WTF with Marc Maron - Paul Thomas Anderson Interview

[@Loadedspike]

41:46 Hard Eight 47:45 Boogie Nights 57:57 Magnolia 1:05:59 Punch Drunk Love 1:14:04 There Will Be Blood 1:21:21 The Master 1:27:58 Inherent Vice

[@theflyby6273]

Interview starts at 11:16

[@bebaguette766]

theflyby God bless you.

[@TG-ld8hl]

Hero

[@mikedugenio3345]

A reeal human bean

[@jkb1603]

Henry G you my friend. Deserve lordship

[@crystinamarie1]

Thanks!

[@waz3128]

mind blowing that David Foster Wallace was his English teacher

[@Mattdotnfo]

waz 312 what a lucky bastard right ?

[@gp2860]

But it makes so much sense..

[@UnoDosCholos]

DFW was Bill Burr’s professor too, just another impressive thing to add to his story.

[@nickautry7332]

WTF? Crazy.

[@davidlean1060]

@Skitalets Wallace did kill himself, yes. Cobain and Nirvana were never modern to begin with, so how would Cobain have become post modern?! Beck, he was post modern. Jon Brion's band Jellyfish, they were post modern. Nirvana were a throwback if anything.

[@DukeFame88]

I love the Tim Conway stories...PTA is THE director of my time. I was born in the 70s and I get it all. The vision, the story telling, the characters... Love everything this guy does.

[@elementarypenguin97]

It's amazing how he can speak without moving his mouth at all.

[@pallen1065]

Check out Marlee (sp?) Matlin. Mouth moved, jaw didn't ..

[@Borganov20]

God Moment

[@CameronStrandberg]

You're not even hearing these words -- he's just telekinesis mind darting them into all of our brains.

[@gottalight9379]

What are you talking about?! Of course he’s not going to be talking ! That’s a still frame photo of Paul. What am I missing ?

[@jacksonmcnamee4428]

This may be the best comment I’ve ever seen

[@timothycollins9739]

This is really incredible. Probably the best PTA interview I've heard.

[@mleit5]

Timothy Collins I go back every few months and listen to this.

[@danielcarter3928]

what a cool dude and a total genius. my favorite modern director by quite some margin.

[@chrism8311]

Check out the interview he did for the Bill Simmons Podcast, pretty good as well.

[@ezrawthepaw2676]

maron is the master

[@cheeez9438]

Christopher Migliore Other than the horrible question regarding Phillip Seymour Hoffman: “what do you miss most about him?” and the awkwardness that follows is hard

[@bubz4196]

best WTF episode of all time

[@CorridorJ]

Roger Fedoraer yeah dude!!

[@davidlean1060]

There is one with William Friedkin which is also thoroughly entertaining. Friedkin, like Anderson, comes across as a regular enough street wise guy. If you like Friedkin's films, then it's also a joy to listen to.

[@jonassteinberg3779]

Even PTA, an LA native, humbles himself before the scope and girth of Los Angeles.

[@danielcarter3928]

I love how he says " you're on to something .. " multiple times.

[@diegooliveirabenjamin]

Dude, for sure, this is so PTA

[@AntZombie121]

Still waiting for a follow up of this would love to hear them both talk about Phantom Thread

[@louishillegassiv]

Weirdly enough they bring up Licorice 1:27:36

[@martaferguson-dun645]

Phantom Thread is genius. But I was the only person in the theater laughing!! The guy I went with kinda started to get how subtly (but broadly) funny the film was. It's a romantic comedy of the highest order & I can't get anyone to view it bc "it's only two characters"😜

[@clemencec3790]

"If you're around Joaquin Phoenix, that's like smocking a pack a day" lmaoo, that doesn't surprise me at all

[@mrinalsannigrahi3955]

Where does he say that

[@BoiseNewWave]

@@mrinalsannigrahi3955 13:21

[@sammysoppy3361]

His dad was Ghoulardi holy crap! I’m from the Cleveland area and while I’m too young, you don’t grow up here without hearing about Ghoulardi and Big Chuck And Little John. Wow mind blown here

[@cheeez9438]

“Let’s go to the callers.” Kills me EVERY time

[@johnnyluna7824]

the story that PTA tells about ricky j will never cease to send me into hysterics. rest in peace ricky j,

[@TheDinnermoney]

Nevertheless.

