Four Favorites with David Ehrlich: Letterboxd popularity, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and the meaning of life

You don’t get to over 125,000 Letterboxd followers without making a few enemies… unless you’re David Ehrlich! IndieWire’s chief film critic joins Slim and Mitchell to discuss mortality across existential masterpieces and Apatow-produced rom-coms. As we make our way through his four favorite films (Ikiru, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters, Titanic) we hit a range of topics including: the pressure of David’s yearly video countdowns, how the canon has changed in “the age of Letterboxd”, stealing your mom’s credit card to buy movies, finding meaning in small and invisible acts, Forgetting Sarah Marshall’s controversial marketing campaign and how it’s more quotable than Casablanca, Paul Schrader’s hot dog stains, Mishima as “the most Schrader” movie, David’s alleged personal connection to Titanic and the meditative quality of the DVD menu. PLUS: Find out which of David’s children is his favorite!

Chapters:

• Opening credits (00:00:00)
• Ikiru (00:07:07)
• Forgetting Sarah Marshall (00:17:10)
• Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (00:27:47)
• Titanic (00:45:00)
• Cannes 2023 talk (00:55:50)
• Closing credits (00:59:58)

Credits: Recorded in Newark DE, Philadelphia PA and Brooklyn NY. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show and Weekend Watchlist are TAPEDECK productions.

Lists & Links:

• List of movies mentioned
• IndieWire’s Greatest Romantic Comedies of All-time
• “Most Fans Per Viewer” Letterboxd list
• “The Masculine Urge To Ruin Your Own Life” by Janice

Reviews mentioned:

• George Carmi & Chris’s Ikiru reviews
• Jake Cole & Joe’s Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters reviews
• Wood’s Titanic review