Paul Scheer

“Walker. Everyone knows Repo Man, Repo Man is great, but Alex Cox made this really subversive biopic—not biopic—really about like what America does when they come in and try to take over. It is brilliant, it is meta, it is funny, it is weird, and it just shows how history repeats itself. I didn't know it was in the Criterion closet and I'm going to take it.”

“Another one of my favorite Criterions that I let people borrow all the time: Mikey and Nicky. Elaine May. And I think for people who just know Peter Falk as like Columbo, it will give you a completely different version of him. And of course John Cassavetes. This is a masterful film. And the real thing about this that I love is some of the special features on this are really top-notch. There's a making-of here that I watch all the time just to show you how The Process is going around.”

“All right, let's talk about Two-Lane Blacktop. It is about two characters, the driver and the mechanic, that's all we know about them, and they go around the country racing people for pink slips. What's so interesting about this movie is what it doesn't say. It's one of those movies that once you see it, you'll be thinking about it for a very long time just because it leaves you with this uneasy feeling. It's like looking at a painting. You can watch this and really make your own interpretation.”

“If you're looking for a companion piece, may I recommend Hopscotch? Walter Matthau, like when we're in like sexy Walter Matthau phase or like just cool Walter Matthau. This is a very funny movie. Every now and then I get so excited with Criterion because they kind of elevate things that you don't expect all the time. This is one of those movies like, 'Oh, they have a Criterion of that?' Yes, they do. And why? Because it's worthy of watching. Hopscotch, a successor to The In-Laws in a way.”

“Make Way for Tomorrow. Leo McCarey is known for directing everyone from WC Fields to the Marx Brothers. He actually won the Academy Award for best film—I can't remember what film it was—but just trust me that when he won it he said, 'Oh, you actually gave it to me for the wrong film. This is the film you should have given it to me for.' This is a story about A Man and a Woman who have no money, no place to go, and bad decisions are made. It is one that I agree with him.”

“All right, my final pick. Sometimes I'm surprised at the films that I don't know. Right here, right where I'm standing, I see one of those films. I'm going to admit it to you right now and I'm going to take it: Klute. I haven't seen it. I am lucky to say I am friends with Jane Fonda and I've not seen Klute. How could I not do this? But I've only heard amazing things about Klute, and so this I'm just taking on full blind faith that this is going to be amazing. I got it, I got to do it.”