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Host Gemma Gracewood and guests Slim (70mm Podcast), Hannah Woodhead (Little White Lies’ Truth & Movies podcast) and Tim Batt (The Worst Idea Of All Time podcast) gather on the first Catsiversary of Tom Hooper’s mewsical misfire to look back at the so-bad-it’s-good films that got us through 2020, plus: our favorite “5-Bangers” of the year.  Highlights include: Slim’s The New Mutants nightmare, Tim’s 2020 trophies, Hannah’s … Has Fallen spree, Gemma’s mum’s Cats commentary, Kyle McLachlan’s Showgirls stand-in’s very nice ass-cheeks, a Tom Hooper in New Zealand rumor, and the celebrity animals that got us through 2020. Related links The Letterboxd list of all the films mentioned in this episode Hannah’s Catsiversary romp through Letterboxd’s most-loved, lowest-rated films This episode was recorded in Sheffield, Philadelphia and Auckland and edited by Tony Stamp. Our theme music is ‘Vampiros Dancoteque’ by Moniker. Podcast artwork by Ann Davenport. On the next episode: the Letterboxd Year in Review, with a panel of Letterboxd superstars (we usually publish about a week into January, and our episode will follow). Leave a voice message about the very best film you saw in 2020.

Letterboxd editor-in-chief Gemma Gracewood hosts animation heads Toussaint Egan and Kambole Campbell, together at last, for a ramble through their all-time animation faves. Wolfwalkers director Tomm Moore on myths, hallucinogens, Wes Anderson and the joys of the Frozen soundtrack. Highlights include: all the love for Akira and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse; Kambole’s short-lived stop-motion career; is Ghibli “basic”?! Should Arendell have fallen? The small matter of Disney and cultural imperialism; and Toussaint Egan’s best Mickey Mouse-as-the-banker-from-Network impression! Plus: a news exclusive on the Puffin Rock feature film. Links The Letterboxd list of all the films mentioned in this episode AV Club article mentioned by Toussaint Kambole’s Letterboxd animation preview There’s a Monster in my Kitchen, Tomm’s film for Greenpeace Credits This episode was recorded in London, Paris, Chicago and Auckland and edited by Tony Stamp. Theme music: ‘Vampiros Dancoteque’ by Moniker. Podcast artwork: Ann Davenport. On the next episode: Slim (70mm Podcast), Hannah Woodhead (Little White Lies), Tim Batt (The Worst Idea Ever) on 2020’s shitters and five-bangers. Leave a voice message about the good-bad movies that got you through 2020.

In this episode the yuletide gets gayer with Happiest Season’s favorite sister, Jane—AKA the film’s co-writer Mary Holland—and Dana Nachman, director of a documentary love letter to the US Postal Service, Dear Santa (and crowd-pleasers Pick of the Litter and Batkid Begins). Plus: Love Actually’s missing lesbians, our spooky new theme music, and Die Hard or Die Hard 2? It’s the battle of the Christmas voice messages. Films mentioned: What We Do in the Shadows Love Actually The Family Stone Home Alone “Christmas movie posters with white heterosexual couples wearing red and green” list Make the Yuletide Gay—Christmas films with LGBTQ+ representation E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Top Gun Dirty Dancing It’s a Wonderful Life Toni Collette comedies and Hereditary Enchanted Drop Dead Gorgeous Grease The Addams Family Serendipity Elf A Christmas Story The Trial of the Chicago 7 The films of Adam McKay This episode was recorded in Los Angeles, Joshua Tree and Auckland and edited by Tony Stamp. Theme music is ‘Vampiros Dancoteque’ by Moniker. Podcast artwork by Ann Davenport. On the next episode, we’ve got Wolfwalkers director Tomm Moore and animation heads Kambole Campbell and Toussaint Egan—leave us a voice message regarding your favorite animated film.

Tears flow as writer-director Darius Marder and actor and ASL rocker Paul Raci join Letterboxd’s editor-in-chief Gemma Gracewood to talk about their new film Sound of Metal, in which Ruben (Riz Ahmed), a punk-rock drummer suffering hearing loss, turns to adult deafness coach Joe (Raci, the son of deaf parents). We talk disability representation in movies, the Serenity Prayer as film structure, heavy-metal sign language, making producers’ brains hurt, and releasing your debut feature at the worst time in human history. Plus: other music movies for you to soak up before 2020 crawls back into its hole. Films mentioned The Place Beyond the Pines Blue Valentine Sound of Metal Run Wonderstruck The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart? Bruce Springsteen’s Letter to You Zappa (and the Letterboxd Show episode with Alex Winter) The Shawl The Letterboxd Show is recorded in Los Angeles, Brooklyn and Auckland, and edited by Tony Stamp. The theme tune is ‘Hitchcock’ by The Phoenix Foundation (new album The Friend Ship out now!). Podcast artwork by Ann Davenport. On the next episode: festive feelings with Happiest Season’s Mary Holland! Leave us a voice message about your favorite festive film at letterboxd.show.

