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Five Favorite Films

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Five Favorite Films with Tavi Gevinson (10 comments)

by Luke Goodsell on Tuesday, Oct. 15 2013, 03:54 PM

It's hardly unusual for teenagers to catalog their obsessions on the Internet, but few of them manage to transform their personal blogs into buzzy digital superstardom -- which is exactly what happened to Tavi Gevinson. The precocious pop fan was all of 12 when her blog, Style Rookie, captured the attention of the cultural tastemakers, with the adolescent Gevinson feted by the fashion world and becoming the unofficial pin-up girl for eccentric teen girls everywhere. The site soon became a mini-phenomena that gave birth to Rookie, her hugely-popular online magazine written by teenage girls (and plenty of celebrity guests) for teenage girls. Now 17, Gevinson recently made her acting debut opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini in Nicole Holofcener's critically-acclaimed Enough Said, and with the film still playing strongly in theaters, we had a chance to talk to her about her favorite movies and her thoughts on contemporary teen roles.

Five Favorite Films with Dario Argento (29 comments)

by Luke Goodsell on Friday, Oct. 11 2013, 03:02 PM

Dario Argento needs little introduction to horror movie fans. The former movie critic got his start collaborating on screenplays like Sergio Leone's towering Once Upon a Time in the West be,fore launching his career in the 1970s with a string of giallo hits like The Bird With the Crystal Plumage, The Cat o' Nine Tails and Deep Red, then crafting such cult horror classics as 1977's Suspiria -- a supernatural one-of-a-kind that cemented Argento's reputation and brought his avant garde soundtrack composers Goblin to enduring attention. In the years since Argento has followed his own particular path, working with George Romero on Dawn of the Dead, introducing the world to Jennifer Connelly in Phenomena, and directing daughter Asia, herself a writer-director, in many of his pictures. And while his critical fortunes may have waned, Argento continues to be a revered figure among cinephiles and horror fans alike. With his 3D take on Dracula currently in limited release, we spoke to Argento about his career, film criticism and his favorite movies -- which, faced with the rather daunting challenge, he instead turned into a discussion of his favorite filmmakers.

Five Favorite Films with Adam Scott (30 comments)

by Ryan Fujitani on Tuesday, Oct. 08 2013, 05:00 PM

Adam Scott's star has been rising for a few years now, with notable roles in cult favorite TV shows like Party Down and movies like Step Brothers, among others, but he's probably most recognized for his current role as goofy but charming Ben Wyatt on NBC's comedy hit Parks and Recreation. Last week, Scott's latest starring effort on the big screen, A.C.O.D., opened in select theaters, and he was kind enough to chat with us about the film. First, though, he gave us his Five Favorite Films.

Five Favorite Films with Billy Bob Thornton (48 comments)

by RT Staff on Wednesday, Sep. 11 2013, 01:14 PM

If you're familiar with Billy Bob Thornton's music, acting, directing, and writing, chances are you know that he's also famous for raising eyebrows when it comes to his personal life. When talking to him about his latest film as director, writer, and actor, Jayne Mansfield's Car, my eyebrows were raised not out of shock, but at how much his personal history shapes his work. Taking place in 1969 Alabama, the film evokes a strong sense of time and place that feels like a well-loved, yellowed photograph that sat in Thornton's memory box. Turns out, when I heard his Fave Favorite Films, I realized that might not be far from the truth.

Five Favorite Films with Bret Easton Ellis (72 comments)

by Tim Ryan on Tuesday, Aug. 13 2013, 12:07 PM

Celebrated novelist Bret Easton Ellis is no stranger to Hollywood; two of his best-known tales of glamour and alienation -- Less Than Zero and American Psycho -- have been adapted to the big screen. In his latest cinematic endeavor, Ellis wrote the script for The Canyons, a micro-budgeted thriller starring Lindsay Lohan as a washed-up actress and adult-film star James Deen as a smalltime movie producer who's obsessed with controlling the people around him. In an interview with RT, Ellis discussed his favorite films, as well as his love for 1970s cinema and his fascination with characters whose true nature is elusive.

Five Favorite Films with Amanda Seyfried (50 comments)

by Matt Atchity on Friday, Aug. 09 2013, 02:20 PM

Amanda Seyfried began her career as a young model and daytime soap actress before she caught her big screen break in Mean Girls, the high school comedy penned by Tina Fey. She went on to play supporting roles in films like Nine Lives and Alpha Dog before sharing screen time with legends like Meryl Streep), Vanessa Redgrave, and Glenn Close, among a slew of others. This week, she stars in Lovelace, a biopic of the adult movie star who was exploited and abused by her husband and starred in the famously controversial 1972 film Deep Throat. RT chatted with Seyfried about her preparation for the film and why she's personally drawn to intimate storytelling, but first, she shared her Five Favorite Films.

