Director's Club

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.

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

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: 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

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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 #5: The Lady Vanishes, Jamaica Inn, Rebecca, Foreign Correspondent

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. In this episode Alfred Hitchcock finally escapes the confines of the British film industry, only to once again find himself a small fish in a large pond. With The Lady Vanishes (1938) he takes the 39 Steps formula into dizzying new heights of paranoia and sophistication, in Jamaica Inn (1939) he clashes with the ego of producer/star Charles Laughton, in Rebecca (1940) he breaks ground in Hollywood with a career high gothic romance classic and Foreign Correspondent (1940) finds him back to the thriller, but with greater production values and a more urgent plea for intervention than ever. One of the most important stretches of Alfred Hitchcock's career, producing some of the greatest works in his filmography! Check it out! 0:00 - 0:33 - Intro 0:34 - 46:00 - The Lady Vanishes (1938) 46:01 - 1:18:20 - Jamaica Inn (1939) 1:18:21 - 2:34:24 - Rebecca (1940) 2:34:25 - 3:43:14 - Foreign Correspondent (1940) 3:43:15 - 3:44:04 - Outro

Dial P for Podcast #4: The 39 Steps, Secret Agent, Sabotage, Young & Innocent

Good evening. Welcome back 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. For episode 4 we find Alfred Hitchcock a newly christened international film star, taking the magic formula he discovered in The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) in four very different configurations, with four very different results, as we discuss the ground crumbling from under him at Gaumont Studios. Also: his top three favorite methods of being a hideous creep at parties! Spies and bystanders, codes and MacGuffins, the Scottish Highlands to the Swiss Alps to Picadilly Circus, this episode finds Hitch sharpening the Hitchcockian thriller to a fine point, as well as discarding some truly useless pencil shavings! 0:00 - 0:35 - Intro Music 0:36 - 1:35:56 - The 39 Steps (1935) 1:35:57 - 2:06:51 - Secret Agent (1936) 2:06:52 - 2:58:11 - Sabotage (1936) 2:58:12 - 3:22:34 - Young & Innocent (1937) 3:22:35 - 3:23:46 - Outro Music

Dial P for Podcast #3: Skin Game, Rich and Strange, Number Seventeen, The Man Who Knew Too Much

Good evening. Welcome back 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. For episode 3 we find Hitchcock's clout at British International Pictures crumbling, his bosses increasingly fed up with his nonsense and a new beginning that would catapult him to international success. Plus: Alfred Hitchcock does drag! From turgid stage adaptations to bizarre pseudo-screwball, from old dark house farce to basically inventing James Bond, this is one of the wildest stretches of Hitch's career! 0:00 - 0:40 - Intro Music 0:41 - 20:46 - The Skin Game (1931) 20:47 - 51:41 - Rich and Strange (1931) 51:42 - 1:22:06 - Number Seventeen (1932) 1:22:07 - 2:26:49 - The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) 2:26:50 - 2:27:59 - Outro Music

B-Side Me #5: Counting Crows

NOTE: After this episode, B-Side Me will be getting its own separate feed as a standalone show! If you enjoy the first five episodes, you'll have to subscribe to the new link which I will share soon! In addition to the monthly movie talk regarding directors (for Director’s Club), I'm happy to present the latest episode of the music version of that same format! Only this time, it's all about bands/musicians that we think are worth discussing. Along with fiancee Sharon Gissy, we both can’t wait for you to listen to us nerd out about music each month. This time, it's all about the divisive Counting Crows! Have you heard them lately? Without further ado, here is the 5th episode of B-Side Me. The format is simple: each of us picks an A-side to discuss (a more popular well-known song) and then we choose a B-side (a song that’s more obscure) that we think you should listen to ASAP. Add our choices to playlists, listen to us talk about another art form we both adore just as much as film! Thank you so much to Sharon for joining me on this nerdy podcasting journey and can’t wait for April (this summer, we will also have guests on). Grateful to all of you who listen to this one! Special shout-out to journalist and friend Dan Solomon for contributing too! Watch the new Counting Crows documentary on HBO MAX: https://play.hbomax.com/movie/3a004038-8df4-48c8-8fde-a1d7cfcea1a6

