Mikey Madison

“Oh, okay. Down here, Five Easy Pieces. Such a classic. And I really think it’s my favorite Nicholson performance. There’s just something about how he approaches this character, such a morally gray character, yet you’re rooting for him. And I feel like those are often characters that I am drawn to as an actor. You know, nobody’s just, like, good or bad. It’s... That sort of weird space in between that’s really interesting to me.”

“And then, you know, Dennis Hopper, Easy Rider. I actually have this... An art book of all the photos that Dennis Hopper took while making this film, and it is so beautiful. I have it on my coffee table, and it inspires me to want to try to take more photos while I’m making movies to... Capture something special.”

“Oh, okay. Take Out. I mean, this is, obviously, one of Sean Baker’s first films. And as I was getting to know him, he sent me a link to it before it was on Criterion. And it’s fun to see sort of his... One of his first interpretations of New York City, so... Definitely going to take this one.”

“The Piano Teacher. Isabelle Huppert. Man. Has to be– not just in my eyes, but... Worldwide, like, one of the most incredible performances by an actress in, like, the history of cinema. She is so intense and vulnerable, and the scene where she, like, stabs herself in the shoulder with the piece of glass, I think it is, there’s a sound that comes out of her throat. It’s so, like, guttural. I remember watching this and I was like, “I have to... Just, like, go back and see this one more time, because I kind of can’t believe that I just saw this performance.” It’s like– and you imagine, like, with another actress, would they... What would they have brought to the character? But you can only picture Isabelle Huppert in this role.”

“I was attracted to the pink spine. But Gilda, this is a classic film that I haven’t seen, but I’ve seen so many photographs of, and... I mean, Rita Hayworth, obviously one of the most iconic, sexy, talented actresses of that time, and... Yeah, I mean this– I need to see this. It’s kind of unbelievable that I haven’t yet.”

“Okay.! Oh, Eyes Without a– Okay, I was– I was again attracted to the pink spine. But Eyes Without a Face. I haven’t seen this film in forever, but I think it has one of the most beautiful artistic movie posters of all time. Amazing. I need to one day do a Halloween costume that is dedicated to this.”

“Okay, The Kid. Charlie Chaplin. You fall in love with this little boy, and he gives such a beautiful performance, obviously without speaking. And the chemistry that they have together is amazing, really. And I think, if I remember correctly... Yeah, Jackie Coogan. A little bit sad, but that’s why the Coogan Account was created, which is– I had when I was a teenager doing a TV show, but, I guess, essentially his parents, because he was underage, had taken his earnings from all of the films he did as a child actor, and he was left with essentially nothing. And so the Coogan Account is put in place for young performers to have their money put into a separate account that their parents, your parents can’t touch. I mean, it’s due in part to his story, so.”

“I want to find a title that I haven’t seen before, and I’m looking through and there’s so many movies that are foreign to me. Someone suggested closing my eyes and just, like, picking something. So, I’ll do that. Heaven’s Gate. Okay. Wyoming, federal marshal and Isabelle Huppert and Christopher Walken’s in this. Okay. I think I’m gonna like this. I love, love Westerns.”