Director's Club

The Director's Club wanted to finish off the year right and begin the new one with a bang, so we're having our first 2018 episode on the films of epic director Akira Kurosawa.  This episode looks at the first half of his career, looking in on his early works from "Sanshiro Sugata" through his run of masterpieces ("Rashomon", "Ikiru", "Seven Samurai", "Throne of Blood").  Hope you all have a happy...

Now Playing Network Master of Ceremonies (and Director's Club founder) Jim Laczkowski joins us for this episode which has us looking at the films of French Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve! With Jim's help, we look at how Villeneuve brings his unique combination of thoughtfulness, pathos, family focus, and strangeness to dramas, genre thrillers, and films across the sci-fi spectrum.  Includes l...

In this episode the Director's Club takes a look at the films of James Whale (with the help of Fresh Perspective's Jeff Broitman).  Whale's innovations in camera movement and special effects, set of quirky character actors in supporting roles, and appreciation of the outsiders in society was put to good use in musicals, war films, and courtroom dramas, but never better than when he was making some...

The Director's Club finish our epic look at epic auteur Orson Welles, who managed to continue creating some amazing film moments despite becoming mostly exiled from the Hollywood studio system.  In Part II we look from his takes on Shakespeare with "Othello" and "Chimes At  Midnight ", through his acidic noir "Touch of Evil", to his 'deconstructumentary' film "F for Fake", and along the way talk a...

In this episode the Director's Club tries to grasp the enormity of the works of Orson Welles.  It's an extended look at the creative audacity that led to so much artistic triumph and career tragedy, and to make sense of it we include a look at his pre-film life and the many cinema endeavors that sadly never made it to the film screen.  In part 1 we look at his start working for the movie studios,...

This episode has the Director's Club looking at the films of Alan Parker, whose atmospheric visuals, ability at world-building, affinity to and for music, and brushes with controversy are some of the themes pulsing through a wide range of films in his career.  This led us to an epic conversation which ranged from rampant praise to stupefying anger and to several extended arguments about the value...

In this episode the Director's Club takes a look at the works of South Korean director Bong Joon-ho, who has made several remarkable movies (often in the same movie!)  Joining us on the journey is Robert Reineke (podcaster from " Still Watching the Skies "), and we had a blast talking about the many zany and fascinating details of his films. 6:20   "Incoherence" 13:18 "Barking Dogs Never Bite"  ("...

Jim here everyone!  It's been awhile since I took the crossover approach for an episode, allowing it to exist for both Director's Club & Voices and Visions .  Since my guests today are both tremendously talented filmmakers with a lot of insights, stories and new projects to promote, I decided to include this in both feeds.  After my introduction to the proceedings, I first speak with writer/direct...

In this episode, the Director's Club looks at the flims of Sofia Coppola (a.k.a., "The Good One"), whose movies had a dreamlike feeling of melancholy isolation, level of visual composition, and focus on young womanhood that was evident from the start of her career.  We're joined in our journey through her film work (that takes us from L.A. to Tokyo to Versailles to the Civil War South) by Rebecca...

In this episode of the Director's Club, we take a look at the unrestrainable visions of legendary German director Werner Herzog, following his quest to give audiences a sense of the "ecstatic truth" through his films.  He'll use any tool at his disposal to deliver this truth, from documentary techniques to hypnosis (and if there isn't a tool, he'll make one himself!).  We'll look at how the films...

This episode alongside guest film critic Collin Souter, we're taking a look at Jonathan Demme, whose interest in fascinating people, music, and minutiae was evident from his early work for Roger Corman through his final concert film.  It's a wide-ranging discussion about the vast scope of his work, fun details in his films, recurring concerns, and his varying levels of success in the Hollywood sys...

The Director's Club concludes our look at the films of Terrence Malick, from an appropriately epic examination of "The Tree of Life" through the more improvisational and abstract efforts of his later movies.  Thanks to the help of Peter Richards from the Chicago Film Discussion Group, we aim to get a fuller look at what's amazing, infuriating, and fascinatingly unique about this later part of his...

The Director's Club puts our heads together with Peter Richards from the Chicago Film Discussion Group to have an epic discussion about the movies of Terrence Malick.  With three different perspectives, there's a comprehensive and fair look at his movies, here in part 1 dealing with "Badlands" through "A New World".  Whether you adore Malick's films, hate them, or just want to learn more, you'll f...

( 19:56 )  "Real Life" (41:34)  "Modern Romance" ( 1:04:22 ) "Lost in America" ( 1:20:58 ) "Defending Your Life" ( 1:43:10 ) "Mother" ( 1:52:43 ) "The Muse"  (Muse, "Map of the Problematique") ( 2:04:36 ) "Looking For Comedy In The Muslim World" ( 2:12:55 )  Outro:  Brooks' legacy and our favorite Albert Brooks movie line This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribe...