Five Favorite Films with Elijah Wood (59 comments)

by Kerr Lordygan on Friday, Jun. 28 2013, 04:09 PM

Everybody's favorite Hobbit is back on screen, but Elijah Wood isn't looking to form any fellowships. The star of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and TV's Wilfred -- currently in its third season -- plays serial killer and scalp enthusiast Frank Zito in a fine, first-person perspective remake of the 1980 thriller Maniac. What isn't disturbing, however, is Wood's list of Five Favorite Films, which I had the recent pleasure of collecting from him. Polite and charming, Mr. Wood presented his list after being put on the spot and deliberating acutely.

Five Favorite Films with Joss Whedon (135 comments)

by Grae Drake on Friday, Jun. 14 2013, 04:10 PM

What did you do during your last vacation? Between the production and post-production of The Avengers, Joss Whedon decided to direct an adaptation of the Shakespearian rom-com-dram Much Ado About Nothing. Using a hand-picked cast from nearly every production he has ever been a part of, such as TV shows Dollhouse, Firefly, and Angel to name a few, he invited everyone over to his home, picked up a digital camera and some local cupcakes, and made a film. When we asked him about his Five Favorite Films, their influence on his films added another nuance to his numerous projects.

Five Favorite Films with M. Night Shyamalan (69 comments)

by Grae Drake on Monday, Jun. 03 2013, 12:17 PM

M. Night Shyamalan's latest film, After Earth, is a movie about finding the essence of your power in the face of great adversity. My feelings about my interview with the director seemed similar to those of Jaden Smith as he exited his grounded ship in the film, not knowing what lurked outside, but not having the luxury of letting it stop him, either. Would an interview with M. Night Shyamalan require a decoder ring? An encyclopedia? A tranquilizer dart?

Five Favorite Films with Nick Offerman (25 comments)

by Ryan Fujitani on Thursday, May. 30 2013, 01:02 PM

Nick Offerman's mustachioed visage became a pop culture icon when his character on another NBC sitcom, Parks and Recreation, simply refused to fade quietly into the background as a small, supporting role. The legend of Ron Swanson has grown exponentially since the show's debut in 2009, and he is among the most popular characters -- if not the most popular -- on a hit comedy chock full of popular characters played by grade-A talent. These days, he finds it difficult to dissociate himself from the Ron Swanson mythos, but that doesn't stop him from trying different things, like his latest role in The Kings of Summer. RT spoke with Nick about the film, what it?s like to be pigeonholed as Ron Swanson, and how his love of carpentry helped get him into acting, but first, he gave us his Five Favorite Films.

Five Favorite Films with Megan Mullally (19 comments)

by Ryan Fujitani on Thursday, May. 30 2013, 01:02 PM

Megan Mullally's career doesn't begin and end with television. Her comedic chops are certainly second to none, but her resume runs the gamut from music, live theater, and Broadway musicals to animated programs and, of course, film. Her latest feature role comes in The Kings of Summer, a coming-of-age film about three teens who flee their home lives to build a house in the woods and live off the land. RT spoke with Megan over the phone about her work in the film, her chemistry with husband Nick Offerman, and her musical choices as half of vocal duo Nancy and Beth. Naturally, she also gave us her Five Favorite Films.

Five Favorite Films with Sarah Polley (30 comments)

by Ryan Fujitani on Friday, May. 10 2013, 01:00 PM

Until recently, multi-talented Canadian filmmaker Sarah Polley was probably best known for her early work on the TV series Road to Avonlea and later for roles in films like The Sweet Hereafter, Go, and Zack Snyder's Dawn of the Dead remake. More recently, however, Polley has earned widespread acclaim for her two directorial efforts, 2007's Away from Her and last year's Take This Waltz. Polley continues her impressive work behind the camera this week in Stories We Tell and took some time to chat with RT, but first, she gave us her Five Favorite Films.

RT Interview: Clare Bowen Talks Dead Man's Burden and Nashville (0 comments)

by Kerr Lordygan on Friday, May. 03 2013, 07:00 PM

Australian-born actress/singer Clare Bowen is best known for her sudden rise to stardom as Scarlett O'Connor on television's Nashville with Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere. Now, in Dead Man's Burden, Ms. Bowen plays a different sort of young woman: one with a long-range hunting rifle. Bowen's lead character, Martha Kirkland, is a badass in a smokin' new western.

