The Letterboxd Show – Details, episodes & analysis

Filmmaker Michael Mann joins Letterboxd in conversation about his favorite films, on the occasion of the launch of the Michael Mann Archives — Directing Ferrari.

Links:

• Michael Mann's Letterboxd
• Films talked about in this conversation
• Michael Mann’s list of his 14 favorite films
• Michael Mann Archives — Directing Ferrari
• Mia Lee Vicino’s Letterboxd
• Video version of this conversation on our YouTube channel

Credits:

• The conversation was recorded by Eileen Ruiz and edited by Shannon Keirce.
• Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker.
• Producers: Brian Formo and Gemma Gracewood.
• The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.

Chapters:

• (00:01:15) Ferrari and the Michael Mann Archives — Directing Ferrari⁠
• (00:09:37) Turbo
• (00:10:58) Battleship Potemkin, Heat, and Last of the Mohicans
• (00:14:31) Apocalypse Now
• (00:16:14) The Conformist
• (00:17:01) From Here to Eternity and The Jericho Mile
• (00:18:32) The Hurt Locker
• (00:19:57) Dr. Strangelove and Heat
• (00:21:35) The Loved One
• (00:22:13) Poor Things
• (00:23:39) L’Atalante
• (00:24:36) The Sweet Smell of Success and The Insider
• (00:26:37) I Am Cuba and Ali
• (00:30:22) Raging Bull
• (00:31:18) Miami Vice, Heat, and the theatrical experience
• (00:33:00) Biutiful
• (00:34:04) Incendies
• (00:34:29) Pan’s Labyrinth
• (00:35:02) The Passion of Joan of Arc and The Insider
• (00:36:54) The Asphalt Jungle
• (00:38:54) Out of the Past
• (00:40:53) Memories of Murder, Manhunter, and serial killers
• (00:45:45) Pale Flower and Bicycle Thieves
• (00:46:57) Manhattan Melodrama and Public Enemies

The podcast hosts of summer a back! This time around ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slim⁠⁠, 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.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekend Watchlist – Updated Weekly list⁠⁠⁠⁠ > 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: ‘⁠IZON’ 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

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The BAFTA nominations are in—Lily Gladstone and Andrew Scott are out. What’s 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 Pictures’ All of Us Strangers

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.

Lists & Links: List of movies mentioned, Best in Show’s HQ Page, Gemma’s interview with Molly Manning Walker, Ella’s interview with Charlotte Regan

“The spirit is filled by cinema; our dreams rendered tangible.” Filmmaker and inspirational-quote master James Gray joins Gemma and Slim to talk about the 1980s New York childhood that underpins his new drama, Armageddon Time, and four films that strongly relate to it—Francois Truffaut’s The 400 Blows; Jean Vigo’s Zero for Conduct; John Cassavetes’ A Woman Under the Influence and Federico Fellini’s Amarcord.

Plus: this “salesman for old cinema” on why students should be forced to watch obscure films; the trauma of the classroom; how teachers can change lives; James’s morning ritual for waking his teenagers; American power structures; why cinema is not compatible with angry tweeters; magic sauce; Anthony Hopkins; Times Square in the ’80s; making waves and fitting in.

Lists & Links:
The Letterboxd list of films mentioned in this episode; Marsh Boy’s list of “films that are even more damaging to think of than to actually see”; Ella Kemp’s feature with Aftersun’s Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio

Reviews of Two Lovers by Evan and Nathan; Ad Astra by Levi; We Own the Night by Ed, Paddy and Francesco; Armageddon Time by Tony and Oliver; Killer of Sheep by Graham.

Credits:
This episode was recorded in Los Angeles, Auckland and Pennsylvania, and edited by Slim. Facts by Jack. Booker: Brian Formo. Transcript by Sophie Shin. Art by Samm. Theme: ‘Vampiros Dancoteque’ by Moniker. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.

