Director's Club

Jim Laczkowski
  • 5.0 (1)
  • TV & Film

A monthly show that reviews a director per episode focusing on two titles. Episodes 123-172 were hosted by Brad & Al. As of 2022, new episodes will be hosted by Jim and/or Bill. As of 2027, a new host will take over!

  1. 4d ago

    Dial P For Podcast #9: I Confess, Dial M for Murder, Rear Window, To Catch a Thief

    Good evening. Welcome to Dial P for Podcast, Patrick Ripoll's year-long chronological voyage through the films of Alfred Hitchcock. Every month Patrick will be watching four Hitchcock features and talking about them here, from The Pleasure Garden to Family Plot, all across the year of 2026, examining the life and work of England's most famous cinema pervert. We have now reached the peak of Alfred Hitchcock's career, finding the ambitious auteur angling to ascend to new heights of affluence, adoration and artistic acclaim. With I Confess he chases Catholic consternation across Quebecois contexts, with Dial M for Murder he maps and measures macabre mystery to massive monetary means, in Rear Window we watch the wicked whims of windowshoppers wonder about wifely whacks with an ax, and in To Catch A Thief...who the hell knows what's going on with To Catch a Thief, that's a weird one. Genuinely odd. The longest episode of Dial P for Podcast yet, so clearly the best? 0:00 - 0:29 - Intro 0:30 - 37:50 - I Confess (1953) 37:51 - 1:42:03 - Dial M for Murder (1954) 1:42:04 - 4:07:46 - Rear Window (1954) 4:07:47 - 4:53:44 - To Catch a Thief (1955): 4:54:45 - 5:02:19 - Outro

    Dial P For Podcast #9: I Confess, Dial M for Murder, Rear Window, To Catch a Thief

  2. Sep 22

    Episode 248: Harold Ramis (feat. Collin Souter & Kerry Finegan)

    Delighted to welcome back both Kerry and Collin of the Christmas Movies Actually podcast (also available on the Now Playing Network), to talk about a comedy legend that is long overdue. I first saw the great Harold Ramis on SCTV thanks to my dad along with Ghostbusters in the theater which became an early favorite of mine too. But what about the films he has directed? One in particular is beloved (which I knew it would be on first viewing) that has to be discussed at length while the other is more of a personal favorite from one of the guests. Had a blast talking about one of my favorite movies, Groundhog Day as well as focusing on the 1996 clone comedy Multiplicity. We of course bring up more titles towards the end. Thank you so much to Kerry and Collin for joining me and be sure to check out their terrific show (the latest episode at the time of release features yours truly - linked below). Thanks all and see you in October for Wes Craven Redux featuring another favorite returning guest too! Follow Collin & Kerry Christmas Movies Actually Collin Souter My Latest Guest Appearance Shocker (1989) Opening And Closing Song Never! by Steve Combs

    Episode 248: Harold Ramis (feat. Collin Souter & Kerry Finegan)

  3. Sep 2

    Dial P For Podcast #8: Rope, Under Capricorn, Stage Fright, Strangers on a Train

    Good evening. Welcome to Dial P for Podcast, Patrick Ripoll's year-long chronological voyage through the films of Alfred Hitchcock. Every month Patrick will be watching four Hitchcock features and talking about them here, from The Pleasure Garden to Family Plot, all across the year of 2026, examining the life and work of England's most famous cinema pervert. On this month's installment we see Hitchcock take flight with his own production company, his own projects, his own risks and bold formal gambits that no one else would ever be fool enough to try. In Rope (1948) Hitchcock embraces long takes, treacherous gays and color film, with Under Capricorn (1949) Hitchcock once again tries his hand at period costume drama and once again is humbled, Stage Fright (1950) finds Hitchcock returning to familiar moves and finding unexpected success, and finally Strangers on a Train (1951) sets a new path forward for Hitch, with a new trusted cinematographer and a new embrace of a dark bitter misanthropy that he makes look oh so good. All that and an impression of Jimmy Stewart as George Carlin! You can't lose! 0:00 - 0:28 - Intro 0:29 - 1:26:24 - Rope (1948) 1:26:25 - 2:15:57 - Under Capricorn (1949) 2:15:58 - 3:22:45 - Stage Fright (1950) 3:22:46 - 4:29:13 - Strangers on a Train (1951) 4:29:14 - 4:32:47 - Addendum 4:32:47 - 4:33:02 - Outro

    Dial P For Podcast #8: Rope, Under Capricorn, Stage Fright, Strangers on a Train

  4. Aug 27

    Episode 247: Nicole Holofcener (feat. Kate Blair)

    After an extended break, the regular format has returned for the rest of 2026. Then we'll see what happens in the new year. At the very least, you'll be getting the yearly traditions regardless if the regular format changes. For the next two episodes, I needed to discuss filmmakers that bring me joy and aren't too heavy. The first is a filmmaker I've been meaning to cover for a little while since back in 2002, I became a huge fan of Nicole Holofcener. This is appropriately a short and sweet episode, much like the director's work itself. Joining me in the discussion, focused on her breakthrough film LOVELY & AMAZING and her most recent work, YOU HURT MY FEELINGS, is returning guest and friend to the show Kate Blair, making her fifth appearance and is always a delight to talk with. We also briefly sing the praises of the latest from Jane Schoenbrun during the introduction too! I am truly grateful to Patrick for his Dial P for Podcast series which will also continue till the end of the year and of course, to Kate for coming back on the show. Thanks everyone for your patience this summer and looking forward to bringing you more episodes this year.

