Podcast Summary: From Cannonball: What NYT’s Top 100 Movies Missed

Release Date: August 2, 2025

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Interview
• Host/Author: The New York Times
• Description: Conversations with the world’s most fascinating people. Each week, hosts David Marchese and Lulu Garcia-Navarro engage with influential figures across various fields to illuminate their backgrounds, motivations, and impacts.

Episode Overview: In this episode of Cannonball, hosted by Wesley Morris, he sits down with Eric Hines, the Director of Film Curation and Programming at the Jacob Burns Film Center. Together, they delve deep into the New York Times' recent list of the 100 greatest movies of the 21st century, exploring both the creators' perspectives and the readers' opinions.

1. Introduction to the New Top 100 Movies List

[04:15] Wesley Morris introduces the New York Times' newly released list of the top 100 movies of the 21st century, which was curated by over 500 industry professionals, including actors, writers, producers, directors, and more. The list was unveiled in batches over five days, culminating with Parasite securing the top spot.

Notable Quote:

“This one. Well, I'm calling it lunch. But really I ate it like I was at a repast. Because every day I'd get my new helping of movies and I'd shed a Tiny tear.”
— Wesley Morris [02:30]

2. Makers’ Poll vs. Readers’ Poll

Wesley discusses the subsequent release of a second poll involving over 200,000 readers, surpassing even some election participations. Interestingly, the readers' list mirrored the makers' list closely, with Parasite also reigning supreme among the general audience.

Notable Quote:

“But that isn't really the case... Still impressive either way.”
— Eric Hines [13:04]

3. Representation and Diversity Concerns

A significant portion of their conversation centers around the lack of diversity in the list. Wesley points out that out of the top 100 movies, only a fraction feature works by women, black men, or Asian American women, highlighting a considerable gap in representation.

Notable Quote:

“33% of this movie is...like six directors.”
— Wesley Morris [15:28]

4. Highlights of the Makers’ Top 10 Movies

Wesley and Eric review the top 10 films from the makers' list, discussing their significance, thematic depth, and impact on cinema.

Makers' Top 10:

1. Parasite by Bong Joon Ho
2. Mulholland Drive by David Lynch
3. In the Mood for Love by Wong Kar Wai
4. There Will Be Blood by Paul Thomas Anderson
5. Moonlight by Barry Jenkins
6. No Country for Old Men by the Coen Brothers
7. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind by Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufman
8. Get Out by Jordan Peele
9. Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki
10. The Social Network by David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin

Notable Discussion Points:

• International Cinema: Eric praises the inclusion of three non-English films in the top 10, emphasizing the growing acceptance and appreciation of international storytelling.

  “That says something about the group of people that were polled, but also says something about the significance of international cinema in the 21st century.”
  — Eric Hines [13:33]

• Screenwriting and Visionary Directors: The duo highlights how strong screenwriting allows for more innovative and unconventional filmmaking.

  “I think that the screenwriting for it... are wild and weird as some of these movies get.”
  — Wesley Morris [12:38]

5. Analysis of Notable Films and Directors

The conversation delves into specific films and their directors, assessing their contributions and why certain works made the list while others, like Steven Spielberg’s AI: Artificial Intelligence, surprisingly did not feature prominently.

Notable Quote:

“I did not memorize all his movies... but AI is just a movie that I think Spielberg could have taken risks with.”
— Wesley Morris [28:35]

6. Personal Top 10 Lists

Wesley and Eric share their personal top 10 movie lists, providing insight into their individual tastes and the films that have profoundly impacted them over the years.

Eric Hines’ Top 10 Highlights:

1. In the Mood for Love by Wong Kar Wai
2. The Act of Killing by Joshua Oppenheimer
3. AI: Artificial Intelligence by Steven Spielberg

Wesley Morris’ Top 10 Highlights:

1. Norte: The End of History by Lav Diaz
2. Mad Max: Fury Road by George Miller
3. Magic Mike XXL

Notable Quote:

“What you're saying is reminding me of the thing that I actually find kind of heartening about the list... a willingness to be taken somewhere new.”
— Wesley Morris [64:36]

7. Impact of the Lists on Cinema and Future Directions

Both hosts express that the lists highlight a hunger for complex, character-driven stories that embrace both darkness and joy. They advocate for the film industry to take risks and move away from formulaic, four-quadrant pictures to foster more innovative and specific storytelling.

Notable Quote:

“Just throw a curveball, stop sending it straight over the plate. Just, I don't know, change your finger position just a little bit.”
— Wesley Morris [67:33]

8. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Wesley and Eric reflect on their friendship, rooted in their shared history at Kim's Video Store, and the enduring passion they have for cinema. They emphasize the importance of lists in bringing out diverse opinions and feelings, acting as a call to arms for the industry to embrace more varied and authentic storytelling.

Notable Quote:

“Now, you and I are basically doing our video store work right now.”
— Wesley Morris [68:35]

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• “This one. Well, I'm calling it lunch. But really I ate it like I was at a repast. Because every day I'd get my new helping of movies and I'd shed a Tiny tear.”
  — Wesley Morris [02:30]

• “I like that there's an animated film in the top 10.”
  — Eric Hines [11:23]

• “33% of this movie is...like six directors.”
  — Wesley Morris [15:28]

• “You just realized your business needed to hire someone yesterday. How can you find amazing candidates fast?” (Advertisement skipped)

• “I think that the screenwriting for it... are wild and weird as some of these movies get.”
  — Wesley Morris [12:38]

• “This is proof that our popular entertainment can also mean as much as our unpopular entertainment.”
  — Wesley Morris [66:23]

Note: Certain timestamps reference specific parts of the conversation where key insights or emotional reflections occur, enhancing the depth of the discussion.

Final Thoughts: This episode of Cannonball offers a profound exploration of cinematic excellence in the 21st century through the lens of both industry insiders and general audiences. Wesley Morris and Eric Hines provide thoughtful analysis on the successes and shortcomings of the New York Times' top 100 movies list, emphasizing the need for greater diversity, innovative storytelling, and the enduring power of film as a reflection of societal values and personal experiences.