The Popcorn Auteur

The talented Jonathan Sundy joins us to discuss the films written and directed by Don Bluth (No Littlefoot or Fievel here). Bluth is famous for leaving Disney and then giving them a run for their money in the late 80s and early 90s. In this episode, we look at the highs and lows of Bluth's career.

Check out Jonathan Sundy's books here.

As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook, on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur, or email us at [email protected].

Show Notes/Sources:

https://youtu.be/j0CrEhFIH2I?feature=shared

https://youtu.be/WKCLqeh0fjw?feature=shared

https://youtu.be/Jt2YG-T9Njk?feature=shared

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-08-21/don-bluth-career-secret-of-nimh-anastasia-disney

Tom McCarthy co-wrote and directed Spotlight, which took home the Oscar for Best Picture. McCarthy won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. The next time McCarthy returned to the director's chair was for the direct to Disney+ Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made (since pulled from the platform). McCarthy has spent his career attempting to make films for grown-ups while also dabbling in children's movies, getting a story credit on Up. In this episode, we try to make sense of this ping-ponging.

As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook, on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur, or email us at [email protected].

Show Notes:

https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/11/spotlight-tom-mccarthy-film-review/414588/

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/awards-chatter-podcast-tom-mccarthy-867386/

https://soundcloud.com/thedirectorscut/episode-8-spotlight-with-tom-mccarthy-and-jonathan-levine?in=ozkzeqspksam/sets/dga

In this episode, we are joined by high school teacher and wine drinker (not at the same time), Mark Staron, to discuss the films of Alexander Payne. We had a fun discussion covering everything from voiceovers and Omaha to which film made us cry the most. We also drank some wines featured in Sideways, so all in all a successful podcast.

As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook, on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur, or email us at [email protected].

Show Notes/Sources:

One Man's Trash

Next Picture Show - Sideways

Next Picture Show - Election

DGA - Downsizing

Happy Sad Confused - Alexander Payne

Maltin on Movies - Alexander Payne

Happy Halloween! This October 31st, we delve into thinking-man's horror with the films of Jordan Peele. We welcome back Paul Kowalski for this fun conversation.

As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook, on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur, or email us at [email protected].

Staff Notes/Sources:

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/nope-is-one-of-the-great-movies-about-moviemaking

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/067-pt-2-get-out-people-under-the-stairs/id1057714949?i=1000382395226

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nope-with-jordan-peele/id1439252196?i=1000570855194

https://www.filmspotting.net/episodes-archive/2019/3/22/721-us-elite-8-filmspotting-madness-cassavetes-4

https://allthingscomedy.com/podcasts/episode-85-jordan-peele-is-our-goat

Greta Gerwig's career is firing on all cylinders. She has the biggest film of 2023, Barbie, consistent critical acclaim, and Academy love. But will she get the Popcorn Auteur badge of approval? Join us as we review Gerwig's career as a filmmaker, starting with the oft-overlooked Nights and Weekends.

As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook, on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur, or email us at [email protected].

Show Notes/Sources:

https://www.filmspotting.net/episodes-archive/2023/7/27/929-barbie-oppenheimer

https://soundcloud.com/thedirectorscut/lady-bird-with-greta-gerwig-and-spike-jonze-ep-111

https://www.theringer.com/2023/7/27/23809449/barbie-deep-dive-with-greta-gerwig

http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episode-869-greta-gerwig

https://wondery.com/shows/smartless/episode/9280-greta-gerwig/

https://www.wgaeast.org/onwriting/greta-gerwig-little-women/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/march-madness-pt-2-little-women-2019/id1057714949?i=1000463219698

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fantasy-women-pt-2-barbie/id1057714949?i=1000623763017

James Mangold has one of the more eclectic filmmaking careers. From indie dramas to romantic comedies to R-rated superheros and now Indiana Jones, Mangold's films run the gamut. We were excited to explore this filmography and shocked to discover that Mangold lifts the time travel dynamics directy from Kate & Leopold for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook, on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur, or email us at [email protected].

