Director's Club

Movie Madness’ very own Erik Childress returns once again for another blockbuster action filmmaker. This time it’s the self-proclaimed perfectionist James Cameron, arguably one of the great innovators behind the science-fiction genre especially when it comes to state-of-the-art special effects.  We pretty much cover his entire career despite not having enthusiasm for where his career has gone most recently.  There is a lot to say especially when it comes to Cameron’s improvement behind each “sequel” with Erik having a fondness for ALIENS and my love of TERMINATOR 2. Throughout the conversation we also discuss the issue of special editions, longer running times, Cameron’s penchant for strong female characters, and how many times we saw TITANIC in the theater. 

00:00 – 11:23 – Intro
11:24 – 13:00 – Director Song
13:01 – 49:31 -  Terminator
49:32 – 01:28:17 - Aliens, The Abyss
01:28:18 – 01:49:00 - Terminator 2, True Lies
01:49:01 – 02:14:21 - Titanic, Avatar
02:14:22 – 02:29:31 - Top 5 / Outro

In about a week, I am excited to completely change things up and talk once again about the art of comedy – this time focusing on the parody genre as well as the career of the comedy team Zucker Abrahams Zucker.  Joining me for that episode will be Sean & Frank of Film Junk, which remains my favorite podcast and one of the reasons this show exists.  Please stay tuned for that and an epic discussion on a classic filmmaker at the end of the month with guest Sergio Mims.  As always, send me an email over at [email protected], and visit the website:  http://directorsclubpodcast.com

Check out Erik’s podcast:
http://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/moviemadness

Check out the podcast network:
http://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/

This episode is brought to you by Crystal Meth Papsi, enjoy a refreshing new Papsi.  Papsi.  Drink.  Drink it now.  Film blogger, editor and all-around nice guy Filip ONell joins me for an incredibly fun discussion on cult British filmmaker Alex Cox. Of course we sing the praises of REPO MAN, but we dig even deeper into his other work including the acclaimed SID & NANCY as well as the underappreciated WALKER, HIGHWAY PATROLMAN & THREE BUSINESSMEN.  I had a blast watching some of these for the first time, even if they are all far from perfect films.  I briefly get to know Filip in the introduction since he is the first guest I've had on from Sweden, as well as an inspiring filmmaker and lifelong cinephile!  So glad he got in touch with me and decided to cover an underrated director that I'm excited to explore even further.  You gotta love the Repo Man theme from Iggy Pop at the top of this show, as well as a lot of soundtrack choices from Cox as well!  This episode is brought to you by Crystal Meth Papsi, enjoy a refreshing new Papsi.  Papsi.  Drink.  Drink it now. 

00:00 - 05:59 - Introduction
06:00 - 18:09 - Introduction with Filip O'Nell
18:10 - 19:24 - Director Song
19:25 - 46:05 - REPO MAN
46:06 - 1:06:58 - SID & NANCY, STRAIGHT TO HELL
1:06:49 - 1:40:01 - WALKER, HIGHWAY PATROLMAN
1:40:02 - 1:55:55 - THE WINNER, THREE BUSINESSMEN
1:55:56 - 2:01:41 - Top 3 Films / Outro

Coming in less than a week is the return of Movie Madness' very own Erik Childress as we discuss the career of the Oscar-winning "king of the blockbuster," James Cameron!  And so much more is yet to come before the month is done and I take a couple weeks off in September.  As always, please do send me an email with questions, comments, and recipes over at: [email protected]
Check out Filip ONell's work on Clive Barker's NIGHTBREED:
http://www.clivebarkercast.com/2015/08/25/nightbreeds-alternate-extended-cut-by-filip-onell/

Visit the website:
http://directorsclubpodcast.com

Visit the podcast network:
http://nowplayingnetwork.net

Check out my recent appearance on the Great Albums Podcast:
http://www.thegreatalbums.com/podcast-episodes/liz-phair-jim-laczkowski

One of my favorite people to talk movies with returns for the 2nd time this year! Film blogger, enthusiast, and friend Kate Blair is back to talk about a true pioneer of the Nouvelle Vague movement, Agnes Varda.  Her self-funded debut, the fiction-documentary hybrid 1956’s LA POINTE COURTE is often considered the unofficial first New Wave film; when she made it, she had no professional cinema training. Varda essentially evolved with each production in exciting and innovative ways that continue to dazzle viewers, including myself, who hadn't seen her work until just one month ago.

I cannot say enough good things about her first few films, and as usual, we weren't able to cover everything due to time constraints and the fact that some titles aren't readily available.  But we'll definitely return to this fascinating filmmaker who really puts herself out there.  We focus on her debut, CLEO FROM 5 TO 7, HAPPINESS, VAGABOND, THE GLEANERS AND I, THE BEACHES OF AGNES, and a couple of short films too.  Hope you enjoy our discussion on a director that you definitely should know more about, so be sure to experience her work for yourself!

00:00 - 04:43 - Introduction
04:44 - 07:24 - Introduction with Kate
07:25 - 08:57 - Director Song (feat. Patrick Ripoll)
08:58 - 40:30 - LA POINTE COURTE, CLEO FROM 5 TO 7
40:31 - 01:13:13 - HAPPINESS, VAGABOND
01:13:14 - 01:53:44 - THE GLEANERS & I, THE BEACHES OF AGNES, (Short Films)
01:53:45 - 02:08:26 - Top 3 Films / Outro

Towards the end of the month, two more episodes are on the docket. One will be on Alex Cox featuring Filip Önell, and shortly thereafter, an episode on James Cameron with Movie Madness host Erik Childress will arrive too!  Lots of good stuff to come throughout the summer, so stay tuned and visit DirectorsClubPodcast.com. Send an email to: [email protected].  Leave a review on ITunes and check out the podcast network for a variety of great shows over at NowPlayingNetwork.net

Back once again after only a month and a half, talk show radio hero extraordinare, WGN's Nick Digilio returns once again to discuss the post-GOODFELLAS career of Martin Scorsese. We start with CAPE FEAR and go all the way to THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, and everything in-between.  Digressions galore, but a real highlight of this episode comes at about the 59 minute mark when Nick brings up an infamous studio publicist who loved to let the expletives fly!  When he discusses Frank Casey at one point, it might've been the hardest I've laughed on this show in a long time.  But really, this is all about Scorsese's fascinating and influential career as continued from Part One. Nick and I disagree a couple of times, particularly on the last film he has put out as of 2016. Truly hope you enjoy this memorable conversation, because as always, talking with Nick on my own show is something that remains very special to me indeed.

Scorsese Part One:
http://www.directorsclubpodcast.com/blog/scorsesepart1

00:00 - 08:00 - Introduction
08:01 - 35:03 - CAPE FEAR, THE AGE OF INNOCENCE, CASINO
35:04 - 54:44 - KUNDUN, BRINGING OUT THE DEAD, GANGS OF NEW YORK
54:45 - 01:21:17 - AVIATOR, SHUTTER ISLAND, HUGO
01:21:18 - 01:35:15 - WOLF OF WALL STREET / Top 5 Scorsese Films / Outro

Subscribe to Nick Digilio's podcast here:
http://wgnradio.com/category/nick-digilio/

Nick, Erik & Collin's Favorite Films Of 2016 So Far:
http://wgnradio.com/2016/07/11/the-best-and-worst-movies-of-2016-so-far/

Stay tuned -- many more episodes to come this month, including Agnes Varda, Alex Cox, and more!  Be sure to visit NowPlayingNetwork.net for all of the great shows I mentioned during the introduction.  Send an email to [email protected] and subscribe over on ITunes.  Thank you again so much for listening, and your continuing support.  Finally, the piece of music I used at the end of this episode is one of my favorite compositions of all time. It's by the great Max Richter and was used briefly and brilliantly in SHUTTER ISLAND.  Do listen to this piece in its entirety:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVN1B-tUpgs

Website / Archives:
http://directorsclubpodcast.com

ITunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/directors-club/id414288912

Like The Show On Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Directors-Club-248157061905613/

