The MacGuffin Men

Does anything mean anything, Audrey’s role in the film, Barton Fink is an asshole, and what happens outside of the picture frame.

Rian Johnson getting his name in bold letters, the extra mystery hidden within the cinematography, and the donut hole of humanity within the donut’s hole.

1980s Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro as a comedian, the film’s depiction of Rita, production design, and trying to get out of situations without seeming impolite.

Loneliness, masculinity and its effects on the future, the film’s stance on technology, Brad Pitt’s face journey, and James Gray’s compromises.

Quentin Tarantino’s love of feet finally going somewhere, Leonardo DiCaprio’s vulnerability, Brad Pitt’s ability to play something simultaneously big and small, the rewriting of history, and many polite arguments.

Elsie Fisher, Bo Burnham’s feature debut, zoom lenses, and a whole bunch of sad shit about modernity.

Lapsed fandom, Kawhi, Big Spain, Kyle goddamn Lowry, getting emotional over Chuck Swirsky tweets, partying in the streets, and not fully believing this is reality.

The film’s inception and unique filmmaking style, Andre Holland, Tarell Alvin McRaney’s screenplay, Steven Soderbergh’s stylistic flair, the game on top of the game, and whether or not something like this could actually happen with the NBA.

The connection with John Huston’s earlier work, Sean Connery and Michael Caine’s chemistry, and laughing at the futility of human existence.

John Huston, shooting on location, Humphrey Bogart playing against type, and how Tim Holt’s later career choices illustrate the ideas of this movie.