Director's Club

Jim Laczkowski
  • 4.4 (140)
  • TV & FILM
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY
Director's Club

A monthly show that reviews one film director per episode with the occasional bonus episode. Episodes 123-172 were hosted by Brad & Al. As of 2022, new episodes will be hosted by Jim and/or Bill.

  1. OCT 28

    Episode 229: Guillermo Del Toro (feat. Chloe Waryan)

    The spooky season is here! Why not indulge in the twisted fantasy worlds of one renowned, revered Mexican filmmaker by the name of Guillermo Del Toro! Of course I needed to enlist a super fan of his and I was lucky enough to have returning guest Chloe Waryan back on the show for another truly delightful discussion. Chloe may very well be my go-to guest every October (well at least for next year so we can finally talk about Mike Flanagan). Not to mention, you're in for a surprise when Chloe and I introduce a bonus segment after the movie reviews that I know you'll enjoy! We start out the first ten minutes with some recent horror discoveries from Chloe and a quick review of a documentary I got to catch at the Chicago International Film Festival. For more reviews from there, do check out my Substack linked below! Before Thanksgiving, you'll be treated to a brand new Michael Mann redux episode so stay tuned for that. Thank you so much to Chloe for coming back on and to you for listening.  00:00 - 11:34 - Introduction / Recent Horror Recs 11:35 - 42:05 - Cronos, Mimic, The Devil's Backbone 42:06 - 01:02:47 - Blade II, Hellboys, Pacific Rim 01:02:48 - 01:24:29 - Pan's Labyrinth, Crimson Peak 01:24:30 - 01:49:49 - Shape of Water, Nightmare Alley, Pinocchio 01:49:50 - 02:11:21 - Surprise Segment / Top 3 / Outro Be sure to follow Chloe! https://chloesnotscared.com Chloe's IG https://www.instagram.com/chloesnotscared Subscribe to my Substack! https://5years.substack.com Beach Too Sandy Water Too Wet podcast! https://www.beachtoosandy.com

    2h 11m

  2. SEP 30

    Episode 228: Jeremy Saulnier (feat. Mitchell Beaupre)

    It's been six weeks since a new episode of the show but this will be worth the wait, given not only the director we're covering but the guest is one of the best film critics working today. Letterboxd's very own Mitchell Beaupre returns after their debut a couple years ago for a nail-biting discussion on one of our premiere action-thriller directors working today. Jeremy Saulnier has a terrific new movie out on Netflix called Rebel Ridge which we review at length in addition to the rest of his filmography.  For the first half hour though after the introduction, we review a little-talked about movie that just came out called Megalopolis by an obscure director named Francis Ford Coppola. Then after our conversation, you get to hear an archival interview I did about a decade ago with Jeremy Saulnier promoting the release of Green Room! All in all, you're in for a treat. Stay tuned next month in mid-late October for a spooky discussion on Guillermo Del Toro next. Another episode long overdue featuring returning guest and librarian Chloe Waryan! Letterboxd Q&A w/Saulnier: ‎The Jeremy Saulnier Q&A • Journal Follow Mitchell on Letterboxd: ‎Mitchell Beaupre’s profile • Letterboxd Subscribe to my Substack: 5 Years | Jim Laczkowski | Substack The Rest Of My Socials: Jim Laczkowski Linktree

    2h 19m

  3. AUG 15

    Episode 227: Keith Gordon + Underrated Films of the 2000s

    Couldn't be more thrilled to share the latest conversation I had with one of my favorite returning guests, actor/writer/director Keith Gordon who may remember as Arnie from John Carpenter's Christine. He's been on several times in the past to not only talk about his films and his career but particular movies he thinks you should seek out from a particular decade. In the tradition of the Pure Cinema Podcast, this is more of a back-and-forth conversation about ten titles from a list that we put together and finalize. There's a little bit of everything - a short film, a wacky comedy, a neo-noir, a Gothic horror film and an acclaimed documentary as we run down favorites from the 2000s that we hope you'll seek out if you haven't yet. Thank you so much for listening and I can't thank Keith enough for taking the time to return to the show and sharing his passion for cinema.  00:00 - 04:20 - Introduction 04:21 - 21:20 - Introduction w/Keith 21:22 - 02:04:41 - Underrated Films of the 2000s 02:04:41 - 02:26:53 - Waking The Dead / Outro Substack: https://5years.substack.com New Website: https://jimlaczkowski.com Previous Keith Gordon episodes:  https://www.directorsclubpodcast.com/archives/keithgordonarchives Plastic Bag (2009): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkbT50O7scc

    2h 27m

  4. JUL 29

    Bonus Episode: Longlegs & In a Violent Nature (feat. Patrick Ripoll)

    Get it on, bang a gong, get it on! Patrick Ripoll (of 96 Greers) joins me once again, returning to discuss two horror films that left me a bit perplexed. About six years ago, I asked Patrick to come back on to review David Gordon Green's Halloween along with the Suspiria remake simply because I wanted to hear his thoughts. Upon walking out of both Longlegs and In a Violent Nature, I had that same feeling of needing Patrick to come over for a couple hours so we could hash out my thoughts (and neurosis) about these two new films, the horror genre in general, hot takes, being inundated with social media and compulsive Letterboxd likes.  Plus a lot more comes up along the way. In addition, be sure to listen to the intro for your chance to win an Amazon Gift Card as well as a cool new film-related book I was lucky enough to receive that I know you'll enjoy if you're a fan of this show. Thanks for listening and to my intelligent, passionate and very kind friend for coming back on! 00:00 - 17:06 - Introduction 17:07 - 55:49 - Longlegs Review 55:50 - 01:15:33 - In a Violent Nature Review 01:15:34 - 01:39:23 - More Thoughts / Outro Check out Patrick and Reg's podcast: https://ninetysixgreers.podbean.com Halloween (2018) & Suspiria Reviews: https://podbay.fm/p/directors-club/e/1541656800 Leave A Review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/directors-club/id414288912 Subscribe to the newsletter: https://5years.substack.com

