Four Favorites with Chandler Levack: her TIFF premiere, Almost Famous, The Apartment, Canadian schlock

Movies are sex! Toronto movie critic and filmmaker Chandler Levack joins hosts Gemma and Slim ahead of the world premiere of I Like Movies—her debut indie dramedy about a narcissistic teenage cinephile that had Slim weeping-laughing and Gemma hoping it’ll win the TIFF People’s Choice Award—to talk about four films she loves: Almost Famous; Fat Girl; The Apartment and Crime Wave.

Plus: Chandler and Slim reminisce about their glittering careers in the video store industry; everything Cameron Crowe means to us; Catherine Breillat and her brutal realism; the joys of making a film about an insufferable cinephile; how to nail an audition (hint: wear a t-shirt for The Lighthouse); we’re all in love with Shirley MacLaine; why Gemma wants to live in old movies; John Paizs’ absurdist brilliance and his lasting legacy—that you can make anything you want!; Funny Pages’ sweaty basement apartment; is this the greatest year for cinema made just for Slim? Possibly yes. Did Steven Spielberg make The Fabelmans in homage to I Like Movies? Maybe. See both films at TIFF (8—18 September) to find out!

Credits: This episode was recorded in Auckland, Toronto and Pennsylvania, and edited by Slim. Facts by Jack. Booker: Brian Formo. Transcript by Sophie Shin. Art by Samm. Theme: ‘Vampiros Dancoteque’ by Moniker.

Lists and links: The Letterboxd list of films mentioned; Fat Girls on Film by Kate Hagen; Conversations with Wilder by Cameron Crowe; Jack Facts’ interview with Owen Kline; ‘Stillwater Runs Deep’—William Miller’s $1000 essay for Rolling Stone; When you’re feeling a little lost by yazz!; Coming-of-age movies by andrea; Films that took an already amazing and well-known song by starboy; Movies that are like I Like Movies by Chandler Levack; Male Protagonists that I Could Easily Beat Up in a Fight by Claira Curtis; Manic Pixie Dream Girl by Melissa; Punk by Sally Jane Black; Weirdo Watchlist by Tyler; Chandler’s Movies I can’t wait to see at TIFF.