Episode 246: Alejandro Jodorowsky (feat. Mike White & Heather Drain)

Where to begin discussing a filmmaker like Jodorowsky? Obviously I had heard of him and had seen the documentary, Jodorowsky's Dune, but it was until last year that I sat down to watch The Holy Mountain, knowing I was going to do this episode a few months later. Thanks to Sharon, I have now seen not only one of my new favorite movies, but discovered a new favorite director. Alongside my other favorites: PT Anderson, David Lynch and Sam Raimi, Jodorowsky has something in common with all of them - he treats cinema like a playground of the subconscious or an empty canvas that reflects reality, both bleak and beautiful. To affirm my newly found love are two podcasters/film scholars that I've been meaning to talk with on the show for a long time: Mike White (host of the Projection Booth) and the great Heather Drain! Our main reviews focus on The Holy Mountain and Santa Sangre, but Jodo's other work comes up throughout as well. There are laughs, fireworks, acid trips and digressions galore all in the spirit of a true artist who has likely changes lives, befuddled others and created remarkable art that is truly all his own. The first hour focuses on The Holy Mountain, while the second jumps into Santa Sangre and so much more. No time stamps necessary for this wild journey! Hope you enjoy and be sure to seek out both these two films alongside another masterpiece, El Topo! Follow Mike White: https://www.projectionboothpodcast.com Follow Heather Drain: https://www.mondoheather.com Other references to The Holy Mountain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IAG8JdShaI

Episode 245: 1996 - The Year In Review

Not too big of a summary this time around since the title says it all and there’s a lot to get to in terms of the episode proper. Every year around late February / early March, I call upon Chicago film critic buddies Collin Souter & Erik Childress to join me for an epic 5 hour+ episode discussing as many movies as we can, traveling back in time 30 years to cover an entire year. Clips, trailers, songs, quotes, excerpts, a trailer remix and more! Thank you Collin & Erik as always and thank you to the fans/listeners/subscribers for listening to this yearly tradition. Follow Collin https://letterboxd.com/cdsouter https://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/christmasmoviesactually https://www.collinsouter.com Follow Erik https://letterboxd.com/erikthemovieman https://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/moviemadness https://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/the-friendship-dilemma

Dial P for Podcast #2: Easy Virtue, Champagne, Blackmail, Murder!

Good evening. Welcome back 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. For episode 2 we see Hitchcock break free of his silent era and break ground by producing the first* British sound film. In Easy Virtue (1928) a fallen woman finds new love (and hate) among an upperclass family, in Champagne (1928) a playgirl heiress loses everything and is forced to work a regular job, in Blackmail (1929) a woman kills her rapist and gets blackmailed for it and finally in Murder! (1930) a famous actor turns amateur sleuth to unpack a whodunnit murder mystery. This is the era where Hitchcock goes from British film wunderkind to bonafide national celebrity, with even royalty visiting his sets to see how sound films are made. And his ascent isn't even close to done! Exciting! 0:00 - 0:40 - Intro music 0:41 - 26:52 - Easy Virtue (1928) 26:53 - 57:02 - Champagne (1928) 57:03 - 1:50:22 - Blackmail (1929) 1:50:23 - 2:11:19 - Murder! (1930) 2:11:20 - 2:12:10 - Outro music

B-Side Me Episode #4: Beach House

In addition to the monthly movie talk regarding directors (for Director’s Club), I'm happy to present the latest episode of the music version of that same format! Only this time, it's all about bands/musicians that we think are worth discussing. Along with co-host and partner Sharon Gissy, we both can’t wait for you to listen to us nerd out about music each month (sorry we skipped January). For Feb, it's all about the remarkably talented dream pop duo Beach House! The format is simple: each of us picks an A-side to discuss (a more popular well-known song) and then we choose a B-side (a song that’s more obscure) that we think you should listen to ASAP. Add our choices to playlists, listen to us talk about another art form we both adore just as much as film! Thank you so much to Sharon for joining me on this nerdy podcasting journey and can’t wait for March's episode (next year we will also have guests on too). More to come!

