The Letterboxd Show 3.32: Ryan Connolly
[clip of Speed plays]
[theme song ramps up, plays alone, fades out]
GEMMA Hello and welcome to The Letterboxd Show, the podcast about movies people love watching from Letterboxd, the social network for people who love watching movies. I’m Gemma, he’s Slim, and each week we are ed by a special guest who tells us their four favorite films. We watch and rewatch them in a cinematic fever, and then we get that guest on for a friendly interrogation about why this quartet above thousands of others became their most beloved movies. This week, we are starting a Film Riot with our guest, director, writer, editor, producer, YouTuber and Letterboxd member Ryan Connolly.
SLIM Ryan got the filmmaking bug very early, making adorable home horror movies as a kid. These days he’s a YouTube superstar, with his Film Riot buddies, unpacking the secrets of movie-making and revealing DIY filmmaking tips for shooting projects on the CHEAP. Film Riot has built a community around this beautiful culture of sharing, making it possible for Ryan to direct many short films including the 2018 action flick, Ballistic. He loves action films, he loves Fincher, he loves Sci-Fi, so it was no surprise to learn that Ryan’s Four Letterboxd Faves are: Speed, Die Hard: With a Vengeance, The Game and The Matrix. This is a gigantic episode, if I can be frank with both of you. Ryan, welcome to The Letterboxd Show.
RYAN Stoked to be here and talking about those movies. I liked that intro too. I thought that was a good one.
GEMMA What’s going on here, Ryan, these are all action films from the 1990s. Which you also have a Letterboxd and praise of this specific decade specific genre. Ryan, what is it about this decade, this genre, and you?
RYAN Yeah, I mean, you know, the 90s was my formative years, you know, I was eight in 1990. So you know those 10 years was really when I started because my parents were a little more on the strict side when it came to what I could and could not watch, which also alternated a little bit like I wasn’t allowed to watch like this G rated movie. But then I was watching like The Great Outdoors. And then like now I see it later on like this does not compute at all. But you know, there was some films like Cliffhanger which is not on there. But it’s the 90s action. Oh, hello, that was my first rated R movie. And I just have an absolutely vivid memory of watching that laying that laying on the floor, right at the foot of the TV watching this movie. Seeing the gore happen and feeling my parents cringing and questioning every decision that they’ve made. And just being like, this is like mind being blown at what I was seeing, you know, when Stallone raises the one baddie into the, you know, the spike coming out, and then the bloods all kind of like Good God, you can do this in a movie, like I’ve never seen anything like it.
SLIM It’s funny you say that about Cliffhanger because I also have a similar memory of my parents renting that. And I feel like they were aghast at the amount of cursing. It’s so over the top and in in your face all the time that I it was like a scarring. I
RYAN love that it was the cursing and not the violence. Which goes it’s right on that is on brand for my parents too. It’s like they’re so mad that an F word was said but the dude just got his head lopped off like now you’re mad. My dad’s go to was always you know, they were like questioning if they should stop this or not. When you heard from the back? Well, it’s just rated. But they know. You know what, I didn’t know what else to say. But they didn’t. They didn’t want to stop any. They’re like, Oh, we should just let them watch it. But we shouldn’t I gotta let them know that it’s not somehow and that was the go to
GEMMA I love this. This is this is gonna come up during this episode. But you are now dead. You yourself have two kids aged five and seven. Yeah, so like just entering that same. When you look at the films of the 2020s coming out? Do you? Do you despair for what your children have ahead of them? Or are you more excited for them than you were for? This kid who was was birthed as a cinephile into the action films of the 90s.
RYAN I think, you know, there’s a level of I can’t believe I’m seeing what I’m seeing that existed then that doesn’t now because we’re definitely in the landscape where you can see anything and they’re kind of used to it already. Yeah, dragon that looks 100% real. I’m not shocked. Whereas, you know, like, some of the movies that we’re going to talk about are Jurassic Park, which is really what made me realize like, oh, Director, that’s what I want to be. There was nothing like that. And it was just every one of every age was like, I’m sorry, what is happening? Right now, you know, and now we’re in a place where you don’t really get that it’s normal to see literally anything. So now it’s but but the result of that I feel, you know, not with a lot of the repeat movies that we get right now. But with a lot of films, it’s going back to the basics, what matters story character, you can literally do anything when anything’s possible, what really makes it stand out and its story and character. So the, the theme park, right, if at all, I think, you know, it’s not going to last forever, you’re going to need, it’s going to need to hinge back onto that story and character and the ones that I loved so much, you know, even going back to the Indiana Jones, The Goonies, the Jaws, the Jurassic Park, what made those movies stand the test of time was the story and the character and the themes. And, and I think, you know, also, it’s just, I don’t really care when it came out, you know, the film art, it’s universal, it’s evergreen, when it’s wonderful. So, you know, I watched et with them. And [E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial] is a little bit of a slower film, you know, for you know, today’s standards, for sure. And they were glued the entire time. And my daughter knows who Steven Spielberg is because I’m a good parent. So she’s like, Daddy, Steven Spielberg is a greatest director of all time. And I’m like, That’s right, sweetheart. You’re the perfect child. Slows zoom in on is that one nodding with pride. But they loved the movie. And now they’ve seen it several times. And I was shocked by that. But it’s just a testament, regardless of what age you are, like, a good film is a good film. And I think you know, now I think some of the greatest films that I’ve ever seen have come out in the last 10 years. You know, there’s amazing work being done. Maybe, you know, not always that the blockbuster rival.
GEMMA Do we move into talking about Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, then?
RYAN How did you know that was my top four?
GEMMA No, I was thinking when you when you said you know, back in the 90s. It was like, there was a set now that there’s now there is a sense that anything can happen on screen. Even even in 1994. i The one thing I really had to suspend my disbelief around with yond advanced Speed was the fact that you could keep a bus moving 50 mph in Los Angeles. You could definitely not pull that off now. Although Michael Bay did give it a go with Ambulance. But, you know, how did audiences of 94 and I was one of them. I saw this in cinemas multiple times. How did they pull off that bit of it? It’s like this is not possible?
RYAN Yeah, I think you know, that’s the beauty of film. Like it doesn’t have to be possible. You just have to be able to believe you know, it even even if you’re like I’m sorry. No, but that was that was awesome. You know what I mean? Like, it’s fantasy, you know, you have everything from the this needs to be dead dead on real because that’s the world that we’re telling. You can’t you can’t extend to this because that’s when it’s cheap. Like in the wrong film. Yes, straight up cheesy. That doesn’t work. But in a film that’s like, hey, we know what we are in this. I mean, look at the opening. They they’re like catching the elevator. They tell you upfront like hey, just don’t ask questions just enjoy it. So it’s like you know from the start it tells you what it is and that it’s consistently that throughout and it’s just fantastic.
