Lily Gladstonewas undeniably one of the biggest stars of 2023.Her compelling performanceinKillers of the Flower Moonearned her rave reviews and an Oscar nomination, but this only scratches the surface of her filmography. She’s been turning in solid work for over a decade, with memorable roles in movies likeCertain Women,First Cow, andThe Unknown Country. She even hosteda fantastic film production showback in 2017 for the educational YouTube channelCrash Course.
Like most great performers, Gladstone is deeply inspired and influenced by movies and actors of the past. During past interviews, she has mentioned a few of her favorite films, which lean toward comedy and drama. Particularly, Gladstone appears to have a taste of meta storytelling, as two of her favorites,AdaptationandStranger than Fiction, are self-referential gems.These are some of Gladstone’s most intriguing movie recommendations, which should appeal to fans of her work.
10’The Man in the Iron Mask' (1998)
Director: Randall Wallace
The Man in the Iron Maskis a spin on the work ofAlexandre Dumas, featuring his famous musketeers, Athos (John Malkovich), Porthos (Gérard Depardieu), Aramis (Jeremy Irons), and D’Artagnan (Gabriel Byrne). The story is set in 17th-century France, where the tyranny of King Louis XIV (Leonardo DiCaprio) has plunged the kingdom into despair. Unknown to many, Louis has a twin brother, Philippe (also played by DiCaprio), who has been imprisoned and forced to wear an iron mask to conceal his identity.
Gladstone saidthat this was herfavorite Leonardo DiCaprio performance.“I already knew at that point I wanted to be an actor,” Gladstone toldPeopleof seeing the film, “and getting to see one actor play that kind of duality, it was really cool.“The Man in the Iron Maskseldom ranks among DiCaprio’s best movies, butGladstone has a point when she mentions DiCaprio’s duality in the role. It’s not easy playing twins, but the actor successfully creates two distinctive characters, and the movie is much better for it.
Watch on Tubi
9’Willow' (1988)
Director: Ron Howard
“She’s Elora Danan, the future empress of Tir Asleen, and the last thing she’s gonna want is a hairy chest!“This beloved fantasy classiccenters on Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis), an aspiring sorcerer who stumbles upon an abandoned baby girl prophesied to bring about the downfall of the evil Queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh). Tasked with delivering the child to safety, Willow embarks on a perilous quest, accompanied by a ragtag group of allies.
Gladstone selectedWillowasone of her four all-time favorite movieswhile speaking to Letterboxd, calling it simply “number one.” Like many from her generation, Gladstone probably grew up alongside the fantasy world ofWillow, appreciating it more as an adult due to its unabashed sense of honest wonder.The film is a little rough around the edges, but that’s also its charm, and there’s no denying its warmth and heart.
Rent on Amazon
8’Being There' (1979)
Director: Hal Ashby
“In the garden, growth has its seasons. First comes spring and summer, but then we have fall and winter. And then we get spring and summer again.“Peter Sellersstars in this seminal comedyBeing Thereas Chance, a straightforward gardener who has spent his entire life isolated within the walls of a wealthy benefactor’s mansion, tending to the plants and watching television. When his employer passes away, Chance is thrust into the outside world for the first time, where his childlike innocence and simplistic worldview are mistaken for profound wisdom by those he encounters.
Renamed “Chauncey Gardiner,” Chance’s seemingly profound but utterly nonsensical statements are interpreted as brilliant metaphors for the state of society.Director Hal Ashby skewers the superficiality of modern society, while Sellers flexes his now legendary comedic musclesin this remarkably insightful story. “Being Therewas a big one in my childhood,“Gladstone said simply.
Being There
A simple-minded gardener, Chance, raised in isolation, steps into the public spotlight after his wealthy employer dies. Mistaken for a profound thinker due to his calm demeanor and vague statements, he is embraced by political elites. The film satirizes the intersection of media, politics, and identity.
7’Adaptation' (2002)
Director: Spike Jonze
“There are too many ideas and things and people. Too many directions to go.“Nicolas Cageturns in one of his most interesting performances in this thoroughly self-aware outing fromthe master of the quirky cinema,Spike Jonze. He plays screenwriterCharlie Kaufmanas he grapples with adaptingSusan Orlean’s(Meryl Streep) non-fiction bookThe Orchid Thiefinto a screenplay. Faced with writer’s block and consumed by self-doubt, Charlie embarks on a surreal journey of self-discovery and artistic exploration.
“Adaptationis a masterclass in writing, directing, and acting,“Gladstone said. “The humor in that film, and the way it’s so deeply enmeshed with how finely developed all the characters are, and every single actor and every character that they create— It’s all stunning. The performance that Nicolas Cage gives playing these two brothers is so funny.” Gladstone hits the nail on the head here:Adaptationis a writer’s dream, a self-referential deconstruction of the creative processthat remains as insightful and deliciously subversive today as it was in 2002. Not many can balance meta-humor with insightful commentary as ably as Jonze and Kaufman do here.
Adaptation.
6’Stranger Than Fiction' (2006)
Director: Marc Forster
“This may sound like gibberish to you, but I think I’m in a tragedy.” Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) is an IRS agent with a meticulously structured life who suddenly discovers that he is a character in a novel written by the reclusive author Karen Eiffel (Emma Thompson). Shocked and bewildered by this revelation, Harold seeks the help of literature professor Jules Hilbert (Dustin Hoffman) to navigate this existential crisis.