Our London correspondent Ella Kemp joins Letterboxd’s editor-in-chief Gemma Gracewood to talk about their highlights from the fall festival season. Later they’re joined by actor, writer and first-time feature director Cooper Raiff and his Shithouse co-star Dylan Gelula to talk college, crying, comfort films, and Dylan’s Letterboxd habits.  Films and links mentioned: Synchronic David Byrne’s American Utopia Lovers Rock I Carry You With Me Shiva Baby Shithouse Portrait of a Lady on Fire Kajillionaire I Used to Go Here Revenge of the Nerds St Elmo’s Fire Right Now, Wrong Then Lost in Translation On the Rocks Vanya on 42nd Street Bridge to Terabithia 13 Going on 30 Wolfwalkers Perfect Blue Millennium Actress Paprika Inside Out It’s Such a Beautiful Day The Red Shoes The Umbrellas of Cherbourg The Young Girls of Rochefort The Social Dilemma The work of Jay Duplass. TV shows mentioned: Togetherness, Love on the Spectrum, Normal People (specifically, episode 5). Dylan’s podcast, Lecture Hall, with her friend Broti Gupta.  This episode recorded in London, Los Angeles and Dunedin and edited by Morgan Avery. Podcast artwork by Ann Davenport. Our theme music is ‘Hitchcock’ by The Phoenix Foundation. Our next episode features Wolfwalkers co-director Tomm Moore, and animation fans Kambole Campbell and Toussaint Egan. To be in to win a Pro membership, leave us a voice message about your favorite animated film or sequence of all time.

Actor, writer and director Jim Cummings joins Letterboxd’s editor-in-chief Gemma Gracewood to talk about his brand new film The Wolf of Snow Hollow, Robert Forster’s final role, toxic masculinity, tears, montages, werewolves, Fight Club, Fincher, turning shorts into features, his Letterboxd favorites, and the enduring emotional power of Inside Out’s Bing Bong. Films and lists mentioned: Rope Rear Window Beast Beast Greener Grass The Social Network Zodiac Fight Club Thunder Road The Robbery (short) Blue Valentine Rebel Without a Cause Shithouse What We Do in the Shadows Napoleon Dynamite An American Werewolf in London The Howling Dirty Dancing Jamaica Inn The Great Dictator Inside Out Seduced and Abandoned Children of Men The ’Burbs Obvious Child (short) / Obvious Child Two Cars One Night (short) / Boy Whiplash (short) / Whiplash Lights Out (short) / Lights Out Saw (short) / Saw Brat Pitt’s review of Fight Club A list of films with men/boys crying Jim Cummings on Letterboxd  This episode recorded in Los Angeles and Auckland and edited by Morgan Avery. Podcast artwork by Ann Davenport. Theme music: ‘Hitchcock’ by The Phoenix Foundation. Our next episode features Cooper Raiff and Dylan Gelula of Shithouse. To be in to win a Pro membership, leave us a voice message about your favorite college film.

Letterboxd’s editor in chief Gemma Gracewood and lists editor Jack Moulton discuss their favorite docs of 2020 so far. Letterboxd members call in with their own top-doc picks, and we’re joined by Eli Despres and Elyse Steinberg, two-thirds of the directing team behind The Fight, which follows ACLU lawyers as they argue for major social justice issues including trans rights in the military and abortion access. Elyse also reveals she once acted in a Todd Haynes film. (We’ve kept in interruptions by children for pandemic documentary realness!) Films and lists mentioned: Official Letterboxd Top 100 Documentaries Welcome to Chechnya For Sama Boys State Disclosure Crip Cramp: A Disability Revolution Mucho Mucho Amor The Painter and the Thief Coronation The documentaries of Agnès Varda He Dreams of Giants The Ghost of Peter Sellers Father Soldier Son Making a Murder (and Knives Out) The Last Dance Showbiz Kids Miss Americana The Fight directors: The Fight Weiner Crumb American Movie The Oath How to Survive a Plague A Few Good Men Poison Heavenly Creatures It Might Get Loud Fantasia Fest: You Cannot Kill David Arquette Feels Good Man This episode was recorded in Los Angeles, New York and Auckland and edited by Morgan Avery. Podcast artwork by Ann Davenport. Theme music: ‘Hitchcock’ by The Phoenix Foundation (their new single ‘Landline’ is out now). Our next episode features Irish animator Tomm Moore. To be in to win a Pro membership, leave us a voice message about your favorite animated film of all time.

