Bowen Yang

“One of my favorite movies ever, Female Trouble. But I’m going to go with Multiple Maniacs. I think it’s because John Waters, probably my favorite director ever, someone who really did bring, like, the abject into I would say, not a conceivable way, but in a way that was beautiful and elevated and filmic. Divine in this is amazing. David Lochary is hot. What Divine and Mink Stole do in the church, kind of the most shocking thing I’ve ever seen.”

“All About Eve. I am a gay man after all. Bette Davis – of course, there’s, “Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night,” but the line for me, for some reason, has always been... “As it happens, there are certain aspects of my life to which I want the sole and exclusive rights,” or something. And then Bill says, “For instance, what?” “For instance, you.” And it’s… indelible. It’s burned into my brain.”

“This is a very, very, very underrated Albert Brooks, Real Life. His first film, and… so still ahead of its time. So meta. He’s playing himself, this, like, blowhard Hollywood guy who goes into this town. The way it ends in spectacle. I won’t spoil the ending, but it’s just… it’s kind of a self-destructive moment that ends in artifice in a way that will always be relevant. It’s just really funny. Also he… is really hot in this.”

“I’m gonna do Last Days of Disco. I feel like we don’t talk about this movie enough, especially as it relates to a nightlife movie, which is so hard to pull off. Kate Beckinsale’s really good, so mean in this to a sweet, demure Chloë Sevigny, which I don’t think she gets to play that much, but it is nice to see Chloë Sevigny be shy. Can you imagine?... I realized that’s the point. They’re all yuppies. Whit Stillman, you legend. Come back, come back.”

“I’m going to go with Mystery Train. There’s a laugh that Screamin’ Jay Hawkins does at the front desk that I love. It’s just like a hearty… It’s really good. Steve Buscemi, excellent. You can just put this on any night as you’re, like, winding down, brushing your teeth, washing your face. Have this on in the background. There’s not that much action, but it is just like a mood. I don’t know too much Jarmusch, but I’ve always loved this.”

“I mean, we’re gonna do Paris, Texas. Every shot is a painting. Invented the color red. Robby Müller, who also was the cinematographer for Mystery Train. I don’t know cinematographers and even I know Robby Müller, so just a beautiful, beautiful movie. Wim Wenders. Loves a quiet legend. Perfect Days, I’m talking about you. Yeah, this is a great film.”

“Okay, I’m gonna start off with Jackie Chan, Police Story and Police Story 2. Kind of the first movie star in our household, for obvious reasons, but, like, sort of your classic four-quadrant guy in the Yang household. And they don’t make movies like this anymore. I think superhero movies have, like, unseated these amazing martial-arts movies that could be hilarious. His body is a jack-knife.... He helped push forward the blooper reel at credits, which I always, always want.”

“I am gonna cap off with my Agnès Varda box set. Cléo de 5 à 7.”

“And, of course, my Godzilla book.”