We did it all for the glory of love. Ladies and gentlemen, let's go back thirty years to when I fell in love with going to the movies.  The mid-80s informed a lot of my taste, and much like last year's 1985 retrospective, it's always a blast to go back and see what holds up and what we each consider to be personal favorites from a particular year. RogerEbert.com's very own Erik Childress and Collin Souter return for what is to become a yearly tradition. We go through the entire year chronologically covering titles that range from BLUE VELVET to PLATOON and everything in between (ALIENS, PRETTY IN PINK and so much more).  Yes, some big titles come up, but have no fear, we talk SOLARBABIES and SOUL MAN.  Some debates come up, but for the most part, it's a friendly 3-hour conversation between 3 die-hard movie fans that enjoy sharing memories, insights and reviews.  We hope you each the conversation, and yes, we did feel the need for speed.  You can follow the list from 1986 that we cover here:

http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/year/1986

00:00 - 11:43 - Introduction / General Thoughts on 1986
11:44 - 20:29 - Brief BLUE VELVET discussion
20:30 - 47:39 - January - February
47:40 - 01:22:05 - March - May
01:22:06 - 01:22:40 - COBRA soundtrack sample
01:22:41 - 02:01:41 -  June - Mid-August
02:01:42 - 02:27:51 -  Late-August - October
02:27:52 - 02:50:00 -  November - December, Box Office
02:50:01 - 03:00:30 - Top Ten of 1986 / Outro

This next week you will be treated to a barrage of episodes. Well, okay two more director episodes will be coming your way. They may be on the short side, but get ready for a director I wasn't familiar with that truly blew me away - Agnes Varda, featuring guest Kate Blair.  And Nick Digilio of WGN Radio returns to talk about the post-GOODFELLAS career of Martin Scorsese.  July is a hot podcasting month, and just as a heads up, I might take another vacation in September.  But have no fear, visit NowPlayingNetwork.net for a plethora of podcasts that I know you'll enjoy including the newly released Tracks of the Damned and Fresh Perspective!

No solo intro from yours truly since there is a whole lotta ground to cover. Supporting Characters host Bill Ackerman returns once again to talk about a controversial, almost mythological figure in film history, the one and only Sam Peckinpah.  We cover nearly his entire filmography from beginning to end touching on classics such as RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY, THE WILD BUNCH, PAT GARRETT & BILLY THE KID, but we do have very strong feelings about STRAW DOGS, BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA, and so much more!  Feel free to send me an email with your thoughts on Peckinpah and what you consider to be your favorites as well!

00:00 - 04:54 - Introduction
04:55 - 06:24 - Director Song (RIP Prince Be of PM Dawn)
06:25 - 39:32 - First Impressions, The Darling Companions, Ride The High Country
39:33 - 01:13:27 - Major Dundee, The Wild Bunch, The Ballad Of Cable Hogue
01:13:28 - 01:54:33 -  Straw Dogs, Junior Bonner, The Getaway
01:54:34 - 02:33:47 - Pat Garrett, Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia
02:33:48 - 03:00:27 - The Killer Elite, Cross of Iron, Convoy, Osterman Weekend
03:00:28 - 03:07:43 - Top Three Films, Outro

Visit NowPlayingNetwork.net for all the great shows including two new additions to the network coming next month!  Be sure to check out Bill's podcast of course, and the next official episode will be after the 4th of July holiday with a special "1986 Retrospective" with Collin Souter & Erik Childress followed by a conversation devoted to Agnes Varda with returning guest Kate Blair.  Check out DirectorsClubPodcast.com, send me an email over at [email protected], and thank you so much for listening as always!

Bill's Excellent Adventure Podcast:
http://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/supportingcharacters

My Appearance on Movie Madness reviewing THE NEON DEMON:
http://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/moviemadness/episode17

From "Video Killed The Radio Star" to Beyonce's "Lemonade," I have been intoxicated and dazzled by the artistry behind music videos. Of course, I'm not alone, and my guest today could probably teach a class on the subject and hopefully will get to program a music video festival event someday.  Writer extraordinare Heather Drain joins me to discuss favorite music videos, our first experiences, growing up with MTV, and of course, the fact that many acclaimed directors got their start making videos early on.  Big names like David Fincher, William Friedkin, Spike Jonze, Jonathan Glazer, Michel Gondry, and my personal favorite, Mark Romanek, are all discussed at some point or another. 

I also manage to magically insert Keri Russell (as Felicity) into the conversation, talk about the first 45RPM record I owned, and so much more including the possibility that David Cronenberg might've ghost directed a particular scene in the video for "Jeopardy" by The Greg Kihn Band.  Even at 2 and a half hours, there's still so much more ground to cover including our love for Bjork, Gary Newman and The Killing Joke so there will definitely be a sequel episode to this discussion later this year.  Thank you so much to Heather for coming on the show and educating me beyond belief. And thank you for listening to this! I promise you that you'll be glad you did.

Heather's Favorite Music Videos
1.  Wall of Voodoo Triad -- "Mexican Radio," "Far Side of Crazy" & "Do It Again"
2. "Songs for Swinging Larvae" Renaldo & the Loaf
3. "New Skin" by New Skin
4. "Ahead" by Wire
5. "Yashar" by Cabaret Voltaire
6. "Mask" by Bauhaus
7. "How to Get Girls Through Hypnotism" by Gleaming Spires
8. "Rainbow in the Dark" by Dio
9. "When the Lady Smiles" by Golden Earring
10. "Soak it Up" by Barnes & Barnes

Jim's Favorite Music Videos
10. Karma Police - Radiohead
09. Criminal - Fiona Apple
08. Beautiful World - Devo  
07. Hounds of Love - Kate Bush
06. One - Metallica
05. Don't Come Around Here No More - Tom Petty
04. 1979 - Smashing Pumpkins
03. Closer - Nine Inch Nails
02. Bedtime Stories - Madonna
01. Hurt - Johnny Cash

Read Heather's Work:
http://www.mondoheather.com

Happy Memorial Day!  For the month of May this year, I have had the pleasure of talking about two of my favorite directors with two of my favorite guests.  One of the reasons that this show exist is due to the inclusion of my former co-host Patrick Ripoll.  He returns to talk about a controversial, innovative filmmaker by the name of Spike Lee, whom has in both of our eyes, made three masterpieces which we talk about at length along with the majority of his filmography. Some documentaries aren't included this time around and we had to skip over a couple of titles and rush through a couple towards the end but this is possibly one of the best conversations we've had to date.  Not only do we talk about Lee's remarkable talent, but important issues raised in a lot of his work and how they've affected us personally.  We also briefly talk about Patrick's upcoming podcast towards the end, and during the introduction, I touch upon previous guest Dan Solomon's achievement alongside Jessica Luther in the world of journalism.  This is a must-hear episode all-around!

00:00 - 08:19 - Introduction
08:20 - 11:34 - Introduction with Patrick
11:35 - 13:30 - Director Song
13:31 - 44:41 - First Experience, She's Gotta Have It, School Daze
44:42 - 01:15:44 - Do The Right Thing, Mo' Better Blues, Jungle Fever
01:15:45 - 01:57:16 - Malcolm X, Crooklyn, Clockers
01:57:17 - 01:57:49 - "He Got Game" - Public Enemy (snippet)
01:57:50 - 02:12:40 - Get On The Bus, 4 Little Girls, He Got Game
02:12:41 - 02:51:39 - Summer Of Sam, Bamboozled, 25th Hour
02:51:40 - 03:24:39 - She Hate Me, Inside Man, Passing Strange,
OldBoy, Da Sweet Blood Of Jesus, ChiRaq
03:24:40 - 03:30:11 - Top 5 Spike Lee Films / Outro

For the rest of this month, there may one episode or two depending on coordinating schedules (but there will be a bonus episode coming soon too).  The next official episode records in two weeks with Supporting Characters' host Bill Ackerman as we take a look at the legendary Sam Peckinpah.  Until then, please send us an email at [email protected] and visit the podcast network over at NowPlayingNetwork.net as well as DirectorsClubPodcast.com Thank you so much as always for listening and hope you have a great start to the summer!