SLIM I was just looking at the synopsis for Speed that we have from letterbox you know, we pulled out from TMDb and Mitchell and I were hosting the previous episode of our show and we were like poking fun at synopsis. I mean, this movie is Speed, but there’s like a three sentence synopsis for this movie. How does that exist in this day and age? It’s just maybe like seven words and that’s the pitch for the movie. But the synopsis currently as of at least recording Los Angeles SWAT cop Jack Trayvon I don’t even know that was his last name.
GEMMA Travis. Travis. Static and
SLIM that’s how unfamiliar I am with the full synopsis of this movie. I need to get his last name right. He’s up against a bomb expert Howard Payne, who’s after major ransom money first. It’s a rigged elevator in a very tall building. Then it’s a rigged bus driven by Sandra Bullock. If it slows, it will blow bad enough any day but a nightmare and LA traffic and that’s still not the end.
RYAN Like I don’t even know that’s not even the part of the movie that makes you want to watch like where’s the 50 mile an hour bet? You need to know
GEMMA Okay, you read a synopsis like this. What do you do? Ryan? What do you do?
SLIM You don’t watch it? You probably don’t watch it. Yes, you’re shutting it off. Yeah, you put on Cliffhanger.
RYAN Probably a great fit though. What do you do? I don’t know. Yeah, public knowledge. But I heard through the grapevine of somebody who knew somebody without saying names but apparently like some people tied to the involved in the project. To at a high level thought they were going to lose their job over it and thought Dennis Hopper was horrible and it didn’t work and then they showed the fox executives and they all lost their minds. It was like give it more money. This is going to be huge. And then they were right. Yeah. Oh, man. That’s always an interesting thing too. You know, like, when they were making Jaws did they know they were making a masterpiece? That would last the test of time? You know? Probably not it’s like when you’re making something like Speed. Did you know it was gonna become what it became Right? Definitely not.
SLIM He’s like a Batman villain. Yeah, much in the movie. Like he even has that scene where he’s like cackling walking away like he could just literally be a Batman villain myself.
RYAN You know watching films like this is like onset what I have the balls to continue this or would it have been like, I don’t know. If that would have been more of a straightforward villain. It kind of would have been flat. But because it was so over the top like the Riddler esque like you said. It was just crazy. It just worked so well.
GEMMA And he’s just so mad. He’s just so mad. He’s so mad that Jack Trevon and his mate Jeff Daniels. You’re ruined the I love how in this synopsis. It says a very tall building, not just a tall very tall building. Not to mention that over the whole opening title. It’s just this really long, slow descent down this massive lift shaft. So you really Oh, that’s good. Okay, so you tweeted on July the 15th. This year Ryan, Speed has one of the greatest scores of all time fight me. There will be no fighting here today on the Letterboxd.
RYAN It’s so good. Like, you know that’s another thing that’s like Did you know like Did you know like what an incredible score that just locks into your mind and just I you know everyone who drives fast even today, however many years later will do that did didn’t didn’t didn’t didn’t and everybody’s like.
GEMMA This is the wake of Mac men Cena who most people these days will be much more familiar with from his work with Disney. He did them on a soundtrack with Lin Manuel Miranda and he’s done Tarzan. He’s done. Yeah, but he also nailed bed boys can’t hear Twister. Oh my Training Day for feed. Ah, Speed to that terrible mistake Money Train.
RYAN Explosion though.
GEMMA Can we talk about that moment when the fact that the factors with Speed I’ve seen it so many times and every single time I watch it I’ve forgotten about the entire first half hour. Yeah to set up. Yeah, the reason the reason that Dennis is so mad at Keanu. That’s because they foiled his very tall building bomb plan. And I love that shot when he’s when he gets hairy and pulls them away and they’re cheek to cheek. Yeah, and you and I just the first time I noticed it on this rewatch was just that moment of acting. When you’re like, I wonder what Jeff Daniels and Dennis Hopper are thinking right now being sweaty and cheek to cheek so close to each other but they are feeling it they’re in the moment they are in character. It’s a yeah, just like that.
RYAN Explosion with him launching backwards right after.
GEMMA When did you first see Speed?
SLIM I think this might have been like a VHS watch when I was a kid as well. I ed so many scenes from the movie. I mean, you kind of you forget about I’ve always forget about the beginning of this movie and the end of this movie. Yeah, everything in between. I feel like I have a visceral memory of some of my favorite moments or you know when they make that jump over like the really like for no reason for no reason. Does that bus like go up at any point, but it somehow looks amazing. And still, I’m here for the other stuff like with Keanu when he’s driving the car, before he gets on the bus on the highway. looks legit as hell like he’s driving that car fast as hell and I’m getting all nervous.
GEMMA You mean the convertible? Oh, yeah, you can break it off. That guy in the convertible is just like terrified and then totally into it.
SLIM Yeah, it’s so much fun to see. Like, I don’t want to be that kind of guy. Really, that will make them like this anymore. But some of the stuff still like it looks like legit dangerous and that’s the kind of thing that I don’t see anymore because a lot of that is kind of like CGI ish, don’t volume, whatever. But some of that stuff just still holds up because it looks so real. Yeah, and dangerous. And that’s that’s one of the things that resonates with Speed and me after all these years for sure.
RYAN Yeah, that’s a lot of the stuff that I definitely miss from those old films. As you know, they just did it. And that’s why you know, you get these Tom Cruise movies that are like hugely popular because they’re really doing it. It’s not just the visual effect they’re actually doing this stuff and you know, the artistry that goes into that sort of stunt work you we miss out on a little bit nowadays, except for the films that go no, we’re doing it. Like the [Mad Max: Fury Road] is and all that. But man, all of a sudden, even the explosions, the practical explosions. How beautiful that that when the bus goes into the airplane. Oh my god, what?
GEMMA Gorgeous, you can just see them. You can see those Fox execs going I will give you another $2 million. Yeah, totally. So Jack, who does affects around here I don’t know if Film Riot has his effects man, but we do. He’s amazing. And he’s he’s looked into the letterbox stats. This is the underpants most popular in highest rated film. It’s Keanu Reeves is most popular non matrix non John Wick action movie. That makes sense. eighth highest and general. ninth most popular film in 1994. It did win both sound categories at the Oscars. So it’s in the multi Oscar globe fully so and it’s Mitchell Beauprez six. Hi, highest loved film of all time. Yeah, just take my word. Yeah, Mitchell Mitchell is a Speed rewatch extraordinaire. Aside from all of those facts. I think one of the most important facts is is that it is possibly the source of so much. Keanu Reeves thirst there is a review from Terry, who writes My ideal weight is Keanu Reeves on top of me.
SLIM One of my favorite Letterboxd reviews
RYAN What a great line that’s gonna be my next pickup line and my wife when I say.
