Director's Club

Hello folks!  Jim here, with a special episode for the new year.  I called several previous guests and friends of the show with one simple question: "What is the song that changed your life?"  Inspired by the film that changed your life book as well as my own love of all-things music, I decided to talk with several folks about what music means to them and which specific songs have a story behind them. 

This might happen with different guests twice a year.  Included are choices from myself and Patrick as well obviously.  This episode will forever hold a special place in my heart (and is actually inspired by a dream I had of all things).  Thank you to everyone for contributing and for listening.  The list of songs mentioned and briefly played are the following:

 

Track listing:

Patrick Ripoll -  Pilot Can at the Queer of God (Flaming Lips)

Regina Barry - Dig Me Out (Sleater-Kinney)

Jen Bosworth - Pata Pata (Miriam Makeba)

Jim Laczkowski - Divorce Song (Liz Phair)

Corey Pierce - I Am Not A Robot (Marina & The Diamonds) 

Bill Ackerman - Don't Fear The Reaper (Blue Oyster Cult)

Sara Woods - Sara (Fleetwood Mac)

Andrew James - Ants Marching (Dave Matthews Band)

Mike Flynn - Nightcall (Kavinsky)

Matt Gamble - Undone The Sweater Song (Weezer)

Collin Souter - Tunnels Neighborhood #1 (Arcade Fire)

Jim Laczkowski - The Breeze / My Baby Cries (Kath Bloom)

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit directorsclub.substack.com/subscribe

Well I'm back everyone and I couldn't be more ecstatic about this episode, in which we discuss Patrick's favorite filmmaker, the great Robert Altman!  In addition, I (kind of) review my favorite director's latest film entitled INHERENT VICE.  Maybe you've heard of it?  We also talk a couple of other recent releases such as WILLOW CREEK and I proclaim my love for NBC's gorgeous and disturbing show HANNIBAL.  But the bulk of the conversation consists of us raving about all-things Altman including THREE WOMEN, THE LONG GOODBYE, MCCABE AND MRS MILLER, THE PLAYER, NASHVILLE and more!  

Stay tuned for our Best of 2014 episode in about a week and thank you so much to everyone for their continuing support and incredibly thoughtful, compassionate emails during my absence. I plan to stay on indefinitely and couldn't feel better about my return. Much love - Jim

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit directorsclub.substack.com/subscribe

Did you know that in Iceland it's a Christmas tradition for people to exchange books on Christmas Eve? Then you take your book to bed that night, along with some chocolates.


You will have to supply your own chocolates, but consider this our Christmas Eve book to you. Patrick talked with his friend Sarah Argodale about book adaptations, asking hard hitting questions like

What Do The Harry Potter Adaptations Get Right and Wrong?
Why Do We Have Such Strong Memories of Danny Devito's Matilda adaptation?
What Movie Would You Want To See As A Book?

Would You Watch A Malcolm X Biopic where he converted to Judaism instead of Islam?

and much much more. Here's wishing a very Happy Holidays for you and yours. We'll be back in a couple weeks to talk about Robert Altman, who is maybe the greatest filmmaker of all time.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit directorsclub.substack.com/subscribe

"Well I'm Patrick and I'm back from the dead/chilling at the beach down at Club Med."
 
Well that might not be true, but we are here with another bonus commentary track for you. In honor of the dubious history of Thanksgiving (or, as Native Americans call it, The Day of Mourning) Regina and Patrick decided to record a drinking game* commentary track for one of the most racist mainstream films of the 1980's: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
 
A big part of both their childhoods, Patrick and Regina set up the rules as thus:
 
1. When something racist happens, you drink.
2. When something sexist happens, you drink.
3. When Kate Capshaw is screaming, you have to drink for as long as she screams.
 
Needless to say, somewhere around the 80 minute point we ran out of alcohol.
 
*Director's Club only promotes responsible drinking, unless it's a holiday or you really really want to. Don't drink and drive. Those who are underage have modified rules, where they drink soda pop and see if they can make it through the movie without having to use the bathroom."

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit directorsclub.substack.com/subscribe

Looking to get logey? Can't wait for the turkey's tryptophan to kick in? Why not dip into the work of the greatest slow-paced Russian director of all time, Andrei Tarkovsky with Patrick and Auteurist Trap's Bill Ackerman? In addition to touching upon all seven of his masterpieces, they talk about Interstellar, Whiplash, Inherent Vice, Outer Space, and more.

 
The rest of the year Patrick will be dedicating to bonus episodes, but join us at the end of December for the long-anticipated Robert Altman episode!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit directorsclub.substack.com/subscribe

So many new releases that will be talked about more and more until awards time have arrived. And yes, that's right!  Another bonus episode has arrived but this one is a little bit shorter since there's only one voice you'll be hearing for the majority of its running time. I fly solo and return to talk about what I've been through lately, both the good and the bad including the reasons for my absence.  There's a lengthy introdution (Marc Maron-style) regarding my health, a decision to move back home and then we get to a whole lotta movie talk around the 25 minute mark.  

