Watching The Directors Podcasts

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Each bi-weekly show follows the work of one movie director (classic and contemporary). Primary Format : Entertainment Language : Unknown Also Listed as: City : Unknown State/Province : Unknown User Tags: User Votes: RSS Feed Website People found this Podcast Searching for: View this Podcast on a Google Map. Podcast iTunes Link Text Only listing of Watching The Directors Podcasts Methings.com listings of Watching The Directors Podcasts If you like this podcast, you might also like:

WTDSE06: Anniversary and Finale After 60 podcasts, 52 directors and too many films to count, Watching The Directors is bowing out. On this, our second anniversary show and series finale, we try to go out with a frenzy of lists, listener mail, reviews and discussion. Join us as we follow last year's anniversary with our Season 2 10 lists of essential films and insider films.We also add a couple final reviews with a look at the most requested films of the year: The Coen Brothers' No Country For Old Men and P.T. Anderson's T ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD43: Alfred Hitchcock Part 1 (The British Talkies) Now, after great confusion, comes the single-most requested episode of WTD: the elusive Part 1 (of 3) in Hitchcock's filmography. Beginning with prototypical mistaken identity/murder suspense thriller of Blackmail, and moving through landmarks like The Lady Vanishes, we look over the formative years of one of the most iconic directors of the twentieth century. On this episode we explore the British era of Hitch's work, culminating in the bizarre, romantic thriller, Rebecca.And, we also make ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD43: The Hitchcock Ten Quiz In the collective genius that is the Ten Quiz, we take a gander at the second-most forgotten era of a great director's work. Along with the hosts' own insights, listeners have provided true insight into Sir Alfred's films, from the first murder with sound in Blackmail to the last British film (or first American), Rebecca. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD42: Michael Powell (stereo) It's not hard to list directors from the studio era that are considered greats: Welles, Hawks, Wilder, Capra and Ford. But if you ask modern giant Martin Scorsese, he might remind you about a British director named Michael Powell. Together with long-time partner Emerich Pressburger, Powell formed the production company "The Archers." That team produced remarkable films that are generally underwatched and underappreciated in the United States. Whether it's the epic The Life and Dea ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD42: Michael Powell (stereo) It's not hard to list directors from the studio era that are considered greats: Welles, Hawks, Wilder, Capra and Ford. But if you ask modern giant Martin Scorsese, he might remind you about a British director named Michael Powell. Together with long-time partner Emerich Pressburger, Powell formed the production company "The Archers." That team produced remarkable films that are generally underwatched and underappreciated in the United States. Whether it's the epic The Life and Dea ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD42: Michael Powell (mono) This is a mono edition of the lengthy and large Powell episode (35 MB vs. 71 MB). Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD42: Michael Powell (mono) This is a mono edition of the lengthy and large Powell episode (35 MB vs. 71 MB). Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD41: Steven Soderbergh There aren't many directors who get to be called "cool" as often as Mr. Steven Soderbergh. But the de facto chronicler of the new Rat Pack didn't start that way. Before Ocean's 11 (12 and 13), he was best known for a little indie film called Sex, Lies, and Videotape. That movie's frank dialogue and personal filmmaking style helped secure the power of Sundance and the rise of independent filmmakers everywhere. But Soderbergh also has some interest in how films are made, including t ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD41: Steven Soderbergh There aren't many directors who get to be called "cool" as often as Mr. Steven Soderbergh. But the de facto chronicler of the new Rat Pack didn't start that way. Before Ocean's 11 (12 and 13), he was best known for a little indie film called Sex, Lies, and Videotape. That movie's frank dialogue and personal filmmaking style helped secure the power of Sundance and the rise of independent filmmakers everywhere. But Soderbergh also has some interest in how films are made, including t ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD40: Woody Allen (1966-85) If you spend a little time with Woody Allen, you start to see things in a different way. New York is a city of romance, music, farce and love. And behind every relationship is a disfunction waiting to happen. On this episode, we look through Mr. Allen's eyes and come away shaped by a Freudian perspective. With comedies like Bananas and Sleeper, Allen demonstrated his appreciation for the old comics. With Manhattan, Annie Hall and The Purple Rose of Cairo, he showed he had his own ideas. On ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD40b: The Allen Ten Quiz Judging by a few listener submitted lists, Woody Allen - in the period between 1966 and 1985 - is either one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, or a hack that should be resigned to direction late-night infommercials. We do all that we can to get to the truth through a stack of Ten Quizes and our own little insights. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD39: Mira Nair We all have a list of movies we keep meaning to watch: Citizen Kane, Birth of a Nation, anything from Fellini. But maybe there's some room on that list for Salaam Bombay!, Monsoon Wedding or The Namesake. In this episode we talk about the director of those films, Mira Nair, and her contribution to cinema. Nair's feature work over the last twenty years has been momentarily noticed and then neglected. But does it deserve more attention? Join us as we talk about the immigrant experience, liter ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD38: Terry Gilliam (mono) Due to the emensity of our Gilliam podcast, we are offering a smaller mp3 for download. The only difference (aside from about 40MB) is that this version is in glorious mono.Of course the stereo version is still available. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD38: Terry Gilliam (stereo) In this immense, action-packed edition of WTD, we take a long look at one of our most exciting and eloquent directors (or perhaps you would prefer another "e" adjective, like "egomaniacal"). Terry Gilliam has an identifiable aesthetic and a constant thematic affection that floats through all his movies - films like Brazil, 12 Monkeys and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. To discuss such a weighty filmmaker, we are joined by Duke Senter from the Degree of Separation podcast ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD38b: The Gilliam Ten Quiz (redux) Perhaps "sw" may be on to something - maybe there is a "Gilliam curse" - but for whatever reason, the original posting of the Gilliam Ten Quiz show left some listeners with a 9-second show. So here is another attempt at posting that, this time in classic mono. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD38b: The Gilliam Ten Quiz It's been quite a few years since Terry Gilliam was an animator. In fact, since then he's directed a small, but notably significant, group of films that use real actors in real(ish) situations. On this Ten Quiz program, we look at the mind and work of Mr. Gilliam as we read listener submitted comments and add our own limited insights on Brazil and Tideland. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD37: Richard Linklater Known as a champion of independent film to many, Richard Linklater has a keen interest in making movies about... nothing. Instead, he follows conversations with a camera, moving from Austin to Vienna to Paris (that French one) and back to Texas, viewers are treated to people talking more often than plots. On this episode we look at the work of Linklater who has given us iconic characters in Dazed and Confused, the essential couple-talk film with Before Sunrise and a mix of ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD37b: The Linklater Ten Quiz Join us as we look through our stack of listener-submitted Ten Quizes, hoping to capture something of the enigma that is Richard Linklater. On this episode, we talk about a few surprises from Austin's favorite son. Of course, we do give a bit of time - perhaps too much time - to some of the failures of meat packing, little league baseball and Texas bank robbers. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD36: Akira Kurosawa (1948-58) On this episode, we come dangerously close to starting a fan club. Akira Kurosawa is generally recognized as one of an elite class of filmmakers, a group whose names include Fellini, Hitchcock and Eisenstein. But knowing the legend and actually seeing the films produces a different, and surprising impression. Join us as we discuss an eleven year period of filmmaking that could easily be considered one of the most productive and influential ever compiled. Kurosawa may be kno ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD36b: The Kurosawa Ten Quiz Roger Ebert, in his review of The Seven Samurai, sneaks in a little comment with a lot of power: "this greatest of filmmakers." The "this" in that comment is none other than Akira Kurosawa, the subject of this episode's Ten Quiz. Join us as we talk about one of film's most vital and influential directors, breaking down such impossible questions, like, "How do you choose a worst film?" Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD35a: John Carpenter (1976-96) Ol' Jack Burton will tell you, this is the episode you need to listen to. In the hour that follows, we'll look at Jack, Snake, the Shape and other icons you would never have heard of without the peculiar mind and work of John Carpenter. Looking through twenty years of one of our most distinct and independent filmmakers we find a few gems and a few disasters. We start with an homage to Rio Bravo, hints of George Romero, references to Howard Hawks and Don Siegel - all blended ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD35b: The Carpenter Ten Quiz It's all about Kurt Russel... or is it? On our John Carpenter Ten Quiz edition, we break down the film, style, music and technique of Mr. Carpenter while trying to find something nice to say about Village of the Damned. Plus, on this very special edition, we are joined by Chris and Kathy Vander Kaay from the film podcast "The Studio Upstairs." (Note: this is longer than our usual Ten Quiz show - but that's just extra value.) Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTDSE05: Terrence Malick On this special edition of WTD, we spend some time with a guy who we've heard a lot about, but seen little from. Terrence Malick is one of the most withdrawn but celbrated actors in American filmmaking despite having created only four feature films over the last 34 years (a fifth, Tree of Life, is currently in pre-production and slated for 2008).Join us as we review Malick's work, aesthetic and affections. (Note: Malick was selected as the winner of a recent listener poll. To qualify for a ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD34: Jane Campion Jane Campion was something of a mystery in the 1990s. Her breakthrough film, The Piano, seemed to signal the emergence of an important new voice amidst a number of new and exciting voices (i.e. Fincher, Tarantino). Yet anticipation for her films has not followed those of her peers. Instead, much of Campion's work remains unseen by popular audiences. However, that hasn't kept critical voices from pointing to her as an important director capable of capturing elements of the h ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD34: Jane Campion Jane Campion was something of a mystery in the 1990s. Her breakthrough film, The Piano, seemed to signal the emergence of an important new voice amidst a number of new and exciting voices (i.e. Fincher, Tarantino). Yet anticipation for her films has not followed those of her peers. Instead, much of Campion's work remains unseen by popular audiences. However, that hasn't kept critical voices from pointing to her as an important director capable of capturing elements of the human experience w ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD33a: Leo McCarey (1931-62) Jean Renoir once called Leo McCarey a great humanist, or, more precisely, said that McCarey understood people better than anyone in Hollywood. A few decades have passed and Mr. McCarey's legend has shifted to that of melodrama and family-friendly comedy. On this edition, we'll review a sliver of the director's work, reflecting on his contributions, his voice and whether it's time for a revisit of McCarey's legacy. Join us as we look at the monumental classic ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD33b: The McCarey 10 Quiz People love his films, but most just don't know it. On this edition we break down a small list of listener-submitted 10 Quizes, but still get a chance to talk a bit more about the man behind An Affair To Remember, The Awful Truth and Duck Soup... ("a bit" is the operative phrase). Join us for an appetizer-strength examination of one of the studio era's most honored directors. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Choose a Director Last year, WTD featured a couple Christmas season Special Editions: Mel Gibson and our "Directors To Watch" feature. This Christmas we're at it again, looking at a director who doesn't quite meet our basic criterion of having five features. We've compiled a quick list of listener nominations and posted them on our poll.Between now and Wednesday, November 28th we will accept votes on the poll and "other" nominations. (Note: this stage of the poll is set to allow multiple ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Next Edition Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD32a: James Whale Some directors are destined to be remembered, others forgotten, and then there's James Whale - a director who is mostly obscured. Although he is known for his two landmark creations - the Frankenstein series and The Invisible Man - he actually did a bit more... a whole lot more. The problem is that his musical, Showboat, is hard to get hold of. His premiere World War I film, Journey's End, hasn't made it to the U.S. yet. But what does exist is provocative and fulfills the entertainer's mand ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD32b: The Whale Ten Quiz There may not be a lot of films available on dvd. There may not even be a ton of listener-submitted 10 Quizes, but that doesn't mean there isn't at least thirty minutes of discussion about James Whale, his work and what we think about it. Join us for the show. It's not scary. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Kurosawa 1948-58 postponed Yes, we've already moved Kurosawa 1948-58 once and we hate to do it again, but there's a really good reason. John - from the For Lack of a Better Word podcast - e-mailed us with a new release of Kurosawa's films on the Eclipse/Criterion label. Considering that some of these are very difficult to get hold of (if possible at all) and that this collection represents five films from the ten-year period we will be examining, we just had to wait (Eclipse Postwar Kurosawa set release date: Jan 15, ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Next Edition Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD31a: Alfonso Cuaron Over the last few years, the name "Alfonso Cuarón" has gone from a buzz to a roar. After developing a remarkably fluid and visual style, Cuarón earned critical praise with the Spanish-language Y tu mamá también, Impressed blockbuster audiences by his transformation of the Harry Potter franchise and astounded movie-goers of all types with his social dystopian vision in Children of Men. On this episode, we spend a bit of time with Cuarón's small but impressive ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD31b: The Cuaron Ten Quiz Welcome to the first attempt at a new format for Watching The Directors. In an effort to give a bit more time to both the 10 Quizes and the rest of the show, this special 10 Quiz portion delves into Mr. Cuarón's work with a bit more from the listener. Surprisingly, this guy with only six features gave a lot of us almost too much to talk about.