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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

07:13:07

Episode 243: 50 Favorites Part IV: The Final Chapter...

Director"s Club ·

2026/02/02

The title says it all. 50 Favorites Part One was done back in 2021. Every couple of years, we nerd out some more! Collect them all, tell your friends!Welcome back Supporting Characters host Bill Ackerman for a 7-hour conversation about 50 more of our very favorite films, bringing the total to 200. Perhaps in 2028 we will return??Thank you for listening and for the support and to Bill for being one of the best guests and friends on the planet. Stay tuned for two more DC episodes this month (Frank

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01:18:57

Bonus Episode: Chicago Film Critic Nick Digilio (40...

Director"s Club ·

2026/01/23

My first live podcast recording! Author/film critic/podcaster Nick Digilio sold out the community room at the Rogers Park Branch library in Chicago to talk all about his new book and memoir, 40 YEARS 40 FILMS. I asked questions, played movie clips, celebrated an accomplished Chicago legend that has meant a lot to me in so many ways these past 30+ years. Thank you to Sharon for coming to the rescue by filming the video last minute which you can view at the link below as an alternative to the audio

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55:26

Bonus Episode: Ryan Verrill (The Disc-Connected &...

Director"s Club ·

2026/01/19

Do you love physical media and movies? Then you should be following all-things Ryan. I am truly honored to be joined by returning guest and physical media community superhero Ryan Verrill. We discuss the many projects he has in the works while mainly focusing on his latest distribution company, Antenna Releasing. During the 2nd half of the conversation, we also discuss some of his favorite films of 2025!Per their website, Antenna Releasing is "always looking for exciting new voices in film to

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04:53:21

Episode 242: Favorite Films of 2025 (feat. Patrick...

Director"s Club ·

2026/01/02

What a year. Thank God it's over. For a nearly five-hour long conversation among my two dearest friends and fellow podcasters, we reveal 25 our of favorite films of 2025. One of our guests mainly focuses on the horror genre while I decide not to rank the titles and simply list them in alphabetical order. Obviously, my number one is a film we talked about earlier this year in its entirety as a separate bonus episode (below). But there are 24 more films to celebrate as well (many more from my guests

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33:01

Bonus Episode: Bloodbeat (1983)

Director"s Club ·

2025/12/29

What the hell is Bloodbeat?? From one-and-done French filmmaker Fabrice-Ange Zaphiratos, filmed in Wisconsin. A young woman travels to rural Wisconsin to meet her boyfriend's family, but she becomes possessed by the spirit of a Japanese samurai who goes on killing spree anytime she becomes aroused. You read that synopsis correctly which is precisely why I decided to concoct a special holiday bonus episode featuring friends Matt Greene & Jesse Oliver for an experimental episode on a truly bizarre

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02:09:54

Episode 241: Michael Ritchie (feat. Peter Sobczynski)

Director"s Club ·

2025/12/01

Returning guest, Chicago film critic, and regular contributor to the Movie Madness podcast is back for a long overdue third appearance. His most memorable one being well over a decade ago when he took the pro-side on the infamous Brian De Palma episode. None other than the talented and hilarious Peter Sobczynski volunteered to discuss the (mostly) underrated works of satirist Michael Ritchie (no relation to Guy) who had a career with high highs and low lows. We talk mainly about three of his most

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72:11

B-Side Me Episode #2: Belle & Sebastian

Director"s Club ·

2025/11/10

In addition to the monthly movie talk regarding directors (for Director’s Club), I am happy to present the latest episode of the music version of that same format! Only this time - all about bands/musicians that we think are worth discussing. Along w/co-host Sharon Gissy, we both can’t wait for you to listen to us nerd out about music each month (we missed October but that’s okay, it was a very busy month). Without further ado, here is the 2nd episode of B-Side Me.The format is simple: each of us

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59:06

Bonus Episode: Jim & Patrick Watch The Entire...

Director"s Club ·

2025/10/31

No description necessary! The title says it all. Well it was tempting to record all 12 hours of us talking through the entire franchise for the ultimate commentary track and podcast for 7 films, we thought it was best to record quick reactions after each film as we binged them all in one entire day. Happy Halloween, bitch!BE SURE TO STAY TO THE VERY END. There’s a surprise special cameo that really was a real treat for both of us to say the least. Now here are a lot of photos if you're seeing this

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101:06

B-Side Me Episode #1: Smashing Pumpkins

Director"s Club ·

2025/09/22

In addition to the monthly movie talk regarding directors (for Director’s Club), I am happy to present the debut episode of the music version of that same format! Only this time - all about bands/musicians/songwriters that we think are worth discussing. Alongside co-host Sharon Gissy, we both can’t wait for you to listen to us nerd out about music each month with the first episode of B-Side Me.The format is simple: each of us pick an A-side to discuss (a more popular well-known song) and then we

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116:46

Episode 239: Kenneth Lonergan (feat. Mitchell Beaupre)

Director"s Club ·

2025/09/22

Returning guest, film writer and all-around great human being Mitchell Beaupre from Letterboxd (and a number of publications) returns for the third time to discuss a mutual favorite filmmaker of ours, the incredible Kenneth Lonergan. All three of his films mean a lot to us both so we opted to bypass the new format (which consists of two films per episode) to talk about his debut film, You Can Count On Me (newly released via Criterion Collection) then his remarkable follow-up Margaret, ending with

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128:46

Bonus Episode: 1999 Review - The Year In Music

Director"s Club ·

2025/07/11

For this excursion into something besides movies, I would recruit friend and Austin-based journalist Dan Solomon to go back 20 years to talk about a year in music - an art form that I love every bit much as film. For this retrospective, my guests and I curate a new list of ten favorite records from that year, playing snippets of certain songs and discussing our feelings about music in general. As of 2021, I decided to include my dear friend Jason Simpson, also a pop culture writer, to join us in

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166:21

Episode 238: Michael Bay (feat. guest hosts Chloe...

Director"s Club ·

2025/07/07

Do you like explosions?! Well you're in for a summer treat. Thank you so much to guest hosts Chloe Waryan and Luther Moss for covering a director on Director's Club I never would want to cover without losing my mind. What a delightful discussion and it’s an honor to put this out for all to hear! You "don't want to miss" this episode! You also don't want to close your eyes, you don't want to fall asleep. Animal crackers optional. 00:00 - 05:40 - Show Changes / Intro from Jim!05:41 - 07:15 -

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50:05

Episode 237: Ross McElwee

Director"s Club ·

2025/05/04

I once saw a film called Sherman’s March which of course I adored. But then a year or so ago, I watched another film by the same director, Bright Leaves. For some reason, it had a profound effect on me. This episode goes into detail as to why. Joining me throughout is Illinois archivist and historian Eric Edwards for this unconventional approach to this podcast. A lot of it edited, scripted, even EQ’d, but the most obvious difference are included excerpts from other shows. We hear a lot from Ross

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123:49

Episode 236: Jack Clayton (feat. Rachel Bellwoar)

Director"s Club ·

2025/04/21

What an honor and a joy it was to talk with Rachel Bellwoar, an extremely talented writer and pop culture enthusiast whose work I’ve enjoyed discovering over the years. Thanks to many mutual cinephile friends and podcasters, we crossed paths in the world of Facebook and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have her on the show to talk about an underappreciated British director, Jack Clayton!Pauline Kael praised The Innocents as "one of the most elegantly beautiful ghost movies ever made” and rightfully

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130:00

Episode 234: Nick Digilio (Celebrating 40 Years As A...

Director"s Club ·

2025/02/24

This is a celebration, not just another Director’s Club episode for a reason. Back in 1990, I became an avid fan and follower of today’s guest and he’s been on this show a couple of times in the past, most recently for the Paul Thomas Anderson Part II episode. I’m talking of course about Nick Digilio.40 years ago, he began his career as a professional film critic, reviewing movies on Roy Leonard’s radio show. It’s also amazing to think that 40 years ago, I first fell in love with movies after seeing

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295:09

Episode 232: Favorite Films of 2024 (feat. Bill...

Director"s Club ·

2025/01/06

Nearly five hours of conversation and recommendations all about the year 2024 in cinema! Bill Ackerman (host of Supporting Characters and guest host of this show) and I reveal 25 favorite films, talk about the year in general and have a lot to say as usual. In addition, you’ll get to hear thoughts from previous guest Chloe Waryan as well as a traditional song from yours truly where I sing the titles of Bill’s 40 favorites.00:00 - 15:40 - Intro / Thoughts15:41 - 02:50:09 - Numbers 25-11.02:50:10 -

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176:53

Episode 231: Jackie Chan (feat. Sam Inglis & Gabe...

Director"s Club ·

2024/12/24

Happy holidays! Grateful to my incredibly smart and passionate guests to cover a genre I’m not as well-versed in - Hong Kong cinema particularly martial arts action. I am familiar with Buster Keaton though unlike the first time I saw Rumble In The Bronx back in 1995 at the local multiplex. Nevertheless, I know I was watching a legendary talent of the highest caliber even back then. Joining me for a discussion on the directorial work of a master stunt man, actor, singer, death-defying daredevil

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44:48

Bonus Episode: Joel Potrykus (Vulcanizadora)

Director"s Club ·

2024/12/16

Hello everyone! I am no longer putting out episodes via Libsyn, they are now hosted right here at my Substack. Formerly known as the 5 Years Substack, this is now the hub for all-things Director’s Club including a new URL. Learn about all this and more during my 8-minute preamble before we get to the subject at hand - indeed a very special one since today’s guest is responsible for my favorite film of 2024 (soon to be released next year so stay tuned). I was lucky enough to spend a half hour talking

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02:11:22

Episode 229: Guillermo Del Toro (feat. Chloe Waryan)

Director"s Club ·

2024/10/28

The spooky season is here! Why not indulge in the twisted fantasy worlds of one renowned, revered Mexican filmmaker by the name of Guillermo Del Toro! Of course I needed to enlist a super fan of his and I was lucky enough to have returning guest Chloe Waryan back on the show for another truly delightful discussion. Chloe may very well be my go-to guest every October (well at least for next year so we can finally talk about Mike Flanagan). Not to mention, you're in for a surprise when Chloe and I

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02:18:53

Episode 228: Jeremy Saulnier (feat. Mitchell Beaupre)

Director"s Club ·

2024/09/30

It's been six weeks since a new episode of the show but this will be worth the wait, given not only the director we're covering but the guest is one of the best film critics working today. Letterboxd's very own Mitchell Beaupre returns after their debut a couple years ago for a nail-biting discussion on one of our premiere action-thriller directors working today. Jeremy Saulnier has a terrific new movie out on Netflix called Rebel Ridge which we review at length in addition to the rest of his

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362 results

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