    Episode 247: Nicole Holofcener (feat. Kate Blair)

  5. Jul 31

    Dial P for Podcast #7: Lifeboat, Spellbound, Notorious, The Paradine Case

    Good evening. Welcome to Dial P for Podcast, Patrick Ripoll's year-long chronological voyage through the films of Alfred Hitchcock. Every month Patrick will be watching four Hitchcock features and talking about them here, from The Pleasure Garden to Family Plot, all across the year of 2026, examining the life and work of England's most famous cinema pervert. As the Selznick era comes to an end we see an Alfred Hitchcock growing in confidence, ambition and struggling against the increasing interference of the overbearing producer. With Lifeboat Hitchcock takes on a seemingly simple premise that was in fact an enormous technical challenge, Spellbound found a David O Selznick obsession with psychiatry producing a mess of a thriller, Notorious finds Hitchcock hitting a career high and pissing off every censor in Hollywood, while The Paradine Case begs the question: if a murder happens and no actors capable of emoting can't react to it, does it make a sound? You can add the mid-40's to Hitchcock's list of playmates. Check it out! 0:00 - 0:32 - Intro 0:33 - 40:31 - Lifeboat (1944) 40:32 - 1:08:31 - Spellbound (1945) 1:08:32 - 1:53:26 - Notorious (1946) 1:53:27 - 2:18:54 - The Paradine Case (1947) 2:18:55 - 2:21:28 - Outro

    Dial P for Podcast #7: Lifeboat, Spellbound, Notorious, The Paradine Case

  6. Jul 27 ·  Bonus

    Bonus Episode: 2006 Review - The Year In Music

    It's the first B-Side Me/Director's Club crossover (and the last if you listen to the intro). One of the other yearly traditions occurs when I step away from film and turn to my other favorite art form: music, alongside returning guests and lifelong friends J and Dan. I'll be putting all the year in music episodes in one happy archive soon enough but for now, please partake in this delightful bonus discussion all about 2006, as we run down our favorite records of that year. Included are many song clips, memories, laughs and a lot of recommendations that we all hope you'll seek out and enjoy as much as we did. If you enjoy the music talk (and previous episodes of B-Side Me) please subscribe using the RSS feed link below since all future episodes will be in their own separate feed! Thanks everyone for the support and huge thanks to Dan and J for spending a couple hours nerding out with nostalgia by going back 20 years. B-Side Me Is Now Available Here: B-Side Me - Apple Podcasts B-Side Me RSS Feed Follow Dan: dan solomon Follow J: for3stpunk

    Bonus Episode: 2006 Review - The Year In Music

  7. Jul 20

    Bonus Episode: Sneakers Commentary Track (feat. Erik Childress)

    At first I was going to simply just write about my love of Phil Alden Robinson's spy thriller, Sneakers (1992), but then I decided it was time to start recording my voice again in hopes of returning to our regularly scheduled program next month. Since I needed something to lift my spirits, I asked friend and Chicago Film Critic Erik Childress to join me to talk for 2 hours all about a movie that means a lot to me. Another "Jim and his dad love this movie" example. Instead of only talking about why it's so great as a bonus episode, I thought a feature-length commentary track was in order, something I haven't done since recording last year with Bill Ackerman for the 4K release of At Close Range, another all-time favorite that I'd consider to be underrated. Erik was kind enough to take time out of his busy schedule to play a game a Scrabble, hop inside an unmarked van and wire-tap a mathematician in order to get our voyeuristic kicks. Even if you're not a fan or don't own this film to listen along as the film plays, feel free to simply just listen us nerd out for a couple hours about this all-star ensemble cast killing it every step of the way. It's a prescient film that has a lot to say and manages to be a blast the whole way through. Grateful to Erik and hope you enjoy what we have to say here! 00:00 - 05:31 - Intro 05:32 - 02:11:17 - Commentary Track 02:11:18 - 02:17:59 - Outro

    Bonus Episode: Sneakers Commentary Track (feat. Erik Childress)

  8. Jul 1

    Dial P for Podcast #6: Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Suspicion, Saboteur, Shadow of a Doubt

    Good evening. Welcome to Dial P for Podcast, Patrick Ripoll's year-long chronological voyage through the films of Alfred Hitchcock. Every month Patrick will be watching four Hitchcock features and talking about them here, from The Pleasure Garden to Family Plot, all across the year of 2026, examining the life and work of England's most famous cinema pervert. As we reach the midpoint of Alfred Hitchcock's career we see a variety of films, including a screwball comedy and another 39 Steps re-run, but we also see the full flowering of a Hitchcock driven by psychology, by terror of a much more domestic variety, a world at war while things aren't right at home, where the person you sleep next to could be your most sinister enemy. Homicidal Cary Grant, Thorton Wilder slumming it, the statue of liberty, fourth wall dismissal, surrealism and even honest-to-God psychic powers saturate this batch of films as Hitchcock settles into Hollywood and begins to turn it upside down. It's glowing like a poisoned glass of milk but you better drink it down anyway! 0:00 - 0:36 - Intro 0:37 - 30:55 - Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941) 30:56 - 1:38:47 - Suspicion (1941) 1:38:48 - 2:24:53 - Saboteur (1942) 2:24:54 - 4:13:55 - Shadow of a Doubt (1943) 4:14:56 - 4:15:04 - Outro

    Dial P for Podcast #6: Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Suspicion, Saboteur, Shadow of a Doubt
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About

A monthly show that reviews a director per episode focusing on two titles. Episodes 123-172 were hosted by Brad & Al. As of 2022, new episodes will be hosted by Jim and/or Bill. As of 2027, a new host will take over!

Information

  • Creator
    Jim Laczkowski
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    356
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Jim Laczkowski
  • Show Website
    Director's Club

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