Actor, documentarian and excellent human Alex Winter joins Letterboxd’s Gemma Gracewood and Jack Moulton to talk about his three new films: Showbiz Kids, Zappa and the long-awaited Bill & Ted Face the Music.  Films mentioned by Alex: Bill & Ted Face the Music Showbiz Kids Zappa Land Without Bread The films of Stan Brakhage and Chris Marker The Rolling Stones: Cocksucker Blues Leaving Neverland Close Encounters of the Third Kind Raiders of the Lost Ark The Lost Boys The Empire Strikes Back Superman Jaws The films of Charlie Chaplin and Fred Astaire Once Upon A Time... in Hollywood Monty Python and the Holy Grail The Painter and the Thief Capone Vitalina Varela First Cow Links Alex’s 50 B-Sides and Rarities list The Letterboxd list for this episode.  Alex’s Letterboxd profile This episode was recorded in Los Angeles and Auckland, and edited by Morgan Avery. Podcast artwork by Ann Davenport. Our theme music is ‘Hitchcock’ by The Phoenix Foundation. Our next episode is also about documentaries, with the directors of The Fight. Leave us a voice message about your favorite doc of 2020.

From pitching to studios via video to filming in confined spaces, the filmmakers behind found-footage favorites Searching (Aneesh Chaganty) and new browser-horror Host (Rob Savage, Jed Shepherd and Gemma Hurley) share their best tips for making movies in quarantine. Plus, Rob and Aneesh reveal their heavy-duty Letterboxd habits, Aneesh talks about casting his next film, Run, and his roommate Blake pops in to explain their elaborate method for how to choose what film to watch. Films mentioned by Jed, Rob and Gemma As Above, So Below Ghostwatch Night of the Comet Your Name. (君の名は。) The Innocents Films mentioned by Aneesh The Sixth Sense The Mission Impossible franchise “When Shyamalan was a major, major deal, making hit after hit” Buried Minority Report Ocean’s 11 Inception Step Brothers Sense and Sensibility Anvil! The Story of Anvil Slumdog Millionaire (500) Days of Summer Memento Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India Bombay Links On Letterboxd: Jed Shepherd; Aneesh Chaganty; Aneesh’s roommate Blake.  This episode was recorded in London, Los Angeles and Auckland, and edited by Morgan Avery. Podcast artwork by Ann Davenport. Theme music is ‘Hitchcock’ by The Phoenix Foundation. Our next episode is about documentaries, with writer-director and Bill & Ted star Alex Winter, and the directors of The Fight. Leave a voice message with your question for Winter.

Since the roll-out of Studio Ghibli films on Netflix and HBO Max this year, there’s been an explosion of Letterboxd activity around the famed studio’s films. Our Ghibli-loving guests couldn’t be happier. David Jenkins (Little White Lies), Tasha Robinson (Polygon) and Adam Kempenaar (Filmspotting) share their Ghibli obsessions and discuss whether to “sub or dub”. Letterboxd members phone in with their favs. Plus: Little White Lies turns 15. Links David Jenkins’ review of My Neighbor Totoro Polygon’s best Studio Ghibli scenes survey @c0mmunicants’ Ghibli tweet The Official Letterboxd Top 250 Letterboxd members’ top 20 favorite comfort films Adam’s daughter Sophie on Letterboxd Mami Sunada’s The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness Our Q&A with the hosts of Ghibliotheque This episode was recorded in Chicago, London and Auckland and edited by Morgan Avery. Podcast artwork by Ann Davenport. Theme music is ‘Hitchcock’ by The Phoenix Foundation. Leave a voice message for Aneesh Chaganty, our next guest, or tell us the ‘so bad it’s good’ film you’ve been rewatching in isolation for an upcoming episode. We recorded this episode as the news of George Floyd’s death by police brutality was emerging, and held it back in order to amplify Black voices and stories. Racism has no place on Letterboxd. Here are some ideas for activism; here are more; and more. We are donating all proceeds from screenings of Josephine Decker’s Shirley via our virtual screening link (available to US members only) to BIPOC film non-profit Firelight Media. Black Lives Matter.

