Director's Club

Returning guest Erik Childress talks with Jim about the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and about eight films he saw there. We first go through his feelings on the festival as a whole, as well as discuss a couple of films he missed that have gotten some decent buzz.  Then we launch into the main reviews and it's worth hearing Erik's acclaim for the last film in particular.  Included here are spoiler-free summations / reviews on these films:

Stories We Tell
Fruitvale
We Are What We Are
Crystal Fairy
Mud
Toy's House
The Lifeguard
Before Midnight

Erik will be back in a couple weeks to discuss director Robert Zemeckis as we get back to the original format then!   Please be sure to leave us a voicemail with your list to play on the show as well at 224-366-9528. If you’re a movie blogger/podcaster and would like a guest spot on the show to talk about a filmmaker whose work you admire. Thanks again for listening and be sure to check out our updated upcoming schedule in the sidebar to see which directors we’ll be talking about soon!  Questions, comments and top ten lists are always welcome via email: [email protected]

Returning guests Matt Gamble of Where The Long Tail Ends as well as writer/musician Russ Woods joins us to talk about visionary filmmakers The Coen Brothers.  We review their take on the beloved gangster film noir with MILLER’S CROSSING as well as their critically lauded follow-up BARTON FINK.   In addition, Matt talks about both THE LAST STAND & RESURRECT DEAD: THE MYSTERY OF THE TOYNBEE TILES, Jim discusses a rewatch of THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY, Russ reviews INDIE GAME: THE MOVIE which then leads Patrick into an impassioned conversation about Lucasarts videogames. 

0:00 – 5:58 – Introduction / In-house business
6:00 – 7:30 – What We Watched This Week Song
7:31 – 22:42 – What Matt Watched This Week
22:43 – 32:50 – What Russ Watched This Week
32:51 – 45:00  - What Patrick Watched/Played This Week
45:01 – 55:15 – What Jim Watched This Week
55:16 – 56:33 – Coen Brothers Song
56:34 – 57:57 – Director Introduction
57:58 – 1:32:12 – Miller’s Crossing Review
1:32:13 – 2:07:12 – Barton Fink Review
2:07:13 – 2:24:09 – Other Coen Brothers Movies We Love
2:24:10 – 2:31:04 –  Top 3 Coen Brothers Films / Outro

In two weeks, returning guest Erik Childress will be back to discuss Robert Zemeckis!  Please be sure to leave us a voicemail with your list to play on the show as well at 224-366-9528. If you’re a movie blogger/podcaster and would like a guest spot on the show to talk about a filmmaker whose work you admire. Thanks again for listening and be sure to check out our updated upcoming schedule in the sidebar to see which directors we’ll be talking about soon!  Questions, comments and top ten lists are always welcome via email: [email protected]

It's the 2-year anniversary of the Director's Club Podcast!  With all the support we've gotten from friends, fans, guests, film critics and listeners, we decided to put together the inevitable slapdash mash of clips from previous episodes.  Most are fun and funnier, while a few are smart and sweet.  For the first hour, you get to hear our live reactions to some of the highlights from the first 50 episodes over the years.  Then we realized it was 2am, and Patrick's heater decided that it was best if we just turn the final ten minutes of this episode into a nice little montage of clips accompanied by background music instead.  We can't thank you enough for listening to us these past couple of years, and we look forward to at least fifty more episodes of Director's Club.

In about two weeks, we will be joined by two returning guests:  Russ Woods will be live in person, while Matt Gamble returns via Skype to discuss The Coen Brothers!  Please be sure to leave us a voicemail with your list to play on the show as well at 224-366-9528. If you’re a movie blogger/podcaster and would like a guest spot on the show to talk about a filmmaker whose work you admire. Thanks again for listening and be sure to check out our updated upcoming schedule in the sidebar to see which directors we’ll be talking about soon!  Happy New Year everyone!  Questions, comments and top ten lists are always welcome via email: [email protected]

The show you've all been waiting for!  Our epic three and a half hour episode covering our favorite movies of 2012 and more.  There will also be a follow up anniversary episode for Episode 50, featuring clips and highlights from the past two years of podcasting so keep your eyes open for Part 2 - The Clip Show.   Details for this episode are highlighted below.  Thanks to everyone who participated in this episode and submitted a list either via voicemail or email. 