(Next WTD 10 Quiz: James Whale - Oct 30) Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Next Edition Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD30: John Hughes In response to a short ballot of directors that "deserve a bit of respect," John Hughes came out as the listener choice. So here he is, in all of his pre-Beethoven glory. Considered by many to be the essential director of 1980's teen films, Hughes has also put together a compelling writing career. Besides directing The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, he was the writer of other 80's classics like Vacation, Mr. Mom and Pretty in Pink. Join us as we look ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD30: John Hughes In response to a short ballot of directors that "deserve a bit of respect," John Hughes came out as the listener choice. So here he is, in all of his pre-Beethoven glory. Considered by many to be the essential director of 1980's teen films, Hughes has also put together a compelling writing career. Besides directing The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, he was the writer of other 80's classics like Vacation, Mr. Mom and Pretty in Pink. Join us as we look at a sentimental ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD29: Coen Brothers Unlike pop music, filmmaking doesn't normally think in terms of duos. But somehow, Joel and Ethan Coen have combined their talents into a singular force, creating a unique voice in contemporary cinema. They have developed a filmography that includes surreal comedies like Raising Arizona, cinematic statements like Miller's Crossing and cult-like followings with The Big Lebowski. Combined with a breakthrough masterpiece with 1996's Fargo, the Coens have demonstrated a persistent style and qua ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD29: Coen Brothers Unlike pop music, filmmaking doesn't normally think in terms of duos. But somehow, Joel and Ethan Coen have combined their talents into a singular force, creating a unique voice in contemporary cinema. They have developed a filmography that includes surreal comedies like Raising Arizona, cinematic statements like Miller's Crossing and cult-like followings with The Big Lebowski. Combined with a breakthrough masterpiece with 1996's Fargo, the Coens have demonstrated a persistent style and qua ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD28: Kevin Smith Beyond Springsteen and Bon Jovi, New Jersey never gets the respect of the other "New" state. Woody Allen had the magic and majesty of Manhattan, but Kevin Smith opted for the grit and vulgarity of Red Bank. Rather than yielding to the shadow of Metropolis, Smith infused his hometown with John Hughes's mythical Shermer, Illinois. He built a troupe of characters with their own, profane atmosphere. He told simple stories about conversations and sentiment.On this epis ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD27: Barbara Kopple & Michael Moore No one knows how to shake up a political season like Flint Michigan native, Michael Moore. Likewise, few people have done more to document the plight of organized labor and the politically unpopular than Barbara Kopple. They represent the progressive edge of documentary filmmaking. While Kopple has managed to remain behind the scenes, Moore has figured out a way to turn the documentary format into a celebrity-making device. Whether it's Kopple's landmark expose on life in a ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD26: Stanley Kubrick The first episode of season 2 is a marathon look at Stanley Kubrick, the revered mind behind Spartacus, Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey and a few films that will make your skin crawl while you waltz. Joe and Melissa are joined by Duke, who was last heard on the Tarantino episode and now co-hosts the podcast Degree of Separation. Together, they attempt to discuss the essence of Kubrick, the work and mastery of one of cinema's most respected and enigmatic directors. Al ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTDSE04: Anniversary Show A year ago, we were cramming Spielberg's entire career into a forty-five minute episode. The show's changed little-by-little, but we're still after the same thing: exploring the way that different directors approach their films. On this episode we consider the first season, talk a bit about season two and have the definitive conversation on Shyamalan's inflated Director Score. We also "re-watch" the two films listener's most often say we've missed. We put together ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD25: Ingmar Bergman If foreign films seem scary, and the idea of Swedish movies about God and relationships is absolutely terrifying, this is the edition you've been avoiding. But don't worry. Ingmar Bergman isn't that terrifying. On this episode we'll spend some