GEMMA You’re gonna go pick up your wife so, for me for me, there are moments there are there are minute moments and Speed I love I love Jeff and Dennis face to face cheek to cheek. I love the reflection of their first best fire and the Black Candle of the payphone. Oh my god, pure cinema but for me Speed is has been and will always be about one shot in one shot alone. And that is the camera at the back of the bus looking at the aisle of the bus jet trap and facing the engers any Potter driving and she reaches out a hand and finds his yeah and it’s just I’m like I’ve got goosebumps even now just thinking about it. I just want to leave this show. Leave you gents to the other three films and go back and watch that leaves honestly there is people banging on about In the Mood for Love but this is romantic stay
SLIM American In the Mood for Love. I do have to give before we move to die hard I’ll give IMDb some props because their synopsis it’s the good one a young police officer must prevent a bomb exploding aboard a city bus by keeping its Speed above 50 mph that’s all you need. That’s DB well let’s work together on this let’s see what we can do because diehard with Avengers synopsis I’m not even reading that paragraph.
GEMMA Look, I had a little play with this. So from 190s ticking clock to another we turned to John McTiernan in 1995. Well, okay, here we go. After the events of 88 I had in 1990s Die had to die harder to
RYAN break with that title by the way. Thanks.
GEMMA Bruce Willis is back as New York detective John McClane to kick bad guy but the third installment of this action packed series, which finds them teaming with a civilian Zeus Carver, played by Samuel L. Jackson. To prevent the loss of innocent lives, McLean thought it seemed at all until a genius named Simon engages him and his new partner in his beloved city and a deadly game that demands the concentration yet it’s people like just full stop at deadly game. What do you mean they’re not going to concentrate on a deadly game? We’ve got to get into the synopsis writing business.
SLIM I mean IMDb and this is now the IMDB we love IMDb synopsis podcast, John McClane and a Harlem store on are targeted by German terrorists Simon in New York City where he plans to rob the Federal Reserve building. A 1995 Where were you when you first saw Die Hard With a Vengeance the best one? In my opinion.
RYAN I didn’t see it in theaters. So that was, you know, I would have been I don’t even know how there would have been 13 maybes though again that my parents were a little bit more on the strict side. So you know, similar to Speed actually, I the marketing more than I my first watch of it. Like the marketing behind Speed was amazing. I watching you II when they had all the coming soons. And they did so much great like, Oh, man. And so to me, these two movies were like the biggest thing to ever come out in the history of time, and I wanted to see them so bad. But I couldn’t. But then diehard I eventually saw on VHS convinced my parents, I think I was probably around 16 When I finally was able to see it. And it was just you know, that experience of you go to Blockbuster. You’re just looking at the cover, and you’re like, I’ve never wanted anything more than this. And then you’re holding it and you feel a tape rattling around inside. And you can’t help but set yourself but read the outside 52 times while you’re waiting in line because you can’t believe mom said yes. You know, yeah. And then it was just everything about that movie similar to the others. And why it’s on my list is just blew me away. Like That opening is just unreal. Like the music they chose. And you’re not expecting what is going to happen to happen. And then the explosion is so impressive.
GEMMA So impressive. Yeah, it’s just beautiful. But it’s the title over there opening shot. Yeah, when you go back to the thing about the Speed, title and how long it takes and the elevator shaft. Yeah, and then Die Hard With a Vengeance is just like you’re here for the third film. Here it is, boom. Let’s get into it. So great.
SLIM And that looks that’s another shot that looks dangerous. Like we talked about Speed. Like, did they just blow up a city block in New York City for that shot, because
RYAN and then the film just goes, you know, it’s like, they don’t take a lot of time. But here’s John McClane, and he’s got a hangover he got any aspirin? Why does this guy want me right into it, you know, and then it’s just the riddle of it all. And, you know, the team up of Bruce Willis and Samuel Jackson was so perfect. And Samuel Jackson’s character, even his introduction is just so perfect his name and just love it, you know, and then solving the riddles together. So it’s like this heist film, action film, buddy film, all meshed into one and then that great turn of what’s actually happening. There was just so many elements to this that I hadn’t seen before. And, and the the level of like, thought that went into the writing and the plot and how they move the plot along. And even its shifts, like, you know, it’s act one shift into Act Two, you know, it’s to a into to be it’s, you know, it’s shift into Act Three, it all was pretty jarring in a way but worked perfectly. Like it didn’t keep on this even keel you know, the speed is this movie that yeah, it has it set up. But then, you know, here’s the movie. This felt like it was constantly shifting and, and even it’s, you know, the characters were interesting, and they were doing something and something that mattered and they were accomplishing something and, and it actually existed for a reason not just to be somebody who was killed off and oftentimes not, they’re exploring this other thing and having their own moment of heroism and it’s just, it just hits on so many levels that I hadn’t really seen something hit on before and hits on it so perfectly. Like I feel like John McFerrin saw the second one and it was like, Okay, let’s make a third we gotta fix this.
SLIM I don’t even anything from the second one, but this one is my, like, I rewatched this for the first time in many years, I think maybe like last year, and I said that like the fog of nostalgia had washed over me when I was watching it still is like up at the top because I have so many memories of being wowed by like Samuel Jackson and Bruce Willis like going at it with each other about like racism and stuff. I’m like, Whoa, what is this? I’m like I’m a young kid with like a dress on my glasses. Like I’ve never seen anything like that. And I also love like his entrance into the movie like he’s suspended they go to his don’t even show them going to the park but they just pick him up. He’s hung over in the back of a van. Yeah, what an amazing so entrance for John McClane like it doesn’t get any better than that. It’s like a superhero entrance you can smell.
GEMMA Bruce Willis through the TV screen Yeah, and those scenes.
RYAN He has on just gets dirtier and dirtier and I love that they have that aspect in there you know from diehard where he just he just gets the shit kicked out of them the whole movie and then this one here you go again just by the end of the movie she’s just completely in shambles you know?
GEMMA These insane visual jokes that if you blink you’d miss them like when when he and Sam L Jackson era in the in the subway and something’s happened and a guy’s got sliced in half. Yeah, like I guess I guess we’re gonna move this body and they’re like, side by side and then they just both turn. You don’t see the buddy but you know exactly what’s going on. Yeah, little moments like that that were unnecessary but edge to the whole vibe.
RYAN That’s a wonderful example though. Of have that thing that I was talking about. It’s just so clever throughout the entire film, like it felt like you just felt the effort and the love for the film during this whole thing. And it was very unique in that aspect but but it’s it’s a weird detail, but Samuel Jackson’s classes in the movie, we’re just everything is just so like, these are perfect for the perfect glasses. And he’s the coolest person.
SLIM What was last time you watch this Jabba was this wasn’t a first time watch for you.
