Director's Club

Inspired by one of my favorite podcasts, Screen Drafts, I decided to revise their general format for just this episode in which Movie Madness host Erik Childress and I collaborated on what we feel are the top ten Richard Donner movies. Yes, this is subjective and we consider these to be personal favorites overall but there were a couple of twists along the way mainly due to different placement and some titles that one of us may have felt more strongly about than others.

This won’t become the new format, so don’t fret, but I thought this would be a nice little tribute to a fun action director of solid escapist entertainment. After all, I love lists, game shows and movies even if we all know that ranking art is arbitrary and silly. This was a blast and maybe I’ll do it again next year just as another offshoot. We return to our regularly scheduled program next month. In addition, for the what we watched segment, I review, ANNE AT 13,000 FT, THE NOWHERE INN and Eastwood’s CRY MACHO while Erik brings up a surprising TIFF title that I think we can all look forward to! Keep in mind that our own personal rankings differ from the drafted list. The only way you can find out what made the Donner cut is by listening. Thanks Erik for being a great guest as always and much appreciated to all of you who subscribe & share accordingly.

00:00 - 09:56 - Introduction
09:57 - 32:40 - What We Watched
32:41 - 02:05:30 - Richard Donner Top Ten Draft
02:05:31 - 02:26:08 - Final List / Outro

Follow Erik:
http://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/moviemadness

https://twitter.com/EriktheMovieman

https://letterboxd.com/erikthemovieman

Check Out Christmas Movies Actually:
http://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/christmasmoviesactually/episode47

My review of ANNE AT 13,000 FT:
https://www.voicesvisions.net/reviews/anne

My personal Donner rankings (not the drafted list):
https://letterboxd.com/jimlaczkowski/list/episode-192-richard-donner

I wasn't sure what to say or write about today or even what happened 20 years ago. So I just got out a microphone and put out my thoughts through this quick bonus episode in addition to including a previously recorded review of 25TH HOUR that Patrick and I once shared for the Spike Lee podcast. Hopefully you are reflecting, remembering and holding on as best you can. Share your thoughts on this film or any feelings you have over at [email protected]

00:00 - 19:29 - Monologue + Thoughts
19:30 - 33:30 - 25TH HOUR

Spike Lee Director's Club Episode:
http://www.directorsclubpodcast.com/blog/episode108

Jim here! I'm back as your monthly host! And since this era of filmmaking isn't necessarily my area of expertise, of course I had to recruit a "magnificent" returning guest by the name of Sergio Mims who of course adores the Western genre and even came up with the roster of underseen titles by the great John Sturges. You may know him as the director of such beloved classics like THE GREAT ESCAPE, but we mainly focus on lesser-known works that you should try to seek out. We avoid spoilers through most of the films and mention how you can track down a lot of these hidden gems. Gone are the parody songs but returning is the "what we watched" segment in which I review a couple of new releases (EMA, VAL) and Sergio talks about the documentary SEARCHING FOR MR. RUGOFF. Thank you again to Patrick for filling in these past three months for some excellent episodes you should check out if you haven't yet. Much gratitude as always to the walking Wikipedia of film knowledge as well for joining me in this fun discussion!

Titles Discussed Include: BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK, LAST TRAIN FROM GUN HILL, THE SATAN BUG, HOUR OF THE GUN, JOE KIDD, MCQ, THE EAGLE HAS LANDED

00:00 - 13:19 - Introduction
13:20 - 42:23 - What We Watched Recently (new releases)
42:24 - 01:16:00 - Sturges In The 50s
01:16:01 - 01:53:14 - Sturges In The 60s & 70s
01:53:15 - 02:09:54 - Wrap-Up / Outro

Download Sturges' BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK commentary:
https://cinephiliabeyond.org/bad-day-black-rock-john-sturges-audacious-culturally-significant-masterfully-suspenseful-drama

Sergio Mims' Essay On Sergeant Rutledge:
https://www.rogerebert.com/black-writers-week/considering-john-fords-apology-western-sergeant-rutledge

Sergio Mims' Tribute To Robert Downey Sr:
https://www.rogerebert.com/tributes/robert-downey-sr-1936-2021

Check Out Sergio On The Movie Madness Podcast:
http://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/moviemadness

Visit Director's Club On Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/directorsclub

Letterboxd:
https://letterboxd.com/jimlaczkowski/list/episode-191-john-sturges/https://letterboxd.com/jimlaczkowski

Nearly ten years ago, Jim and Patrick tried doing an episode on this beloved Hong Kong filmmaker but technology wasn't entirely cooperative back then. It was still released, but incomplete. Now many episodes later, Patrick returns sans Jim to try again with some great help as always from reliable, returning guest and podcaster extraordinare Bill Ackerman (Supporting Characters). This time, they each go through the entire filmography of Wong Kar-wai starting from the very beginning. Five hours later, they reach the end! So grateful to both Bill and Patrick for their incredible hard work and stamina for what's yet another enjoyable conversation about a masterful director whose In The Mood For Love is considered one of the all-time greatest films. Thank you to Patrick for filling in these past three months as well.

No, the old format didn't go away. This is just something special. If you want more bonus content like this, please join the Director's Club Patreon for only $5/month. You'll help support this show, Voices + Visions and the Now Playing Network. In the introduction, I establish a new monthly offering for those wanting more shorter content in the future in addition to the regular show. Hopefully there will be even more to come depending on guest availability / contributions. This is just a sample, posted in the regular feed for all of you to enjoy.

The gist of "Movies You Should See" is simply just that, in which a guest comes on to talk with me for under an hour about a title they're passionate about and that I've been meaning to catch up with. Today's guest is none other than Bill Ackerman (also coming on later this month w/Patrick for Wong Kar-Wai). We analyze the many strengths of Tom Noonan's fascinating play adaptation, WHAT HAPPENED WAS, which is becoming a new favorite of mine the more I see it. It was fun not only to talk about the movie, but the characters' unexpected interactions and how awkward & funny a first "date" can actually be. We hope enjoy this new form of bonus content and see you over on Patreon for more!

Please Support The Show For $5/Month:
https://patreon.com/directorsclub

Buy What Happened Was:
https://store.oscilloscope.net/products/what-happened-was

Check Out Bill's Podcast:
http://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/supportingcharacters

Follow Bill On Twitter:
https://twitter.com/characters_pod

Great Scott! Patrick returns to host a different approach to an episode in which he and returning guest Andrew James run down an entire filmography. So no more what we watched segment or parody songs just three and a half hours focused on action director Tony Scott starting at the beginning of his career all the way to the end. Follow along with the filmography below as well as follow both Patrick and Andrew on Letterboxd. Stay tuned next month for Patrick's final stint as guest host alongside Bill Ackerman when they run down the filmography of Wong Kar-wai. Thanks as always for listening and stay tuned for some bonus content in the months to come!

Tony Scott:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Scott#Filmography

Andrew James:
https://letterboxd.com/andrew_james

Patrick Ripoll:
https://letterboxd.com/patrickripoll

Jim is taking the summer off but Patrick is back as your host for the next three official episodes of the show! First up is the renowned French director Louis Malle who has had a lot of varied work throughout his career, several of which are brought up during the episode but the main focus is on Elevator To The Gallows along with Vanya On 42nd Street. Returning guests Robert Reineke (Still Watching The Skies) along with Regina Linn (Consistent Panda Bear Shape) join in on the conversation and have lots to say about the majority of this filmmaker's work in addition to the What We Watched segment as always. Stay tuned for late June when Patrick takes on the work of blockbuster filmmaker Tony Scott.

00:00 - 01:58 - Introduction
01:59 - 03:10 - What We Watched Song
03:11 - 41:18 - What We Watched
41:19 - 42:21 - Director Song
42:22 - 02:56:39 - Louis Malle Discussion
02:56:40 - 03:04:53 - Top 3 Favorites / Outro

Jim’s New Interview Feat. Actress/Artist Sabrina Lloyd:
https://www.voicesvisions.net/episodes/sabrinalloyd

I’ve done a lot of podcasts in my time but this one might be the craziest I’ve ever been a part of. Thanks to my dear friend Patrick Ripoll, this is one of those birthday gifts that I’ll cherish forever. What Patrick did was invent 43 movie and music-related games for my 43rd birthday and we turned them into 43 segments. Not to mention the 10 hours of editing Patrick did to put this  madness together. For about the first 90 minutes, the volume levels fluctuate a bit due to recording online but don’t fret. Then for the next 90 minutes, we got together in person for the first time in a long time so it sounds even better. There’s no need to list the games here we played in the show notes since half the fun is seeing what comes next.

Needless to say, if you’re a fan of Popcorn Supper or old-school Director’s Club or the yearly tradition of doing something unconventional this time of year to celebrate the fact that I’m still here on this planet, you do not want to skip over this. Also stay tuned to Voices & Visions for an interview with an actress that is truly special in so many ways as well as Patrick’s next three stints hosting this here show while I take a brief summer hiatus. Thanks to Patrick for his hard work and to all of you for continuing to listen and supporting this weird, wild show - Jim

Be sure to check out episodes of Patrick's podcast too:
http://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/tracksofthedamned

One of the year's most incredibly fun horror movies is coming out this weekend and it'll be in theaters as well as VOD on May 21st. Joining me for this bonus episode, writer/director Simon Barrett of Seance joins me today to talk about his experiences making the film as well as previous collaborations with Adam Wingard making two of my favorites, You're Next and The Guest. Also I make a brief announcement at the top of the show regarding the next couple of months too. Thanks so much for all the support and for listening!

00:00 - 08:57 - Introduction / Announcement
08:58 - 36:06 - Simon Barrett Interview

Read My Review Of Seance:
https://www.voicesvisions.net/reviews/seance

Check Out Seance This Weekend:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11188624

Watch The Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQ5XXhTnbUg

80% of the crew for Chantal Akerman’s Jeanne Dielman were women. For this episode, I needed the perspective and insights from two of the smartest women I know. Returning guest Kate Blair and newcomer Sharon Gissy join me to discuss this remarkable (and oftentimes challenging) Belgian director that completely changed European cinema back in the mid-70s. We talk about six Chantal Akerman films she’s made mostly in chronological order and several are available on the Criterion Channel. Just a heads up we had technical difficulties for the last 20 minutes so the show had to be cut a bit shorter than usual but I explain in the episode once we reach the outro.

We start with her short film debut and end on her poignant documentary News From Home. Similar themes and ideas pop up along the way. For the what we watched recently segment, titles include Rachel Getting Married, Psycho Goreman, Last Year At Marienbad and QAnon: Into The Storm. Thank you so much to my wonderful guests for coming on to talk about a truly special filmmaker. Also just a heads up that the next episode on Louis Malle may not come out until the very end of May due to busy schedules from both myself and the guests.

00:00 - 08:30 - Introduction
08:31 - 09:25 - What We Watched Song
09:26 - 35:35 - What We Watched Recently
35:36 - 36:39 - Director Song
36:40 - 02:03:22 - Chantal Akerman Discussion
02:03:23 - 02:08:32 - Top Three Akerman Films / Outro

Portrait Of A Young Girl At The End Of 60s In Brussels:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ijI-wOhbQo

Watch Chantal Akerman Films:
https://www.criterionchannel.com/directed-by-chantal-akerman-2

Mental Filmness Festival Hosted By Sharon:
https://mentalfilmness.com
https://www.facebook.com/mentalfilmness

Voices & Visions Reviews From Sharon:
https://www.voicesvisions.net/reviews/tag/sharongissy

Letterboxd Reviews From Kate:
https://letterboxd.com/selective_kate

Voices & Visions Reviews From Kate:
https://www.voicesvisions.net/reviews/tag/kateblair

Follow Me On Letterboxd (but not on Twitter ever again):
https://letterboxd.com/jimlaczkowski/list/episode-187-chantal-akerman