The Letterboxd Show

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 Lewis’ Licorice Pizza review

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

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

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.

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

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

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: House of Cinema Podcast List of movies mentioned “Good For Her” 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, Let’s Talk About Periods! by claira curtis 100 Most Obsessively Rewatched Love Stories by Letterboxd The Dilf Canon by Heather Girl, You’ll 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 vi’s New Moon reviews Brian Sweeney & claira’s Eve’s Bayou review Holli’s Howl’s Moving Castle review Charlie Nash’s Honeymoon review

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

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.

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