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PODCAST

The Director"s Chair Network

Join Ryan and many featured guests and other hosts as they break down and review a variety of directors and their films! So far, this podcast has featured films from Edward Zwick, John Hughes, Brian De Palma, and Michael Mann. Soon, we will feature Edgar Wright, Sam Peckinpah, Paul Verhoeven, and David Fincher!

tv & film film reviews

All Episodes

82:46

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

The Director"s Chair Network ·

2025/12/20

Katie and guest Andy from The All Apologies Podcast take a nostalgic deep dive into the 1992 sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, revisiting Kevin McCallister's chaotic Big Apple adventure against a vibrant early-'90s backdrop of neon windbreakers, Crystal Pepsi, and emerging boy bands. They kick off with a fun 1992 time-capsule trivia round nailing hits like Boyz II Men's "End of the Road," Sir Mix-a-Lot's "Baby Got Back," Kris Kross's "Jump," Vanessa Williams's "Save the Best for Last,"

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66:27

Ferrari

The Director"s Chair Network ·

2025/12/17

In this candid Michael Mann season finale for a Michael Mann retrospective, Ryan and Hughezy dissect the director's 2023 biopic Ferrari, starring Adam Driver as Enzo Ferrari, with brutal honesty, calling it dull, miscast, and a box-office disaster that lost over $50 million despite its $95 million budget, while slamming Adam Driver's performance, Shailene Woodley's bizarre accent, Penélope Cruz's over-the-top portrayal, and Mann's obsessive car nerdery that prioritized replica vehicles and

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61:08

Flesh + Blood

The Director"s Chair Network ·

2025/12/12

Join Ryan and Sicco for a passionate 40th-anniversary celebration of Paul Verhoeven’s brutal, chaotic medieval epic Flesh and Blood (1985). The two dive deep into the film’s unique place in Verhoeven’s career as the transitional work between his raw Dutch style and the hyper-stylized American films that followed, exploring its grimly realistic portrayal of medieval life, its total lack of heroes, the central role of religion and superstition, Jennifer Jason Lee’s fearless performance as the

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99:34

Home Alone

The Director"s Chair Network ·

2025/12/10

Katie welcomes Evan and Andrew from the Nothing Worthwhile Podcast for a deep-dive rewind into the 1990 holiday juggernaut Home Alone. The trio kicks off with a lively 1990 pop-culture trivia wheel (nailing jelly bracelets, Magic Eye posters, Hammer pants, “Just Do It,” Chili’s baby-back-ribs jingle, and the Billboard Top 5), then unpacks everything that makes John Hughes’ script (directed by Chris Columbus) an enduring classic: Macaulay Culkin’s perfect child performance, Joe Pesci &

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64:01

Showgirls

The Director"s Chair Network ·

2025/12/10

Host Sicco and guest Craig Cohen unpack Paul Verhoeven’s fearless audacity as the Dutch provocateur who weaponized sex, violence, and razor-sharp satire to shatter Hollywood taboos, defending Showgirls as a hyperbolic big-budget exploitation masterpiece—an unapologetic art-house fever dream exposing Vegas as a brutal vice machine where unreliable dreamers like Nomi claw for reinvention amid pimps, push-downs, and NC-17 nudity, proving Verhoeven’s obsession with Jesus-like resurrection,

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58:29

Dutch

The Director"s Chair Network ·

2025/11/28

Katie rewinds to 1991 to unpack the forgotten John Hughes-scripted road-trip comedy Dutch – a working-class guy vs. spoiled prep-school brat odyssey starring Ed O’Neal and a young Ethan Embry (billed as Ethan Randall) that bombed hard at the box office ($4.6M against $17M) yet somehow earned a 6.5 on IMDb and a soft spot in holiday watchlists. From class warfare and fireworks fails to hitchhiking disasters, prostitute pick-ups, homeless-shelter revelations, and one very questionable BB-gun

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122:19

The Running Man (2025)

The Director"s Chair Network ·

2025/11/23

In the chaotic, spoiler-filled finale of Trucker Andy’s Edgar Wright retrospective on the Director’s Chair Network, Cayley, Christian Bladt, Ryan Rebalkin, Tony from Hack the Movies, Joe Sixpack, Producer Chris, and Tooké tear into the 2025 Glen Powell Running Man remake. The verdict is nearly unanimous: it’s a gorgeous, hyper-faithful Stephen King adaptation that looks stunning in IMAX but feels shockingly devoid of Edgar Wright’s trademark whip-pans, quick-cut gags, and infectious charm

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45:55

Blackhat

The Director"s Chair Network ·

2025/11/22

In Michael Mann’s 2015 cyber-thriller Blackhat, Chris Hemsworth trades Thor’s hammer for a keyboard as a jacked, brilliant hacker sprung from prison to hunt a mysterious “black hat” cyber-terrorist whose real-world-grade code has already triggered a nuclear-plant explosion and threatens global chaos. Despite a $70 million budget lavished on stunning global locations, hyper-authentic hacking sequences (vetted by ex-cons and NSA consultants), and Mann’s trademark razor-sharp visuals and

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72:00

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

The Director"s Chair Network ·

2025/11/16

Katie welcomes back guest Scott Murphy to dissect the 1987 John Hughes Thanksgiving classic *Planes, Trains and Automobiles*, starring Steve Martin as the uptight Neil Page and John Candy as the lovably chaotic Del Griffith; the duo explore the film's chaotic cross-country misadventures inspired by Hughes' real-life travel woes, its blend of slapstick hilarity (like the infamous 19 F-bombs in 60 seconds), heartfelt character growth culminating in genuine holiday generosity, and enduring