GEMMA Why no, definitely not a first time watch. But I think this was the first time since the first time Oh, wow. So it was
RYAN I’m so happy for you.
GEMMA Oh my God, I’m so happy for me, was deeply, deeply satisfying and deeply exciting. And in the interim, I have spent a decade living in New York so I just felt like when they’re in Tompkins, Square Park, you know, it’s like, movies are great, and that they can literally take you anywhere. But when you’ve been to a place it just adds a bit more so especially
RYAN when they’re doing things that you’ve always wanted to do like drive a car to the park and stuff. You’re like, Oh, that was great.
SLIM Gallons of water scene. I blowing my mind as a kid. Like when I first thought I was a kid. It was like, Is this the greatest movie I’ve ever seen? And they’re like, they solve it. I’m like, it’s so cool.
GEMMA I also love in films like this action films when there’s just the dialogue is just such big print. Like when John McClane is saying about Simon.
GEMMA That’s what made me feel better. Just like every line is perfect. I love I love a push in through a cop sharp is they’re all freaking out about what’s happening in the city. And they and then someone’s like, we need to find John McClane. I just I just love all of the most ridiculous over the top cheesy setups. And I wonder Ryan, how you how you separate the film lover from the filmmaker when you’re watching films like this? Or can you like do you have pure? I’m watching this? I’m not thinking about it. I’m not taking notes. I’m not trying to figure out how they did that shot? Or are you? Are they always two brains running at the same time?
RYAN It’s kind of with films like this, because it’s so washed in nostalgia, you have to you know, and I have studied this film and Speed and Jurassic Park, you kind of got to make for at least for me, I have to make the decision that that’s why I’m watching this is I’m really going to pay it. But even then you just get washed away with it. And then you’re like, Ah, I forgot. I’m watching this for a reason. I’m gonna go back, I forgot to look at what oh, yeah, that was an amazing shot. And I think, you know, I don’t think it’s nostalgia only because there’s plenty of films that are incredibly nostalgic for me and I rewatched it and I’m like I shouldn’t have rewatch that I should have left the memory there. But I’ve seen this so many times, and it still works so incredibly well. And it is because of the craftsmanship that is on display. So there’s often so many times where it’s like, Man, why did that work? So well. And it’s in the pacing and in, you know, what John McTiernan did with his coverage and, and the cast, and there’s just so many elements that it’s like, God, this is working so well. And there’s just so many notes being played, especially this one, there’s like, this controlled chaos throughout the entire film, that is such a hard thing to do. And I just respect so much how well they did it. I mean, even in the police station scenes, which are definitely over the top and you have you know, the jaw, you’re blowing this guy in there, and, but it works so well in the chaos. You don’t get that a lot in modern movies, but you got that a ton and films from the 80s. And the 90s. You know, like Spielberg films, it’s always multiple people talking at the same time back then. And there’s just this, this immersive reality to it added to that ridiculous, fantastic quality. And it’s just, it just works. So well. It’s just this orchestra of chaos. And it’s amazing, especially you know, because that gives you them the moments to kind of quiet down for a second some of the great moments between Zeus and John. And then you’re just back to the chaos. So it’s just this breakneck Speed paced movie, just like Speed was. So you know, it’s worth studying for that. And you know why I’ve rewatching that but it is very difficult to to keep your filmmaker studying hat on when you’re watching a movie like this and not just get wrapped up in what’s happening.
SLIM I was thinking, you know, with the film right YouTube channel, and there’s so many like breakdowns of the hardware. Yeah, of filmmaking in the technical aspects. And I would think, going through some of these classics almost gives you like you said, a different sense of respect, like you were washed with that nostalgia fog. But then there’s gotta be certain times where you’re watching these classics, having gone through it so often yourself with lenses, or lighting or whatever, you’d be like, Oh, damn, that was pretty good. Yeah, like you probably said it when you were younger, but now it’s like a different kind of appreciation. Yeah, that was a hard ass shot to pull off.
RYAN Because you know, like we were talking about before. They didn’t have the technology that we have now. So now it’s like, I don’t worry about it, we’ll take that out and that out and that out, and we’ll put this in later. And it’s no problem, I can even do it and After Effects myself, don’t even worry about it. Back then that was not so much the case. You know, you’re talking about very difficult shots to pull off even in, you know, remote, literally dead removals. But even in removals, you know, it was not the easiest thing in the world. And you’re, you’re dropping a lot more money on it with that sort of thing. So there’s so much practical, and especially because you’re even in the 90s You’re getting the old school filmmakers who wanted it that way. You know, now it’s kind of like digital versus film. You got the old school filmmakers that just want to shoot film versus digitally back then you had the John McTiernan set or just like, you know, the old way we did it. And so you’ve got that like amazing quality to it as well. Which, you know, you get in movies now. Like, I think the John Wick movies have a really great texture to it. To that degree where it just feels Oh, yeah, he I bet yeah, he stopped that guy in the face. I buy it.
GEMMA Do you have a favorite shot? Like the Hitchcock or the split? diopter or like, like the one that just you’re like, if I if we if and when I get to make my feature film. I am 100% going to find a reason you know a character or or a plot reason to use this shot.
RYAN Oh, man, there’s so many. One is I love Dutch angles. I never do like God I love them.
SLIM Hey, love when used appropriately for negative iTunes review coming down
RYAN when used appropriately,
GEMMA oh, Brian De Palma. Okay. Oh, yeah. Okay. The only person who can use a Dutch
RYAN When used correctly Dutch is are great like the Mission: Impossible in the restaurant scene when he’s talking to Kittredge and everything, you know, correct on on its kill the horizons, right? But then once he starts figuring it out, it goes to such extremes. And it just works. So well.
GEMMA We’re gonna need you to create a list that drops when this episode drops of films best bass Dutch angle, Brian De Palma films, entire filmography added to the list.
RYAN I think they’re really hard to do well, without it being like, why is this happening? But when they’re just loved, and ended just a simple push it like Spielberg does so well in the right moment where it’s just, and it’s got a pace that it’s not, you know, you feel it. You know, what’s happening, you know, you got the push in that it’s a slow push in. And if you go back, you’re like, Oh, we were pushing him the whole time. When did we show when did we become a close up? I’m talking about those moments where there’s a revelation or if something happened, you had that fast push and where you really feel it and you connect with the character hard. I love that kind of shot, but I split diopter shots are great as well. I love them. In old school. Brian De Palma also did a billion of those. There’s some great ones and All the President’s Men a little bit of everything, you know, I just you know, want to make movies. So all the shots.
GEMMA What’s your favorite?
SLIM No, I don’t even know if I’ve ever thought about that. Until this moment. I have to I have to sit on that. I want to almost want to say Dutch angles just to annoy you, Gemma.
GEMMA I’m pressing Wait, who’s got the tools I’m pressing? Stop recording.