This episode is dedicated to films about the Black experience. Our guest is Letterboxd member Adam Davie, creator of the extensive Black Life on Film list. Adam explains why he has spent three years creating the list and why it includes “the good, the bad and the ugly as it relates to the Black experience”. Links Driving Miss Daisy (Bruce Beresford, 1989) The Story of a Three-Day Pass (Melvin Van Peebles, 1968) Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Rodney Rothman/Peter Ramsey/Bob Persichetti, 2018) Do the Right Thing (Spike Lee, 1989) I Am Not Your Negro (Raoul Peck, 2016) 13th (Ava DuVernay, 2016) Get Out (Jordan Peele, 2017) LA 92 (T.J. Martin/Daniel Lindsay, 2017) Support The Girls (Andrew Bujalski, 2018) The High Note (Nisha Ganatra, 2020) Beyond the Lights (Gina Prince-Bythewood, 2014) The Wound (John Trengove, 2017) Rafiki (Wanuri Kahiu, 2018) Attack the Block (Joe Cornish, 2011) I Am Legend (Francis Lawrence, 2007) If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins, 2017) Black Dynamite (Scott Sanders, 2009) Miami Connection (Y.K. Kim/Woo-sang Park, 1987) This episode was recorded in Pittsburgh, PA and Auckland, NZ and edited by Morgan Avery. Our podcast artwork is by Ann Davenport and our theme music is ‘Hitchcock’ by The Phoenix Foundation. Leave a voice message telling us your favorite Studio Ghibli film, or a ‘so bad it’s good’ film you’ve been rewatching in isolation for our upcoming episodes. Listeners in the US can watch Josephine Decker’s Shirley via our virtual screening room—we’re donating all proceeds to film non-profit Firelight Media. For other links, resources and places to donate in the fight for justice, here are some anti-racism resources for white people. This Letterboxd review of I Am Not Your Negro also contains useful links. Black Lives Matter.

Our cast of Steven Spielberg fans somehow manage to find new things to say about the films of the highest-grossing director of all time, and marvel at how his movies feel more potent than ever in the time of coronavirus. Guests: Chris Evangelista from SlashFilm’s 21st Century Spielberg podcast, comedian/writer Gabriel Gundacker of “I Wanna meet Richard Dreyfuss” fame, and Letterboxd’s West Coast editor Dominic Corry. Links Steven Spielberg’s filmography. 1993: a big year for Spielberg, as chronicled by Ed Power in The Independent. Watch the moment Spielberg is not nominated for a Best Director Oscar for Jaws. Susan Lacy’s 2017 Spielberg documentary. Spielberg at Cannes in 1975. Composer John Williams (and Rolling Stone film critic David Fear on his work in Catch Me if You Can). The Spielberg Quarantine Challenge: A.I. Artificial Intelligence (Dominic) Lincoln (Chris) E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (Gabriel) The Indiana Jones box set (Gemma) Quarantine Pick-Me-Ups: The Last Days of Disco (Dominic) The Rocketeer (Chris) Blazing Saddles (Gabriel) The Muppet Movie (Gemma) Filmmakers on the Internet: Vulture’s conversations with directors in insolation, including Reuben Ostland and Claire Denis (Gemma) Mary Neely (Dominic) Settling the Score podcast (Gabriel) SlashFilm’s Quarantine Stream (Chris) Recorded in Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Auckland. Edited by Morgan Avery. Podcast artwork by Ann Davenport. Theme music: ‘Hitchcock’ by The Phoenix Foundation. Leave a voice message telling us your favorite quarantine rewatch for our next episode (don’t forget to introduce yourself and please record in a quiet place too).

Has lockdown got you thirsty? This is the episode you need. Inspired by film writer Justine Peres Smith’s popular ‘Best Horny Movies for Quarantine’ list, Letterboxd editor Gemma Gracewood, Montreal-based Smith, and The Black List’s Kate Hagen dive deep into several erotic thrillers from the past two decades: Jane Campion’s In The Cut, Park Chan-wook’s The Handmaiden and Yann Gonzalez’s Knife + Heart. And we ask: where’s all the hot sex in Western film these days? Plus: Cronenberg, PTA, Roeg, Marilyn Monroe and more. Links Horny movies: Kate’s Essential Erotic Thrillers and 365 Sex Scenes The Black List In The Cut Justine’s 2018 re-examination of In The Cut for Little White Lies God’s Own Country The Handmaiden Knife + Heart Crash Don't Look Now Inherent Vice Damage Bound Kate’s Playboy article Quarantine recommendations: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Justine) Peggy Sue Got Married (Kate) Ratatouille (Gemma) Filmmakers on social: K. Austin Collins’ Shut-in Movie Club and Letterboxd profile (Justine) Vidiots and video stores everywhere (Kate) Joss Ackland’s #ReadaLetter (Gemma) Edited by Morgan Avery. Podcast artwork by Ann Davenport. Theme music: ‘Hitchcock’ by The Phoenix Foundation. Leave a voice message telling us your favorite Steven Spielberg film for our next episode.

Nostalgic for recent life, Letterboxd editor Gemma Gracewood, our West Coast editor Dominic Corry and New York-based freelance film critic Susannah Gruder celebrate movies set in big cities while we stay home to save lives. We discuss how directors like Michael Mann, Susan Seidelman and Richard Linklater move through cityscapes, and we see New York through newcomers’ eyes in Eliza Hittman’s stunning new film. P.S. Join our L.A. Showdown: nominate your favorite films set in the City of Angels. Links City films for empty streets:  Crossing Delancey Vanilla Sky, The Quiet Earth and Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen Desperately Seeking Susan Heat, Collateral Before Sunset Never Rarely Sometimes Always The Omega Man, Woodstock Light Sleeper, Three Days of the Condor Miracle Mile Bright Wall/Dark Room’s list of obscure recommendations Babylon incl. the engagement-party scene Art House Online Quarantine recommendations: Frederico Fellini’s Nights of Cabiria and Bob Fosse’s Sweet Charity (Susannah) Robert Zemeckis’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief (Dominic) Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights (Gemma) Filmmakers on the Internet: Ritesh Batra’s scriptwriting chats (Gemma) ScriptNotes podcast with John August and Craig Mazin, including this live episode (Dominic) Love from BAM Netflix parties, Lou Doillon’s Instagram feed (Susannah) Edited by Morgan Avery. Podcast artwork by Ann Davenport. Leave a voice message telling us your favorite erotic thrillers for the next episode.

Locked down and looking for comfort, Letterboxd editor Gemma Gracewood, London-based film and music writer Ella Kemp and LA-based musician and writer Demi Adejuyigbe explore why Paddington Bear, Donald O’Connor and Talking Heads are deeply uplifting in these strange times, nominate their favorite actors-doing-things-on-the-internet, and find film-watching solutions to the attention-span issues that come with staying home. Links Pixar director recommendations for children: All Ages 7 to 12 Years 12 Years and Over The Letterboxd Feel-Good Showdown Our interview with Paddington and Paddington 2 writer-director Paul King Edgar Wright’s 100 favorite comedies Rian Johnson’s favorite 70s movie musicals Bright Wall/Dark Room’s crowd-sourced list of most obscure movie recommendations. Our panel’s picks: Angel (Ella) The Castle (Demi) Wham! in China: Foreign Skies (Gemma) Patrick Stewart’s Sonnets Sam Neill’s therapeutic Twitter and Instagram feeds Demi’s food-bank donation drive Richard E. Grant on Twitter Art House Online—help us support art house cinemas by renting these new, recent and re-released films, and read Ella’s interview with Levan Akin, director of And Then We Danced The panel’s feel-good picks for this week: Donald O’Connor’s ‘Make ’em Laugh’ dance sequence from Singin’ in the Rain (Gemma) Stop Making Sense  (1984), Jonathan Demme’s Talking Heads film (Demi) The Shop Around the Corner (1940) (Ella) This podcast was recorded in Los Angeles, London and Auckland and edited by Morgan Avery. Our podcast artwork is by Ann Davenport. Leave a voice message telling us your favorite films set in big cities for our next episode, in which our West Coast editor Dominic Corry and New York correspondent Susannah Gruder will remember the recent past through movies.

A panel discussion ahead of the 2020 Oscars, hosted by Letterboxd editor Gemma Gracewood with guests Kate Hagen, Demi Adejuyigbe and Dominic Corry. We revisit our favorite films of 2019, figure out why we still love the Oscars, award some additional trophies, and talk maybe a little too much about Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Links Letterboxd’s downloadable Oscars Ballot: JPEG or PDF Letterboxd 2019 Year in Review 2020 Oscars — All nominated films 2019–2020 awards season winners The best years for Best Picture nominees, ranked (thanks to Jack Moulton) Kate Hagen’s list of Essential Erotic Thrillers Demi Adejuyigbe’s lists of Movies whose full titles can be perfectly sung to the rhythm and cadence of “Moon River, wider than a mile” and Movies whose entire titles can be comfortably sung to the tune and rhythm of “Little Red Corvette” Dominic Corry’s lists of Yuppies in Peril and Films that Poetically Capture the Experience of Living in Los Angeles Ford v Ferrari (aka Le Mans ’66): What really happened at the end? Watch: Anna Paquin wins Best Supporting Actress at the 66th Academy Awards, hyperventilates for 22 seconds straight Watch: La La Land, sorry Moonlight wins Best Picture Letterboxd’s Top 10 Sundance 2020 World Premieres