Gilliam was the only american member of Monty Python (until he renounced his american citizenship in the 60’s). He primarily creating the absurd graphics for the show but eventually became a cast member. His films include - Brazil (shown below w/Gilliam or the right), Time Bandits, 12 Monkeys, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, etc. Love is dark sense of humor and inventiveness.
Paul Thomas Anderson - Writer/Director
I watch Punch Drunk Love every few years and find it only gets better every time, and I’m generally not a fan of Adam Sandler but he is amazingly good in that movie. Other films by Anderson are: Hard Eight, Boogie Nights, The Master, Magnolia, Phantom Thread, etc. His later films (There Will Be Blood, Inherent Vice) seem to be breaking apart the traditional narrative structure (beginning, middle, end or 1st, 2nd, 3rd Act) for stories that instead revolve around characters in time. Read more here by George Toles about Anderson’s evolution as a filmmaker/storyteller.
Saul and Elaine Bass - Title Designers
This husband and wife team pioneered the title sequence in film - working on nearly 50 movies. Here’s a bit of history of the evolution of movie titles.
Ennio Morricone - Composer
Morricone has scored music for more than 400 movies and television shows (e.g., Cinema Paradiso, The Mission, Space 1999, The Hateful Eight, and on and on). He put the sauce on the Spaghetti Western. Listen here to the scoring for Once upon a Time in the West, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly and more.
Thelma Schoonmaker - Film Editor
She’s the magician behind the magician. She’s edited 23 of Martin Scorsese’s films including Raging Bull, Goodfellas and The Departed. Read/watch more about her here.
David Fincher - Filmmaker
Love his dark sense of humor (Fight Club, Seven, Gone Girl, etc.). Check out this excellent 7min. video from Tony Zhou at Every Frame a Painting about what makes Fincher standout.
BILL MURRAY - ACTOR / COMEDIAN / WRITER
Goofy around on the set of The Royal Tenenbaums. Love seeing the moments between takes (and that’s Wes Anderson in the background with hand on head). Some fun Bill Murray stories here.
Coen Brothers - Writers, Producers, Filmmakers
Blood Simple, Raising Arizona, Fargo and on and on. These guys are a power house of cinema with a flare for regional and/or period dialogue and iconically flawed characters. Check out the early investor trailer they made for their first feature film here.
MAYAN THEATER
Built in 1930 and still one of the best places in Denver to see a movie. Check out more here.
WTF - Marc Maron Podcast
I’ve been listening to this podcast for roughly the past 6 years (interviews drop on Mon. & Thurs. mornings). Nearly every conversation Marc has with a guest leaves me feeling like I’ve learned more about a stranger and oddly more about myself. Listen
Note: I fast-forward through the first 10-15mins of monologue & ads
PINA BAUSCH - DANCER / CHOREOGRAPHER
I love the incredible range of dance. See Wim Wender’s dynamic trailer about the work of Pina Bausch.
Spike Jonze - Director
Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Her and on and on. Spike Jonze has directed over 100 movies or videos. Love his vision and energy.
Sofia Coppola - Filmmaker
She had some big shoes to fill - but has really proven she can make great movies.
Alice Guy-Blache
She’s the mother of cinema - check out the trailer for the documentary about her life/career here.
ROMA
best foreign film
