Director's Club

In this episode, the Director's Club takes the cannoli and runs with it as we look at the films of Francis Ford Coppola. With Uberfounder of the Director's Club (and Now Playing Network head) Jim Laczkowski, in Part I we dive into his four masterpiece films, and explo re where in his early history was hints of such an amazing run of movies. Come eavesdrop on our conversation about the "Godfather"...

Cross-posted over at Voices + Visions too! Jim here! I've been in a horrible funk so I put out the call (or the "Pat" signal) to my dear old friend Patrick Ripoll to stop by for pizza, cannoli and some good old fashioned conversation. First we dealt with our dark thoughts surrounding jobs and then turned on the mics to do what we do best (or not): ramble on about movies. This time we focus on two...

This month the Director's Club takes a Phantasmic journey through the films of director Don Coscarelli. Coming from the "New Wave of Horror", Coscarelli combined abtract nightmare imagery, a youthful small-town generosity, and an iconic imposing prescence of a Tall Man to create his legendary horror movie "Phantasm", which has become a series unique in the personal touches from its creator and his...

In this episode we feature one of the first great directors to get his start in early television and the helmer of such classics as "The Manchurian Candidate" and "Seconds", John Frankenheimer. Frankenheimer had an amazing run of films in the sixties that also included "Birdman of Alcatraz" and "Seven Days in May". We talk about how his go-for-broke kinetic style not only took these films to the n...

In this episode of the Director's Club, we try to keep pace with the second half of the career of Werner Herzog.  It's a journey that moves from examinations of social issues we deal with today to artistry from the dawn of man (presented in 3D, no less!), from the Alaskan wilderness to the hearts of volcanoes to the southernmost part of the Earth itself, and leapfrogs several times over the border...

In this episode, the Director's Club takes a journey through the many amazing works of legendary independent filmmaker John Sayles.  Joined sporadically by Now Playing Network uber-guru (and Director's Club founder!) Jim Laczkowski, we explore a career filled with complex characters and stories illuminating many kinds of cultures, communities, and social concerns, all while providing a level of qu...

Writer-director Preston Sturges had one of the most incandescent runs of creativity in Hollywood History, making eight remarkable films from 1940 to 1944.  In this episode of the Director's Club, we're joined by Jeff Broitman of Fresh Perspective as we take a look at the unique way Sturges could combine screwball visual antics, waterfalls of breathless dialogue, and a continuous sense of comedic i...

Jim here, returning for a special conversation with a remarkably talented actor turned director. This is our third time talking and likely not to be our last. Keith Gordo n who you might remember from such films as CHRISTINE, DRESSED TO KILL, BACK TO SCHOOL and many more, decided to focus primarily on directing in the late 80s / early 90s.  I wanted to have him back on to discuss the experience of...

Once in a while a director comes along with such an original and distinctive vision that you can return to his work again and again and continue to discover new depths. Robert Altman is such a director and has inspired us to release our first Director's Club Redux episode. In Part 1, we cover the maverick director's breakout blockbuster M*A*S*H, all the way to his not so blockbuster take on Popeye...

In this episode, the Director's Club encounters environments from the dephts of the ocean up to the stars as we explore the work of screenwriter, filmmaker, and Riddick Chronicler David Twohy!  Helping immensely in our quest is Paul Freitag-Fey, a writer for Daily Grindhouse who showcases underseen films in Chicago at the Comfort Station and streaming hidden gems at http://watchthisthing.net . Wit...

For it's 150th episode, the Director's Club takes a Monumental trek through the latter films of John Ford.  With the help of Peter Richards from the Chicago Film Discussion Group, we see how through films like his 'Cavalry Trilogy', "The Sun Shines Bright", "The Searchers" and up to "Cheyenne Autumn", Ford's evolving attitudes about race, the West, and the conflict between individuals and communit...

The Directors Club tries to live up to the first part of its name, as in this episode we take a look at two seperate directors at once: English filmmaking brothers Martin ("In Bruges") and John Michael ("Calvary") McDonagh.  While they haven't officially worked on a film together, there are some fascinating connections of dark humor, empathy, faith, and a desire to subvert expectations that can be...