    1h 39m

  5. JUL 3

    Bonus Episode: 1994 Review - The Year In Music

    For this excursion into something besides movies, in case you didn't know, I once hosted Voices & Visions and I would recruit friend and Austin-based journalist Dan Solomon to go back 20 years to talk about a year in music - an art form that I love every bit much as film. For this summer tradition, my guests and I curate a new list of ten favorite records from a favorite year, playing snippets of certain songs and discussing our feelings about music in general. As of 2021, I decided to include my friend Jason Simpson, also a writer, to join us in this endeavor, he's back to experience the fun as well. As listeners know, I've been going back 30 years to talk about the year in film with Collin Souter and Erik Childress, so I asked Jason and Dan to do the same from now on with records. Hopefully everyone enjoys this discussion about our favorite records from 1994. It was such a blast sharing memories with dear friends from high school as well as getting to hear a lot of incredible music from the mid-90s. Next year, we have a makeup homework assignment: the year 1999, which we missed.  If you want to hear the older episodes of the music retrospective, they are now archived below as well. Thank you so much for listening and much gratitude to Dan & Jay for their insights, opinions and a 30-year plus friendship. Stay tuned for the next official episode when Keith Gordon returns in late July! Other episodes recorded over the years: https://www.directorsclubpodcast.com/archives/yearlymusicretrospectives Check out Dan's Beehiiv: the gardener (beehiiv.com) Follow Dan On BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/dansolomon.bsky.social Buy Dan's Book: https://northstareditions.com/product/the-fight-for-midnight Follow Jason on Twitter: https://twitter.com/for3stpunk Hear Me Talk All About Exile in Guyville on The Great Albums: https://thegreatalbums.libsyn.com/liz-phair-exile-in-guyville-w-guest-jim-laczkowski

    2h 6m

  6. JUN 19

    Episode 226: Christopher Nolan Part II (feat. Erik Childress)

    Once again, the format has changed a little for an experiment. Not quite a magic trick if you will, but Erik and I hope to "incept" you with our collaborative ranking of a director's filmography (not a draft, repeat not a draft). Last time Erik Childress was on to talk Christopher Nolan, it was way back in 2011 - the very first year of this podcast. Now the time has come for a sequel especially since my personal favorite Nolan film came out a few years after that first recording. My love for it transcends time and space.  You'll hear us talk about each Nolan film, some longer than others, but Erik and I were tasked to come to a consensus and at the very end, you'll hear how we compromised to come up with our own ranking of all 12 titles. Not to mention a cameo towards the end of the original co-host of this show, Patrick Ripoll (of 96 Greers!). Cinephiles are in for a treat. Thank you so much for listening! 00:00 - 11:11 - Introduction 11:12 - 01:09:26 - Ranking #12-7 01:09:27 - 02:24:55 - Ranking #6-1 02:24:56 - 02:37:37 - The final list / Patrick's list / Outro Erik's podcasts: https://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/the-friendship-dilemma https://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/moviemadness Christopher Nolan Part I (2011): https://directorsclubpodcast.libsyn.com/website/episode-19-christopher-nolan Elk Grove Cinema Screenings! https://www.classiccinemas.com/events/class-of-84/128?location=elk-grove

    2h 38m

  7. MAY 4

    Episode 225: Another 50 Favorites (feat. Bill Ackerman)

    Do you remember when Bill Ackerman and I revealed our 50 favorite movies episode for the 10-year anniversary of this show?  That was Part One in what eventually has become a trilogy! Little did you know, when I briefly had a Patreon, we did a sequel that was exclusive for subscribers.  I no longer have Patreon so not only do you get Part Two (50 More Favorites) but also the newly recorded Part Three (Another 50 Favorites), both available the same day as a birthday bonus treat. All in all, not only do you get 150 favorite films from the two of us, but that adds up to a total of 21 hours of podcasting about which movies that we love that you should see. Thank you Bill for committing so much time to this insane endeavor but the trilogy is complete, it is accomplished! Part One: 50 Favorite Films Part Two: 50 More Favorites Jim’s List: 200 Favorite Films

  8. MAY 4

    Episode 224: 50 More Favorites (feat. Bill Ackerman)

    Do you remember when Bill Ackerman and I revealed our 50 favorite movies episode for the 10-year anniversary of this show? That was Part One in what eventually has become a trilogy! Little did you know, when I briefly had a Patreon, we did a sequel that was exclusive for subscribers.  I no longer have Patreon so not only do you get Part Two  (50 More Favorites) but also the newly recorded Part Three (Another 50 Favorites), both available the same day as a birthday bonus treat. All in all, not only do you get 150 favorite films from the two of us, but that adds up to a total of 21 hours of podcasting about which movies that we love that you should see. Thank you Bill for committing so much time to this insane endeavor but the trilogy is complete, it is accomplished! Part One: 50 Favorite Films Part Three: Another 50 Favorites Jim’s List: 200 Favorite Films

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4.4
out of 5
140 Ratings

About

A monthly show that reviews one film director per episode with the occasional bonus episode. Episodes 123-172 were hosted by Brad & Al. As of 2022, new episodes will be hosted by Jim and/or Bill.

Information

  • Creator
    Jim Laczkowski
  • Years Active
    2011 - 2024
  • Episodes
    344
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Director's Club

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