The Directors' Wall

The Directors' Wall
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Video store clerks Bryan Connolly and A.J. Gonzalez examine a director's career film by film.

  1. 1D AGO

    Coppola Cast #36: Megadoc (2025)

    It’s time for another great debate about…Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis thanks to Mike Figgis’s documentary Megadoc (2025) which recently debuted on The Criterion Channel. Both Bryan and A.J. loved Megalopolis so we’re predisposed to like a documentary about its making-of, but Mike Figgis crafted an interesting and non-glamourous movie about making a movie. We talk about Figgis’s career and how his respect for actors figured into his approach to the doc; also discussed are Coppola’s frustration with his department heads and Marvel, the increasing tension between Shia LaBeouf and Coppola, and other documentaries about troubled film productions. This episode’s themed drink was: Francis Coppola Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2023.

    1h 19m

  2. 12/22/2025

    The Journeyman: Curtis Hanson #4: The Silent Partner (1978)

    It’s our 2nd annual Christmas Episode! Our journey through the work of Curtis Hanson brings us to the Christmas crime thriller The Silent Partner. Hanson wrote the screenplay, based on a Danish novel, with the hope that he would direct. Things didn’t work out that way but he did have a hand in completing the film. We talk about Christopher Plummer’s incredible and frightening performance as a psychopathic bank robber; it might be his most intense performance as a villain. We also talk about Elliott Gould’s great performance as a mild mannered bank teller who only seems average and unassuming. There’s a lot to discuss from how the film balances sometimes wildly different tones, to the Canadian tax shelter film era, an appearance of a young John Candy, and how, despite very positive reviews, The Silent Partner went mostly unseen in America. Tangents include: First Blood and the Rambo movies and declaring that Showgirls is forever. This episode’s themed drink was: Glühwein

    1h 5m

  3. 11/30/2025

    The Journeyman: Curtis Hanson #3: Fly Me (1973) and Evil Town (1987)

    It’s a drive-in double feature of movies directed by Curtis Hanson, sort of. Before he completely parted ways with Roger Corman, Hanson directed a prologue for Fly Me (1973), Corman’s entry in the sexy stewardess genre. Later that same year Hanson directed a horror film called And God Bless Grandma and Grandpa, but was fired after the producer decided he wanted a movie with a totally different plot that would eventually be titled Evil Town when it finally saw the light of day in 1987. We review the rest of Fly Me, but spend most of our time trying to make sense of Evil Town, a would-be slasher whose incomprehensible plot is the result of production history so troubled it includes multiple reshoots and title changes, a fraud scheme, the SEC, and more reshoots. Bryan and A.J. try to pick out what remains of Hanson’s original movie, complain about the rarity of the Evil Town blu-ray, and also talk about the remake, Evils of Night (1985), which was released before the original movie. On the bright side, Hanson’s segment of Fly Me featured character actor Dick Miller.  This episode’s themed drink was: Kagatan cocktails.

    1 hr

  4. 10/29/2025

    The Journeyman: Curtis Hanson #2: Sweet Kill (1972) AKA The Arousers

    Curtis Hanson began his directorial career by working for none other than the legendary Roger Corman with the Psycho knock off Sweet Kill (1972). Even though the final version of this movie was not what either Hanson or Corman wanted, it is still an interesting first film and gives us plenty to talk about. We go into how the movie came together, was reshot and retitled, and how the same thing happened to Martin Scorsese with his first film for Corman.  We discuss Tab Hunter and his lowkey performance of a psycho killer. This episode’s (somewhat themed) drink was: All Kings Brut Classic Sparkling White Wine.

    49 min

  5. 09/12/2025

    The Journeyman: Curtis Hanson #1: The Dunwich Horror (1970)

    Season 4 is here and we begin our journey through the career of of Curtis Hanson with his first credited work as a co-screenwriter for The Dunwich Horror (1970). A.J. explains why he chose Curtis Hanson and Bryan provides some background on Hanson’s early life and career beginnings. We discuss how The Dunwich Horror fits into the post-Rosemary’s Baby horror landscape and how it helped Sandra Dee shed her child-star persona. We also talk about the influence of American International Pictures (AIP), Roger Corman, and H.P. Lovecraft. This episode’s themed drink was: spiked tea.

    53 min

  6. 07/25/2025

    Coppola Cast Redux: Sofia #11: Priscilla (2023) w/ Jenny McKeown, plus Sofia shorts & Season 4 announcement

    For our Season 3 finale we’re joined by special guest Jenny McKeown to talk about Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla (2023)! We discuss how Sofia handles her first biopic in which the subject, Priscilla Presley is still alive, how her style is a perfect fit for portraying life at Graceland with Elvis without glamourizing it, and how, much as Priscilla lived under Elvis’s shadow, this movie was released under the shadow of big glitzy Elvis movie. We also cover an assortment of recent Sofia shorts including: Chanel Iconic and Suntory Roku gin commercials, a short film for the NYC Ballet reopening, and her cameo in an episode of What We Do In the Shadows. We also briefly talk about the AFI tribute to Francis Ford Coppola and announce our Season 4 director! This episode’s themed foods were fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches and deviled eggs  and the drink was Sofia Brut Rosé  Join Jenny McKeown for a screening of Priscilla, part of the A Woman of Taste series, at the Hyperreal Film Club on Wednesday, August 6th. Doors open at 7PM. Film starts at 7:30PM. Tickets are on sale now. https://hyperrealfilm.club/events/2025/8-6/priscilla-movie-screening

    1h 19m

  7. 06/12/2025

    Coppola Cast Redux #10: On the Rocks (2020)

    This episode we review the feature length reunion of Sofia Coppola and Bill Murray: On the Rocks. Filmed in 2019 but released during the 2020 COVID pandemic, Sofia’s marital comedy and detective story of sorts played only briefly in theaters before ending up on AppleTV+ (though it is thankfully available on DVD & Blu-ray). We discuss the performances and chemistry of Bill Murray and Rashida Jones, how this differs stylistically from Sofia’s previous films, and how Life Without Zoe, Lost in Translation, and On the Rocks make an unofficial trilogy. Also, Bryan points out references to Lost in Translation and A.J. rants against AppleTV+. This episode’s themed drink was: Cutty (Sark) on the rocks.

    1h 1m

  8. 05/16/2025

    Coppola Cast Redux: Sofia #9: La Traviata (2017)

    We’re back from an unexpected break, but before we can return to the movies we must first go to the opera for the Sofia Coppola directed production of La Traviata (or more accurately, we watched the Blu-ray). In 2016 Sofia Coppola was hired by the legendary fashion designer Valentino to direct a new production of Verdi’s La Traviata for Teatro Dell’Opera Di Roma and we discuss whether she or Valentino is the main creative force behind the opera. We also talk about the sets by Nathan Crowley (famous for his work for the films of Christopher Nolan), the costumes by Valentino himself, what stylistic touches Sofia brings with her and how her directorial style translates to the stage. We also mispronounce many names and titles horribly and A.J. ponders what really makes an opera an opera? This episode’s themed drink was Blanc de France Bonnete wine.

    58 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Video store clerks Bryan Connolly and A.J. Gonzalez examine a director's career film by film.

Information

  • Creator
    The Directors' Wall
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    71
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    The Directors' Wall