Mike Birbiglia: My Girlfriend's Boyfriend

The actor praises performances by Holly Hunter and Naomi Watts, reminisces about how Paris, Texas changed her understanding of cinema, and talks about Mike Leigh’s films as works of operatic tension.

The writer and director talks about how Girlfight reflects the vibrant spirit of director Karyn Kusama, praises Topsy-Turvy as his favorite Mike Leigh film, and takes home Hell’s Angels to watch with his wife, Hollywood historian Karina Longworth.

The actor and star of Babygirl expresses his love for the films of Lino Brocka, praises his costar Nicole Kidman’s performance in To Die For, and talks about being influenced by such filmmakers as Mike Leigh and Harmony Korine.

The actor praises films by directors he has worked with, talks about how Mike Leigh’s Naked and Ken Loach’s Kes helped define contemporary British cinema, and thanks his father for his love of Tampopo.

The legendary actor reminiscences about her collaborations with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, recalls a memorable lunch she had with John Cassavetes, and talks about her connection to films by Ingmar Bergman and Mike Leigh.

The director of Oldboy and Decision to Leave talks about the influence of Ingmar Bergman, his complicated feelings about The Makioka Sisters, the way Mike Leigh works with actors, and his admiration for Don Siegel’s films.

Mike Leigh’s Meantime, Ermanno Olmi’s Il posto, and Robert Bresson’s A Man Escaped top the list for the sibling duo behind Good Time and Uncut Gems.

Jan 21, 2022 — When I received the email asking me to work on the cover art for the Criterion Collection edition of Citizen Kane, my emotions quickly went from pure joy to complete dread. What can be done for a film of this...

Nov 4, 2022 — New Senses of Cinema! We’re also reading about John Garfield, Anna Karina, Asghar Farhadi, and Mike Leigh.

Dec 1, 2015 — Critic Todd McCarthy takes an inside look at Michael Ritchie's outdoor drama, which he calls “spare, cut to the bone, as fine as dry powder. Had Hemingway ever written about competitive skiing, this would have been the right style with...