It is a sad day at LWLies HQ, as Michael Leader, our trusty podcast host for some four years, has decided to hang up his headphones and head to professional pastures new. His avuncular nerdery, his love of heavy rock and online message boards circa 2008, will be greatly missed, plus the fact that, on the show, he was a very hard man to please, seldom if ever awarding a film the coveted five-star treatment. You’ll still be able to hear his dulcet Mancunian tones on his own podcast, Ghibliotheque, and maybe he’ll jump into the T&M studio again as a future guest.
For now, the current order of business is to introduce our new host: the brilliant Leila Latif. Regular listeners will already know the acerbic, knowledgeable and charming Leila, who picked up the slack while Michael was off beavering away on a secret project (more on which you’ll hear about soon). Now, she’s here full time, and will be marshalling the discourse (and no doubt inserting some of her own sharp opinions) in her own inimitable manner.
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And what better way to introduce you to Leila than a movie-themed pop quiz? So, take it away Leila…
1. What was the first film poster you bought and hung on the wall of your bedroom/house?
Attack of the 50ft Woman, a film I am still yet to see.
2. What is your most listened to film soundtrack?
Trainspotting, as a millennial it seemed a legal requirement to own this soundtrack. I still have the urge to run through the streets of Edinburgh when I hear Lust for Life by Iggy Pop.
3. When was the last time you dressed up as a character from a movie, and who/what was it?
My go-to Halloween costume is Annie Hall. No one ever gets it and just assumes I came from work and am slightly rudely wearing a hat indoors.
4. What was the last film you saw in 3D?
Star Trek Into Darkness which I believe was the nadir of the form.
5. Favourite podcast that isn’t T&M?
You Are Good hosted by Sarah Marshall and Alex Steed with a guest each week. It is “a feelings podcast about movies”. I love the idea of just tackling a film based on the way it makes you feel and being freed of the societal expectations of what sorts of stories are worthwhile. When I first started doing film criticism it seemed like there was a right answer I was trying to give with a review and it’s lovely to be reminded that there isn’t.
6. Star Trek or Star Wars?
Star Trek: The Next Generation > Empire Strikes Back > Star Trek Original Series > The Last Jedi > A New Hope > Wrath of Khan > First Contact > Deep Space 9 > Rogue One > The Mandalorian > Star Trek: Voyager > Picard > Star Trek The Motion Picture > Return of the Jedi > The Force Awakens > The Search for Spock > Solo: A Star Wars Story > The Book of Boba Fett >Revenge of The Sith > The Phantom Menace > The Undiscovered Country > The Final Frontier > Attack of The Clones > The Rise of Skywalker > Star Trek (2009) > Star Trek Into Darkness.
7. Favourite Marvel movie?
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-verse and it isn’t close
8. Favourite Murnau movie?
Nosferatu but it is very close
9. Dream movie world interview?
Either Steve McQueen.
10. Film you’d bury in a nuclear holding tank at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean to rid from all humanity?
Louis CK’s I Love You Daddy which is thankfully not far off what happened to it.
11. Film you’d want to be buried with to watch in the afterlife?
Ikiru.
12. A completely meh film which you love for reasons that are wholly personal to you.
Starship Troopers particularly since its desexualised neo-fascist heroes just feel increasingly relevant to the cinematic landscape.
Truth & Movies is a Little White Podcast, with a new episode dropping every Friday morning. Subscribe now through Acast or your podcast provider of choice.