00:00 – 3:30 – Jim’s Favorite Song of 2012 / Introduction
3:30 – 44:15 – Ancillary Awards / Sub-Categories / Honorable Mentions
44:16 – 1:14:33 – Andrew James’ list, Our choices #10-9
1:14:34 – 1:38:05 – Gabe Powers’ list, Our choices #8-7
1:38:06 – 2:08:10 –  Jason Cartagena’s list, Our choices #6-5
2:08:11 – 2:44:48 – Rene Rangal’s list, Our choices #4-3
2:44:49 – 3:01:15 – Zach Betonte’s list, Emails from listeners / past guests
3:01:16 – 3:38:30 – Our choices #2-1
3:38:31 – 3:42:47 – Outro / Patrick’s Favorite Song of 2012

No guest joins us this week so we go back to the way we started, which is appropriate since we will be celebrating our 2-year anniversary with Episode 50 next week!  For this episode, we tumble into the silent film era to discuss comedy legend Buster Keaton.  We touch upon his large body of work including many of his short films, but we mainly focus on the romantic comedy SEVEN CHANCES as well as the beloved action-packed classic THE GENERAL.  In addition, Jim slows things down with a trek through THE LONELIEST PLANET while Patrick revisits a couple of Tarantino films as well as reviews the new musical adaptation of LES MISERABLES.  As we mention at the top of the show, we would love to be flooded with emails and voicemails for next week with your top ten films of 2012 for us to read on the show!  

Next weekend you will be treated to our epic anniversary show as well as the revealing of our Top Ten Favorite Films of 2012!  Please be sure to leave us a voicemail with your list to play on the show as well at 224-366-9528. If you’re a movie blogger/podcaster and would like a guest spot on the show to talk about a filmmaker whose work you admire. Thanks again for listening and be sure to check out our updated upcoming schedule in the sidebar to see which directors we’ll be talking about soon!  Happy New Year everyone!  Questions, comments and top ten lists are always welcome via email: [email protected]

CFCA member, film and television journalist Brian Tallerico stops by to talk about the critically acclaimed Korean director Park Chan-wook.  For this episode, we take a different approach and talk about his renowned, violent, existential revenge films, SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE, OLDBOY, and LADY VENGEANCE.  We later expand upon a couple more of his other films as well. In addition, Brian talks about a couple of recent and upcoming releases particularly ZERO DARK THIRTY, Patrick talks about the incredibly well-acted THE DEEP BLUE SEA, and Jim reviews the much-discussed, critically acclaimed HOLY MOTORS.  Also, for a special treat during the first half of the show, we go over some of the nominees from the 2012 CFCA Awards. The winners are available to view here, with a ceremony on February 9th, 2013 to follow.

In about two weeks after Christmas, we may or may not be joined by a guest to discuss the silent film master Buster Keaton.  Please be sure to leave us a voicemail to play on the show as well at 224-366-9528. If you’re a movie blogger/podcaster and would like a guest spot on the show to talk about a filmmaker whose work you admire. Thanks again for listening and be sure to check out our updated upcoming schedule in the sidebar to see which directors we’ll be talking about soon!  Merry Christmas to all.  Questions are always welcome via email: [email protected]

Friend to the show and film writer Robert Reineke stops by to talk about the groundbreaking French filmmaker Henri-Georges Clouzot.  We start off by discussing his widely acclaimed success THE WAGES OF FEAR and then take a look at the influential noir thriller LES DIABOLIQUES.  We later expand upon a couple more of his other films as well. In addition, Robert reviews the Christmas crime film CASH ON DEMAND, Patrick talks about his unusual affection for MY SOUL TO TAKE, and Jim reviews the latest from Andrew Dominik, the talky crime drama KILLING THEM SOFTLY.