SLIM You can’t worry about you, Gemma, what’s yours?
GEMMA Again, it’s the same as as Ryan. It’s like when used correctly. I love a lock of white when the actors can do their thing. And all unfolds with no trickery. But the trickery is, is an obviously the entire cast and crew and director coming together to to light and set up interests that room or that space, and rehearse it so that the actors can do their thing.
RYAN Something similar would be the actual one that I love. And I haven’t been because it’s very, very difficult to do and I never have the time to do is a proper moving master not a winner. It’s technically a winner, but I hate the word winner because a lot of runners work. But I think a lot of runners especially nowadays in the last, you know, five to 10 years have been done as a show off thing not because they should
GEMMA but because they get to go I get to go have you watch tie yet right
RYAN and I haven’t I
GEMMA come back, come back to me on whether you hate the word one after that. Okay, what is a moving master? Well, you don’t know.
RYAN Gillberg is, you know, the master of that. And it’s funny that once the winner the term winner became so popular, which they are winners technically. But it just it’s sort of the way in which it’s used that I just don’t like saying wonder because people just equate it to what they like, Oh, I know what a wonder isn’t like no but you you you noticed it? A good really excellent that one or or moving Master is one that ends and you’re like, wait a minute Did they cut where it feels like you’re cutting, and you’re getting your coverage within this master. But it’s not this orchestrated, especially like there’s some action films that have done it. Where it’s excellent. You’re like, Damn, that was 10 times cooler because Atomic Blonde is one. And then there’s action films where you’re like, I’m watching you waiting for your cue to punch this guy. You know what I mean? Yeah, so there’s a lot of those where you just see people waiting for their cues. And it’s like, okay, it’s not that you should have done this if you wanted to do this. But it was Spielberg. And the reason I love them so much is not even in this big spectacle moment. It’s in a moment of characters living within the scene, kind of you know exactly what you’re saying. Where you can rehearse out the scene, in sort of a stage play sort of way. And you’re moving through and you’re getting your why you’re getting your medium you’re getting your close up, you turn into a to Indiana Jones has some amazing versions, like you know, when, when the one character comes to get into to say, hey, they went for it, we’re gonna go search for the ark. It’s all done in one, but you would never know until you watch it. You’re like, Oh, my God, they never cut. You know, Josh has some great ones as well. But in the early days, he did that a lot. Et has a bunch of those. And it’s just moving through and feeling the environment and the scene and the characters in a way that cutting doesn’t do exactly like you feel so much like you’re there. But it doesn’t remove the artistry of the coverage either. It does it all in one and it’s so difficult to do to feel organic. But when it’s done, it’s just like, oh, god, that’s amazing. I just love it so much.
SLIM The first time you’re talking about the last five or 10 years, I think the first time that I having a discussion about a shot in a modern movie. That was like a one shot one was probably Daredevil. Number one Daredevil had that like hallway fight scene. Yeah, the Daredevil TV show yeah, on Netflix. And I think that was like the first time maybe most non cinephiles saw something like that. Was that like, hallway fight scene with Daredevil. They’re like, Wait a minute. Was that one shot? Like what’s going on? Yeah. And that was like, open their eyes to like other kinds of filmmaking. And believe it or not, was the Daredevil TV show? on Netflix?
GEMMA See, I think it was. Yeah, that one shot directed by Quentin Tarantino. Oh, yeah. Yeah. 1995 That’s right. Yeah, that was for me. That was a big a big moment when everyone was talking about continuous shot.
SLIM I was busy watching Die Hard With a Vengeance.
GEMMA Well, that brings us back to our 90s action movies excitement. I am delighted about your next favorite because it’s Thanksgiving week as this episode drops in this film really gets us into the holiday season spirit is defrayed. 22 writes on letterboxed. David Fincher followed up Se7en with an R rated Scrooge movie and I’m happy he did. We were talking about Fincher’s The Game, 3.7 average on letterbox interesting interesting way to we’re gonna get curious about right. We’re gonna talk about first Bojangles now this
SLIM This is another synopsis that I’m just not happy.
GEMMA I can’t so why don’t you just do one on the fly? Let’s not even Please,
SLIM God. I want to write a letterbox review that says My ideal weight is Michael Douglas on top. I mean, Michael Douglas playing his greatest role are you rich, annoying guy who was brother Sean Penn who looks like he’s 10 years old. And this movie gets him a gift, a shady gift. That is essentially an elaborate game that he has to play in real life to kind of get some excitement out of his life.
GEMMA And this is my two decades before escape rooms. And yeah,
SLIM This is real life escape room like you pay a company and they’ll eff your life up and you’re like playing a made up game together. And the first time I saw this was last year. I loved it. rewatched it if I can be honest with the three of you. I gave it five stars on this Iris. Fun.
RYAN I respect you.
GEMMA I just have to go.
SLIM Just left the call. She hung up on another 9097 David Fincher. What was were you like a hardcore Fincher head this time? Or did you stumble upon this later after
RYAN I had seen Se7en and that is just a masterpiece, in my opinion, is best film for me. I adore that film. It’s pretty much an every treatment that I do ever. There’s at least one frame from that film. So I was really excited to see this. It’s definitely a different film, but I just loved you know the classic mixed with modern elements that it hadn’t fit, it felt very classic mystery, very old school new are the same time being very modern, and it’s telling of it. So I really loved that those two aspects like this weird, like collection of influences, including Hitchcock, that made it all work so much. And it’s, it’s not even, it wasn’t even the story necessarily, although I like it, the, the plot the you know, what’s going on the mechanisms that push everything forward was really fun. But the film has, as a lot of early Fincher does, it has this texture that just really, for lack of a better way of putting it, it just has this texture that that stuck with me so heavily and it’s in the colors, it’s in the grid. It’s in where he put the camera and how he moved through spaces. You know, all of a sudden, there were these neon colors out of nowhere, and it just, you know, which he’s done in his other films, but it just worked so well for me and whereas, you know, diehard was in its content that blew me away, as far as like, these are things I could do or, you know, game it was in its, you know, technical craftsmanship that was that, you know, was an extension of Se7en, but in such a different and more simplified, distilled sort of way, I suppose that it just screams so loudly to me. I’m like, Man, that’s how you can move through a scene. That’s how you can, because there’s a lot of scenes where if I just tell you what happened in the scene, it’s like, that’s all that happens in the whole scene. But for me, at least, the scene is like, you know, ribbony gears whacked, and oh, man, what’s next? And you know, even the very smart choice to have that little clown doll be the thing that starts it off. And it’s just creepy in an odd way that there’s almost a horror element inside of this mystery thriller action piece. So it’s, you know, it’s also just the mashup of ideas, I suppose. That kind of was inspiring to me, and just, you know, at that age to just like, What the hell is going on? And then when it got to the end thing, I was just like, mind blown, bro. Mind blown.
