The Popcorn Auteur

Does the latter half of Wes Craven's filmography (outside of the Scream franchise) require a deep examination of family structure, faith, and Craven's upbringing? Listen and find out! As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook , on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur , or email us at popcornauteur@gmail.com .   Show Notes/Sources: https://www.avclub.com/wes-craven-1798215940 https://www.npr.org/2015/...

It's Halloween! It's Wes Craven! It's Kowaltober!   First Featured Clip: Freddy's Tub Attack Second Featured Clip: This is God   As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook , on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur , or email us at popcornauteur@gmail.com .  

Reichardt has had a busy and interesting career as a filmmaker. Beloved by the critics, her movies may be too understated for the award season. Her latest, The Mastermind, will be hitting theaters this fall, so we educate ourselves by watching the films written and directed by Reichardt.  As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook , on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur , or email us at popcornauteu...

You may not know this writing team's credits, but if you are our age, you know Can't Hardly Wait . You may also consider Josie and the Pussycats a cult classic. Hop into a time machine with us to examine the films of Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan. As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook or  email us at popcornauteur@gmail.com .   Show Notes/Sources: https://www.theringer.com/2018/06/...

Megan Park is an up and coming filmmaker. After a lengthy career as an actress, she has now directed two films:  The Fallout and My Old Ass . We saw My Old Ass on some top ten lists last year and the level of praise from Chris Columbus had us intrigued: ""My Old Ass" is an instant classic, this generation's "It's A Wonderful Life." Over the past decade, I've witnessed a handful of young filmmakers...

Richard Curtis is one of the mosty successful screenwriters to come out of Great Britain, but he's also directed three films of his own. From the modern Christmas classic of  Love Actually to the underseen About Time , we will discuss the films written and directed by Curtis. Our Holiday episode made it out while there is still snow on the ground, so that's something.   As always let us know what...

Why did it take us this long to cover the last of the three amigos? Perhaps it was the memories of Babel or a fear of bear attacks. Or perhaps the fact that Alejandro G. Iñárritu wasn't always a screenwriter. No matter the reason, in this episdoe we have a spolier-filled discussion of the four films written and directed by Iñárritu. As an added bonus, you get to hear Chris mispronounce a number of...

Happy Halloween! This year, Paul Kowalski is back to help us examine the films of Ari Aster. Come for the dread and decapitations, stay for the unified Ari Aster theory. Plenty of spoilers in this discussion.  As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook , on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur , or email us at popcornauteur@gmail.com .   Show Notes/Sources: https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/film/m...

Duncan Jones has a famous father, but he's attempted to blaze his own trail as an artist. Once a rising star in sci-fi filmmaking, Jones has struggled to find success as of late. In this espisode, we discuss the highs and lows of his filmography. As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook , on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur , or email us at popcornauteur@gmail.com . Show Notes: https://www.theve...

Sofia Coppola's surname means a lot in filmmaking, and yet she's been able to blaze her own distinct trail. She's a particular filmmaker intent on executing her particular vision. Listen as we discuss what did and did not connect with us from Coppola's filmography.  As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook , on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur , or email us at popcornauteur@gmail.com .    Show N...

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 Tw...

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...

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 Twit...

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 popcornauteur@gmail.com .   Staff Notes/Sources: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/nope-is-one-of-the-great-movies-about-movi...

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 a...

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 wron...

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 popcornauteur@gmail.com .   Show Notes/Sources: https:...

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 popcornauteur@gmail.com .    Show Notes/Sour...

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...

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...

In part 2 of our journey through the films of David Cronenberg, we get away from the horror. In this episode, we examine the controversial (Crash), the confusing (Naked Lunch), and the upsetting (Cosmopolis). Paul Kowalski is back for a fun draft of all 15 films written and directed by Cronenberg.   As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook , on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur , or email us at p...

For our Halloween episode, Paul Kowalski is back to delve into a 2-parter on body horror master David Cronenberg. In part 1, we go from the oddities of his early experimental films to cult classics Scanners and Videodrome . Listen as we explore these wild films and try to reach some consensus on his best body horror film.    Staff Notes/Sources: https://nymag.com/nymetro/movies/features/14547/ htt...

Nora Ephron may have been the master of the romantic comedy ( Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, & When Harry Met Sally ), but her filmography is far more diverse and at times supernatural (angels and witches). Listen as we discuss the variety of films she wrote and directed during her career. As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook , on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur , or email us at pop...

We are back to finish up the filmography of Lawrence Kasdan. His second half may not include the hits and critical successes of the first half, but we came into this episode hopeful. Listen to hear whether that hope was paid off or if Kasdan lost his fastball in his later works.   As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook , on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur , or email us at popcornauteur@gmail....

Lawrence Kasdan is best known for his screenwriting credits in the Star Wars and Indiana Jones universe, but he's an accomplished filmmaker in his own right. In this episode, we start our exploration of Kasdan's filmography from Body Heat to Grand Canyon .   As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook , on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur , or email us at popcornauteur@gmail.com .   Chris's Scene f...