[@emmanuelsalazar9424]

This is it. This is the greatest WTF ep. ever. PTA rules!

[@daakCable]

The best contemporary american director

[@Dvfrzco]

Will go down as one of the greatest ever

[@TheGhostofGonzo5586]

Magnolia is criminally underrated.

[@theempire00]

The Ghost of Gonzo lol no it's not 😂

[@TheGhostofGonzo5586]

Is it my hyperbole, Do you think the film is properly rated, or a bad movie? Also, what brings you to this old interview? Not being antagonistic, just genuinely curious. I watched because I was on a P.T.A. jag.

[@gazzalenbrick6381]

I agree...seems like boogie nights and there will be blood gets all the accolades (and rightfully so) but hard eight is maybe the best debut movie by a director ever...well at least one of them

[@hashdealer8822]

It's rarely talked about but most people who are into movies to a greater extent all appreciate it. Probably my personal all time favourite.

[@squeaka67]

??? it was nominated for multiple academy awards...what more would you like?

[@puepole]

His movies are filmed in such a way that they seem like the most important piece of cinema you've ever seen when you watch them. Least that's how they make me feel. I think Mark feels this too that's why he talked about rewatching them over and over to figure out what they're supposed to mean. I need to read more about the cinematography because I don't have the visual vocabulary to explain it, but I'm sure many of you feel this too, that's why it's surprising to hear Paul talk like a regular guy. You'd expect Paul would sound like a profound intellectual, like Christopher Nolan, whatever.

[@dungeon-wn4gw]

I feel 100% the exact same way and have wondered the same things. I just think Paul's asthetic is our soul and that's why we connect so much with it. He's my favorite director ever and I worship his style.

[@jaypeeper]

You’re absolutely right.

[@jasonquill632]

Lol Nolan is not an intellectual he's just british

[@nicholasblauner7661]

it is very interesting, but I think this phenomenon is true for a lot of directors, at least for me. When I watch a Kubrick movie, it becomes the most enchanting thing I have ever seen, as does Kirosawa, Welles, etc. But I agree PTA is special. I think the humanity his characters possess is the greatest of any I've seen, much, much more so than Tarantino, Wes Anderson or other writer/directors. All of PTA's characters are broken. Some repair themselves through the help of love, or friendship, while others fail to overcome their shortcomings and suffer in loneliness for it. The beauty is that heir flaws are so universal and yet he characters feel so distinct / realized. I just think he's the greatest to ever do it, and a true hero of mine. If you want laugh, watch his Q&A for the master where he's slamming tequila and getting progressively more angry at the audio setup

[@manilapcgaming7217]

so much love in this interview. Fantastic talk

[@drdickphd]

1:11:51 Genuinely one of the sweetest things I’ve ever heard. I wasn’t expecting to cry listening to this. RIP PSH ❤️

[@frankritz9561]

My man!

[@drdickphd]

@@frankritz9561 I want to get you on a slow boat to China. You down?

[@frankritz9561]

@@drdickphd All to myself? Alone? Bet, see you there

[@wesleyjohndelaney106]

This interview will be historical. Paul Thomas Anderson is a walking legend who doesn't get the recognition he deserves. His time will come when this super hero/action film society fizzles out.

[@KungaMatata]

As much as I love Tarantino, Fincher and Nolan, this guy deserves the most love out of that generation. Closest to Kubrick.

[@wesleyjohndelaney106]

@@KungaMatata Christopher Nolan? Way overrated. Memento and Prestige were very good films; The rest are action CGI shite.. My top 5... Anderson Scorsese Alejandro GI mann Tarantino

[@KungaMatata]

Wesley Delaney I definitely think Dark Knight trilogy and Interstellar are better than action CGI shit. But my top 5 of this generation is: P.T. Anderson Linklater Caurón Tarantino Fincher Mann and Inarritu are amazing too.

