who are deep in the movie biz: filmmaker Steven Soderbergh and actress/SAG-AFTRA strike captain Kate Comer. Come for Sodeyâs thoughts on the insidiousness of studiosâ hoarding of dark data, stay for Kateâs insider knowledge of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, including how sheâs been staying resilient on the Hollywood picket lines during the dog days of summer, and why âinterim agreementsâ are the new âwaiversâ. Plus, if you enjoyed hearing Magic Mikeâs Soderbergh on our own magic mic, stay tuned for Gemmaâs 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: âHyperlightâ 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; WGAâs Take Action info; Best in Showâs list of 45 labor movement movies; Kate Comerâs Instagram
âPassagesâ 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 (AdĂšle Exarchopoulos). Mitchell and Ira give you a taste of what to expect in Passages, a self-described âvery horny film,â while diving deep into some of Iraâs 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: âVampiros Danceotequeâ by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. Art by Samm. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.
Lists & Links:
Four Favorites with Claira Curtis: Twilight, menstruation, DILFs and Miyazaki
Itâs Twihard season on The Letterboxd Show! Weâre 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, Eveâs Bayou, Howlâs 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 Eveâs 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)
- Eveâs Bayou (00:22:29)
- Howlâs 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: âVampiros Danceotequeâ by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.
Lists & Links:
- House of Cinema Podcast
- List of movies mentioned
- âGood For Herâ Cinematic Universe, Movies Where There Are No Men, This is my meal. I call this Girl Dinner, The Robert Pattinson Masturbating Cinematic Universe, Male Protagonists that I Could Easily Beat Up in a Fight, My Dad Would Have Loved That, Letâs Talk About Periods! by claira curtis
- 100 Most Obsessively Rewatched Love Stories by Letterboxd
- The Dilf Canon by Heather
- Girl, Youâll Be A Woman Soon: First Periods on Film by Vanina
- whatever the trans guy version of chick flicks is by charlie
- Mumblegore by Blake
Reviews mentioned:
- sree & my viâs New Moon reviews
- Brian Sweeney & clairaâs Eveâs Bayou review
- Holliâs Howlâs Moving Castle review
- Charlie Nashâs Honeymoon review
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 teamâMia Lee Vicino, Gemma Gracewood and Brian Formoâis 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 canât do, thereâs 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 workersâ 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: âHyperlightâ 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; WGAâs Take Action info; LA Times opinion article; Best in Showâs list of 45 labor movement movies
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, Australiaâs 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 wouldnât 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 Brownlowâs book on the silent screen, The Parade's Gone By.
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 Tomâs 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 slimâs dog Chloe. You can hear barking in the background a few times. Chloe, we miss and love you. đ§Ąđđ
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:Â Recorded in Philadelphia, LA, and New York. Edited by Slim. Theme music: âVampiros Danceotequeâ by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK productions.
Lists & Links:
Reviews mentioned:
Dom Watchesâs The Wrong Trousers review
âThe Watermelon Womanâ with Cheryl Dunye
On this special episode of The Letterboxd Show, Mia chats with Cheryl Dunye about the Criterion Collectionâs 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 âmammyâ roles relegated to Black actresses during that period. Cheryl talks to Mia about her signature âDunyementaries,â 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: âVampiros Danceotequeâ by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show and Weekend Watchlist are TAPEDECK productions.
âInsidiousâ 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 eventsâŠ. 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 âThe Babadook for divorced dads.â
Credits: Recorded in Philadelphia PA. Edited by Slim. Theme music: âVampiros Danceotequeâ by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show and Weekend Watchlist are TAPEDECK productions.
âIndiana Jonesâ 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 (âNo one has ever lost a debate speech by saying they love seeing Nazis explodeâ). Gemma is all in for the PG-13 horror-show that is Temple of Doom (âItâs freaky!â). 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 Mescalâs Gladiator workout is nothing compared to Fordâs shredding, why Slim sees himself in Temple of Doomâs 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 Streetâs 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: âVampiros Danceotequeâ by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show and Weekend Watchlist are TAPEDECK productions.
Lists & Links:
âWritten by Womenâ by aobh
Reviews mentioned:
Hayley & Stephanie & Will Sloanâs Raiders of the Lost Ark reviews
Gemmaâs Kingdom of the Crystal Skull review
David Ehrlich & Slim & Ellaâs Dial of Destiny reviews
âPast Livesâ 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 Noraâs 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 ïŹgurative, 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: âVampiros Danceotequeâ 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
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 queerâand unintentionally politicalâhistories in the UK via Oakleyâs 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 Binocheâs 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: âVampiros Danceotequeâ by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show and Weekend Watchlist are TAPEDECK productions.
Lists & Links:
Ellaâs interview with Georgia on Journal
âWhat will I do with this life?â by C
âMovies that you (initially) thought were âokayâ but hit you so damn hard when they endedâ by Hungkat
âThe Feminine Grotesqueâ by Angelica Jade BastiĂ©n
Reviews mentioned:
Hari Nefâs Safe review
Issyâs Blue Jean review
Filipeâs A Woman Under the Influence review
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 itâs 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. Introâd by Mia Lee Vicino and Brian Formo.
Special thanks to MGM Studios and Independent PR.