Show Notes/Sources:

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=20000111&id=DYs0AAAAIBAJ&pg=4204,6160375

https://www.filmspotting.net/episodes-archive/2023/7/6/926-dial-of-destiny-top-5-indiana-jones-moments

https://www.andrewjupin.com/posts-native/2023/7/1/now-in-release-indiana-jones-and-the-dial-of-destiny-ndwe2

https://screenrant.com/indiana-jones-dial-destiny-time-travel-antikythera-explained/

https://www.dga.org/Events/2017/Apr2017/Logan_QnA_0317.aspx

https://sites.libsyn.com/478023/james-mangold

Fresh off of winning the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for Women Talking, Sarah Polley is posed to become a major voice in modern filmmaking. In this episode, we review Polley's short but impressive list of films. Warning: We also talk rickshaws.

As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook, on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur, or email us at [email protected].

Show Notes/Sources:

https://www.indiewire.com/awards/consider-this/sarah-polley-women-talking-interview-oscars-1234811960/

https://www.vogue.com/article/women-talking-sarah-polley-interview

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/11/21/sarah-polleys-journey-from-child-star-to-feminist-auteur

https://www.wgaeast.org/onwriting/episode-106-sarah-polley-women-talking/

http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episode-1403-sarah-polley

https://movingimage.us/programs/sarah-polley/

Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead are filmmakers that embody independent filmmaking. There latest film, Something in the Dirt was made largely by just three people. In this episode, we have a blast jumping into their micro-budget Lovecraftian multiverse.

As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook, on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur, or email us at [email protected].

Show Notes/Sources:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mortalpodkast/episodes/Justin-Benson--Aaron-Moorhead-vs--Baraka-e1msgei

https://content.libsyn.com/p/6/0/a/60a38baf727565fd/SynchronicQandAJustinBensenAaronMoorhead.mp3

https://variety.com/2015/film/features/10-directors-to-watch-justin-benson-aaron-moorhead-1201391322/

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/justin-benson-aaron-moorhead-interview-moon-knight-into-the-dirt

https://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/justin-benson-and-aaron-moorhead-on-la-covid-and-conspiracies

https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-endless-aaron-moorhead-and-justin-benson-interview/

Our film education continues with the films of Kasi Lemmons. Lemmons made the transition from acting to behind the camera with the stellar Eve's Bayou. A filmmaking career that has spanned over 25 years, including 2019's Harriet, her writing and directing output is worth a look. Join us as we discuss.

As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook, on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur, or email us at [email protected].

Show Notes/Sources:

https://www.theatlantic.com/sponsored/forevermark-2016/third-act-the-journey-of-a-hollywood-director/816/

https://www.indiewire.com/2019/10/harriet-kasi-lemmons-interview-1202183808/

https://aalbc.com/interviews/interview.php?id=2217

https://youtu.be/PB621yuwddY

https://variety.com/2020/artisans/news/kasi-lemmons-african-american-history-1203511035/

https://www.kcrw.com/culture/shows/the-treatment/kasi-lemmons-sandy-king-carpenter-and-joe-coscarelli-on-the-treat

Shane Black was once Hollywood's hottest screenwriter. After some rough times, he transitioned into the director's chair and has helmed a Marvel Cinematic Universe film (Iron Man 3) and 2018's The Predator. Nonetheless, we were most excited to talk about his other films - Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and The Nice Guys.

In this episode we were joined by Shane Black enthusiast and always busy podcaster Jay Cluitt. Listen as we talk through the highs and one significant low of Black's career.

Find more from Jay here:

https://lifevsfilm.com/

Deep Blue Sea - The Podcast

Con Air - The Podcast

@LifeVsFilm

Show Notes/Sources:

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/shane-black-interview-predator-2018-lethal-weapon-kiss-bang-director-a8531186.html

https://trailersfromhell.com/podcast/shane-black/

https://podcasts.apple.com/my/podcast/shane-black/id827905050?i=1000368780081

https://www.scriptapart.com/episodes/episode-38-kiss-kiss-bang-bang-shane-black-interview

https://podcasts.apple.com/al/podcast/shane-black-christmas-the-nice-guys-w-frank-and-geoff/id1508135944?i=1000588456290