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PODCAST

Director"s Club

A monthly show that reviews one film director per episode with the occasional bonus episode. Episodes 123-172 were hosted by Brad & Al. As of 2022, new episodes will be hosted by Jim and/or Bill. The spin-off show, B-Side Me, is also here (for now) which is all about music/bands!

tv & film visual arts

All Episodes

03:57:21

Episode 152: Robert Altman Redux Part 1

Director"s Club ·

2018/07/16

Once in a while a director comes along with such an original and distinctive vision that you can return to his work again and again and continue to discover new depths. Robert Altman is such a director and has inspired us to release our first Director's Club Redux episode. In Part 1, we cover the maverick director's breakout blockbuster M*A*S*H, all the way to his not so blockbuster take on Popeye. In between, we look at his deconstructions of Westerns (McCabe & Mrs. Miller), noirs (The Long

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02:37:43

Episode 151: David Twohy

Director"s Club ·

2018/06/24

In this episode, the Director's Club encounters environments from the dephts of the ocean up to the stars as we explore the work of screenwriter, filmmaker, and Riddick Chronicler David Twohy! Helping immensely in our quest is Paul Freitag-Fey, a writer for Daily Grindhouse who showcases underseen films in Chicago at the Comfort Station and streaming hidden gems at http://watchthisthing.net . With him joining in on the journey, we not only point out how Twohy puts inspired twists on genre

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03:37:50

Episode 150: John Ford Part Two

Director"s Club ·

2018/06/11

For it's 150th episode, the Director's Club takes a Monumental trek through the latter films of John Ford. With the help of Peter Richards from the Chicago Film Discussion Group, we see how through films like his 'Cavalry Trilogy', "The Sun Shines Bright", "The Searchers" and up to "Cheyenne Autumn", Ford's evolving attitudes about race, the West, and the conflict between individuals and community, between truth, sentiment, and myth, found expression in iconic performances, increasingly thoughtful

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02:29:53

Episode 149: Martin & John Michael McDonagh

Director"s Club ·

2018/05/29

The Directors Club tries to live up to the first part of its name, as in this episode we take a look at two seperate directors at once: English filmmaking brothers Martin ("In Bruges") and John Michael ("Calvary") McDonagh. While they haven't officially worked on a film together, there are some fascinating connections of dark humor, empathy, faith, and a desire to subvert expectations that can be found when looking through their films together, from "Second Death" through the award-winning "Three

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44:51

Bonus Episode: Ryan Oestreich (Manager Of The Music...

Director"s Club ·

2018/05/25

Jim here again, sneaking in with a short bonus episode cross-posted with V+V. One of the greatest joys to experience in the fine city of Chicago is sitting down to watch a screening of a classic film at The Music Box Theatre. It has been my favorite movie theater for quite some time and when the opportunity came to talk to the general manager of this theater, I could not have been more thrilled. Ryan Oestreich has a long history with the film industry, particularly film festival programming and

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02:59:11

Episode 148: Akira Kurosawa Part 2

Director"s Club ·

2018/05/13

The Director's Club pays a return journey to the world of Akira Kurosawa! Focusing this time on the second half of his career, we take a loo k at his biggest box office success, his iconic lone samurai warrior Sanjuro, the multiple great performances he got from Toshiro Mifune and Tatsuya Nakadai, and his influences on a galaxy far far away. We'll check out the ways his later films astound on multiple levels, how he fell out of favorin the movie business and what led to one of the greatest late

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02:25:05

Bonus Episode: Take Shelter! Jim Turns 40

Director"s Club ·

2018/05/05

Jim here again! Well, I can't believe, This is 40? One day in and I can already say that it's nothing like that overlong Judd Apatow movie. While waiting for my midlife crisis to commence, I invited my old compadre over to the recording studio for a conversation in the tradition of our old-school bonus episodes! This time, we even play a round of Score Bits, inspired by the one and only Film Junk Podcast. At the top, you'll hear me introduce this joyful birthday present, bookended by songs from

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40:17

Bonus Episode: Melanie Lynskey & Vincent Grashaw

Director"s Club ·

2018/04/28

Hello there everyone! Jim here. Former co-host of this here show. More is explained in the intro(s) but I decided to offer up a special bonus treat here for both Director's Club + Voices and Visions alike. I had the pleasure of seeing a very good new film called AND THEN I GO, directed by my first guest Vincent Grashaw. We had a great talk about the inspiration behind the film and his process. Then, I was absolutely honored and thrilled to talk to one of my all-time favorite actresses, Melanie

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02:15:41

Episode 147: Edgar Wright

Director"s Club ·

2018/04/22

We are pleased to welcome back Chicago Film Discussion Group Organizer Peter Richards as we look at the comic and kinetic career of the U.K.’s own Edgar Wright. Best known for his trilogy of genre parodies with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, he’d also bring some wild innovations to his American offerings, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Baby Driver. We’ll discuss them all and decide which ones are worth missing a night at the pub for. 7:52 A Fistful of Fingers / Wright's early TV work ("Fingertips

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02:39:14

Episode 146: Béla Tarr

Director"s Club ·

2018/04/12

In this episode, the Director's Club takes a trek to Hungary to check out the films of Béla Tarr, whose long shots without cutting, luscious imagery of darkness, deliberate yet poetic camera movements, and stark perspectives of man and nature has sculpted out some of the most unforgettable moments in film. In addition to trying to describe what makes his films so special, we look at how he developed his style over decades (and with the help of several talented collaborators), and we explore the

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03:21:38

Episode 145: John Ford Part One

Director"s Club ·

2018/03/25

In this episode, the Director's Club delves into the Green Valleys, Stagecoaches, and Long Voyages shown in the works of the legendary director John Ford. With the help of fellow Chicago Film Discussion Group member Peter Richards (who guested on our Terence Malick episode), in Part I of our series we not only look into his classic early films, but lesser-known yet no less fascinating efforts which include silent epics, minimalist treks through the desert, dark foggy nights of the Irish soul, and

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02:36:21

Episode 144: Andrew Davis

Director"s Club ·

2018/03/04

It's an action-packed episode of the Director's Club as we look at the works of Andrew Davis. Most well-known as director of "The Fugitive", one of the greatest action movies ever made, we explore his ability to enhance a wide range of films (from those of Samuel Z. Arkoff and Chuck Norris to even Alfred Hitchcock) and how he infuses them with great energy, character and Chicago flavor from his very first movie! 5:53 "Stony Island" ("The Stony Island Band", The Stony Island Band) 17:54 "The Final

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02:16:05

Bonus Episode: 1988 Review - The Year In Movies -...

Director"s Club ·

2018/02/19

Welcome to the exciting conclusion! The Director's Club / Voices & Visions crossover continues once again! Last year around this time, it was so warm outside, we opened the windows. This time, it was cold & snowy (hence the sound of the heater throughout). But have no fear! Your loyal Chicago film critics are here to carry on the tradition of going back 30 years to cover a year in film that they all grew up with. Starting from about 1985, our hosts became film fanatics with different tastes, but

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02:16:40

Bonus Episode: 1988 Review - The Year In Movies -...

Director"s Club ·

2018/02/19

The Director's Club / Voices & Visions crossover continues once again! Last year around this time, it was so warm outside, we opened the windows. This time, it was cold & snowy (hence the sound of the heater throughout). But have no fear! Your loyal Chicago film critics are here to carry on the tradition of going back 30 years to cover a year in film that they all grew up with. Starting from about 1985, our hosts became film fanatics with different tastes, but similiar memories of videostores,

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02:57:27

Episode 143: Rob Reiner

Director"s Club ·

2018/02/13

Welcome to 2018! In this episode, the Director's Club gives a look at Rob Reiner, who has one of the most two-sided careers in filmmaking history. Through the first part, it was like he could do no wrong, putting great polish and attention to romantic comedies, coming-of-age stories, tongue-in-cheek takes on fantasy, and inventing the mockumentary. In the second half, it was like he was trying to make up for the first half (when Roger Ebert makes his negative review the title of one of his books,

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03:00:37

Episode 142: 2017 Year In Review Part Two

Director"s Club ·

2018/01/05

Together again. Gee, it's good to be together again. Jim and Patrick return for their yearly tradition of running down favorites and highlights from the past twelve months. In addition, they answer some emails, read many listener contributions/lists, and discuss the future. They hand out some awards, gifts, and throw paper at one another. Surprisingly, there isn't nearly as many puns and weird voices this time but since it became a 5-hour recording, they dependably get loopy as the show goes

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02:03:07

Episode 142: 2017 Year In Review Part One

Director"s Club ·

2018/01/05

Together again. Gee, it's good to be together again. Jim and Patrick return for their yearly tradition of running down favorites and highlights from the past twelve months. In addition, they answer some emails, read many listener contributions/lists, and discuss the future. They hand out some awards, gifts, and throw paper at one another. Surprisingly, there isn't nearly as many puns and weird voices this time but since it became a 5-hour recording, they dependably get loopy as the show goes

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02:39:03

Episode 141: Akira Kurosawa Part One

Director"s Club ·

2018/01/01

The Director's Club wanted to finish off the year right and begin the new one with a bang, so we're having our first 2018 episode on the films of epic director Akira Kurosawa. This episode looks at the first half of his career, looking in on his early works from "Sanshiro Sugata" through his run of masterpieces ("Rashomon", "Ikiru", "Seven Samurai", "Throne of Blood"). Hope you all have a happy new year in 2018, and that you enjoy listening to us talk about his amazing films at least half as much

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02:43:07

Episode 140: Denis Villeneuve

Director"s Club ·

2017/12/17

Now Playing Network Master of Ceremonies (and Director's Club founder) Jim Laczkowski joins us for this episode which has us looking at the films of French Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve! With Jim's help, we look at how Villeneuve brings his unique combination of thoughtfulness, pathos, family focus, and strangeness to dramas, genre thrillers, and films across the sci-fi spectrum. Includes lots of spiders and one talking fish. 14:23 "August 32nd on Earth" / "Maelstrom" ("Fish Heads", Barnes &

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02:35:08

Episode 139: James Whale

Director"s Club ·

2017/11/26

In this episode the Director's Club takes a look at the films of James Whale (with the help of Fresh Perspective's Jeff Broitman). Whale's innovations in camera movement and special effects, set of quirky character actors in supporting roles, and appreciation of the outsiders in society was put to good use in musicals, war films, and courtroom dramas, but never better than when he was making some of the most iconic horror movies in history! 00:00 Pre-film history, "Journey's End" 11:21 "Waterloo

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362 results

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