[@davidlean1060]

@@wesleyjohndelaney106 The Prestige is the best thing Nolan has made in my opinion. What's great about it is very few people cop the McGuffin in there ie that the infamous 'cloning' machine is nothing but a prop. Anderson is the man though, no question about it. As Maron points out, every film looks different and they all have a wonderful eccentricity to them. Raining frogs, Dodd singing to Freddy, I drink your milkshake, Alma's magical mushrooms...who dares write stories like that?!

[@pierrelevtchenko]

such a dramatic ass comment bro. "historical", "his time will come". the guy is making the exact type of movies he wants to make with big studios behind him, every great actor wants to work with him, he's got a loyal fanbase of film obsessed dummies, I'd say his time is now.

[@fandude7]

Great interview Marc. All the questions I would've asked. Thanks again.

[@thenightbladefeeds]

This might be my favorite interview ever. I could listen to PTA tell stories for days.

[@alexposito53]

PTA is one of those types of geniuses who is a master at their craft to a major extent where they don't realize it. Marc is pointing out all this smart symbolism behind his films and PTA is just like "uhh yeah."

[@ricardovazquez2692]

true that

[@ChicagoMonsterPunk]

Well he says that speaking about the films he’s done years ago is like trying to recall a “distant memories”. I’m pretty sure he knew what he was doing when he wrote and directed them (just listen to the stuff he says about “The Master” and the kind of precise real life stories which inspired some scenes).

[@deeratr]

good way of putting dropping out of college 'i just didnt go back' thats what i will use now

[@brownbrownpony]

This conversation blew me away.

[@clemencec3790]

Aaaaaah, it's not long enough ! I wanted them to keep talking, and it's 2 HOURS LONG lmao. Best WTF episode for sure :)

[@aminetanouyat9643]

Awesome interview

[@adamkoyn792]

PTA is a God among directors

[@emmanuelsalazar9424]

The greatest American filmmaker working today.

[@ChrisWolff2013]

I can't think of a director who is so consistent and so creative with how he frames each shot.

[@xinzukin]

38:21 David Foster Wallace talk

[@BlielPol]

And immediately following that, a brief conversation on (attempting to read) Gravity's Rainbow. An entire episode of them talking Wallace and Pynchon would be just glorious.

[@robjohnson8214]

Great interview and great subject.

[@martinkojour8879]

Interview: a talk between two people. Subject: politics and pineapple

[@michiganjfrog366]

Magnolia is my favorite. PTA is amazing. The soundtrack is brilliant too.

[@owengreene2653]

35:32 “I want a president who goes and plays golf, and doesn’t do anything.” Well that didn’t age very well

[@Afrimusican]

I enjoyed the hell out this podcast. They just spoke film and were in the zone. Good job Marc!

[@nickoshea7107]

Best conversation of all time

[@adamkoyn792]

Also, I think Maron understands Paul's vision much moreso than he admits

[@matthewomalley6834]

No - he wants too. There is a difference.

[@adamkoyn792]

@@matthewomalley6834 Fair enough

[@matthewomalley6834]

I like Maron a lot. I think he is super sharp and I plan on listening to him a lot more. Speaking of PTA, I loved the Fiona Apple interview. I need to listen to MM more to better comment - I do not want to sound condescending and I just realized my comment could be taken that way. It’s not what I intended.

[@sarahsussman8961]

Damn, the fact that he made Inherent Vice w/o having read Gravity's Rainbow is actually inspiring to me. Rock n roll bb. God bless the honesty.

[@davidlean1060]

But he has read other Pynchon novels. Against The Day is referenced in The Master for example. He's a huge Pynchon fan. Whether he discovered him by himself or whether he was influenced by his former professor David Foster Wallace, I couldn't say.

[@giuoco]

@@davidlean1060what is the reference in the master, to Against the Day I mean?

[@davidlean1060]

@@giuoco Haven't a clue lol Seeing as Dodd says it at the end of his speach at the wedding, it may just be a reference to the novel in the middle of one of Dodd's BS meanderings. ps after hearing the real Hubbard speak in the documentary Going Clear, I have to say Anderson got the vibe of him spot on when writing Dodd's part. PSH pulls off the intelligent sounding guff perfectly!

[@giuoco]

@@davidlean1060 ah, I now vaguely remember Dodd saying “… against the day”. Love it. Also a lot of The Master is inspired by Pynchon’s V. , which also has a malaise ridden seaman at the centre of the plot. And I’m definitely going to check out that documentary. Thanks

[@davidlean1060]

@@giuoco Anderson makes a lot more sense when you consider he was influenced by post modern writers like Pynchon and Foster Wallace. I think Licorice Pizza is the most Pynchon-esque film he's made. The American who marries Asian women and thinks if he speaks in their accents, they will understand him (even when he speaks English) is straight out of a Pynchon novel. That character reminds me of Big Foot in Inherent Vice when he orders his 'muto pan i cak u'. Fictional characters meeting real people (our two protagonists meeting Jon Peters) is also a very Pynchon-esque literary device. Peters is exactly the kind of mad cap character Pynchon would write about too.

[@roywilson4514]

Excellent interview. Definitely going to check out his movies i aint watched yet.

[@sdm12342002]

I like all PTA's movies, but I saw "Hard Eight" a few months ago and that might be my favorite of his. Philip Baker Hall just kills it - per usual (see him in an episode of "Seinfeld").

[@MeBeTheDB]

WAYYYYYY COOL INTERVIEW-! The best Paul Thomas Anderson yak-fest I've heard yet. He & Marc Maron -- a match made in Heaven. Who knew ..? D.A.

[@albinpepe9057]

MeBeTheDB O

[@WTHFX]

35:32 - Robert Downey Sr was talking about Johnson, not Nixon in that interview with regards to that quote.

[@diegooliveirabenjamin]

"you can have my movie" listening that from PTA, I won't even imagine... Marc do deserves it tho

[@ianschulz1]

53:15 - NEVERTHELESS

[@CorridorJ]

Wow he really is just a normal dude...I don’t know why I had him on a pedestal he seems very easy to talk to

[@emmanuelsalazar9424]

It’s great when your heroes come across as human in interviews, which they are. He’s the best!

[@saturatedcranium]

Not many people realize that even celebrities are just human beings with their own flaws

[@martinkojour8879]

Pedestal: god or peasant

[@aMdeniZen]

the taking callers part cracked me up.

[@jeffreymadden2745]

His dad was the voice for abc for years.

[@life__is__good]

brilliant content!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@christianherman9091]

Why don’t more people know who this man is? Can’t even blame a certain age range. If all a young kid saw was there will be blood, why not look beneath the hood? He’s a genius

[@trampstamp4548]

bru wtf are you talking about, are you trying to bluff yourself into the "hes underrated and i found him as a gem" shtick? guys one of the most famous and notable directors since 2 decades ago

[@fruitsy3020]

​@@trampstamp4548 i have to highly disagree, not that many people know who he is mostly cinephiles do,but hopefully with this quarantine thing more people watch his films & discover who he is

[@ptaramson1553]

Im 16 and i have seen all of PTAs filmography, stop about with age range lol

[@t-shirtman2526]

@@ptaramson1553 same, these farters are trippin

[@advancedraymondology2914]

@@trampstamp4548 exactly. If you're only dealing with 12yo Taylor Swift fans, maybe they don't know him. But anyone into film at least knows the name. Him and Tarantino are the two most acclaimed directors of this generation. It's funny, portraying PTA like he's this obscure filmmaker hardly anyone has heard of, haha. Hey, Christian, they mention this TOTALLY OBSCURE songwriter, Bob Dylan. You should check him out. Not that many people have heard of him. Haha.

[@matthewomalley6834]

I have admired Paul Thomas Anderson since I was 19 or so. He is great at narrative and symbolism. The man is super intelligent, artistic and full of tact.

