Director's Club

Two years ago Bill Ackerman and Patrick Ripoll joined forces to do a deep dive into the filmography of Wong Kar-wai, an Asian filmmaker who found great acclaim with his quirky tales of loneliness and longing set among a world of urban alienation in contemporary Hong Kong.

Now they return to do a deep dive into the filmography of Tsai Ming-Liang, an Asian filmmaker who found great acclaim with his quirky tales of loneliness and longing set among the world of urban alienation in contemporary Taipei.

Time is a wheel we all can't help but ride.

But any close examination will reveal Tsai Ming-Liang to be a peerless artist with a fascinating body of work totally unlike that of anyone in film history, a queer slow-cinema maverick whose fierce independence, devotion to his lead actor Lee Kang-Sheng, and intricately connected filmography rewards you more and more the closer you look. From his humble days in Taiwanese television to directing the first film ever commissioned by The Louvre, Patrick and Bill are here to guide you through the winding paths and enigmatic hidden treasures of one of Taiwan's greatest filmmakers, by charting a course through four of his most foundational works: REBELS OF THE NEON GOD (1992), WHAT TIME IS IT THERE? (2001), GOODBYE, DRAGON INN (2003) and STRAY DOGS (2013).

0:00 - 11:53 - Introduction

11:54 - 13:29 - Filmography through Rebels of the Neon God

13:30 - 58:38 - Rebels of the Neon God

58:39 - 1:01:15 - Filmography between Rebels of the Neon God and What Time Is It There?

1:01:16 - 1:38:34 - What Time Is It There?

1:38:35 - 2:13:06 - Goodbye, Dragon Inn

2:13:07 - 2:31:31 - Filmography between Goodbye, Dragon Inn and Stray Dogs

2:31:32 - 2:40:30 - The Walker series

2:40:31 - 3:03:50 - Stray Dogs

3:03:51 - 3:19:37 - Days & Outro

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

Every year I ask my friend Patrick to provide me with something special in the form of a podcast gift. His friendship of course is the real gift but his presence for this episode is also a present. Not only does it celebrate my 45th birthday (May the 4th be with me) but we also decided to celebrate this here podcast!

I asked Patrick this time to revisit the first two films we actively disagreed on going all the way back to Episode 2. What happens 12 years later when both him and I decide to re-watch The Devil's Rejects (dir. Rob Zombie) and Somewhere (dir. Sofia Coppola). Do we feel the same now as we did back then? The only way to know is to listen and find out. If you want to celebrate my birthday, all you have to do is give this your time. Thank you to my dear friend and former co-host / guest co-host Patrick for another delightful talk.

00:00 - 08:27 - Intro

08:28 - 01:00:20 - The Devil's Rejects

01:00:21 - 01:46:36 - Somewhere

01:46:37 - 02:11:35 - Outro

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

For this episode I recruited two terrific and talented film writers and commentators especially since two of the movies we talk about happen to be all-time favorites for the both of them. Guest co-host and Supporting Characters host Bill Ackerman returns as well as Chicago film critic Marya Gates for a delightful discussion on the work of Joan Micklin Silver.

She's responsible for a number of excellent films including HESTER STREET, CHILLY SCENES OF WINTER, BETWEEN THE LINES, CROSSING DELANCEY and so much more! Thanks to this episode I have a new favorite romantic comedy to add to my list so I'm grateful for my guests for bringing their A-game to this conversation and please do follow their work as well as discover Joan Micklin Silver's films in any form possible!

We also briefly preview the upcoming Chicago Critics Film Festival! Stay tuned next month for a lot to come featuring both Bill Ackerman and former co-host Patrick Ripoll. I'm taking a little time off for my birthday month but there will be a surprise episode as always to make the occasion :)

00:00 - 20:19 - Introduction / Catching Up / CCFF

20:20 - 01:31:44 - JMS' First Few Films (Hester Street, Between The Lines, Chilly Scenes Of Winter)

01:31:45 - 02:10:49 - Crossing Delancey, Loverboy, Big Girls Don't Cry

02:10:50 - 02:27:32 - Other Films

02:27:33 - 02:41:03 - Top 3 JMS Films / Outro

The Chicago Critics Film Festival:

https://www.chicagocriticsfilmfestival.com/

The Projection Booth Covers Chilly Scenes Of Winter w/JMS:

https://www.projectionboothpodcast.com/2017/02/episode-310-chilly-scenes-of-winter-1979.html

