Closet Picks

writer and director

Boots Riley

One visit, reaching 32 films in the collection.

6 Apr 2026

The writer and director reminisces about seeing Black Girl in the cinema with his mom as a child, shares how True Stories and Election influenced his approach to filmmaking, and talks about the emotional truth behind the visual artifice of Pedro Almodóvar’s work.

Chose Director Year
1 Three Revolutionary Films by Ousmane Sembènebox set, 3 films
2 Black Girl Ousmane Sembène 1966
3 Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Filmsbox set, 4 films
4 True Stories David Byrne 1986
5 Election Alexander Payne 1999
6 The Hero Satyajit Ray 1966
7 The Princess Bride Rob Reiner 1987
8 The Qatsi Trilogybox set, 3 films
9 All About My Mother Pedro Almodóvar 1999
10 Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown Pedro Almodóvar 1988
11 Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters Paul Schrader 1985
12 Essential Fellinibox set, 14 films

Least-picked choice here: Three Revolutionary Films by Ousmane Sembène , taken by 2 other visits.

Watch the video · On criterion.com · This visit

Closest taste

Guests who chose the most of the same things. Anyone filmed alongside Boots Riley is left out, since they picked from one list.

GuestSharedJaccardIn common
Trace Lysette 3 0.167 All About My Mother, Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Reginald Hudlin 2 0.111 Essential Fellini, Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films
Tunde Adebimpe 2 0.111 Black Girl, True Stories
Charles Burnett 2 0.105 Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films, Three Revolutionary Films by Ousmane Sembène
Hari Nef 2 0.105 Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown