Director's Club

Guest Kurt Halfyard from RowThree.com and Twitchfilm.com joins us to discuss prolific British filmmaker Michael Winterbottom.  We all agree on Winterbottom's triumphantly energetic 24 Hour Party People but all three of us have different opinions on Code 46.  We also have a very lengthy deconstruction of the majority of his filmography (although he's almost too prolific to where it's hard to see everything or keep up).  There are a couple of brief in-house items and we elaborate on a couple other things we've watched this week including Ghostbusters II, The Swell Season documentary, and The Change-Up!  Any thoughts on this episode, shoot 'em our way.  And please be sure to visit our website so you can enter our $30 Amazon Gift Card contest.  Entries are due by August 25th:  directorsclubpodcast.com

This week, we crank up the Elfman score as we take a trip down the rabbit hole with visual storyteller Tim Burton.  Our guest this week is musician/filmmaker/editor Steven Ray Morris, and we all have a blast universally praising Ed Wood.  In contrast, we each have very few positive things to say about the majority of his later work, particularly Sleepy Hollow.  We announce our first listener contest, read a couple of emails, talk about what we've watched this week, and discuss all of Burton's filmography!  If you agree or disagree with us, send us your feedback/questions to directorsclubpodcast@gmail.com

This week, we get hardwired into the work of the controversial Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg. Our special guest Meghan Lamb is a friend to the show, as well as a very talented author/musician/artist.  We cover the diverse, ever-evolving filmography of Cronenberg, focusing on his earlier success from the late 80s Dead Ringers, as well as the critically acclaimed A History of Violence.  But there's plenty to say about nearly all of his rather cerebral, psychologically stimulating films.  In addition, we also announce our annual July Shitacular, read emails, and reveal our Top 5 Films of 2011 so far.  As always, drop us an email about this episode or any upcoming director to:  directorsclubpodcast@gmail.com.  Thanks as always for listening and subscribing!

This week, we immerse ourselves into the world and vision of Australian filmmaker Peter Weir. Our special guest is the talented pop culture writer and CHUD contributor, Brendan M Leonard.  We have an intellectually stimulating discussion covering the entire filmography of Peter Weir, focusing on the foreboding with THE LAST WAVE and the life-affirming, with FEARLESS, a movie that has very personal meaning for Jim. As always we read a couple of emails and talk about what we watched this week, including the theatrically-released Super 8 and Midnight in Paris.  Send your thoughts on the podcast or a favorite directors of yours to:  directorsclubpodcast@gmail.com

We dive deep into the work of action director Walter Hill, alongside guest and CHUD.com contributor, Mike Flynn. While expressing having oodles of praise for the majority of his filmography, we focus on what we all feel are two of his best films, THE WARRIORS and STREETS OF FIRE.  As always, we also read some listener emails and talk about what else we’ve watched this week.  In two weeks, we will be covering the work of the great Australian filmmaker Peter Weir (Truman Show, Witness, Fearless, Master & Commander).  Until then, please send us your suggestions as well as any comments about Walter Hill or any director, and especially drop us a line if you’re a movie blogger/podcaster and would like a guest spot on the show to talk about a filmmaker whose work you admire:  directorsclubpodcast@gmail.com

For another epic-length episode, we deconstructed the work of the ever-so prolific Woody Allen with fan and friend to the show - Tony Valdivieso.  Woody Allen just happens to be Patrick’s favorite director as well so we ecstaticly discuss two of his absolute best films, MANHATTAN and THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO.  As always, we read some listener emails and talk about what else we've watched this week.  Send us your suggestions as well as any comments about Woody or any director, and especially drop us a line if you’re a movie blogger/podcaster and would like a guest spot on the show to talk about a filmmaker whose work you admire:  directorsclubpodcast@gmail.com

No guest this week, but in honor of Jim's birthday, we cover his all-time favorite director, horror film-pioneer Sam Raimi.  In addition to talking about the movies we watched this week and reading a suggestion from a listener, we swallow and digest a good majority of Raimi's filmography, including a couple of his lesser-successes over the years.  We focus on EVIL DEAD 2 and share a mutual affinity for THE QUICK AND THE DEAD.  As always, send all feedback and your thoughts on Sam Raimi or any director to: directorsclubpodcast@gmail.com

We welcome independent filmmaker Collin Souter of Efilmcritic.com (who also makes a regular appearance on Nick Digilio's radio show on WGN).  Our director for this episode is the young, incredibly esoteric David Gordon Green.  In addition to talking about the movies we watched this week and reading a suggestion from a listener, we explore the most acclaimed of DGG’s filmography, which also happens to be his earliest work.  We focus on GEORGE WASHINGTON and have a heated debate with ALL THE REAL GIRLS.  In addition, we try to rationalize DGG's choice to direct YOUR HIGHNESS as well.  As always, send all feedback and your thoughts on DGG or any director to: directorsclubpodcast@gmail.com

This week we welcome Andrew James of Rowthree.com (who also hosts one of our favorite podcasts, the Cinecast Podcast).  We embark on an epic-length discussion the visionary Spanish auteur Pedro Almodovar.  Then we launch into the most-beloved and acclaimed of his filmography, focusing on ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER & TALK TO HER.

We welcome our first guest through IM audio chat!   Rene F. Rangel of CHUD.com joins us as we talk about the movies we watched this week.  Then we launch into the work of action master John McTiernan focusing on the two most beloved classics of the genre, PREDATOR and DIE HARD.   You can email us your thoughts on McTiernan or this episode anytime to directorsclubpodcast@gmail.com

This is a first for us, as we both tackle a director we knew nothing about.  Kurt Halfyard, of Row Three/Cinecast, recommended that we check out a filmmaker named Joseph Losey.  And boy, are we ecstatic about the new discovery! We have plenty to say about Losey's work, mainly focusing on THE PROWLER & THE SERVANT.  Overall, we couldn't be more pleased with the discussion we had.

We welcome another guest this week. Musician and friend Russ Woods joins us as we talk about the movies we watched this week. Then we discuss the work of provocateur auteur Todd Haynes, mainly focusing on his films SAFE and FAR FROM HEAVEN.  Keep an ear out for a new special feature at the hour mark of this episode

We welcome our first special guest this week!  Friend to the show, Carly Petrusky, joins us as we talk about we've watched this week.  Then we discuss the work of John Landis, mainly focusing on AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON & INNOCENT BLOOD.

We got our first listener email this week, then we talk about we've watched this week including NO STRINGS ATTACHED.  We discuss the work of Terry Gilliam, mainly focusing on BRAZIL & FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS.

We talk about what we have watched recently including THE GREEN HORNET & SOMEWHERE, then we discuss the work of director Rob Zombie by reviewing HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES & THE DEVIL'S REJECTS.  

We introduce ourselves, talk about what we've watched recently, then review SAY ANYTHING & ELIZABETHTOWN and discuss the work of director Cameron Crowe.