SLIM I mean, we shouldn’t say too, it’s like, literally, I thought, I think the idea is just insane like that. You could pay a company enough money to give you a living escape room where like actors are going to eff with you, you have to figure out this puzzle every day of your life until you solve it. And that it starts off with him being rejected for The Game. Yeah. And then strange things start happening in his life and he doesn’t know who to trust so Gemma the floor is yours. Now to tell us your way.
GEMMA I was gonna ask if you gents were hiring CRS to make.
SLIM I would love to do this. I would love to do this. This sounds so much fun. salutely not.
RYAN It is also interesting though, that if you watch it from today’s lens, it’s like, oh, another movie like this. But that’s like then that wasn’t really now you have a billion that are in that sort of sphere that is like, oh, man, you were clearly inspired by The Game. So back then it was like, What the hell is going on? Whereas now if I wouldn’t be if I would see a movie like this, I’d be like, Oh, that’s this is what’s happening, you know?
SLIM Yeah. I mean, there’s so much stuff that could go wrong when he’s when he’s in this movie. I don’t want to spoil too much about the ending. But I mean, there’s so much that could have gone wrong.
RYAN It’s a very irresponsible birthday gift. Like you need to question his relationship with his brother for sure.
GEMMA Yeah. At the end, Sean pins like hey, so shall we? And he’s like, Yeah. He just basically gave yourself your own birthday gift you full? It’s just weird. I can. Can I just say, Ryan, what you just said about if you have you watched this film now, you’d be like, Oh, another one of these films was exactly my experience this week is the underlying reason for my whatever rating I gave it. That was not five stars.
RYAN Oh, so this was your first go? Yeah.
GEMMA Because yeah, let me tell you, the game came out in 1997. And you know what, I’m a girl. You know what I was doing in 1997. Watching your Titanic all the way baby.
RYAN God, I had so many friends that we’d go to the theater and they’re like, I’m gonna see Titanic and we’re like, what is what in the hell? Are there other movies?
GEMMA There are other movies. 9097 was an absolute banger of a year. It was pretty exciting. I mean, I was also watching Boogie Nights I was watching Life is Beautiful. I was watching. I wasn’t watching [Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. I was watching Face/Off, Chasing Amy, The Full Monty. You know, it was an amazing year. Even.
RYAN So, the 99 was just bonkers. Wow. So many unbelievable in that timeframe,
GEMMA I think probably saw Michael Douglas on the poster and was like, No, I am. Constantly we talked about Keanu before and how he’s Is this relatable and, you know, cuddler bowl action star in 100%. That’s where I would have gone to speed every single weekend for the first few months that was out at the cinema. I’m fascinated by Michael Douglas though as an as a massive action movie star, he just never did it. For me. He has a specific type of masculinity that was on screen in the sort of late 80s through the late 90s. There’s a review here from Ian West, who writes Michael Douglas made a killing for like 15 years playing in the entitled yuppie jerk off gets put through the meat grinder thriller genre for cheer salutely Dead it took 100 109 days and Michael Douglas was on set for 108 of them. I mean, can you imagine, but just not for me, Michael Douglas, not for me.
RYAN That’s one of the things that I really loved about it, too, is he was such an unlikable character from frame one. And then, you know, it took a bit, you know, at first you’re like, can’t take that. But then you’re kind of in it with him. And then, you know, it was very interesting to take somebody like that and then strip them down to the bare essentials, you know, to the most primal things, which is survival. And that’s one of the things I really love because normally a film like this would take somebody who’s likable who was on the down and out who you immediately just wanted to succeed and wanted to turn it around. But I have the Scrooge comparison is awesome. But seeing that sort of element that Scrooge sort of story of you’re taking this, like total POS human like just a piece of crap. Yeah. And then watching him go through the wringer. And what comes up at the end? Just kind of a bonkers ending.
GEMMA Honestly, what about you Slim? I get the feeling you’re a Michael Douglas fan.
SLIM Yeah, I didn’t realize it really until this watch. But I love that like Michael Douglas in a suit. Like that. This era literally is this era of Michael Douglas in his suit, you could probably rattle off 30 movies now in 10 years where he’s wearing a suit like Basic Instinct. I think I watched maybe like two years ago for the first time as an adult and I love that. I love capitalism. I still haven’t seen that. Oh, my God. Scandal. Scandal. scandalous. There’s a 4k steelbook that I had my eye on an eBay waiting for.
RYAN You’re gonna see that one pop up on my Letterboxd soon now. I need to I need to check that box.
GEMMA Because boiling Bunny was the original meme. Ryan Yeah, God,
SLIM Wall Street, Fatal Attraction. Yeah, like, I mean, Black Rain was one that I watched for the first time couple years ago that I had a great time with. A Perfect Murder, oh my god, Disclosure. Good heavens. That was I the murder to being talked about when I was a kid. And that was like the most X rated thing you could ever hear someone talk about a man he had quite a run. And I think me looking back on it. I think it is somewhat of a fascination that that this actor at that time could be so successful at playing such a character. You know, like, would this ever happen now? Like a like Andrew Garfield just playing a rich asshole for five movies in a row that gets mixed up into hygiene. Like, I feel like maybe though wouldn’t be as successful as back then. It wouldn’t fly today. So I think that’s also a little bit of why I’m so fascinated, because this probably will never happen again. Yeah, or maybe not for another 50 years or 70 years or whatever. So it’s, it’s enjoyable for me to look back on it, and experience these movies with a great actor.
GEMMA And also the rich asshole high jinks genre these days is Triangle of Sadness. You know, it’s Russian oligarchs selling shit. And kind of weird international capers. It’s quite different. You’re right. I don’t know if we’ll ever see him again.
SLIM But you’re reading about in the newspapers, people don’t want to see it. I don’t want to pay $20 to see what I could read the newspaper every day. But you get what I mean.
GEMMA I will say that The Game has given me one of my favorite venture scenes of all time. And that’s when Michael Douglas breaks back into his own mansion in the dead of night. And there are black lights all over the place. And the place has been graffitied with neon. It’s amazing. And they’re playing Jefferson airplanes White Rabbit. And it’s just such a good saying wow, visually, the audio of it all. Everything’s amazing. Yeah, but that also maybe brings us speaking of white rabbit and red pills and blue pills. To our final film of your four favorites and full circle back to our dear sweet Keanu. We have arrived at The Matrix. Lilian Lana which ASCII is first of The Matrix movies. Oh my gosh. 4.2 average. See, the people know still a bit low.
RYAN I feel like way by the way, that was a hell of a segue into The Matrix.
