My Favorite Movie is...

What does it mean for a movie to have integrity? It’s an interesting question because, before the conversation you are about to hear today, you likely have never heard that word used to describe a movie before. Maybe you've heard it used to describe characters in a movie, or filmmakers themselves, but never extrapolated to all facets of a movie, and especially not things like production and sound design or extras in the background. But that’s how Alex Calleros, Senior Video Editor at BioWare and co-host of the film podcast Beyond The Screenplay, describes his all-time favorite movie, Children of Men: a movie with integrity in all aspects of its filmmaking. How exactly can we see this in every facet of filmmaking, and where can find in every nook and cranny of Alfonso Cuaron’s sci-fi masterwork?

How do we conquer our fear of the unknown? We’ve discussed a number of horror films on this show and, at the end of the day, almost all of their scariest elements come down to fear of the unknown. Cannibal families, demonic cults, seeing dead people, they’re all really bizarre and frightening because of it. But sometimes, even things closer to home can be just as elusive. Say, something we share our oceans with? Spielberg understood this when he ignited his career with Jaws, one of cinema’s first ever blockbusters, but there’s more to it than just fear. In fact, according to today’s guest, it’s a movie about facing your fear. Taylor D. Adams is a fellow storyteller and podcaster who hosts the Film Nuts Podcast, where he talks to artists of all backgrounds and concentrations about their favorite movies and television shows. Today, the turns have tabled, and now he will be talking about his favorite movie, Jaws, and how it taught him, and can teach us, the key to conquering our fear of the unknown.

Mars Attacks!, Prometheus, and...Mouse Hunt?? All of this and more on this week's edition of the "My Favorite Movie is..." Bonus Round!

It's the Fourth of July! And yet, it doesn't quite feel like a time to celebrate. Regardless of wherever you stand on whatever issue, our country is just in a really weird place, more divided and isolated than ever. So it might sound weird to suggest that an antidote to all of these feelings might just be...Independence Day. No, I'm not talking about the holiday this time. I'm talking about Roland Emerick's 1996 landmark blockbuster. The movie is certainly patriotic, but more in a 1996 kind of way, rather than a 2022 kind of way. It was pre-9/11 after all, and that often makes the film feel more like an oddity or a time capsule than a modern masterpiece. But I recently heard a perspective that had me reconsidering all of that, courtesy of podcaster and educator, Marlin Wilford. He is the host of his own solo podcast, Marlin's Corner, as well as one of the co-hosts on the roundtable podcast, Geek Force. Both shows focus on pop culture, media, and politics through a POC lens. When Marlin explained his take on sci-fi and aliens and Independence Day, I was floored. It was inspiring to hear that even a movie as massive and as 90s as Independence Day could still speak to the current cultural moment and imbue it with hope. He completely reshaped the way I saw this movie and by the end of this episode, it's gonna do the same for you.

Very few filmmakers can honestly, and accurately, portray the plight of very young children on screen. But one of those filmmakers has always been M. Night Shyamalan. Despite his divisive reputation, he has often featured young characters at the heart of his stories while always maintaining a sensitivity in how he has them interact with the horror and thriller elements of his movies. This all started from the jump with The Sixth Sense, M. Night's directorial debut. His fall from grace has shrouded this movie in the past, but its honest portrayal of childhood, not to mention its iconic twist, keeps it just as memorable as it was over twenty years ago. But how does M. Night place someone so young at the center of something so tragic without turning them into a martyr? Why is he still one of the only filmmakers who can take such a vulnerable age group and treat them with such respect and dignity? To answer this, I brought in a Sixth Sense superfan and a horror lover through and through: Anna Chazelle. She is an incredibly talented triple threat--an actor, writer, and director--whose directorial debut, Narrow, proved that she knows what goes into making an effective psychological horror story. Today, she's going to share with us her insight into how the The Sixth Sense's central relationship, gripping performances, and terrifying ghosts make for one of cinema's most effective stories on childhood trauma.

Volunteering with the youth, The Tragedy of Macbeth, and acting with tennis balls. All of this and more on this week's edition of the "My Favorite Movie is..." Bonus Round!

Have you ever heard the phrase "they just don’t make ‘em like they used to?" I'm sure you have. Maybe you've even caught yourself saying it once or twice. There are certain creative mindsets that have been abandoned by studios in the franchise era that we’re living through right now. Back in the 80s and 90s, visionary filmmakers were taking bold story ideas that, on paper, sounded a little bizarre but, in execution, became all-time classics. Nobody did this kind of film better than Steven Spielberg, and one film proves it more than any other--Jurassic Park. There are plenty of reasons why the film was so successful but, when you break it all down, there’s really only one. And in today's episode, accomplished screenwriter, author, and podcaster, Tricia Aurand, is going to share that one key reason. It uncovers exactly why Jurassic Park remains one of the greatest films of all time and how maybe…just maybe…we can start making them like we used to.

Purple lightsabers, R2D2 bleep-bloops, and finally realizing what "Binary Sunset" means. All of this and more on this week's edition of the "My Favorite Movie is..." Bonus Round!

Star Wars. Just those two words evoke so much in so many of us: distant planets, unforgettable characters, and a battle of good versus evil spanning generations. But it's important to remember where it all began–with a young snarky farm boy from a desert planet who was destined to save the entire gallery. The original Star Wars remains to this day a very simple and accessible story. But it's also pretty damn complex, and for all that has already been said about it, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what that complexity is. So what is it? And how can a movie be simple and complex at the same time? Michael Tucker, the creator and voice behind Lessons From The Screenplay and Beyond The Screenplay, is here to crack the code on how the first installment in pop culture's most beloved space opera is actually simpler and more complex than you remember.

F*cked up families, No Children of Old Men, and the ending of Hereditary you didn't get to see. All of this and more on this week's edition of the "My Favorite Movie is..." Bonus Round!

Any passionate movie fan will tell you that deciding your all-time favorite movie is a painstaking process. But what happens when somebody's favorite movie isn't their favorite by choice?

Letters of Transit NFTs, scumbag Louis, and sharing Casablanca with Tom Hanks. All of this and more on our first official edition of the "My Favorite Movie is..." Bonus Round.

Casablanca is considered by many to be one of the greatest films of all time. There's very little that anybody could say that hasn't already been said. But what if I told you that I found the exception to that rule?

My Favorite Movie is... RETURNS on Sunday, April 17th with WEEKLY uploads wherever you get your podcasts.

We may be on hiatus until the Spring, but you can connect with me and our community of fellow filmmakers, storytellers, and film fans on Discord!

Back To The Future Parts II and III often sit in the shadow of their predecessor. But there are plenty of fresh, new story ideas that only deepen and reaffirm the themes, characters, and relationships of its predecessor. They may just be two of the greatest sequels of all time. On our season finale, and our second ever double header, host Larry Fried joins screenwriter and TikTok creator Steven Reyes, and filmmaker-EB Indie Film Festival co-founder Kevin Lin to give these films due justice. From the iconic interpretation of 2015, to the charming recreation of 1885, we break down everything that works in these hilarious, these movies can teach us a lot about what makes a great sequel.

What the heck is a Daisies? You may have never heard of this film from the Czech New Wave, but it was a monumental exploration of female friendships, paving the way for modern classics like Lady Bird and Booksmart! Actress and filmmaker Anna Dale Robinson joins Larry on the show this week, diving deep into the complex female friendship at the center of Věra Chytilová's 1966 surrealist comedy masterwork.

Not really, but they're both reeeeeeeeally good! Best Summer Ever director Michael Parks Randa and star Shannon DeVido team up for our first ever "My Favorite Movie is..." double header! Michael covers Easy Rider, featuring his all-time favorite song in its killer soundtrack, along with one of his all-time favorite performances from a young Jack Nicholson. Then, Shannon talks Best in Show, how the cast inspired her to be a comedian, and her undying love for small dogs and Eugene Levy.

The beloved cult classic Scott Pilgrim vs. The World seems to have a problematic reputation. After all, its characters...kinda suck. But that's what makes them great. Scott Niswander of the YouTube video essay channel "NerdSync" sits down with Larry to explain how the film's flawed characters and strong themes unlock a profound depth to one of cinema's most entertaining comic book romps. We also discuss how the film creates its own unique cinematic language in bringing its source materials' panels to the big screen.

Happy Halloween! Despite being made in the 70s, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has as much to say about society today, all while utilizing every tool at its disposal to make an effective horror movie. Often imitated but never duplicated, Tobe Hooper's slasher film features stunning cinematography, chilling performances, and several subtle motifs and messages, all of which are discussed in this special, spooky episode. Join Larry and his guest, comedian Christopher Michael, as they recount all of the reasons why TCM remains as chilling as ever.

This October, we're dedicating episodes of "My Favorite Movie is..." to movies that scare us, and horror and surrealist photographer Alice Guzman is scared of Lou Bloom. He may not be your traditional horror movie monster, but his sunken eyes, lanky body, and cutthroat stare provide the same effect, if not moreso. Alice joins Larry to gush over Dan Gilroy's chilling suspense-thriller Nightcrawler and Gyllenhaal's masterful performance at its center.

We broke the first rule of Fight Club. Unlikable protagonists are all the rage nowadays, but very few films understand the balance between condemning their actions while still presenting a compelling conflict. Tyler Durden shines a prime example of how to do it right. Co-host of the "Beyond the Screenplay" podcast Brian Bitner joins Larry to break down common misconceptions on Fight Club's characters, the film's unique use of CGI, and how such an iconic twist still works even decades later.

There goes Tokyo!! As the Godzilla franchise has stepped back into the spotlight, some people have complained that there's too many humans and not enough monsters. But YouTube game reviewer and well of Tokusatsu knowledge Asai Nero Tran knows that strong human characters are the key to what makes this franchise shine. From the origins of Tokusatsu to the King of the Monsters' cultural footprint, Asai's deep knowledge of the seminal 1954 kaiju classic is on full display as we dive into the grounded, nuanced drama that may surprise casual fans of the franchise.

TikTok and YouTube comedian Katie Siegel rewatches her favorite movies constantly, none more than the 2005 film adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, directed by Joe Wright and starring Keira Knightley. Through Katie's oddly extensive knowledge of the film's director's commentary, both her and Larry go deep into the film's production and casting to uncover the craft behind one of film's most warm and romantic period dramas.

Everybody loves Back To The Future, but there's more to Robert Zemeckis' iconic comedy than its stellar reputation. Video essayist and writer Max Marriner believes that this seminal time-travel story is all about blazing your own trails and not letting destiny define you. How does the film inspire such empowering ideas? And how does the film's exaggerated, cartoon sensibilities add to this emotional sincerity? Join host Larry Fried as he listens to Max's passionate perspective, which will have any BTTF fan rediscovering an already beloved classic.

Hello and welcome to My Favorite Movie is..., the podcast about why we love our favorite movies! Each and every week, creator and host Larry Fried sits down with a new guest for a fun and insightful conversation about their all-time favorite movie (or whatever comes closest) and why it resonates with them. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mfmipodcast/support (https://anchor.fm/mfmipodcast/support)