We have come to know Taissa Farmiga as young witch Zoe Benson in the Certified Fresh American Horror Story: Coven. Taissa, who discovered her passion for acting when sister Vera cast her as her younger self in the 2011 film Higher Ground, now stars in Jamesy Boy, with Ving Rhames, Mary-Louise Parker and James Woods. Taissa shared with us her five favorite films, after contemplating what it is exactly that makes a film a favorite. Here is the final list.
Perks of Being a Wallflower (Stephen Chbosky, 2012; 85% Tomatometer)
I loved the book. I’m probably one of those readers who judges movie adaptations far too harshly, but I was very excited to see the movie and when it came out, not disappointed at all. So incredible. I loved Logan Lerman, and Ezra and Emma as well. The cinematography, the acting, everything was just spectacular. A special film, especially to teenagers growing up in this world and finding out completely who you are.
Black Swan (Darren Aronofsky, 2010; 87% Tomatometer)
I thought Natalie Portman was sheer perfection. I loved, you know, the obsession, the twists, the play of good and evil; I love things that mess with your mind in a way.
Another movie with layers of deception and truth and dreams and reality, and everything is just so interwoven. The plot was intricate, but intricate in an amazing way. You can’t just sit there and watch this movie. You have to be engrossed, sort of taken with it. I love those kinds of movies.
You have a sort of fascination, it seems, with films about deception.
Ha, yeah. What does that mean? What does that mean? I’m learning more about myself every day.
I just rewatched it a little while ago. With Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet. I thought that was incredible. A love story with, again, layers of intricacy and just figuring out all these little details. It was also the first time I saw Jim Carrey when he wasn’t being funny or doing a comedy, and that really pulled me in. I was like, “Wait what’s this?” I was captivated.
I have to say, I do remember Ferris Bueller’s Day Off on days when I’d skip school. My mom was actually really awesome about that. Really awesome about that.
She let you ditch school?
Maybe that’s why I started being home-schooled. No, not too much. She would give you that one moment like, “Oh, you know what, you can have it, but don’t you dare try to pull it again.” Know what I mean?
It’s one of the only movies that I’ve seen, like, 20 plus times. One of my favorite moments is when they drove the car and they’re trying to reverse the miles. Even when I was watching it at, like, eleven years old, I was like, “You can’t reverse the miles. It’s going in reverse,” and then it crashes out the back. I don’t know, it brings back memories of my childhood and that’s such a warming feeling.
Seeing a movie 20 plus times would constitute it being a favorite.
You know what, you’re right, you’re right! I think I’ve figured out what makes a movie a favorite!
Jamesy Boy opened in limited release on January 17, 2014.
