"Not only my favorite Criterion movie, but also my favorite movie ever. I love it so much that I’m struggling to find words to express how important it is to me. It explores many of Ozu’s most frequently recurring themes but with the humor of his later work and an unequaled degree of empathy for every character’s point of view. It expresses what it was like to be alive in Japan at a very particular moment, but it also captures what it means for anyone, anywhere, to be a human."

"So, actually, 25th Hour is my favorite Spike Lee movie for a whole bunch of reasons irrelevant for our purposes. But there’s no denying the power, the heat, and the energy—the perfection, really—of Do the Right Thing. And the cultural impact of it alone is worth the price of admission. It’s also one of my favorite New York movies. And one of my favorite modern fables. It’s stupid that I’m still typing. I don’t have to sell anyone on Do the Right Thing."

"This movie made me fall even more in love with Ruth Gordon. I think it’s perfect from start to finish. The score is one of the most beautiful. Horror movies are my favorite, especially psychological ones like this one."

"My second one will have to be The Departed — Martin Scorsese movie. Two of my favorite actors going head to head, Leo [DiCaprio] and Matt Damon. I think they’re both brilliant. It’s a fantastic script, so interesting and intricate."