"I love the precision, the simplicity and the elegance of Ozu's films. I also love that, even though many of his films are very similar, you never get tired of them. I particularly like the father-daughter relationship in this one - how they are completely devoted to one another."

"Two films that taught me about the complicated and highly delicate balance of tone that some movies must strike in order to succeed. Both films walk a razor’s edge between laugh-out-loud comedy and devastating social critique—and both are peerless in their total command of tone."

"Two films that taught me about the complicated and highly delicate balance of tone that some movies must strike in order to succeed. Both films walk a razor’s edge between laugh-out-loud comedy and devastating social critique—and both are peerless in their total command of tone."

"The truth is, it’s the “five” part [in Five Favorite Films] that’s a joke, you know? I probably have a good 100 favorite movies of all time. I mean, like, my brain is rifling. Am I really not gonna include A Woman Under the Influence? Am I really not gonna include Nashville? Am I really not gonna include Synecdoche, New York? I could do my five favorite films with terrible cinematography. I could do my five favorite films about love affairs."

"What other great films are there? Ah, for God’s sake, There Will Be Blood and No Country For Old Men. I saw those films that year, back to back. Just outstanding work by director, writer, producers, actors. Captivating, both men: Javier Bardem and Daniel Day Lewis — just iconic. Every time he steps on the stage, you know, you can’t take your eyes off the guy. And both films sit on the bookshelf as bookends, really, to that special year of film making."