The Letterboxd Show

Latest Episodes:

Best in Show: Sound Design in the Snow, in Osage country and The Zone of Interest Jan 19, 2024

Show notes

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

Weekend Watchlist: Giant-Sized 2024 Preview Spectacular Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

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

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

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

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

Best in Show: Poor Things, Lord of the Rings, and those pesky Golden Globes Jan 12, 2024

Show notes

In this art direction-focused episode of Best in Show, Mia chats with the production designers behind the mad world of Poor Things—James Price and Shona Heath—about 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 Holdovers’ 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 ol’ blue eyes Cillian Murphy may just stop by, too.

Chapters:

Opening credits (00:00:00)
Governor’s 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: ‘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, Wood & Ella’s Playtime reviews

Best in Show: 2023 Year in Review Extravaganza! Jan 05, 2024

Show notes

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

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

Chapters:

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

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

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

Best in Show: Documentary shortlist special with Jon Batiste, Maciek Hamela, listener mailbag questions and award cats! Dec 29, 2023

Show notes

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

Chapters:

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

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

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

Best in Show: Chopping it up with Oppenheimer film editor Jennifer Lame Dec 22, 2023

Show notes

This special episode includes interviews with two renowned film editors: first up, Letterboxd’s own video editor AJ tells us what makes good editing and lists his favorite examples of movie cutting from 2023. And then, one of AJ’s 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)
AJ’s 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: ‘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, AJ’s Letterboxd profile, Assemble

‘Love Actually’ Spectacular Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

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

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

Chapters:

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

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

Best in Show: Inside the Actor’s Studio with Paul Mescal, Andrew Scott and Jeffrey Wright Dec 15, 2023

Show notes

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

Sponsor: Disney Bundle

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

Chapters:

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

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

Best in Show: Screenplay Edition with May December Writer Samy Burch Dec 08, 2023

Show notes

May Decemberscreenwriter 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 Actto Persona(and Burch’s favorite Letterboxd review), and how the presence of major tabloid figures such as Monica Lewinsky informed her themes of media obsession, performance and agency. We also welcome our London editor Ella Kemp and Best in Show newsletter scribe George Fenwick to give us the lowdown on their attending the British Independent Film Awards, including its big winner All of Us Strangers. Cheers!

Sponsor: Film Independent

Chapters:

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

Lists & Links:

List of movies mentioned

Film Independent’s HQ page on Letterboxd

Ella & George’s Letterboxd profiles

Brian’s interview with Todd Haynes

Christian Jacob Ramón & Josiah Morgan’s May December reviews

Best in Show: Ringing in Awards Season 2023 with Sean Fennessey Dec 01, 2023

Show notes

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

Sponsor: GKIDS/The Boy and the Heron

Chapters:

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

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

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

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