Stranger Than Fictionis an impressively sophisticated comedy and a great showcase of Ferrell’s dramatic range.“One that I put on because I know it so well and I cling to it or cry to it isStranger than Fiction,“Gladstone said. The film is clever, witty, and remarkably incisive about human relationships. The creative process is again highlighted here, with Thompson delivering a deliciously neurotic take on the tortured writer.Stranger Than Fictiongoes all in on its intriguing premise, resulting in a delightfulhidden comedy gem of the 200s.
Stranger Than Fiction
Stranger Than Fiction follows Harold Crick, a solitary IRS agent, whose routine life takes an unexpected turn when he begins hearing a narrator describing his every action. As he seeks to uncover the source of this voice, Harold confronts the possibility that his life is part of a greater story.
5’Blazing Saddles' (1974)
Director: Mel Brooks
“Don’t do that. If you shoot him, you’ll just make him mad.“Blazing Saddlesfollows Bart (Cleavon Little), a black railroad worker who is appointed as the sheriff of the fictional town of Rock Ridge. Facing rampant racism and hostility from the townsfolk, Bart teams up with the reluctant and dim-witted gunslinger Jim (Gene Wilder), also known as the Waco Kid, to bring law and order to the unruly town.
Perhapsthe best comedy Western ever made, the now-iconicBlazing Saddleshilariously satirizes the genre while tackling issues of prejudice with sharp wit and anarchic humor.“I love [that] it was done in such a diverse way. It was having conversations nobody was having, but in a way that was so accessible because it was so funny! It was just a perfect little indictment of Americana,“Gladstone said. The actress is hardly the film’s only fan, a testament to its impact and standing.
Blazing Saddles
Watch on Netflix
4’Eagle vs Shark' (2007)
Director: Taika Waititi
“I almost came as a shark, actually, but then I realized an eagle’s slightly better.“Eagle vs. Sharkwas the directorial debut of Oscar-winnerTaika Waititi.Jemaine ClementandLoren Horsleystar as Jarrod, a self-absorbed video game store employee who dreams of vengeance against his childhood bully, and Lily, a shy and eccentric fast-food cashier who dreams of being a musician.
In keeping with Waititi’s trademark style, the whole thing is lovably dorky.Eagle vs. Sharkoffers a glimpse into the development of his comedic approach, even if it’s very much a product of its time. “Eagle vs Sharkis such a perfect, textured indie comedy that is very character-driven,“Gladstone said. “It was one of the first times that I ever saw Indigenous characters just allowed to be characters, allowed to be funny, allowed to have this cute, little crunchy love story, allowed to be nerds, allowed to just be.”
Eagle vs. Shark
Watch on PlutoTV
3’The Master' (2012)
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
“Your fear of capture and imprisonment is an implant from millions of years ago.” ThisPaul Thomas Andersonmasterpiece focuses on Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix), a Navy veteran grappling with PTSD and alcoholism. Aimless and adrift, Freddie stumbles upon Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a charismatic figure who leads a mysterious movement known as “The Cause.” Drawn to Dodd’s magnetic presence, Freddie becomes deeply involved in The Cause, serving as both disciple and enforcer of Dodd’s control.
The Masteris PTA at his utter best, tellinga riveting yet off-putting story about human nature itself and its seemingly inherently self-destructive quality. The whole cast is phenomenal, but the highlight is Hoffman’s towering performance as the L. Ron Hubbard-inspired Dodd. “PTA is probably my favorite filmmaker[and] I feel like there are huge conversations being had in [The Master] that I really value,“Gladstone said. “It’s such a visceral film. The performances in it are unapologetic. They’re relentless. Philip Seymour Hoffman is my favorite actor.”
The Master
Watch on Criterion
2’Wendy and Lucy' (2008)
Director: Kelly Reichardt
Kelly Reichardthas gone onto bigger and more ambitious movies, but her most affecting effort might still be the minimalistWendy and Lucy. The plot follows a young woman (Michelle Williams) on a journey with her loyal dog, Lucy, to find work in Alaska. Their bond is the only constant in Wendy’s life as she navigates through poverty and uncertainty. However, when Wendy’s car breaks down in a small Oregon town, her life takes a drastic turn.
“This is a simple tale about a woman and her dog. It’s not completely dressed up. The camera’s just letting you watch this. That got me into all of Kelly’s other films,“Gladstone said. “I got to meet Lucy just months before she died because Kelly brought her to the last few days ofCertain Women.” Challenging but moving,Wendy and Lucyis an often harrowing depiction of loneliness, hardship, and companionship. It might seem overly bleak, but there is an undeniable sense of compassion in Reichardt’s approach as she captures the unspoken reality of millions of people around the world.
1’Whale Rider' (2002)
Director: Niki Caro
Paikea Apirana (Keisha Castle-Hughes) is a young girl who defies tradition and gender roles to fulfill her destiny as the leader of her tribe. Although she is born into a lineage of chiefs, Paikea’s grandfather, Koro (Rawiri Paratene), is determined to find a male successor, overlooking her potential. Undeterred by her grandfather’s disapproval, Paikea is determined to prove herself worthy. Her goal sends her on a journey that will change her people forever.
Powered by a stellar, Oscar-nominated performance from Castle-Hughes,Whale Rideris an inspiring and uplifting coming-of-age tale that shines a light on voices seldom showcased in mainstream cinema. “I remember seeing that film and having my mind blown open by the possibility of narrative,“Gladstone said. “This whole film is centered around this young woman at a point in time with her culture where girls are stepping into a different role, and it shows that the necessity for cultural perseverance is really led by young women.For me, it was just the perfect film to watch.”