Jim here again, sneaking in with a short bonus episode cross-posted with V+V.  One of the greatest joys to experience in the fine city of Chicago is sitting down to watch a screening of a classic film at The Music Box Theatre .  It has been my favorite movie theater for quite some time and when the opportunity came to talk to the general manager of this theater, I could not have been more thrilled...

The Director's Club pays a return journey to the world of Akira Kurosawa!  Focusing this time on the second half of his career, we take a loo k at his biggest box office success, his iconic lone samurai warrior Sanjuro, the multiple great performances he got from Toshiro Mifune and Tatsuya Nakadai, and his influences on a galaxy far far away. We'll check out  the ways his later films astound on mu...

Jim here again!  Well, I can't believe, This is 40?  One day in and I can already say that it's nothing like that overlong Judd Apatow movie.  While waiting for my midlife crisis to commence, I invited my old compadre over to the recording studio for a conversation in the tradition of our old-school bonus episodes!  This time, we even play a round of Score Bits, inspired by the one and only Film J...

Hello there everyone!  Jim here.  Former co-host of this here show. More is explained in the intro(s) but I decided to offer up a special bonus treat here for both Director's Club + Voices and Visions alike.  I had the pleasure of seeing a very good new film called AND THEN I GO, directed by my first guest Vincent Grashaw.  We had a great talk about the inspiration behind the film and his process....

We are pleased to welcome back Chicago Film Discussion Group Organizer Peter Richards as we look at the comic and kinetic career of the U.K.’s own Edgar Wright.  Best known for his trilogy of genre parodies with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, he’d also bring some wild innovations to his American offerings, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Baby Driver.  We’ll discuss them all and decide which ones are w...

In this episode, the Director's Club takes a trek to Hungary to check out the films of Béla Tarr, whose long shots without cutting, luscious imagery of darkness, deliberate yet poetic camera movements, and stark perspectives of man and nature has sculpted out some of the most unforgettable moments in film.  In addition to trying to describe what makes his films so special, we look at how he develo...

In this episode, the Director's Club delves into the Green Valleys, Stagecoaches, and Long Voyages shown in the works of the legendary director John Ford.  With the help of fellow Chicago Film Discussion Group member Peter Richards (who guested on our Terence Malick episode), in Part I of our series we not only look into his classic early films, but lesser-known yet no less fascinating efforts whi...

It's an action-packed episode of the Director's Club as we look at the works of Andrew Davis.  Most well-known as director of "The Fugitive", one of the greatest action movies ever made, we explore his ability to enhance a wide range of films (from those of Samuel Z. Arkoff and Chuck Norris to even Alfred Hitchcock)  and how he infuses them with great energy, character and Chicago flavor from his...

Welcome to the exciting conclusion!  The Director's Club / Voices & Visions crossover continues once again! Last year around this time, it was so warm outside, we opened the windows. This time, it was cold & snowy (hence the sound of the heater throughout).  But have no fear!  Your loyal Chicago film critics are here to carry on the tradition of going back 30 years to cover a year in film that the...

The Director's Club / Voices & Visions crossover continues once again! Last year around this time, it was so warm outside, we opened the windows. This time, it was cold & snowy (hence the sound of the heater throughout).  But have no fear!  Your loyal Chicago film critics are here to carry on the tradition of going back 30 years to cover a year in film that they all grew up with.  Starting from ab...

Welcome to 2018!   In this episode, the Director's Club gives a look at Rob Reiner, who has one of the most two-sided careers in filmmaking history.  Through the first part, it was like he could do no wrong, putting great polish and attention to romantic comedies, coming-of-age stories, tongue-in-cheek takes on fantasy, and inventing the mockumentary. In the second half, it was like he was trying...

  Together again. Gee, it's good to be together again.  Jim and Patrick return for their yearly tradition of running down favorites and highlights from the past twelve months.  In addition, they answer some emails, read many listener contributions/lists, and discuss the future.  They hand out some awards, gifts, and throw paper at one another.  Surprisingly, there isn't nearly as many puns and wei...

Together again. Gee, it's good to be together again.  Jim and Patrick return for their yearly tradition of running down favorites and highlights from the past twelve months.  In addition, they answer some emails, read many listener contributions/lists, and discuss the future.  They hand out some awards, gifts, and throw paper at one another.  Surprisingly, there isn't nearly as many puns and weird...