The only thing better than watching a film is talking about it.
Providing a common ground on which to get to know one another, films give us a universal language that can bond us and create instant friendships and icebreakers.
I first installed the social platform Letterboxd in 2018, and have used it fairly religiously since then. My four favourite films have stayed pretty much the same, and I feel that these films showcase various aspects of my personality and taste to other users. When it comes to getting to know someone, I’d much rather see your Letterboxd than your Hinge (dating App) profile.
There is a real joy in logging films on Letterboxd. As much as it is a social site where you can share what you think about movies with others, it also feels like a quiet marker of random moments in life.
A chance to review
From my review of The Mountain Between Us (2017):
Yet to see Kate Winslet in a film where she doesn’t have a little swim.
To my review of Little Women (2019):
Me and my friend were both crying then simultaneously clocked Bob Odenkirk and laughed so hard we ruined the rest of the movie.
I can remember how I was feeling at certain times in my life thanks to this little film diary.
I know that I somehow ended up rewatching the psychological horror film Mother! (2017) by myself on Christmas Eve 2022. I know that my first intense cry of 2023 came during a rewatch of Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) in advance of the Oscars in March. Just seeing that I have logged certain films one after another can transport me back to challenging times in my life when I turned to movies for comfort.
Though Letterboxd is growing in popularity, it still seems somewhat unknown and is treasured by those who do use it.
On Letterboxd, I regularly review my favourite films, calling each and every one:
The greatest movie ever made.
Whilst I know this can’t be true of all of them, it absolutely is.
The beauty of Letterboxd is that certain films can generate completely polarising responses from different users – all of which is weirdly compelling. Someone’s favourite film could easily have made it onto someone else’s “Worst Films of the Year” list.
I often find myself belly-laughing whilst reading reviews at 3 am that pick up on the most bizarre aspects of a film to praise or criticise. Current pop culture moments seep into these reviews, making Letterboxd a very funny place to be.
No matter what, everything on Letterboxd feels like it is done with heart, and a true love of and interest in movies.
Lockdown list opportunities
During the lockdowns, I created a big list of films I had meant to see but somehow never got around to watching. I’ve barely made a dent in this list and am still making my way through it now – partly due to the fact that for every film I log there are usually another three I end up adding to my watchlist. I do secretly hope that this list will keep growing forever.
What a treat it is to know that there will always be something strange or disappointing or wonderful left to discover in the world of cinema – and a hilarious, interesting community of people ready to discuss it over on Letterboxd.