"I am a big fan of work in any medium that can take on death — being dead, being a soul — in a new way. It shares something with my favorite aspects of George Saunders in its matter of fact dealings with what might be considered supernatural."

"When I was seventeen, I dressed like John Lurie and Tom Waits in Down by Law. They were the apex of cool in my book. This is my favorite Jim Jarmusch movie. The “I scream. You scream. We all scream for ice cream” scene is classic."

"This is perhaps my favorite movie in the entire world, and I have seen it so many times that I have it memorized. It is swooningly romantic, extremely funny, and beautifully shot; and, not for nothing, there’s a surplus of very welcome full-frontal male nudity."

"This is definitely the most interesting take on the vampire genre I’ve ever seen. It’s such a beautiful film and has so many amazing images in it. Definitely my favorite thing Guillermo del Toro has done so far. Nice and disturbing, just the way I like it."

"This is one of my favorite films of the nineties. It’s unique and mesmerizing, a highly ambiguous horror film. It’s been a while since I’ve watched it, but I remember the cool tone and Julianne Moore’s haunted bewilderment as she seeks help and looks for safety."

"I saw this when I was fourteen. Saga the tomboy is one of my favorite characters. Falling in love with boys while wanting to be like them is how I spent my childhood, and the 1950s sports clothes dictated what I wore for the next ten years."

"Humboldt is another hero of mine: exuberant, impulsive, world-embracing. He was a favorite of Darwin’s too—Darwin took this narrative with him on the Beagle, and as he read it, his feeling for Humboldt intensified: ‘Formerly I admired him,’ he wrote. ‘Now I almost adore him.'"

"Five, My Cousin Vinny. I think My Cousin Vinny is one of the funniest movies of all time. Joe Pesci is one of my favorite actors and I think it’s just brilliant. Aunt May is in that movie and I love her to death — Marisa Tomei."