This week Mia and slim discuss their growing watchlists including Armageddon Time, Wendell & Wild, and Holy Spider. Succ-heads and The Last of Us fans, this might be the episode for you. After a quick look back at recent releases and community reviews, they shuffle their watchlists and discuss tragic real-life stories and sensual vampiric kisses.

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

Letterboxd reviews and links mentioned:

• Transcripts of podcast episodes available
• Tony, Oliver, and Nathan’s Armageddon Time reviews
• David and Kristina’s Wendell & Wild reviews
• Jack and Afra’s Holy Spider reviews
• Kev’s Vampire’s Kiss review
• Freya’s Banshees of Inisherin review
• theriverjordan’s Aftersun review
• Austin’s Climax review
• Jeff Kycek’s His House review
• Bryce X Chapman’s The Witches of Eastwick review
• Jack’s Top 50 of 2022 list

Credits:

• This episode was recorded in Philadelphia and LA, and edited by Slim.
• Facts by Jack.
• Transcript by Sophie Shin.
• Theme: ‘IZON’ by Trent Walton.

“No derivative shit.” Spooky season concludes with Waxwork Records co-founder Kevin Bergeron, who talks to Gemma and Slim about his four favorite films—Black Christmas; Hausu; Tetsuo: The Iron Man and The Exorcist—and the craft and care that goes into Waxwork’s vinyl reissues of great horror soundtracks. Watch Hausu before 30 November 2022, tag your review with “waxwork”, and you’re in the draw to win a copy of the brand new soundtrack to the 1977 horror-fantasy classic (est. $35 value).

Plus: never use a ouija board in your own home, the original hot priest, the feminist horror of Black Christmas, psychiatry versus spirituality in 1970s America, the curse of being a single mom, finding your tribe, stealing White Zombie cassettes, hanging out with Glenn Danzig, building a record plant and shooting your shot, the genius of horror-soundtrack composers, and William Friedkin is a boss.

Lists & Links:
The Letterboxd list of films mentioned in this episode; Milo’s “movies that have the craziest last 15 or 20 minutes”, Mosquitodragon’s “Elevated Horror” is nothing new”, Andre de Nervaux’s “You’re not the same person once the film has finished”. Waxwork Records.

Reviews of Tetsuo: The Iron Man by Hoyden42, Alee55, Black Christmas by Alex, Mag, The Exorcist by Lucy, Matt Brown, Hausu by Ayo Edebiri.

Credits:
This episode was recorded in New Orleans, Auckland and Pennsylvania, and edited by Slim. Facts by Jack. Booker: Brian Formo. Transcript by Sophie Shin. Art by Samm. Theme: ‘Vampiros Dancoteque’ by Moniker. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.

This week Mia and Mitchell discuss their growing watchlists including Banshees of Inisherin, Aftersun and Black Adam. They also debate the importance of having a movie posters in your Zoom backdrop. After a quick look back at recent releases and community reviews, they shuffle their watchlists and discuss banning space trucking and nerdy record store dweebs. Also Mia name-drops talking with Barry Koeghan like a boss.

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

Letterboxd reviews and links mentioned:

• Transcripts of podcast episodes available
• Soph’s list of Blu-Rays Mitchell owns but has never watched
• Clint Worthington, Katie Walsh, and Modern Lights’ Banshees of Inisherin reviews
• Brian Tallerico, Paul Oyama, Rafa Sales Ross, Josie Marie, and Ella Kemp’s Aftersun reviews
• Matt Goldberg and Chris Aguilar’s Black Adam reviews
• Justmiaslife’s Ticket to Paradise review
• Josh Larsen and Darren Carver-Balsiger’s Decision to Leave reviews
• Slim’s Halloween Ends review
• Hope’s TÁR review
• Tripp Burton’s A Heart in Winter review
• Angel’s Friday the 13th review
• Jack’s Top 50 of 2022 list

Credits:

• This episode was recorded in Delaware and LA, and edited by Slim.
• Facts by Jack.
• Transcript by Sophie Shin
• Theme: ‘IZON’ by Trent Walton.