In about two weeks, film and TV critic Brian Tallerico will be joining us to talk about the Vengeance trilogy from Asian director Park Chan-wook along with his other work.  Please be sure to leave us a voicemail to play on the show as well at 224-366-9528. If you’re a movie blogger/podcaster and would like a guest spot on the show to talk about a filmmaker whose work you admire. Thanks again for listening and be sure to check out our updated upcoming schedule in the sidebar to see which directors we’ll be talking about soon! Questions are always welcome via email: [email protected]

Friend and filmmaker Collin Souter returns to the show to talk about the legendary Joe Dante.  We start off by discussing his breakthrough blockbuster success GREMLINS and then take a look at the underappreciated coming-of-age gem MATINEE.  We later expand upon some more of his other films as well. In addition, Collin reviews the recent RED DAWN remake, Patrick talks about THE DIRTY HARRY films and FANTASIA, and Jim gives mad props to Spielberg’s dialogue-driven take on the biopic, LINCOLN.

In about ten days, friend to the show Robert Reineke will be joining us for a quickie episode on director Henri-Georges Clouzot as we take a look at both WAGES OF FEAR and LES DIABOLIQUES.  Please be sure to leave us a voicemail to play on the show as well at 224-366-9528. If you’re a movie blogger/podcaster and would like a guest spot on the show to talk about a filmmaker whose work you admire. Thanks again for listening and be sure to check out our updated upcoming schedule in the sidebar to see which directors we’ll be talking about soon! Questions are always welcome via email: [email protected]

Jay Cheel of the Film Junk podcast (also as an established filmmaker himself) returns to talk about horror master John Carpenter, and this happens to be our first sequel episode!  This time we delve into his now widely regarded sci-fi horror classic THE THING as well as the action throwback cult favorite THEY LIVE.  We later expand upon some more of his other films as well. In addition, Jay revisits FRIGHT NIGHT PART II, Patrick talks about CLOUD ATLAS, and this time Jim takes a turn with the Director's Club Lightning Round in which he reviews ten films including a few newer releases out in theaters as well as some horror classics!

In two weeks we will be talking with another returning guest... friend to the show and independent filmmaker Collin Souter will be back to discuss the great Joe Dante!  Please be sure to leave us a voicemail to play on the show as well at 224-366-9528. If you’re a movie blogger/podcaster and would like a guest spot on the show to talk about a filmmaker whose work you admire. Thanks again for listening and be sure to check out our updated upcoming schedule in the sidebar to see which directors we’ll be talking about soon! Questions are always welcome via email: [email protected]

The great Gabe Powers of DVDActive.com (and regular contributor to our site) returns to talk about the incredibly influential horror director Mario Bava.  We focus on his debut Gothic horror classic BLACK SUNDAY as well as what is considered the first slasher film of its kind, TWITCH OF THE DEATH NERVE.  We later expand upon some more of his other films as well.  In addition, Jim dives into the past to track down films he hasn't seen since he was a teenager starting with DEAD OF WINTER, Gabe talks about the original GONE IN 60 SECONDS, and Patrick does something very special for the What We Watched segment by reviewing 19, yes 19 horror movies in the very first edition of the Director's Club Lightning Round!

In about a week we will be talking with FilmJunk co-host and documentary filmmaker Jay Cheel for our first sequel episode to talk about more about John Carpenter, this time focusing on THE THING and THEY LIVE. Please be sure to leave us a voicemail to play on the show as well at 224-366-9528. If you’re a movie blogger/podcaster and would like a guest spot on the show to talk about a filmmaker whose work you admire. Thanks again for listening and be sure to check out our updated upcoming schedule in the sidebar to see which directors we’ll be talking about soon! Questions are always welcome via email: [email protected]