The movie that always makes you cry (or the movie that is your emotional comfort food).
“Secrets and Lies” and “It’s A Wonderful Life.” Interestingly, I cry in both when a character says the title line. What a nifty trick, I need to steal that. “You are nothing but a bunch of dirty Tramps!” Cue the tears. And I believe “It’s A Wonderful Life” is one of the absolute best American films ever made, it’s a bit of a cliche pick for “makes you cry” but it’s so much richer than that.
My emotional comfort food is the TV show “Cheers.” I watch it all the time. I’ve probably watched “Cheers” episodes well over 1000 times. If you’re looking for an entry point, I suggest “Sumner’s Return” from Season 2.
The movie that always freaks you out/makes you scared.
I don’t care for movies that do either so “always” wouldn’t apply. I did see “The Shining” when I was six because a babysitter showed it to me. That freaked me out and I have seen it several times since and while it freaks me out much less now, but it still packs a punch.
The film you’ve rewatched more than any other.
Well, “Gimme the Loot” and “Tramps.” Beyond that I’d say “Empire Strikes Back,” “Barry Lyndon,” “Love and Death,” and “Days of Heaven.”
The movie you love that no one would expect you to love.
“Land of the Lost.” I adore this beautiful and strange and inventive movie. Brad Siberling does a fantastic job, with some seriously great filmmaking, and he brings a unique look and tripped-out, absurd, feel to it. I keep waiting for it to become a cult classic and maybe that starts here. Seriously, after watching “Tramps,” you all should watch this and get with the future. That future being the 2009 film “Land of the Lost.”
The movie that defined your childhood.
I’ll throw a curve and say MTV, which for many people my age was the first place we saw weird, even experimental, filmmaking. My dad worked in the record business so it was always on. I especially remember my fascination from a filmmaking perspective with Peter Gabriel‘s “Sledgehammer.” I became obsessed with how they made it, the actual production of it, and so I feel it was influential in me wanting to be a director. Major respect to Steven Johnson who directed the video as well as the first season of “Pee Wee’s Playhouse,” another impactful piece of storytelling from when I was a kid. He was clearly doing big things.