Four Favorites with Kyle Turner: Greta Gerwig, dancing Pacino and messy queers
Ahoy sexies! Self-described âwriter personâ 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 Kyleâs chronicling of over a century in queer film, while also exploring his four favorites: Cruising, Clue, Frances Ha and Spa Night. Topics include: Gregg Arakiâs unique autograph style, sleeveless shirts are gay rights, Al Pacino dancing in an S&M bar, loving our problematic faves, Clueâs alternate ending gamble, be gay do communism, âMY WIFEâ, the delightful messiness, fluidity and evolution of queer representation, Greta Gerwig is White Mother, the beauty in naĂŻvetĂ© 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: âVampiros Danceotequeâ by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show and Weekend Watchlist are TAPEDECK productions.
Lists & Links:
The Queer Film Guide: 100 Great Movies That Tell LGBTQIA+ Stories
The Queer Film Guide Letterboxd list
The Queer Film Guide: Directorâs Cut by Kyle Turner
An actor gets the chance to say âMY WIFEâ and really makes a meal of it by Angela Ferraguto
Reviews mentioned:
feat. dante from the dmc series & Persiaâs Clue reviews
nabeelâs Frances Ha review
Darryl Jamesâs Spa Night review
Weekend Watchlist: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Past Lives and the Boogeyman
This week â â â â â Slimâ 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 â â â look back at recent releasesâ â â and community reviews they discuss their watchlists including one last look at their progress so far this year.
â â â Weekend Watchlist â Updated Weekly listâ â â > 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:
- â Transcriptsâ â of podcast episodes available
- Jack Factsâ â â Top 50 of 2023â â
- Cinemonika & Casey Maloneâs Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse reviews
- Slimâs Past Lives review
- Brianâs The Boogeyman review
- Becky Riceâs You Hurt My Feelings review
- Mikeâs Down with Love review
- Amandaâs In the Cut review
- Robertâs On the Count of Three review
- The Letterboxd Show Four Faves episode with Ariela Barer
- The Letterboxd Show âDown with Loveâ 20th Anniversary Special with Peyton Reed
- The Letterboxd Show âIn the Cutâ 20th Anniversary Special with Jane Campion
Credits:
- This episode was recorded in Delaware and Philadelphia, and edited by Slim.
- Facts by â â Jackâ â .
- Transcript by â â Sophie Shinâ â .
- Theme: ââ â IZONâ by Trent Walton
'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 Gracewoodâs Four Favorites: In the Cut (2003). Campionâs 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 âFâ 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 directorâs 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 Martiniâs cover of Que Sera Sera, and Betty Everettâs Youâre No Good.
Lists & Links:
In the Cut uncut directorâs cut Blu-ray from Mill Creek Entertainment.
Reviews of In the Cut by Jeffrey Chen, Jaime Rebenal, Mia Vicino, Kanane and Sophie Shin.
Weekend Watchlist: The Little Mermaid, Your Hurt My Feelings and Reality
This week â Slimâ and â Mitchell discuss their growing watchlists including The Little Mermaid, Your Hurt My Feelings and Reality. They also discuss this showâs impending summer vacation. After a quick â â â look back at recent releasesâ â â and community reviews they discuss their watchlists including thinking your Jesus and also evil Sean Penn.
â â â Weekend Watchlist â Updated Weekly listâ â â > 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:
- â Transcriptsâ â of podcast episodes available
- Jack Factsâ â â Top 50 of 2023â â
- Zoe Rose Bryant & Jamie Jirakâs The Little Mermaid review
- Jordan Raupâs You Hurt My Feelings review
- Chris Evangelista & elif308âs Reality reviewAlexandriaâs Riverâs Edge review
- Alexandriaâs Riverâs Edge review
- Garyâs Targets review
- Benâs Out of Sight review
- Mitchellâs conversation with Paul Shcrader
- The Letterboxd Show Four Faves with David Ehrlich
- The Letterboxd Show Four Faves with Ariela Barer
Credits:
- This episode was recorded in Delaware and Philadelphia, and edited by Slim.
- Facts by â â Jackâ â .
- Transcript by â â Sophie Shinâ â .
- Theme: âIZONâ by Trent Walton.
Four Favorites with David Ehrlich: Letterboxd popularity, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and the meaning of life
You donât get to over 125,000 Letterboxd followers without making a few enemies⊠unless youâre David Ehrlich! IndieWireâs 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 Davidâs yearly video countdowns, how the canon has changed in âthe age of Letterboxdâ, stealing your momâs credit card to buy movies, finding meaning in small and invisible acts, Forgetting Sarah Marshallâs controversial marketing campaign and how itâs more quotable than Casablanca, Paul Schraderâs hot dog stains, Mishima as âthe most Schraderâ movie, Davidâs alleged personal connection to Titanic and the meditative quality of the DVD menu. PLUS: Find out which of Davidâs 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: âVampiros Danceotequeâ 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
- IndieWireâs Greatest Romantic Comedies of All-time
- âMost Fans Per Viewerâ Letterboxd list
- âThe Masculine Urge To Ruin Your Own Lifeâ by Janice
Reviews mentioned:
- George Carmi & Chrisâs Ikiru reviews
- Jake Cole & Joeâs Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters reviews
- Woodâs Titanic review