Tom McCarthy co-wrote and directed Spotlight, which took home the Oscar for Best Picture. McCarthy won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. The next time McCarthy returned to the director's chair was for the direct to Disney+ Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made (since pulled from the platform). McCarthy has spent his career attempting to make films for grown-ups while also dabbling in children's movies, getting a story credit on Up. In this episode, we try to make sense of this ping-ponging. As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook, on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur, or email us at [email protected].   Show Notes: https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/11/spotlight-tom-mccarthy-film-review/414588/ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/awards-chatter-podcast-tom-mccarthy-867386/ https://soundcloud.com/thedirectorscut/episode-8-spotlight-with-tom-mccarthy-and-jonathan-levine?in=ozkzeqspksam/sets/dga

In this episode, we are joined by high school teacher and wine drinker (not at the same time), Mark Staron, to discuss the films of Alexander Payne. We had a fun discussion covering everything from voiceovers and Omaha to which film made us cry the most. We also drank some wines featured in Sideways, so all in all a successful podcast. As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook, on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur, or email us at [email protected].   Show Notes/Sources: One Man's Trash Next Picture Show - Sideways Next Picture Show - Election DGA - Downsizing Happy Sad Confused - Alexander Payne Maltin on Movies - Alexander Payne    

Happy Halloween! This October 31st, we delve into thinking-man's horror with the films of Jordan Peele. We welcome back Paul Kowalski for this fun conversation.   As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook, on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur, or email us at [email protected].   Staff Notes/Sources: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/nope-is-one-of-the-great-movies-about-moviemaking https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/067-pt-2-get-out-people-under-the-stairs/id1057714949?i=1000382395226 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nope-with-jordan-peele/id1439252196?i=1000570855194 https://www.filmspotting.net/episodes-archive/2019/3/22/721-us-elite-8-filmspotting-madness-cassavetes-4 https://allthingscomedy.com/podcasts/episode-85-jordan-peele-is-our-goat  

Greta Gerwig's career is firing on all cylinders. She has the biggest film of 2023, Barbie, consistent critical acclaim, and Academy love. But will she get the Popcorn Auteur badge of approval? Join us as we review Gerwig's career as a filmmaker, starting with the oft-overlooked Nights and Weekends.  As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook, on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur, or email us at [email protected].   Show Notes/Sources: https://www.filmspotting.net/episodes-archive/2023/7/27/929-barbie-oppenheimer https://soundcloud.com/thedirectorscut/lady-bird-with-greta-gerwig-and-spike-jonze-ep-111 https://www.theringer.com/2023/7/27/23809449/barbie-deep-dive-with-greta-gerwig http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episode-869-greta-gerwig https://wondery.com/shows/smartless/episode/9280-greta-gerwig/ https://www.wgaeast.org/onwriting/greta-gerwig-little-women/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/march-madness-pt-2-little-women-2019/id1057714949?i=1000463219698  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fantasy-women-pt-2-barbie/id1057714949?i=1000623763017 

James Mangold has one of the more eclectic filmmaking careers. From indie dramas to romantic comedies to R-rated superheros and now Indiana Jones, Mangold's films run the gamut. We were excited to explore this filmography and shocked to discover that Mangold lifts the time travel dynamics directy from Kate & Leopold for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook, on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur, or email us at [email protected].   Show Notes/Sources: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=20000111&id=DYs0AAAAIBAJ&pg=4204,6160375 https://www.filmspotting.net/episodes-archive/2023/7/6/926-dial-of-destiny-top-5-indiana-jones-moments https://www.andrewjupin.com/posts-native/2023/7/1/now-in-release-indiana-jones-and-the-dial-of-destiny-ndwe2 https://screenrant.com/indiana-jones-dial-destiny-time-travel-antikythera-explained/ https://www.dga.org/Events/2017/Apr2017/Logan_QnA_0317.aspx https://sites.libsyn.com/478023/james-mangold  