There's a straight-outta-the-theater reaction to INTERSTELLAR from friend Derek, followed by spoiler-free solo reviews of BIRDMAN, THE BABADOOK, NIGHTCRAWLER, BRIEF ENCOUNTER, LISTEN UP PHILLIP and a whole lot more.  Plus there are two cute parody songs to break things up as well.  I will be back in time for Christmas and the Robert Altman episode, but here is a rambling man offering up an extra treat for all the listeners out there. Enjoy - Jim

0:00 - 23:35 -  WJIM Intro / The "Serial" Podcast / My Health Update

23:36 - 25:00 - NIN Parody Song

25:01 - 28:28 - Derek's Initial Reaction to INTERSTELLAR

28:29 - 34:43 - My Review Of INTERSTELLAR

34:44 - 44:00 - My Review of BIRDMAN

44:01 - 1:00:32 - Reviews of ONE FALSE MOVE, THE BABADOOK, NIGHTCRAWLER

1:00:33 - 1:01:08 -  Michael Jackson Parody Song

1:01:09 - 1:24:54 - Reviews of many movies I've watched lately

1:24:55 - 1:27:33 - Outro / Lil Wayne Cover

In about a week or so, Patrick is joined by friend to the show Bill Ackerman to talk about the complex and challenging work of Andrei Tarkovsky. As always thank you for listening! Be sure to send us an email to: [email protected]

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit directorsclub.substack.com/subscribe

You want to talk about monsters? Patrick and site contributor Gabe Powers are here with a monster podcast where they talk about YOUR favorite horror movies. 172 horror films, across ten decades, for four hours, all voted on by Director's Club listeners. Where did your favorites rank? What were the two films to get the most votes? How many Cronenberg, Carpenter, Romero and Lynch films made it? What modern horror classic received zero votes? You have to listen to this deep dive into the world of horror movies to find out.   Intro/Outro music by Gabe Powers.

http://directorsclubpodcast.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit directorsclub.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Halloween every body!  It's the Great Patrick, Charlie Brown!  And he is joined by returning contributor to the show Ghoulie Gabe Powers, as well as the fiendish James Gillham of the High & Low Brow podcast over at Where The Long Tail Ends!  Together they creep into the spooooky horror shows from director George Romero.  Bypassing (for the most part) discussions on his zombie films, they focus mainly on MARTIN and MONKEY SHINES, as well as briefly touch on a couple others.  In addition, there is a horror-filled version of What We Watched from all! Scary stuff, kids!

In about two weeks, Patrick is joined by friend to the show Bill Ackerman to talk about the complex and challenging work of Andrei Tarkovsky. As always thank you for listening!  Be sure to send us an email to: [email protected] 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit directorsclub.substack.com/subscribe

Film blogger/podcaster and friend of the show Robert Reineke joins Patrick to talk seminal Hammer horror director Terence Fisher. In addition to discussing the career of this British director of distinction, we talk about THE IMITATION GAME, MAN WITH THE MOVIE CAMERA, TOP SECRET and Patrick's return to The Music Box of Horrors.

ALSO! LISTENERS! We want your top 10 horror movie lists to be included in a future bonus episode, but there's a catch! The world doesn't need another list packed with Alien, Halloween, The Shining, etc. so we're including a list of films that are off-limits. Send your top 10 movies to [email protected], but YOU MAY NOT INCLUDE: The Exorcist The Thing (Carpenter) Alien Dawn of the Dead (Romero) Halloween (Carpenter) Night of the Living Dead (Romero) The Shining Psycho (Hitchcock) An American Werewolf in London The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Hooper) Carrie (De Palma) Jaws Frankenstein (Whale) Nosferatu (Murnau) Scream Evil Dead (Raimi) Evil Dead 2 The Fly (Cronenberg) Rosemary's Baby (Polanski) Silence of the Lambs.

In about a week, we welcome returning guest Gabe Powers and newcomer James Gillham to talk with us about zombie-lovin George Romero. Until then, send us your feedback and comments over to: [email protected]. Thanks as always for listening!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit directorsclub.substack.com/subscribe

Friend and favorite to the show Regina Barry returns for a monumental discussion on the beloved auteur Wes Anderson. In addition to talking about all his films, we discuss RESOLUTION, CONCUSSION, THE ONE I LOVE and more. Included at the very end of the episode is a brief discussion on The Beatles of all things.  Also, I give a special announcement at the beginning which details how the rest of the year will be for me and I couldn't be more grateful and appreciative for my co-host and dear friend Patrick. Thank you to all for listening and for your continuing support -- Jim

00:00 - 13:55 - Intro / Jim's Announcement
13:56 - 14:32 - What We Watched Song
14:33 - 53:00 - Reviews of CONCUSSION & RESOLUTION
53:01 - 01:36:44 - Review of THE ONE I LOVE (spoilers)
01:36:45 - 01:37:54 - Wes Anderson Song
01:37:55 - 02:44:33 - Wes Anderson Discussion
02:44:34 - 02:54:05 - Top 3 Wes Anderson Films / Outro
02:54:05 - 03:03:21 - Bonus Beatles Discussion

In two weeks, Patrick will be joined by another great returning guest, Robert Reineke, to discuss prolific Hammer horror filmmaker Terrence Fisher.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit directorsclub.substack.com/subscribe