[@shashankbanawalikar1466]

I can't believe I got to hear this for free

[@takedshineov3366]

I can't wait until next Halloween so I can try that prank Paul's old man pulled with the Mummy costume and the driving licence! What a story!

[@maxmarshall7123]

I love that story about Ricky Jay at 53:31

[@Rob-sk1im]

I want 2 ounces of his genius, going to watch Inherent Vice... again.

[@jaysherman9138]

This was amazing

[@patrickbateman7453]

1:45 had me dying among other parts 😂

[@skoolbus]

Nevertheless.

[@johnnyluna7824]

rest in peace ricky j

[@alexconn2675]

What’s the time mark

[@samfilmkid]

@@alexconn2675 53:30

[@georgewehmeyer4694]

@@samfilmkid I came here specifically for this bit, and you delivered. Thank you!

[@martinkojour8879]

Magnolia low key is a top genre movie

[@imabuttman884]

I would love to see a PTA horror movie....

[@alejoparedes2388]

He once said "There Will Be Blood" is his horror movie so...

[@jamesdelcol3701]

I get what you guys are into. I just bought "Inherent Vice". I appreciate the info. I read Pynchon in college. I have not seen all these films. I get to go watch them all now. I feel greedy. So much creativity. I was totally inspired by "There Will Be Blood". I am putting all my research together and try to publish my research before I get too old. I have a lot of work to do. My thesis starts in 1898 and ends after the Vietnam War in 1981.

[@Tim21189]

PTA is a genius filmmaker. Up there with the best of his generation. There Will Be Blood is one of my all time favorite films, and the greatest acting performance of all time in my opinion.

[@chrisraymondmusic]

Great interview!

[@jonbush8950]

PTA is a national treasure.

[@martinkojour8879]

"your nationalitet"

[@garyrigby21]

just play the interview already!!! this is driving me mental

[@wwb2081]

Damn...you just know from the material he hints at that this guy has seen some shit.

[@paulkossak7761]

Would love to see a movie or limited series made of Mason & Dickson which I think is Pynchons best book.

[@BookClubDisaster]

The language itself is the star of that book. Not sure a movie would work.

[@paulkossak7761]

@@BookClubDisaster I think in the hands of the right director it could work. Paul thomas Anderson for instance. But your correct it would be a difficult task.

[@yonamekibel4025]

He sounds like Barry egan sometimes

[@crystinamarie1]

I could talk about movies all day long ❤

[@fifthcarcrash]

"love baby, love"

[@ernestolombardo5811]

Maron on There Will Be Blood: "...the only guy that's a STRAIGHT SHOOTER is the guy that's gonna rule the world." Daniel Plainview is the "straight shooter", I presume? The same person who took a dead man's kid and passed him as his own, to project trustworthiness to other people and make them lower their guard? No matter, this is the best interview of a film director I've ever heard, and it's the interplay between the two men. Francis Ford Coppola always makes for a mesmerizing interview, but the ones I've found on KZbin don't have the focused yet seemingly effortless structure of this extraordinary Maron episode.

[@davidlean1060]

Yes. He doesn't mean Plainview is honest when he says that. He means the man has unbreakable will.

[@sachinpandey5090]

I think the interview of Edgar Wright by Chris Nolan is also good.

[@ReactionShot]

As a shameless smoker, god I love this interview.

[@josephpaulson7507]

Imagine a Gravity’s Rainbow mini series... or any Pynchon TV series

[@Chockner]

Yeah. It's like- what if Mulholland Drive had been a television show as originally planned?

[@davidlean1060]

Who'd have the guts to show it even if it was possible to make? There's the graphic pornography, the political messages, the amount of characters and the constant shifts of time, place and perspective. It would be fantastic though, if it were possible to adapt. Imagine the train chase through the caves in Germany or the pie in the sky fight on screen! That would be a lot of fun!

[@b_i_l_l_w_i_l_l_i_a_m_s_o_n]

I feel like it would be quite the undertaking, almost impossible

[@there6799]

I can't think of a better director.