GEMMA Thank you. Thank you. I may have prepared it earlier. synopsis who needs it everyone’s seen it yeah story of a computer hacker who s a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth and all look like Hugo Weaving. Let’s get into it. Jack’s backs we need to check facts and the first fact objects facts is that this is The Matrix. Third time on the litter box show four Favorites will not stop this film. It has dropped out of since the last time we discussed it, it’s just dropped out of the Letterboxd top 250.
GEMMA Unbelievable take Letterboxd down there. It is obviously the top which ASCII film, obviously the highest rated film The Matrix series. And it is the number one film by a or two trends directors. And it’s also in our million watched Club, which is the films or litter box that have been logged a million times. Wow. So here we are, we arrive for the third time at The Matrix, what fresh knowledge what fresh reckons, can you bring us right?
RYAN I guess this is actually the only one on my list that I have a vivid memory of my first watch. I saw this one in theaters, the marketing was really well done to where no one really knew what the movie was. And I guess, you know, the stories you hear from the behind the scenes and everything is that the studio didn’t really know what they were making, either. They were just like, Okay, we trust you. And that was very much the marketing was like, I don’t know what this is. This looks bonkers. And so when we went to, you know, the theater to see it, I was with a whole group of friends. And just the first bit was like, What the hell am I watching? It’s like, you have no idea, that first scene with Trinity and the moment that they just wrapped around her was the first time since Jurassic Park that I sat watching a film, and my jaw dropped because I had no clue how I just saw what I just saw like that and Jurassic Park or two of those. But this one at least I was much older now. Right? Like I was 17 or 18. I don’t know I can’t math. And and, you know, so I was much older and able to, you know, actually think about and understand what was possible in film that I’ve seen to this point. So seeing something that was just like revolutionary and even while watching it. I even thinking like this is this is gonna change things like this is we’re in a whole new playground now, like films are, are changed at this point on period. And they were and then you know that she gets sucked into the phone and you’re like, What the hell. And then the moment he wakes up in that chamber, you still don’t 100% know what’s going on. But you’re like, This is so bonkers. And I’m so in, and the music they chose for it. Once again, this has like a texture similar to the game. It’s very different texture and very, very much celebrating anime and pulling a billion anime references, which, I mean, it’s basically Ghost in the Shell, which they weren’t quiet about. They did that was their intention they did on purpose. But it was just all of those. And I leaving the theater and everybody just being like, what, and a few of us. You know, most of us were just like, knocked out on the floor. Like, are we gonna watch it right now again? Are we just buying tickets and going again, and there were a couple that were so bewildered that they’re like, I don’t think I think I hated it. I think I hate it. And it took them like another watch to come around and be like, Okay, I Okay, I did love it. It is so unique on so many levels. But interestingly, because it stood on the shoulders of things that came before it in a different medium to some extent, you know, things that hadn’t been pulled into the live action that hadn’t been showed into a mate to show to a mainstream audience like that, you know, I wasn’t really huge into anime at the time, so that visual language was was pretty new to me as well. So it was like, so fresh on so many levels, you know, outside of even the obvious the visual effects, but just their approach to a sequence and how to build out a sequence and show a sequence again, building on the backs of the enemies they loved. But you’d never seen it like that before. There’s only a handful of movies that have done that.
GEMMA I mean, how could we be surprised? The cinematographer is Bill Pope, who also did the other great ’90s classic, Clueless.
RYAN That’s a great film.
GEMMA And also Edgar Wright’s films and also some Sam Raimi and also Yeah, he did Darkman. He did Darkman.
SLIM Darkman.
GEMMA I got man.
SLIM I think I was sixteen when this came out. And one of the things that have jogged my memory is there’s a lot of like this movie, you’re right changed everything where it’s The point where I movies that came after that were like obviously The Matrix versus ever than than yes the number one thing that oh my god the poster I feel like is burned into my brain but Equilibrium to with Christian Bale and Taye Diggs when they were like using guns like swords very strange movie, but that one was obviously like connected to The Matrix. And so my my favorite memories as a kid from The Matrix is really following the sequels because at that time, there was nothing like this for people like our age at the at the time because like Superman and Batman had come out where this was like, I think I wrote my I was like, this was like my MCU kickoff almost, which is because like, whoa, The Matrix two is coming out like and then I was the one watching Entertainment Tonight to see what I could get from the behind the scenes stuff. And they felt they filmed the movies at the same time, like what and that movie like famously went over budget and they had like so many, like, I think special effects studios tagging to try to just finish the movie. So those are some of my visceral memories of The Matrix was falling that franchise in a way that I don’t ever falling something like that before, because it it was so special and nothing had ever been done before it you’re almost expecting that in the sequels which, you know, maybe worked against it, really in a way.
GEMMA I love how much people loved The Matrix. Ender’s was Oh, God.
RYAN Oh, no mother. Damn all over again, another bad review incoming.
GEMMA Absolutely not. No bad review and coming just not a big rewatched priority for me. Just you know, I don’t know what it is. I love it. It’s interesting. I, one of the very best things about letterboxed for me is reading The Matrix reviews every time this film comes on, and reading even recent ones and seeing just how much and how meaningful this film and its themes are for people along the lines of body dysmorphia, and acceptance along the lines of these current fucking times and how crazy it is that a 1999 movie can still speak. So clearly, what the heck is going on now, like we need Neo to come in and save Twitter. Twitter is it’s basically at the moment of Hugo Weaving in an Elon Musk form. It’s just it’s, I don’t know what it is. I think that that for me, it’s less about the art of it, although I 100% Recognize and appreciate that it changed action films. Yeah, forever, and so much more about the themes and what they continue to mean to people. And I hate to keep banging on about tar. But it’s just, to me, an amazing film is one that keeps revealing itself over time. And as generations shift and as current affairs change, and that’s that’s so there’s nothing bad. There’s 100% You can rest easy. I’m allowed to stay on the show. We can still be friends in real life. I do notice because Ryan I look at you know what you’ve been watching lately and, and like you I have also watched The Bad Guys four times with my child.
RYAN It’s a good movie, but it’s like, I don’t want to watch The Bad Guys. Guys, please. I was almost relieved to watch [The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl] because at least we hadn’t watched it yet.
GEMMA I mean, we could go on about the matrix but I feel like now is the time to dive into what we call your your letterbox debts. You are a patron member you do have stats we get to do a fun thing where we look at what you’ve rated higher than the letterbox average except that we’ve come up against a bit of a brick wall. Ryan because there is only one film in that section. And at first I was like, What the hell is going on? Jurassic Park is only rated 4.1 by letterbox when clearly it should be rated five go to Ryan Connolly is perfect movie bat. Have you rated any other film?