Read Marya's Work on JMS:

https://www.moviefone.com/news/joan-micklin-silvers-daughter-marisa-on-the-4k-resortation-of-hester-street/

https://www.moviefone.com/news/how-joan-micklin-silver-paved-the-way-for-chloe-zhao-other-women-directors-today/

Watch JMS Films On Mubi:

https://mubi.com/specials/joan-micklin-silver

Follow / Subscribe To Marya:

https://oldfilmsflicker.substack.com

Check Out Bill's Podcast, Supporting Characters:

https://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/supportingcharacters

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

Yep, more bonus content to close out the month before Bill comes aboard in April with an epic series on Jean-Luc Godard. For this delicious treat of an episode, up front you get a delightful conversation featuring Matt Strauss from Tao Group Hospitality who oversees a number of New York restaurants and food + beverage venues in and around NYC.

He has a lot to say about his exciting feast planned for this week which was inspired by his love of the film Babette's Feast which Bill and I discussed for the Director's Club Patreon at Matt's request! Check out tickets for this event right here if you're in the NYC area and get to this in time:

https://www.opentable.com/booking/experiences-availability?rid=1046641&restref=1046641&experienceId=151428

Matt and I also serve up a three course meal of our own discussing favorite food movies that I chose along with some honorable mentions. Definitely some surprise picks there! Following Matt's interview, you get an evening snack in the form of an excerpt of a bonus episode I once did with my friend Marissa all about The Top 25 Snacks In America! Hope you're hungry and stay tuned for more from Bill next month as well!

00:00 - 52:07 - Matt Strauss / Favorite Food Movies

52:08 - 01:16:45 - Marissa + The Top 25 Snacks In America

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

As if 2 hours plus for PTA Part II wasn't enough, you are about to get even more content all about my favorite filmmaker. This time I interview author/writer extraordinaire Ethan Warren about his recently released book, The Cinema of Paul Thomas Anderson: American Apocrypha that I highly recommend. We talked for 40 mins about what inspired him to write it, along with thoughts on PTA in general.

Soon after that, you'll get to hear more conversation from my former co-host Patrick Ripoll. About a year ago for Patreon, we reviewed Licorice Pizza which Patrick felt strongly about whereas I thought that it wasn't one of his strongest films for reasons you heard me bring up with Nick & Steve. I decided it was best to conclude this double dose of PTA talk with the original hosts on a film that Patrick did love.

Speaking of that, be sure to stick around for the intro monologue since I go into greater detail on how I feel about Inherent Vice since I didn't express it entirely last time. Coming soon is Bill Ackerman's next contribution and it'll be a doozy for sure! Thank you all for listening, and thanks to Ethan & Patrick!

00:00 - 18:00 - Intro / Inherent Vice Summation

18:01 - 52:06 - Interview With Ethan Warren

52:07 - 02:17:30 - Patrick Reviews Licorice Pizza

Visit Ethan Warren's Site:

http://ethanrawarren.com

Buy His Book on PTA:

https://cup.columbia.edu/book/the-cinema-of-paul-thomas-anderson/9780231204590

Follow Ethan On Twitter:

https://twitter.com/Ethan_Warren_

In Case You Missed PTA Part II:

https://www.directorsclubpodcast.com/episodes/pta2

Check Out Patrick's Podcasts:

https://link.chtbl.com/uptown

https://www.nowplayingnetwork.net

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

Way back in 2012 before THE MASTER had come out, for Episode 35, my former co-host Patrick and I enlisted Steve Prokopy to talk about my favorite director of all time. There were some disagreements here and there but it was a memorable discussion back then. Now that PTA has released four fascinating movies since the last time we recorded, it’s about time I recruit one of the people responsible for turning me into a movie freak: Mr. Nick Digilio of The Nick D Podcast.

We catch up with Nick, talk very briefly about the Oscars and then we have conversations about THE MASTER, INHERENT VICE, PHANTOM THREAD & LICORICE PIZZA and we end with listing our top three favorites.. For an albeit dated discussion on the other films, check out the first PTA episode linked below. It was an honor to have Nick and Steve back on the podcast and stay tuned for Bill Ackerman’s next contribution (which will be multiple episodes) coming early next month.

