"Run, Ronnie, Run! From the creators of Mr. Show — David Cross and Bob Odenkirk. It’s another movie full of one-liners. It’s a little more adult than Juno, but to me it’s kind of a mix of Rock Star, Juno, and Totally Awesome. It’s kind of just dumb, funny humor, also kind of a mockumentary about reality shows. Pretty much half of my daily vocabulary is from that movie."

"I think because this film is so much fun and the food in it is so great, it’s easy to miss how brilliant the actual filmmaking is. The more I watch it, the more amazed I am by Itami’s craft and how he created such a hugely varied, multifaceted set of stories that add up to a beautifully cohesive and fluid film that is so incredibly funny, warmhearted, and wise."

"Number two for me is Manhattan, Woody Allen. It’s so real-life. Again, not about any extraordinary things. It’s really true to life and true to psychology. It’s funny. It takes me to Manhattan, which I love New York City. Woody had to be on the list and, for me, he comes in at number two. Also one of the great endings in history. The score, George Gershwin … It’s amazing."

"It’s funny how in the modern era of filmmaking (even in CG animation), we’re so infatuated with achieving a “real” look. Design is often tossed aside in favor of a more “relatable,” grounded aesthetic. It’s refreshing to watch something like Kwaidan (or even Kurosawa’s Dreams), where soundstages are embraced and dramatic, and colorful lighting is boldly employed. This is the way to haunt your audience: long, quiet, surreal moments."

"I just rewatched it a little while ago. With Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet. I thought that was incredible. A love story with, again, layers of intricacy and just figuring out all these little details. It was also the first time I saw Jim Carrey when he wasn’t being funny or doing a comedy, and that really pulled me in. I was like, “Wait what’s this?” I was captivated."

"A perfect black comedy with one of the most underappreciated central performances in film history, by Dennis Price (and a handful of genius ones by Alec Guinness). Truly funny and as dark as sin, this is a film that still feels ahead of its time. The attached “American” ending helps remind us just how annoyingly safe and predictable American tastes can be—did we really need to be reminded?#"

"My favorite movie is Raiders of the Lost Ark. I just think it’s perfect in every way. I find it very moving in parts. I think it’s incredibly exciting; obviously, it’s really funny. You know, it’s been my favorite movie ever since I first saw it when I was nine, I guess it was, and it’s just great. I can’t wait until my wife lets me show it to my son."