RYAN I don’t. I don’t. I don’t. Like you know, I like seeing other people’s ratings and I have nothing against ratings but uh, you know, as a filmmaker or aspiring filmmaker, it’s just the idea of adding an arbitrary star system to somebody else’s work when I know what that work entails. Like people say things like lazy writing, and I’m like you’ve never written a script. There’s no such thing like maybe you could say that about the worst possible movies that are so derivative that I out. But other than that even bad movies were really damn hard to make and there was somebody who thought it was going to be great and it’s somebody’s favorite movie. You know? There’s movies that I won’t name that I personally hate and finger trash but I don’t say them even on our show because we use
GEMMA sorry I made it I made it
RYAN which I let you know I love hearing people talk about that stuff. But just for for what I do, I just don’t like To to, to talk about that because also my opinions shift to so it’s like I something I would have rated, you know, like a two and a half and then I rewatched it. I don’t know what I would have rated, rated it but didn’t even lose Enemy the first time I saw it. I didn’t get it. And I was like, Okay, I mean, that was fine like that. And then I rewatched it and I was like, damn it. Yep, that was kind of brilliant. That was the man doesn’t miss, you know, so you have that or films that I was like, God, that was so good. But then you watch it again later. And you’re like, Oh, it was a rock concert. You know, you saw the band live, you’re like, they’re amazing. I’m gonna get their CD and then you get me like, not so great, actually, you know? So you know, it’s it’s also like telling that way so for me it’s like I hearted if it was for me, I don’t if it wasn’t for me. And that’s kind of where where I leave? Was it for me? Or was it not? And I kind of look at film for me personally, again, totally. Nothing. I don’t see anything wrong with people doing so I like seeing people stars. That actually is what helps me choose if I’m going to watch something or not with my friends when I’m choosing my movie. Like, oh, he gave it a two. I’ll on it. I’ll wait till later. I’ll watch this one instead.
GEMMA It’s slim, slim. I’m really sorry to report this. Now that we know what Ryan system is. I’ve gone through to see what he’s hated. And what he hasn’t tried to turn the tables. No, I’m sorry to say he has not smashed the heart for Halloween Ends.
RYAN I did not. I did not smash. It wasn’t for me. I’m cutting. I’m cutting him off. You know, it’s an interesting thing too. Because, like for me, letterboxes is like a diary that everybody can look at, you know, it’s even the film diary is what you guys call it. But it’s just, you know, most of the time I’m watching movies late at night. So I watch like, especially lately, I watch a lot of like, Blockbuster type movies, because I’m tired. And I don’t want to watch the challenging films. When I’m tired. I want to be sitting down I want to be prepared for it. I want to like really ingest it. So I ended up watching like Oblivion for the ADF time.
SLIM Because I’m like back in my good graces again, back with some Tom Cruise on the topic of filmmaking. I was listening to Jay Lipman’s pod who did an interview with you and you had this great quote that I’d love to hear more on. And I feel like it connects with anyone who makes anything, because I think about this a lot. And it was about you not getting comfortable when creating and because as soon as you do, you don’t want to get up. So you get yourself uncomfortable with creating in any any really anything you can think about trying to stretch your legs. So I’d love to hear you talk more about that and how that drives you creatively. And on to the next thing.
RYAN Yeah, I mean, that’s been kind of my life motto really, like, you know, I own my own company, and we make the things we make. And even with that stuff, anything that felt easy, I just want to do it. Because you know, if it feels easy, and you feel I can just, you know, the only stuff that I’ve made where I’m like, is this stuff where it was paint by numbers, and I Oh, I know, I know exactly how to make this, I’m just gonna go and do it. And, and I quickly realized, like, no, I need to be like, agonizing, not in a bad way. Like, you know, not in like, it’s not like whiplash where my knuckles are bleeding because I’m making a film or anything like that. But it’s, I’ve even said it about like my DPS, like the DPS that I’ve worked with, you know, like Chase Smith, for instance, when we did we I did BALLiSTIC with him. And I did another short film that I directed called*There Comes a Knocking*. And it’s being on set and keeping the right temperament. And you know, you want a really good environment, you want a family environment, you want everybody to feel heard and seen and safe. And it’s nobody’s freaking out or yelling or whatever. It’s a quiet, internal, like, Oh, God, I need another minute with this, you know, you’re not freaking out on anybody. You’re not taking it out on anybody. But I want to be able to talk to my DP and like, Okay, we’re ready to go, you’re ready to go, we’re, we got to shoot, you’re ready to shoot and be like, I’m just, just Can I please? One more minute, please. One more minute, you know what I mean? That’s what I want. Like, I want you in the trenches with me stressing over every detail. Every shot, everything’s difficult, you know, and not in a toxic negative way. But in the right way, like when you go to the gym and you’re working out, you don’t lift what’s so easy that you can do 100 of them. No, you’re putting more weight on the barbell and then more, but you don’t do so much that it crushes you, you know, you got to be smart about it. It really just boils down to I think it is so hard. I am so uncomfortable. Because it matters that much to me. And I think that’s when you’re going to make something that you know, maybe, you know, when I make my first feature, maybe it’s not even successful, maybe it gets bad scores, you know, maybe Rotten Tomatoes says it’s total garbage. But there’s going to be someone that it matters to you know, there’s going to be someone who gets where I was coming from, and it’s going to mean something to them. Like some films have meant to me that other people don’t like you know, and you know, Film Riot definitely taught me that as well as Actually, in the early days, we’ve been doing this in 2009. And, and in the early days, it was very much like stupid humor and you know, dark humor and, you know, borderline fart jokes, you know, so it wasn’t like this deep thing of any kind
GEMMA date there is there is nothing like a fat joke.
RYAN A good and delivered one.
GEMMA Oh, yes. It is the best thing about Spielberg’s The BFG. Oh, yeah. Fine. Even Spielberg knows when to drop a decent.
SLIM Now you’re that’s the I respect that you combine a fart jag with the Dutch angle.
RYAN That’s five stars on letterboxd right there.
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GEMMA Our guest today was filmmaker and YouTuber Ryan Connolly. You can watch this short, BALLiSTIC on Vimeo and YouTube. The links for that and all the reviews and lists we’ve mentioned are in our show notes along with Ryan’s Letterboxd profile and mine and Slim’s should you want to follow us. Speaking of following, The Letterboxd Show is followed each week by our other podcast Weekend Watchlist. Mitchell Mia and Slim explore the latest releases in theaters and on streaming, shuffle their own watchlists and bang on about personal faves like [Marcel the Shell with Shoes On] and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. Trust me, it’s a must listen.
SLIM Thank you so much, Gemma. Thanks to our crew: Jack for the facts, Brian Formo for booking and looking after our guests, Sophie Shin for the episode transcript, Samm for the art and myself for editing the show. And to Moniker for the theme music. You can always drop us a line at .
GEMMA The Letterboxd Show is a Tapedeck production and you don’t know anything about society, Slim, you don’t have the satisfaction of avoiding it.
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