00:00 - 18:23 - Introduction / Oscar Talk

18:24 - 01:10:59 - The Master / Inherent Vice

01:11:00 - 02:04:17 - Phantom Thread / Licorice Pizza

02:04:18 - 02:13:13 - Top 3 PTA Films / Outro

Paul Thomas Anderson Part 1: https://directorsclubpodcast.libsyn.com/website/episode-35-paul-thomas-anderson

The Nick D Podcast: https://radiomisfits.com/podcasts/nickdpodcast

That Show Hasn’t Been Funny In Years: https://radiomisfits.com/podcasts/that-show

Steve’s Third Coast Reviews: https://thirdcoastreview.com/author/steveprokopy

Steve on The Movie Madness Podcast: https://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/moviemadness

Nick Digilio’s Martin Scorsese Director’s Club Eps: https://www.directorsclubpodcast.com/archives/martinscorsese

Jim’s PTA Filmography Ranked: https://letterboxd.com/jimlaczkowski/list/paul-thomas-anderson-ranked

Nick’s PTA Filmography Ranked: https://letterboxd.com/nick_digilio/list/paul-thomas-anderson-ranked

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

One of my favorite films of the year so far is Alex Heller's THE YEAR BETWEEN, now available on VOD. The reason for that is detailed further in my review during the first ten minutes but after that, stay tuned for guest correspondent (and Mental Filmness film festival founder) Sharon Gissy as she speaks with the writer/director and star of this excellent, insightful look at Bipolar disorder and so much more. It'll be playing on March 30th at the Music Box Theatre so I encourage you to come that night if you live in and around the Chicagoland area!

00:00 - 12:32 - Intro / Jim's Review of THE YEAR BETWEEN

12:33 - 37:47 - Sharon's Interview With Alex Heller

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

We found… a way. You may be wondering why there hasn’t been an official new episode for a while? Well, I’ve been spending the past six weeks binging on movies from 1993 for an annual tradition that has taken place for the past 8 years! Yes it’s that time folks. The yearly retrospectives continue as we travel back 30 years to rewatch, reconsider and share favorites along with many memories too! Join me on this 6-hour plus journey alongside Chicago critics Erik Childress and Collin Souter.

Stay tuned for the next official episode in late March when two other Chicago critics (Steve Prokopy & Nick Digilio) join me for a Paul Thomas Anderson Redux/Sequel episode! Thank you so much for the support and for listening. And of course, thank you so much to Collin & Erik for spending time nerding out about a wide range of titles. For all the retrospective episodes click here: https://www.directorsclubpodcast.com/archives/yearsinreview

Please visit the Now Playing Network for some new shows!

https://www.nowplayingnetwork.net

Jim's 1993 Year In Review Ranked: https://letterboxd.com/jimlaczkowski/list/1993-the-year-in-review/

Check out the list of released films:

https://bit.ly/3xUkT6f

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

Hosts Bill Ackerman and Jim Laczkowski were asked to talk with two filmmakers about their latest work - both of which has received awards consideration and acclaim. First up, Jim speaks with Lukas Dhont about his coming-of-age tale CLOSE which is opening on February 3rd here in Chicago. Then, Bill had the opportunity to interview Mia Hansen-Løve about her latest drama ONE FINE MORNING. Incredibly grateful to both directors for taking the time to talk with us.

00:00 - 02:39 - Intro

02:40 - 16:45 - Jim's Interview With Lukas Dhont (CLOSE)

16:46 - 43:43 - Bill's Interview With Mia Hansen-Løve (ONE FINE MORNING)

Order Tickets In Advance For Close (Chicago):

https://musicboxtheatre.com/films-and-events/close

Order Tickets For One Fine Morning (NYC):

https://www.filmlinc.org/films/one-fine-morning

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

It's the most wonderful time of the beginning of the year! The title of this episode says it all and I'm so grateful to my two guests for joining me for this epic reflection on the film year that was 2022! Now I'll be going back to 1993 for February's retrospective episode so until then enjoy 6 hours of nerding out. Also please be sure to check out the two new podcasts soon to be added to the Now Playing Network! Thank you so much for listening to a yearly tradition that is always a complete joy!

00:00 - 22:50 - Intro / General Thoughts

22:51 - 01:07:33 - Ancillary Awards

01:07:34 - 02:17:55 - Honorable Mentions

02:17:56 - 04:16:10 - #10-#6

04:16:11 - 05:54:23 - Top 5 Films Of 2022

05:54:24 - 06:03:43 - Outro

_______

Feelin Film Podcast:

https://linktr.ee/FeelinFilm

We Doing Filmographies:

https://linktr.ee/wedoingfilmographies

Uptown Song Club:

https://link.chtbl.com/uptown

Bill Ackerman's List:

https://auteuristtrap.blogspot.com/2022/12/2022-40-favorites.html

Jim Laczkowski's List:

https://letterboxd.com/jimlaczkowski/list/2022-ranked

Brad Strauss' List:

https://letterboxd.com/brads/list/year-by-year-2022-ranked

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