[@davidlean1060]

I often thank the universe for allowing me to be alive at the same time he makes movies, that's how much I love what he does. He's brilliant. He'll rightly be remembered as one of the greatest film makers there has been. Chris Nolan may make more money, but those who know, know no one holds a candle to PTA.

[@TheDas9582]

Walker is a great film. Horribly underrated and unnoticed. 1:33:40

[@Dvfrzco]

Licorice Pizza was fantastic

[@doovie101]

PTA seems like a cool dude. Great interview.

[@willjsoden]

great fucking interview

[@Pantano63]

20:37 "so people even from Akron [Ohio], like a lot of those cool bands and stuff were deep into this thing that my dad was doing." He's referring to The Black Keys' album Turn Blue which is a Ghoulardi catchphrase.

[@2totabon]

leonardo h makes sense considering their twin peaks references in Let’s Rock

[@pierrelevtchenko]

think he was talking about those 70s akron bands, like DEVO

[@matthewcohen7488]

@@pierrelevtchenko my thoughts exactly- Black keys aren't cool either, they are a white Stripes ripoff

[@rishabhaniket1952]

38:00 starts talking about DFW

[@xinzukin]

1:05:59

[@davidlean1060]

Speaking of Eddie Nash, there is a nasty character in The Long Goodbye, the guy who smashes a glass across his girl friend's face warning Marlowe, 'this is what I do to someone I love. You I don't even like!'. Now that I read about Nash, could that character in Altman's movie be based on Nash too?

[@jbliv831]

It's about Pynchon.

[@Challengeman97]

Why the picture almost looks like a Mug Shot

[@berndkals6110]

My God it takes ten minutes till the interview really starts,

[@matthewomalley6834]

There is a novel written on PTA’s face in this picture…

[@b_i_l_l_w_i_l_l_i_a_m_s_o_n]

PTA has an interesting accent. It doesn’t seem American. I didn’t know he grew up in LA

[@juevosrantsyoutube]

there will be blood , is my favorite movie of his !

[@Orangelemonblue]

Marc is so good at this ..the #Podfather

[@day245]

It’s like Marc’s commercial breaks have commercials

[@HydeWest]

I’m getting Paul Thomas Anderson inked across my back shoulders in like old English Font for realz 💅🏽♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@cristi0291]

God I wish PTA goes on JRE :) this guy is just fascinating.

[@jeffphillips1832]

The conversation with PTH starts at 11:25.

[@AssClapCowboy]

Paul Thomas Handerson

[@throwawayaccount6559]

I thought the thumbnail showed the Unabomber Ted Kaczynski for a second, before I read the title lol.

[@grovermcdiarmid8109]

"ohhh gosh... you were... up up" "oh yea" "wow" that story will give PTA some new material

[@danielcarter3928]

Marc has good taste.

[@ML-kx9gz]

They start to oddly talk about licorice, black licorice around 1hr27min mark...............kind of weird.

[@dreydenransom2313]

1:13:40

[@wesleyjohndelaney106]

1:08:32 bookmark

[@albinpepe9057]

Excited for PTA’s next appearance after the passing of Lynn Shelton. They will have even more to connect over. Losing somebody.

[@ezrawthepaw2676]

13:24 foreshadowing

[@paulelroy6650]

What's foreshadowing about it

[@dinkyvision]

I’ve only listened to maybe 4 interviews (podcasts) from Maron and each time I’m blow away with how unprepared he is, how dumb he seems and how much of a doofus he is. Why on earth does everyone like him so much? He lands these huge celebs and just puts absolutely zero effort into prep or anything. It’s incredibly lazy.

[@BookClubDisaster]

He's awful. I gave up listening to him years ago despite having interesting guests. Couldn't take him anymore.

[@SaskatchewanICE]

Something tells me that PTA might be working with a big ol’ johnson

[@paulelroy6650]

That's a weird thing to think about

[@SaskatchewanICE]

@@paulelroy6650 when you stop and think about it, all things are weird to think about

[@samglover6062]

@@SaskatchewanICE no, just what you said