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

Dan Solomon & Jessica Luther's Award-Winning Expose:
http://www.texasmonthly.com/article/silence-at-baylor/

Follow-Up Article About The Resulting Changes:
http://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/end-art-briles-era/

At last. He is not only my favorite talk show radio host, but one of the main reasons I became passionate about film in the first place.  WGN's own Nick Digilio, who has been reviewing movies since 1985, came into my life in December of 1989 alongside the legendary Roy Leonard.  I haven't stopped listening to Nick review movies on a weekly basis since then.  He's been incredibly supportive, so it was only a matter of time he comes on to the podcast since he's one of the smartest guys I know.  We chose to tackle the filmography of one of our greatest filmmakers of all time.  And inevitably, decided that we have to record a sequel episode in a few weeks.

Martin Scorsese has made a myriad of incredible films, including masterpieces way early on that became hugely influential.  We started recording thinking we could cover it all under two hours, but alas, the discussion for Part One ends at GOODFELLAS, but everything before that is covered including MEAN STREETS, TAXI DRIVER, RAGING BULL, THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST, AFTER HOURS and a whole lot more.  In about a month, Nick will come back for the second half in which we start out with Scorsese's only remake to date.  Recorded a few days after my birthday, this was one of the best gifts for me as a fan of Nick's show but as a fan of cinema.  Hopefully you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and I look forward to continuing this examination & education in early June so stay tuned!

00:00 - 08:00 - Introduction To The Episode
08:01 - 13:40 - Introduction With Nick
13:41 - 15:04 - Director Parody Song
15:05 - 30:42 - First Experiences, Who's That Knocking, Boxcar Bertha
30:43 - 01:07:59 - Mean Streets, Alice Doesn't Live Here, Taxi Driver
01:08:00 - 01:34:00 - New York New York, Raging Bull, The King Of Comedy
01:34:01 - 01:54:35 - After Hours, Last Temptation of Christ, Goodfellas
01:54:36 - 01:57:30 - Top 5 Scorsese Films / Outro

At the end of May around Memorial Day weekend, the great Patrick Ripoll returns to talk about the one and only Spike Lee, another NY legend with an expansive and fascinating filmography.  And then Nick will return for Martin Scorsese: Part Two!  Until next time, please send all your comments on Scorsese or any director to:  [email protected].  Visit DirectorsClubPodcast.com as well as NowPlayingNetwork.net for a slew of great content!  Thank you so very much for listening, subscribing, spreading the word, and to everyone that continues to support my love of film.

Nick Digilio on Facebook:
http://wgnradio.com/category/nick-digilio/

My Recent Appearance on the Cinereelists:
http://cinereelists.com/shows/202-midnight-special-high-rise-w-jim-laczkowski/

Welcome to a very special bonus episode of Director's
Club.  These days you can find our guest directing episodes of
TV shows like FARGO, DEXTER, THE LEFTOVERS, HOMELAND, MASTERS OF
SEX, RECTIFY and so much more.  But if you grew up in the 80s
like me, you probably recognized the talent on display in a horror
film like CHRISTINE or a comedy like BACK TO SCHOOL.  What I
wholeheartedly recommend are the films directed by the one and only
Keith Gordon. 



I first saw A MIDNIGHT CLEAR, took note of the name of the
director, and became a huge fan from that point on when I rented
his films in the mid-to-late 90s. I am still a huge fan to this
day, and this interview was a really special event for the
podcast.  And I couldn't have had a more pleasant, engaging,
and fascinating discussion with someone I would consider to be a
hero.  He continues to work hard to this day, and we even talk
about possible projects in the works that I hope come into
fruition.  We also discuss my four favorite films of his going
back to his debut adaptation of THE CHOCOLATE WAR, A MIDNIGHT
CLEAR, MOTHER NIGHT and WAKING THE DEAD.  For more on Keith,
check out his IMDB to see some of his many credits and be sure to
rent/stream all of his incredible work.  Thank you so much for
listening to what I consider to be an interview that I will never
forget. 



00:00 - 11:15 - Introduction

11:16 - 01:23:34 - Interview with Keith

01:23:35 - 01:25:16 - Outro



IMDB:

Keith Gordon
PODCAST
NETWORK:

Now
Playing Network