Cross-posted from Voices & Visions .  Jim here with a special bonus interview episode especially since the following interview is with a great director!  My podcast Voices and Visions has talked with a variety of guests, and this one has a special place in my heart so I wanted to share it with the podcast I helped to create.  Last year, I had the immense pleasure of talking with one of my favorite...

16:43 THE TRUE STORY OF ESKIMO NELL ("Arctic World", Midnight Oil) 33:27 PATRICK ("Stayin' Alive", The Bee Gees) 58:10 ROAD GAMES ("Highway to Hell", AC/DC) 1:24:21 PSYCHO II ("Devil Inside", INXS) 1:44:29 CLOAK AND DAGGER ("Papa Won't Leave You, Henry", Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds) 1:58:00 LINK ("Something So Strong", Crowded House) 2:15:27 FX2 ("Magic",Olivia Newton John) 2:27:35 VISITORS ("The...

3:39   (Don Caballero, "Slice Where You Live Like Pie")  "Pi" 36:53 (Clint Mansell, "Lux Aeterna")  "Requiem for a Dream" 1:03:33 (The Police, "Spirits in the Material World")  "The Fountain" 1:38:27 (Quiet Riot, "Metal Health (Bang Your Head)")  "The Wrestler" 2:05:56 (Laura Carbone, "Swans")  "Black Swan" 2:27:18 (The Pogues, "Thousands are Sailing")  "Noah" 3:04:23 (R.E.M., "Losing My Religion"...

15:12  Zulawski's short films for TV: "The Story of Triumphant Love" and "Pavoncello" 19:14  "The Third Part of the Night" 28:34 (The Swans, "The Apostate") "The Devil" 49:12 (The Who, "Love Reign O'er Me") "The Most Important Thing: Love" 1:04:37  (Elvis Costello, "Possesion") "Possession" 1:28:22  (Michael Sambello, "Maniac") "La Femme Publique" 1:43:20  (Shooby Taylor, "Stout Hearted Man") "L'A...

Brad and Al talk about Pre-Leone history of the Westers:  3:13 "The Colossus Of Rhodes"  12:16 "Fistful of Dollars" 16:14         * Theme from... "For A Few Dollars More" 33:47         * Theme from...         * "The Musical Pocket Watch" "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly"  49:38         * Theme from...         * "The Story of a Soldier"         * "The Ecstacy of Gold"         * "The Trio" "Once Upo...

PART TWO OF TWO:  Nothing's gonna stop us now!  Ladies and gentlemen, let's go back thirty years to when three film critics fell in love with going to the movies.  The mid-80s informed a lot of my taste, and much like previous years' retrospectives, it's always a blast to go back and see what holds up and what we each consider to be personal favorites from a particular year.  RogerEbert.com 's ver...

The 1987 List Of Movies! PART ONE (OF TWO):  You can follow the list from 1987 that we cover linked above.  Nothing's gonna stop us now!  Ladies and gentlemen, let's go back thirty years to when three film critics fell in love with going to the movies.  The mid-80s informed a lot of my taste, and much like previous years' retrospectives, it's always a blast to go back and see what holds up and wha...

0 4:07 "Comedy Tonight" : Brad and Al Comedies 20:02 "Bicycle Race" by Queen : "Jour La Fete" 35:40 "Holiday" by Weezer: "M Hulot's Holidy" 57:15 "Man from U.N.C.L.E.": "Mon Oncle" 1:09:50 "Playtime" 1:53:16 "Crosstown Traffic" Hendrix:  "Traffic" 2:06:43 "Parade" 2:19:11 "Forza Batista" 2:22:40 Overview of Tati's Life and Work 2:30:00 Some Tati-esque recommendations 2:34:44 3 Favorite Gags from T...

It is my esteemed pleasure and honor to introduce the all-new Director's Club!  This is the first official episode hosted by your two new hosts.  The great Brad and Al have been handed the keys to the kingdom and inherited a chocolate factory.  Please give them your support, kind words, and feedback for their stay here on the podcast.  It will continue to be bi-weekly, sometimes featuring guests,...

This is the end!  (Don't worry, I didn't play The Doors in this episode). Well, no of course it isn't actually the end.  But this is the last episode where I officially host.  Fear not, there will be bonus episodes and I’ll be guesting from time to time throughout the year.  Give all your support to Al & Brad when they begin in three weeks on the Danny Boyle episode.  Of course, this is the year-e...

Merry New Year and Happy Christmas to all.  What I have prepared for you is a gift that I will call the "Royal Sampler Volume One."  It contains short clips from all the podcasts featured at The Now Playing Network, as well as extended highlights from Supporting Characters & Director's Club from over the years.  You also get a brief glimpse into some of my interviewing skills with various guests o...