Mary Roach’s Sweet 16
Sweet 16 is our rapid-fire Q&A series.
Mary Roach is the New York Times bestselling author best known for her popular science books such as Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void, and Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal. Her newest book Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy releases on September 12.
Mary took time to answer our 16 questions about the movies and movie experiences that have made her life sweeter.
1. First movie you fell in love with
Stranger than Paradise.
2. Last movie you fell in love with
Poor Things.
3. A movie scene you’ll never shake
The Saltburn bathtub scene.
4. A movie scene that never gets old
Bridesmaids airplane scene. Or Jack Nicholson ordering a side of toast in Five Easy Pieces. Or the ending of Promising Young Woman.
5. Favorite movie theater
Grand Lake Theater in Oakland, CA.
6. Theater snack of choice
Popcorn, no butter goop.
7. A performance that makes you laugh
Vincent D’Onofrio as the alien trying to maneuver the dead farmer’s body in Men in Black.
8. A performance that makes you cry
Koji Yakusho in Perfect Days. His face through the windshield in the closing shot.
9. Least favorite childhood movie memory
The otter killing in Ring of Bright Water (what the hell? Who ends a kids’ movie with an animal getting beheaded with a shovel??)
10. Movie you saw way too young
When I was 8, my mom took me to The Loves of Isadora. Nudity, sex, adultery. She got the dates wrong. She thought she was taking me to see The Bible.
11. Movie you’ll defend forevermore
Goldfinger.
12. Rainy day movie
Notting Hill.
13. Movie quote you use a lot
“Not sure I agree with you on your police work there, Lou” from Fargo or “You’re out of your league, Donny” from The Big Lewboski.
14. Favorite movie GIF:
15. Movie you want played at your funeral
It’s a Wonderful Life.
16. Movie you’d pair with Replaceable You
A montage of Mad Max: Fury Road for Charlize’s prosthetic arm, Un Chien Andalou for the eyeball, and something from The Tell-Tale Heart.