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83:37

Last Night in Soho

The Director"s Chair Network ·

2025/11/14

In this penultimate episode of the Director's Chair Network's "All the Right Moves" limited series, host Andy and guest Tony from Hack the Movies dissect Edgar Wright's psychological thriller *Last Night in Soho* as a bold stylistic departure from his Cornetto Trilogy and *Scott Pilgrim vs. the World*, praising its meticulous mirror swaps, dream-reality editing, and 1960s Bond-girl aesthetic while critiquing plot holes in Eloise's "Shining"-like psychic visions, the post-Me Too vilification

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64:10

Showgirls

The Director"s Chair Network ·

2025/11/10

Host Sicco and guest Craig Cohen unpack Paul Verhoeven’s fearless audacity as the Dutch provocateur who weaponized sex, violence, and razor-sharp satire to shatter Hollywood taboos, defending Showgirls as a hyperbolic big-budget exploitation masterpiece—an unapologetic art-house fever dream exposing Vegas as a brutal vice machine where unreliable dreamers like Nomi claw for reinvention amid pimps, push-downs, and NC-17 nudity, proving Verhoeven’s obsession with Jesus-like resurrection,

en

96:10

Flubber

The Director"s Chair Network ·

2025/11/07

Katie welcomes guest Dustin from the Retro Movie Round Table to dissect the 1997 Disney remake "Flubber," penned by John Hughes and starring Robin Williams as the absent-minded Professor Philip Brainard. They dive into 1997 pop culture trivia, including fads like Beanie Babies and Tamagotchis, blockbuster films such as Titanic and Jurassic Park: The Lost World, and top songs from artists like Elton John, Jewel, and Puff Daddy. The discussion explores the film's cast, including Marcia Gay

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82:34

Baby Driver

The Director"s Chair Network ·

2025/11/06

In Edgar Wright's "Baby Driver," hosts Andy and Doug dissect the stylish heist thriller as the director's bold American debut, praising its groundbreaking musical synchronization—where gunshots, tire screeches, and foot chases pulse to a curated soundtrack like a rock opera on wheels—while critiquing the hollow lead character of Baby (Ansel Elgort), whose tinnitus-driven iPod obsession and muted personality fail to spark empathy or chemistry with love interest Debora (Lily James), leaving

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104:18

National Lampoon's European Vacation

The Director"s Chair Network ·

2025/11/02

Buckle up for a riotous retro road trip on this special anniversary episode of the podcast, where we dive headfirst into the 40th anniversary of National Lampoon’s European Vacation (released July 26, 1985), reliving the Griswold family's uproarious misadventures from London fog to Roman fountains and German beer halls, all while unpacking the film's satirical jabs at American tourist stereotypes and its star-studded cameos by Monty Python's Eric Idle and others. Joined by returning guest

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83:26

The World's End

The Director"s Chair Network ·

2025/10/29

Join hosts Trucker Andy, Hughezy, and Tooke in this episode of "All the Right Moves," a limited series podcast exploring Edgar Wright's filmography, as they dive into "The World's End" (2013). The discussion kicks off with personal reflections on aging, alcoholism, and the inner "Gary King" that lingers in everyone, drawing parallels to real-life struggles with partying, nostalgia for youthful nights out, and the challenges of maintaining friendships into middle age. They analyze the film's

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76:32

Total Recall

The Director"s Chair Network ·

2025/10/25

Sicco and Doug Greenberg, joined by guest Craig, dive into the cinematic brilliance of *Total Recall*, hailed as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s peak performance and Paul Verhoeven’s directorial masterpiece. They explore the film’s gripping Philip K. Dick-inspired narrative, blending mind-bending sci-fi with visceral action, and praise its tight script, innovative special effects, and stellar performances from Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone, and Ronnie Cox. The conversation delves into the film’s

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82:06

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

The Director"s Chair Network ·

2025/10/23

Host Andy and guest Producer Chris from WATP dive deep into Edgar Wright's beloved film "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," praising its genre-blending mastery of video games, rock music, romance, and comic books, while highlighting its passionate creation and relatable themes of immature relationships, toxic exes, and personal growth. They connect it to Wright's earlier work in "Spaced," noting recurring tropes like dance sequences and character dynamics, and discuss the film's star-studded

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76:06

Public Enemies

The Director"s Chair Network ·

2025/10/19

Join hosts Ryan and Doug on The Director's Chair Network as they dive into Michael Mann’s Public Enemies (2009), a thrilling crime epic that pits notorious bank robber John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) against FBI agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) in a high-stakes 1930s cat-and-mouse chase. This episode explores the film’s meticulous Prohibition-era aesthetic, Mann’s signature stylistic flair, and standout moments like the electrifying Little Bohemia Lodge shootout. From Dillinger’s daring

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77:48

Hot Fuzz

The Director"s Chair Network ·

2025/10/16

Episode three of All the Right Mov(i)es, hosted by Trucker Andy with guest Cayley from Once Over With Cayley, dives into the filmography of Edgar Wright, focusing on his early work Spaced and the iconic Hot Fuzz. The discussion highlights Wright’s unique directorial style, marked by quick edits, pop culture references, and running gags like the fence jump and Cornetto trilogy. They explore how Spaced draws inspiration from British comedy and independent filmmakers like Kevin Smith, while

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84:09

Shaun of the Dead

The Director"s Chair Network ·

2025/10/09

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76 results

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