time with a selection of his movies, covering all of The Criterion Collection's releases, spanning nearly thirty years of some landmark cinema. Join us as we offer our usual Ten Quizes and unbelievably deep insights. But we break the format a bit to o ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD25: Ingmar Bergman If foreign films seem scary, and the idea of Swedish movies about God and relationships is absolutely terrifying, this is the edition you've been avoiding. But don't worry. Ingmar Bergman isn't that terrifying. On this episode we'll spend some time with a selection of his movies, covering all of The Criterion Collection's releases, spanning nearly thirty years of some landmark cinema. Join us as we offer our usual Ten Quizes and unbelievably deep insights. But we break the format a bit to o ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD24: Rob Reiner If "Goes to 11", "Inconceivable", "I'll have what she's having" and "You can't handle the truth" make you go into full movie trivia mode, you have Rob Reiner to thank. Since 1984, Reiner has been creating the most memorable non-Jedi scenes and characters in popular movies. From the landmark "mockumentary" This is Spinal Tap to the single chief executive in The American President, his films combine personal growth with humor and romance. He a ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD23: Curtis Hanson Curtis Hanson created this generation's Purple Rain (8 Mile). He also spent a solid decade turning Hitchcock suspense formula films into a career path. But in 1997, Hanson stumbled across - or engineered - a change in direction with a classic modern film noir, the critically and popularly adored L.A. Confidential. His subsequent films have been small character studies, more concerned with finding home than homicides. On this episode of WTD, we look at Hanson's last twenty years, including o ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD22: Alfred Hitchcock (part 3) If you love Hitchcock, but you're afraid of Norman Bates, download this show. On this episode, WTD covers the years 1948-1976, looking exclusively at the color films. Join us as we look at the highest and lowest points of a legendary career, complete with coverage of the classics (North By Northwest, Vertigo) and the lesser works (Torn Curtain, Family Plot) with glances in between. Of course we'll feature our 10 Quizes, a 5-minute filmography and a review by Melissa. (Note: concerning the & ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD21: Quentin Tarantino WTD invites its first ever guest host to face the vulgar, visceral, violent and verbal world of Quentin Tarantino. Join us as we look at the career of America's most celebrated and self-promoted director of the last twenty years. Together, we'll tackle a stack of guest 10-Quizes, discuss the Tarantino style and mystique, spend too much time recounting scenes and see if anyone will give Jackie Brown some love. Plus we feature a review of Tarantino's newest film, Death Proof, from the Grindho ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD20: Ridley Scott We didn't really talk about the Kubrick connection. We barely mentioned the career in commercials or the relationship to brother Tony. So what did we discuss? Listen to this episode as we explore the varied and fascinating career of Ridley Scott. Over the course of the last thirty years, the elder Scott has created some of film's most famous science fiction and action. Join us for our 10-Quizes, the (slightly-more-than) 5 Minute Filmography and a lot of talk about whether or not Gladiator i ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTDSE03: Wes Anderson We've waited. We really have. But Wes Anderson hasn't given us enough material for a regular show - hence, this special edition. On this episode of WTD, we look at the four features from that unlikely Texan. Join us as we talk about estranged fathers and sons, symmetry and red speedos. Beginning with Anderson's short Bottle Rocket up to The Life Aquatic...  we will do our best to give a quick overview of his all-to-brief career.Plus, we dedicate ten good minutes at the end of the show ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD19: David Fincher Looking back at Rick Springfield's 'Dance This World Away' music video, it might be hard to believe that its director, David Fincher, would eventually be known for serial murderers, disturbing violence and a technical prowess that has become legendary. Through atmospheric crime thrillers like Se7en and the cutting edge adaptation of Chuck Pahlahniuk's Fight Club, Fincher has built a career on shattering theatrical expectations, beginning murmurs of master status. On this edition of WTD, we ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD 18: Mel Brooks Comedy is hard work - just ask Mel Brooks. In his career, he's managed to place 3 films on the AFI top 100 list, while turning flatulence into an art form. On this episode, we spend some time with a name that's become synonymous with parody and slapstick. Join us as we run Mr. Brooks's films through our Ten Quiz, discuss his essential works and review his homage to Hitchcock. (Correction: when discussing "Best Picture" Joe continually referred to Gene Wilder rather than Gene Hackm ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD 17: Howard Hawks (1938-59) Perhaps there never was a time when "men