It’s a 2021 Year in Review extravaganza! Hosts Gemma and Slim open the Letterboxd Hotline to experts on the three highest-rated films of the year: Matt Singer (Spider-Man: No Way Home), Juan Barquin (Evangelion 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon a Time) and Bintang Lestada (Yuni)—all of whom take a moment to plead for justice for Barb & Star, woefully ignored in the Letterboxd 2021 Year in Review. Senior editor Mitchell Beaupre and London correspondent Ella Kemp also join for discussion of Year In Review favorites. Topics include: unabashed crowd-pleasers, rethinking Andrew Garfield, how to comfort a hedgehog, movies and mental health, recency bias, the power of stills photographers, the 2021 film that bypasses Slimfluence, an update on Ella’s dating status, feelings as a genre, our love for Mike Mills, the influence of The Beatles on 2021 fashion, Gemma’s favorite George Harrison moments, and how Summer of Soul saved us all.
Links
The Letterboxd list of films mentioned in this episode; Matt Singer’s book on Spider-Man; Bintang’s Substack essay on Yuni; Lists mentioned: Japanese Films That Will Blow Your Mind; GAY HORROR; Reviews mentioned: Matt Singer’s 3.5 star review of No Way Home; Juan’s Evangelion review; Demi’s Bo Burnham: Inside review; Chvrches’ Cruella review; Journal stories on Evangelion, Mike Mills, Emma Seligman; Rachel Sennott’s quarantine dating guide; Ross Bratin; Ella’s previous appearance on the podcast; black-and-white with a splash of color; Newfest, Sundance and TIFF on Letterboxd
Credits
This episode was recorded in Brooklyn, Miami, Jakarta, London, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Auckland, and edited by Slim. Facts by Jack. Booker: Linda Moulton. Transcript by Sophie Shin. Theme: ‘Vampiros Dancoteque’ by Moniker.