Fresh off of winning the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for Women Talking, Sarah Polley is posed to become a major voice in modern filmmaking. In this episode, we review Polley's short but impressive list of films. Warning: We also talk rickshaws. As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook, on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur, or email us at [email protected].   Show Notes/Sources: https://www.indiewire.com/awards/consider-this/sarah-polley-women-talking-interview-oscars-1234811960/ https://www.vogue.com/article/women-talking-sarah-polley-interview https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/11/21/sarah-polleys-journey-from-child-star-to-feminist-auteur https://www.wgaeast.org/onwriting/episode-106-sarah-polley-women-talking/ http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episode-1403-sarah-polley https://movingimage.us/programs/sarah-polley/  

Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead are filmmakers that embody independent filmmaking. There latest film, Something in the Dirt was made largely by just three people. In this episode, we have a blast jumping into their micro-budget Lovecraftian multiverse.    As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook, on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur, or email us at [email protected].    Show Notes/Sources: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mortalpodkast/episodes/Justin-Benson--Aaron-Moorhead-vs--Baraka-e1msgei https://content.libsyn.com/p/6/0/a/60a38baf727565fd/SynchronicQandAJustinBensenAaronMoorhead.mp3 https://variety.com/2015/film/features/10-directors-to-watch-justin-benson-aaron-moorhead-1201391322/ https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/justin-benson-aaron-moorhead-interview-moon-knight-into-the-dirt https://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/justin-benson-and-aaron-moorhead-on-la-covid-and-conspiracies https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-endless-aaron-moorhead-and-justin-benson-interview/

Our film education continues with the films of Kasi Lemmons. Lemmons made the transition from acting to behind the camera with the stellar Eve's Bayou. A filmmaking career that has spanned over 25 years, including 2019's Harriet, her writing and directing output is worth a look. Join us as we discuss.  As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook, on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur, or email us at [email protected].   Show Notes/Sources: https://www.theatlantic.com/sponsored/forevermark-2016/third-act-the-journey-of-a-hollywood-director/816/  https://www.indiewire.com/2019/10/harriet-kasi-lemmons-interview-1202183808/ https://aalbc.com/interviews/interview.php?id=2217  https://youtu.be/PB621yuwddY https://variety.com/2020/artisans/news/kasi-lemmons-african-american-history-1203511035/ https://www.kcrw.com/culture/shows/the-treatment/kasi-lemmons-sandy-king-carpenter-and-joe-coscarelli-on-the-treat

Shane Black was once Hollywood's hottest screenwriter. After some rough times, he transitioned into the director's chair and has helmed a Marvel Cinematic Universe film (Iron Man 3) and 2018's The Predator. Nonetheless, we were most excited to talk about his other films - Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and The Nice Guys.  In this episode we were joined by Shane Black enthusiast and always busy podcaster Jay Cluitt. Listen as we talk through the highs and one significant low of Black's career. Find more from Jay here: https://lifevsfilm.com/ Deep Blue Sea - The Podcast Con Air - The Podcast @LifeVsFilm   Show Notes/Sources: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/shane-black-interview-predator-2018-lethal-weapon-kiss-bang-director-a8531186.html  https://trailersfromhell.com/podcast/shane-black/ https://podcasts.apple.com/my/podcast/shane-black/id827905050?i=1000368780081 https://www.scriptapart.com/episodes/episode-38-kiss-kiss-bang-bang-shane-black-interview https://podcasts.apple.com/al/podcast/shane-black-christmas-the-nice-guys-w-frank-and-geoff/id1508135944?i=1000588456290  

In part 2 of our journey through the films of David Cronenberg, we get away from the horror. In this episode, we examine the controversial (Crash), the confusing (Naked Lunch), and the upsetting (Cosmopolis). Paul Kowalski is back for a fun draft of all 15 films written and directed by Cronenberg.   As always let us know what we got wrong on Facebook, on Twitter, @PopcornAuteur, or email us at [email protected].   Show Notes/Sources: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/crash-1997 https://www.criterion.com/shop/browse?director=cronenberg-david