
Advertise on podcast: Director's Club
Rating
4.3from
This podcast has
356 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
Jim LaczkowskiExplicit
Yes
Date created
2011/01/11
Latest episode
2026/09/30
Average duration
180 min.
Release period
16 days
Description
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. The spin-off show, B-Side Me, is also here (for now) which is all about music/bands!
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Dial P For Podcast #9: I Confess, Dial M for Murder, Rear Window, To Catch a Thief
2026/09/30
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
Episode 248: Harold Ramis (feat. Collin Souter & Kerry Finegan)
2026/09/22
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
Dial P For Podcast #8: Rope, Under Capricorn, Stage Fright, Strangers on a Train
2026/09/02
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
Episode 247: Nicole Holofcener (feat. Kate Blair)
2026/08/27
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
2026/07/31
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
2026/07/27
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)
2026/07/20
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
Dial P for Podcast #6: Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Suspicion, Saboteur, Shadow of a Doubt
2026/07/01
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
2026/05/31
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
2026/05/01
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
2026/03/31
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
2026/03/30
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)
2026/03/25
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
2026/03/06
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!
2026/02/28
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
Podcast reviews
Read Director's Club podcast reviews
Chancesp 2026/09/05
Shout-out to Patrick!
I sincerely enjoy all the pod iterations that appear in this feed, but tonight’s shout out goes to Patrick Ripoll’s unbelievable monologuing abilities...
Ethan's eyebrows 2026/02/02
Alex from Portland
Thank you Jim for all of this content that has enhanced my life for years now. As a fellow member of the Dead Dad Club your views in particular on tha...
blacklodge18 2024/08/18
Great podcast for cinephiles
Very well recommended! I like movie podcasts with lengthy episodes when they are entertaining and have something to say. I usually agree with Jim's ...
sc197 2024/08/13
The podcast that turned me into a bigger cinephile
I’ve been listening since the original Jim and Patrick run and they’re still two of my favorite film critics. I’ve been turned onto countless incredib...
DanDadRock 2024/05/08
Wow
The lengthy episodes look intimidating with their running time but sometimes they’re even better than the regular director-centric ones. Kind of a mus...
chrismeades20 2024/05/07
one of my favorite shows
This show is wonderful. Not sure why people complain about it being “too long.” It’s very easy to hit fast forward through something you’re not clicki...
JLReilly 2024/01/01
Al & Brad
Really enjoyed listening to Al and Brad on Bergman, Orson Welles and Malick. Would have liked to hear them discuss Bergman’s other filmed work, Best I...
DavidStyburski 2022/03/13
Yearly Review
Thanks for all the effort that goes into the massive "Year in Movies" episodes. They're great company and an annual highlight among all of my podcast ...
Justjoshf 2022/02/21
My new favorite show
Jim really cares about movies and seems passionate about the directors discussed. Guests do vary and I think he could use a regular co-host to bounce ...
VLHampton 2020/12/01
WONDERFUL PODCAST!!!
So happy to have discovered this after randomly searching for a podcast about film! I especially recommend the Nicholas Ray, Alfred Hitchcock, and Ag...
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