Episode 244: Frank Capra (feat. Ross Bratin & Tripp Burton)

The last director-centric episode was back in late November / early December but we're back on the regularly monthly schedule as of now! Huge thanks to my buddies Ross & Tripp for coming on to talk about a true blue classic storyteller, and we have a lot to say! For this episode on the legendary Frank Capra we focus on a couple more obscure titles instead of the popular ones. I chose the pre-code dramedy American Madness while Ross & Tripp picked the adaptation of the hit play Arsenic and Old Lace starring Cary Grant. That's the plan of action I'm taking with this show from now on - I choose a lesser-known film worth discussing and the guest does the same (as much as I love It's A Wonderful Life of course). I'm so grateful to the hosts of A Tripp Through Comedy, one of my favorite shows for joining me on this episode that I'm sure you'll enjoy if you're a fan of Capra (or even if you're not!). Follow Tripp & Ross: A Tripp Through Comedy Follow All-Things Me Here: JimLaczkowski.net

Episode 243: 50 Favorites Part IV: The Final Chapter (feat. Bill Ackerman)

The title says it all. 50 Favorites Part One was done back in 2021. Every couple of years, we nerd out some more! Collect them all, tell your friends! Welcome back Supporting Characters host Bill Ackerman for a 7-hour conversation about 50 more of our very favorite films, bringing the total to 200. Perhaps in 2028 we will return?? Thank you for listening and for the support and to Bill for being one of the best guests and friends on the planet. Stay tuned for two more DC episodes this month (Frank Capra + B-Side Me) and then in March, another epic-long episode covering the films of 1996 w/Erik & Collin. Parts 1-3 50 Favorites (2021): https://www.jimlaczkowski.net/50favorites1 50 Favorites Part II: Dead by Dawn (2022): https://www.jimlaczkowski.net/50favorites2 50 Favorites Part III in 3D (2024): https://www.jimlaczkowski.net/50favorites3 50 Favorites Part IV: The Final Chapter (2026): https://www.jimlaczkowski.net/50favorites4 Follow and Support Bill's Podcast! https://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/supportingcharacters

Dial P for Podcast #1: The Pleasure Garden, The Lodger, The Ring, Downhill

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. First up, a slate of silent films. In The Pleasure Garden (1925) a showgirl must fight for her love, in The Lodger (1927) a mysterious new boardinghouse tenant may or may not be a serial killer, in The Ring (1927) an up and coming boxing challenger must fight for his love and in Downhill (1927) a rich schoolboy takes the fall for a friend's crime with disastrous results. The birth of one of the most spectacular careers in film history, the master director's not-so-humble beginning. Check it out, here as a new Director's Club exclusive spin-off series! 0:00 - 0:44 - Intro Theme 0:45 - 18:47 - The Pleasure Garden (1925) 18:48 - 58:21 - The Lodger (1927) 58:22 - 1:19:48 - The Ring (1927) 1:19:49 - 1:45:21 - Downhill (1927) 1:45:22 - 1:46:09 - Outro Theme

Bonus Episode: Chicago Film Critic Nick Digilio (40 Years 40 Films - LIVE)

My first live podcast recording! Author/film critic/podcaster Nick Digilio sold out the community room at the Rogers Park Branch library in Chicago to talk all about his new book and memoir, 40 YEARS 40 FILMS. I asked questions, played movie clips, celebrated an accomplished Chicago legend that has meant a lot to me in so many ways these past 30+ years. Thank you to Sharon for coming to the rescue by filming the video last minute which you can view at the link below as an alternative to the audio. Oodles of gratitude to all the patrons, fans, friends and CPL staff for their support and accommodation. Huge congrats to Nick for another great success with this book and for the many years of reviewing films with passion! Thanks everyone for listening! Buy Nick's book: https://eckhartzpress.com/shop/40-years-40-films Video: https://vimeo.com/jimlaczkowski/nickdlibrary Be sure to visit: https://nickdigilio.com Check out my new website: https://jimlaczkowski.net/nickbookbonuspodcast

Bonus Episode: Ryan Verrill (The Disc-Connected & Antenna Releasing)

Do you love physical media and movies? Then you should be following all-things Ryan. I am truly honored to be joined by returning guest and physical media community superhero Ryan Verrill. We discuss the many projects he has in the works while mainly focusing on his latest distribution company, Antenna Releasing. During the 2nd half of the conversation, we also discuss some of his favorite films of 2025! Per their website, Antenna Releasing is "always looking for exciting new voices in film to champion" and Ryan (along with his two hard-working compadres) are definitely making things happen already with their incredible new endeavor! Thank you so much to Ryan for talking with me on our lunch break and sharing with me all the good news at a time when we need it the most. Follow Ryan here, there, everywhere! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-disc-connected/id1615134944 https://www.youtube.com/c/DiscConnectedMedia https://www.patreon.com/cw/DiscConnected https://letterboxd.com/disc_connected https://www.antennareleasing.com

Episode 242: Favorite Films of 2025 (feat. Patrick Ripoll + Bill Ackerman)

What a year. Thank God it's over. For a nearly five-hour long conversation among my two dearest friends and fellow podcasters, we reveal 25 our of favorite films of 2025. One of our guests mainly focuses on the horror genre while I decide not to rank the titles and simply list them in alphabetical order. Obviously, my number one is a film we talked about earlier this year in its entirety as a separate bonus episode (below). But there are 24 more films to celebrate as well (many more from my guests too). Joining me as always are film historian/podcaster/commentator Bill Ackerman (Supporting Characters) and the co-host of 96 Greers and the host of Tracks of the Damned, Patrick Ripoll. We all have opinions, lots of surprises to share and so many titles for you to seek out. I wish I was a bit more enthused about the year in film but I am very happy to share 25 titles that I certainly think are well worth your time. Hoping you feel this episode is also worth your time! And so grateful to my two passionate cinephiles for returning to nerd out on New Year's Day! Special thanks to guest contributor and friend Chloe Waryan (of Not Scared: A Horror Movie Podcast) for sharing her picks at around the 18 minute mark too! Follow Bill: Supporting Characters Follow Patrick: 96 Greers // Tracks of the Damned Listen To Us Discuss One Battle After Another: My Favorite Film of 2025 Other Year-End Episodes From Previous Guests I Recommend: The Nick D Podcast Genre Grinder Not Scared: A Horror Movie Podcast

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Bonus Episode: Bloodbeat (1983)

What the hell is Bloodbeat?? From one-and-done French filmmaker Fabrice-Ange Zaphiratos, filmed in Wisconsin. A young woman travels to rural Wisconsin to meet her boyfriend's family, but she becomes possessed by the spirit of a Japanese samurai who goes on killing spree anytime she becomes aroused. You read that synopsis correctly which is precisely why I decided to concoct a special holiday bonus episode featuring friends Matt Greene & Jesse Oliver for an experimental episode on a truly bizarre holiday horror film that has become a favorite. You can still watch the movie after listening to us describe it in detail because you won't believe your eyes. It is available to find in its entirety on YouTube; I recommend blind buying the Vinegar Syndrome Blu-Ray linked below. For this deep dive rabbit hole, I edited together excerpts of Matt & Jesse describing it along with excerpts from other podcasts/YouTube videos sprinkled throughout. Clips from the film and director! There is a lot of synth music, robot voices, an edited/compressed version of me talking about this one-of-a-kind movie. Happy holidays and see you in 2026 for the year-in-review favorites of 2025 episode soon! More interesting info: https://www.wisconsinfrights.com/blood-beat Buy it here: https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Beat-Blu-ray-DVD-Combo/dp/B075427Q6Q