“It’s so fun to be bad.” Spooky season continues with filmmaker Ana Lily Amirpour, who talks to Gemma and Slim about her four favorite films—American Psycho; Death Becomes Her; Gremlins; The NeverEnding Story—and the makings of her latest feature Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon and her episode of Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities.

Plus: how Ana Lily got Keanu Reeves to sport a ’stache (and why he paid for his own wig in The Bad Batch), the saddest scene in all of cinema history, the deep and psychedelic qualities of Everything Everywhere All at Once, crushing on Atreyu, how to care for your psychic health when you are a filmmaker, how Mary Harron nailed her American Psycho adaptation, the story behind the gorgeous poster for A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, Gemma’s love for Kate Micucci, Slim’s love for Kate Hudson, Ana Lily’s love for hard lighting, why we’ve been watching movies all wrong, the intelligence of comedians, making sure there are snacks in the story, walking red carpets with your dog, the genius of Robert Zemeckis, peak Rossellini, and is Gizmo a symbol of consumerism or cinephile pin-up? #hopefordweebs

Lists & Links:
The Letterboxd list of films mentioned in this episode. Rachel’s “Movies I wanna show my kids”. Yazz’s “When you’re feeling a little lost”. Josiah’s “The filmbro watchlist” (aka the gaslighter’s bible). Etsy’s “red flag for men, white flag for women”. Cult Girls - Jack’s interview with Guinevere Turner

Reviews:
The NeverEnding Story by Danny, Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon by Jon Williams, Gremlins by Willow McLay.

Credits:
This episode was recorded in Los Angeles, Auckland and Pennsylvania, and edited by Slim. Facts by Jack. Booker: Brian Formo. Transcript by Sophie Shin. Art by Samm. Theme: ‘Vampiros Dancoteque’ by Moniker. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.

This week Mia and slim discuss their growing watchlists including Decision to Leave, Halloween Ends, and Till. Mia also coins a new terrible phrase for a certain type of scary movie; “Hole Horror”. After a quick look back at recent releases and community reviews, they shuffle their watchlists and discuss banning creep jocks and re-animating the dead.

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

Letterboxd reviews and links mentioned:

• Transcripts of podcast episodes available
• Mitchell and Andy’s Decision to Leave reviews
• Robert Daniels’ Till review
• KK Slider’s Triangle of Sadness review
• Ev’s Hellraiser review
• Jack and Mitchell’s Marcel the Shell With Shoes On reviews
• Diegoberto’s Smile review
• Jack’s Top 50 of 2022 list

Credits:

• This episode was recorded in Philadelphia and LA, and edited by Slim.
• Facts by Jack.
• Transcript by Sophie Shin.
• Theme: ‘IZON’ by Trent Walton.

This week, spooky season continues so we picked up The Black Phone and called in a sinister filmmaker known for raising hell. Writer and director Scott Derrickson talks to Gemma and Slim about growing up at the drive-in, and how his four favorite films (Poltergeist; Suspiria; Carrie and I Saw the Devil) have influenced his filmmaking career.

Plus: that Sinister jump-scare, being too scared to go on ghost hunts, learning about horror films from episodes of Community and The Simpsons, how Poltergeist is Spielberg’s raciest story, why the first act of Suspiria is the best cinema ever made, why the last act of Carrie is the best cinema ever made, the Letterboxd community’s thirst for Ethan Hawke as a serial killer, America’s problem with revenge (and Korea’s answer to it).

The Letterboxd list of films mentioned in this episode. Forbes’ article “What Is The Scariest Movie Ever?”. Reviews of Poltergeist by Willow Maclay; Suspiria by Proftonks; The Black Phone by jude!, ZaraGwen, abbie and alex; Carrie by Noah and Lil Jake; I Saw the Devil by Supreme Lemon and james

Credits: This episode was recorded in Los Angeles and Pennsylvania, and edited by Slim. Facts by Jack. Booker: Brian Formo. Transcript by Sophie Shin. Art by Samm. Theme: ‘Vampiros Dancoteque’ by Moniker. The Letterboxd Show is a TAPEDECK production.