were men..." but there was a place. In this episode of WTD, we turn the focus onto one of the legendary names of the Hollywood picture. Howard Hawks perfected the screwball comedy, made Marilyn glow, gave John Wayne machismo and still had time for Bogart and Bacall. Join us for a 10 Quiz, the letterbox, a look at Hawks's essential films. Plus, we shake things up a bit and include the 5 Minute Filmography, a new section we i ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD16: Robert Zemeckis From middle-class Chicago to the time-honored halls of USC, Robert Zemeckis is a truly American filmmaker. Together, with Steven Spielberg, he helped reinforce a blend of nostalgia and optimism that can be traced back to Frank Capra. On this episode, we'll see if there's more to Zemeckis than his similarity to other directors. We'll consider a solid array of landmark popular films ranging from Romancing the Stone to The Polar Express (and especially those inbetween - i.e. Back to the Future ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD15: George Lucas If you can't remember a time before jedis, thank a director named George Lucas and an empire called Star Wars. On this early edition of WTD, we'll take Lucas seriously - the way most people did in the 1970's. We'll explore the two periods of his career and keep our Jar-Jar rhetoric to a minimum. We will also talk about two landmark films that are often lost beneath the shadow of the Star Wars mythology. And, if you're lucky, there may be a 10 Quiz, some film excerpts, a review and a comedy ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTDSE02: Directors To Watch If we ever become a movie studio, we have a whole list of filmmakers we'd attempt to corrupt with our money and marketing. On this episode of WTD, we look at a select group of six directors that excite us and make us think the future of the film industry is in pretty good hands. There are some you've heard of like Coppola and Gaghan, a few that sound familiar, like Jason Reitman, Richard Kelly and Niki Caro. Then there's that obscure filmmaker Richard Dutcher, who is popular in the American ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTDSE01: Mel Gibson Over thirteen years, Mel Gibson has only directed four movies - something that makes him ineligible for a normal WTD show. But two of those films were landmarks. Braveheart won the Best Picture and Best Director Oscar® in 1995. The Passion of the Christ created both controversy and an unbelievable popularity for an independent film. For those reasons, and because we really wanted to watch and talk about Apocalypto, we've thrown in a bonus program about a surprisingly important director. Jo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD14: Edward Zwick "Edward who?" you may ask. Edward Zwick, of course. He's the guy who just released the under-performing Blood Diamond and some other films you may have seen. Does The Last Samurai sound  familiar? How about a little Civil War drama called Glory? Well, if you still have questions, listen to this episode as we discuss Zwick, a television mentality, and that famous rice liquor, sake. Plus, we'll still have our Ten Quiz.Theme by Deerfoot (at ilovedeerfoot.com)Other music by Epic ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD13: Tony Scott He may have never directed a Die Hard movie, but Tony Scott knows a few things about the action genre. From the "maverick" rebel saving the Navy (Top Gun) to the hero saving the Navy from a maverick (Crimsom Tide) to the ATF agent saving New Orleans (Deja Vu), Scott knows masculine drama. Download this podcast immediately as we discuss Scott's work, rip on the unfortunate Domino and say too much about Val Kilmer.Theme by Deerfoot (at ilovedeerfoot.com)Other music by The Coast (at ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD12: Reitman/Landis On a special 2-for-the-price-of-1 edition, Watching The Directors looks at the rise (and fall) of Ivan Reitman and John Landis. With intersections like Animal House and remarkably similar stories, these two directors were responsible for some of the greatest comedies of the 1980's - and some of the most avoidable films of the last 10 years. Join us as we consider the shelf life of comedic films and comedy directors. We promise to have a Ten Quiz, a look at essential films and attempt to ans ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD11: Alfred Hitchcock (part 2) Despite illness, technical difficulties and the spectre of Halloween, we're only a day late. To make up for it, we offer another marathon edition on one of the truly great directors of cinema history. Join us for a perusal at the period between 1940 and 1960, when Alfred Hitchcock worked in America and in glorious black and white. We'll look at suspense classics like Psycho and Strangers On A Train and consider "Hitch's" twisted view of women in those films and the masterpiece Not ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD10a: Martin Scorsese Considered by many to be America's essential working director, Martin Scorsese has created an impressive array of violent, psychological, meticulously shot films. In this episode we look back at the last thirty years of his remarkable career. Beginning with Taxi Driver and concluding with a review of the in-theaters crime drama The Departed, we add our two cents to this filmmaker's legend. Join us as we give a little insight into his origins, essential works, a Ten Quiz or two, a bit of aud ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD10b: Scorsese-The Departed EXTRA This is a special supplement to Episode 10. On this short recording we talk to those of you who have seen The Departed. Yes, this particular episode contains tons of SPOILERS, so don't listen if you haven't seen the movie. If you have, then listen and see how truly ignorant we are of Scorsese's genius. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD09: Peter Jackson On this episode we cross the Tasman Sea to find the master of hobbits and entrails. Join us as we ponder the unlikely career of Peter Jackson as he rises from gross-out splatter movies to the Academy Awards. We'll cover his essential films, throw in a 10 Quiz - with a unanimous anachronist recast - and review his last picture, the epic King Kong. Plus, we journey into the "letterbox" for listener feedback.Theme by Deerfoot (at ilovedeerfoot.com)Other music by The Gena Rowlands Ban ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD08: Luc Besson We leave the confines of North America to peek in on a guy we haven't heard from in a few years. Luc Besson broke into the 1990's with a few hits, then disappeared with 2005's Angel-A - a black-and-white French language film. On this episode we look at his essential films, his influence on television, talk crazy women and try another Ten Quiz. Here's your chance to say you watch foreign cinema.Theme by Deerfoot (at ilovedeerfoot.com)Other music by Cafebar 401 (http://www.oortwijn.nl/mambo2/ ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD07: Tim Burton How did a guy named Tim come to define the dark and macabre world of skeletons, zombies and monsters? On this episode, we'll take a look at the most recognizable director of the last twenty years, Tim Burton. His work ranges from the kitschy Pee-Wee's Big Adventure to the blockbuster Batman to the dramatic Ed Wood to the, well, kitschy Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Join us as we give a bio, essential works, the world-famous Ten Quiz and a review of a great movie. Also, we’ll dip into ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD06: Frank Capra "Who is Frank Capra?" should probably be a question on any American citizenship application. If you don’t know how to answer that question and are afraid of being deported, we’ll give you an overview. That means all the real important stuff you’ve come to expect from WTD: essential films, a mini-bio, dvd recommendations and even a review of a Capra film you probably haven’t seen, but should. This was meant to be an early show – we apologize for the vacation induced delay ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD05: Michael Mann You may remember him from such films as Heat and Last of the Mohicans, but in this summer's theaters Michael Mann is the Miami Vice guy. On this episode, we'll review his update on the groundbreaking 80's television show and look into the vault to see what else has occupied Mann's time since Don Johnson first forgot his socks. Of course we'd never forget to look at the essential films, discuss what makes a Michael Mann film or look into our letterbox. Also, we compile another Ten Quiz and w ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD04: M. Night Shyamalan When last we saw our hero, M. Night Shyamalan was recovering from mixed reviews for 2004's The Village but still holding a firm deal with Disney, raking in the money and escaping with only minor damage. Now, Shyamalan has switched studios, is rating a 20% fresh rating on rottentomatoes.com and opening in third place. In this episode of WTD, we'll look at the meteoric career of the young director and consider whether he still has a future. Plus, we share some thoughts on what makes a Shyamal ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD03: Joseph L. Mankiewicz A day late, but we blame Joseph Mankiewicz. You may not know his name, but you know his work. He's the sharp-witted writer/director who put words in Margot Channing's mounth (All About Eve) and almost bankrupted 20th Century Fox with a little film called Cleopatra. Join us as we look at the work of Joseph Mankiewicz and talk about his writing, direction and characters. We'll also consider his essential films, review Sleuth (1972) and cover our Ten Quiz. Also, beginning with this episode, th ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD02: Bryan Singer Remember Bryan Singer, the independent film director who brought us 1995's The Usual Supsects? No. How about the guy that the studios gave a truckload of money to make comic books come back to life? On episode 2 we look at Singer's six films, beginning with indie Public Access and concluding with a review of this week's release of Superman Returns. We also feature the Essential Films, the Ten Quiz and a lot of chatter about characters and, yes, Nazis.Theme by Deerfoot (at ilovedeerfoot.com) ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | WTD01: Steven Spielberg After much delay, the first episode of Watching The Directors has arrived. In this episode we peer into the exciting, magical and Nazi-filled career of Steven Spielberg. Join us for a discussion of his career, our Ten-Quiz survey and a review of 2005's Munich. (Next show: Bryan Singer) Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache |