"It begins with elegance and, as the story unfolds, reveals the dark, desperate, and very human parts of us. I enjoy films that take place in one setting if done correctly. It allows the audience to focus on the characters that drive the plot without any fancy trickery. Such a fun, mysterious ride."

"My dear friend Joan Juliet Buck has had quite a life — epic adventures in Hollywood, Paris, London, NYC and Ireland! This is her life story about the drive and allure of glamour and appearances, all the way to being the first and only American editor-in-chief of French Vogue, to her complicated relationship with her father (who was producing partners with John Houston and Peter O'Toole)."

"My dad took me to a drive-in to see this when I was eight years old. It was badass then. It’s badass now. The great George V. Higgins contributed a tough but artful new authenticity to American crime writing. David Mamet, among others, owes a lot to Mr. Higgins. And Christ, Mitchum is fantastic."

"And then I’d probably say, to round it out, probably The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. First time going to see that — I remember going to see that. Or Rocky Horror Picture Show, we can make those tied. Finally when I got some wheels and could drive out of town, I would drive for hours and days to go see a movie. I would go to great lengths to see movies. One time I rode my bicycle for seven hours just to see Night of the Living Dead. I did it in the rain, like, “I’m going to see this f—ing movie if it’s the last thing I do!"

"Quick cheat again. I could easily have listed Le cercle rouge, Army of Shadows, Le doulos and Le deuxieme souffle, which are all in the Criterion collection. Melville is probably my favorite director and was a huge influence on the script of Drive. The cinema of process and silent taciturn heroes whose tough-guy exteriors hide lonely, fragile hearts."