Five Favorite Films with Dennis Quaid (155 comments)

by RT Staff on Thursday, Apr. 25 2013, 03:12 PM

Dennis Quaid came into his own as one of the astronauts in 1983's The Right Stuff, and has since been one of America's most hard-working, consistent actors, appearing in everything from Innerspace and Wyatt Earp to Far from Heaven and Traffic. (And lest we forget his gallant, if doomed, effort to hold together Movie 43.) This week he plays dad to Zac Efron's rebellious son in Ramin Bahrani's At Any Price. With the film opening in limited release, we had a chance to sit down with Quaid recently and talk about his favorite movies.

Five Favorite Films with Vivica A. Fox (49 comments)

by Tim Ryan on Friday, Apr. 19 2013, 04:34 PM

She survived an alien attack in Independence Day and battled Beatrix Kiddo in Kill Bill. In Home Run (which opens in limited release today), Vivica A. Fox is up against a different kind of adversary. Fox stars as the agent of a hotshot ballplayer (played by Scott Elrod, who had a bit part in Argo in the script-reading scene) whose alcoholism and memories of childhood abuse are threatening to derail his career. In an interview with Rotten Tomatoes, the versatile actress shared her favorite films, as well as her love of sports and the wide variety of parts she's played over the years.

Five Favorite Films with Harmony Korine (73 comments)

by Luke Goodsell on Tuesday, Apr. 02 2013, 09:27 AM

Filmmaker, provocateur, degenerate, genius: Harmony Korine is the writer of Kids and Ken Park, and the director of Gummo, Julien Donkey-Boy, Mister Lonely, Trash Humpers and Spring Breakers -- the latter of which also happens to be, thus far, the best American film of 2013. Here are Mr. Korine's all-time favorite movies.

Five Favorite Films with Kristin Chenoweth (52 comments)

by Tim Ryan on Thursday, Mar. 28 2013, 02:00 PM

Kristin Chenoweth first made a dent in the public consciousness as Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked, a Broadway smash about the early years of the The Wizard of Oz witches. Since then, she's maintained a healthy career in television, and she's even become a staple at awards shows. She next stars in Family Weekend, opening Friday in limited release, and we recently chatted with her about her favorite movies, as well as the differences between working on the stage and screen and why she's drawn to dark comedies.

Five Favorite Films with Derek Cianfrance (49 comments)

by Luke Goodsell on Thursday, Mar. 28 2013, 01:59 PM

Derek Cianfrance's 2010 drama Blue Valentine earned strong reviews and confirmed stars Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling as among the best actors of their generation. For his follow-up, the filmmaker has again enlisted Gosling, together with Bradley Cooper and Eva Mendes, as part of an ambitious, three-part drama on the legacy of troubled fathers and sons. It's called The Place Beyond the Pines, and it opens in select theaters across the country this week. Here, we talk with Cianfrance about his favorite movies.

Five Favorite Films with Antoine Fuqua (97 comments)

by RT Staff on Wednesday, Mar. 20 2013, 02:41 PM

After rising through the ranks of music video auteurs in the 1990s, director Antoine Fuqua has carved out a feature career behind the camera on a series of tough action thrillers, including Brooklyn's Finest, The Replacement Killers and 2001's Training Day -- for which Denzel Washington took home the Best Actor Oscar. This week he's calling the shots on the year's first White House invasion epic Olympus Has Fallen, a sort of Die Hard-in Washington actioner starring Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman and Aaron Eckhart. We caught up with Fuqua recently, where he talked about his five all-time favorite movies.

Five Favorite Films with Warwick Davis (72 comments)

by RT Staff on Wednesday, Mar. 13 2013, 12:11 PM

Since his acting debut at age 13, playing an Ewok in Return of the Jedi, Warwick Davis has gone on to be a part of some of the biggest and best-loved movies of the past 30 years -- including roles in the Harry Potter franchise, the Star Wars prequels and, of course, the mighty Leprechaun saga. He even had his own TV series created for him by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, HBO's Life's Too Short. This week, Davis marks the 25th anniversary of his inaugural leading role, in the George Lucas-produced, Ron Howard-directed fantasy adventure Willow, which arrives on Blu-ray for the first time. We had a chance to chat with Davis recently, where he talked about five of his favorite movies.