For this episode I recruited two terrific and talented film writers and commentators especially since two of the movies we talk about happen to be all-time favorites for the both of them. Guest co-host and Supporting Characters host Bill Ackerman returns as well as Chicago film critic Marya Gates for a delightful discussion on the work of Joan Micklin Silver. 

She's responsible for a number of excellent films including HESTER STREET, CHILLY SCENES OF WINTER, BETWEEN THE LINES, CROSSING DELANCEY and so much more! Thanks to this episode I have a new favorite romantic comedy to add to my list so I'm grateful for my guests for bringing their A-game to this conversation and please do follow their work as well as discover Joan Micklin Silver's films in any form possible! We also briefly preview the upcoming Chicago Critics Film Festival! Stay tuned next month for a lot to come featuring both Bill Ackerman and former co-host Patrick Ripoll. I'm taking a little time off for my birthday month but there will be a surprise episode as always to make the occasion :) 00:00 - 20:19 - Introduction / Catching Up / CCFF 20:20 - 01:31:44 - JMS' First Few Films (Hester Street, Between The Lines, Chilly Scenes Of Winter) 01:31:45 - 02:10:49 - Crossing Delancey, Loverboy, Big Girls Don't Cry 02:10:50 - 02:27:32 - Other Films 02:27:33 - 02:41:03 - Top 3 JMS Films / Outro

The Chicago Critics Film Festival: https://www.chicagocriticsfilmfestival.com/

Yep, more bonus content to close out the month before Bill comes aboard in April with an epic series on Jean-Luc Godard. For this delicious treat of an episode, up front you get a delightful conversation featuring Matt Strauss from Tao Group Hospitality who oversees a number of New York restaurants and food + beverage venues in and around NYC. 

He has a lot to say about his exciting feast planned for this week which was inspired by his love of the film Babette's Feast which Bill and I discussed for the Director's Club Patreon at Matt's request! Check out tickets for this event right here if you're in the NYC area and get to this in time: https://www.opentable.com/booking/experiences-availability?rid=1046641&restref=1046641&experienceId=151428

Matt and I also serve up a three course meal of our own discussing favorite food movies that I chose along with some honorable mentions. Definitely some surprise picks there! Following Matt's interview, you get an evening snack in the form of an excerpt of a bonus episode I once did with my friend Marissa all about The Top 25 Snacks In America! Hope you're hungry and stay tuned for more from Bill next month as well!

00:00 - 52:07 - Matt Strauss / Favorite Food Movies 52:08 - 01:16:45 - Marissa + The Top 25 Snacks In America

As if 2 hours plus for PTA Part II wasn't enough, you are about to get even more content all about my favorite filmmaker. This time I interview author/writer extraordinaire Ethan Warren about his recently released book, The Cinema of Paul Thomas Anderson: American Apocrypha that I highly recommend. We talked for 40 mins about what inspired him to write it, along with thoughts on PTA in general. Soon after that, you'll get to hear more conversation from my former co-host Patrick Ripoll. About a year ago for Patreon, we reviewed Licorice Pizza which Patrick felt strongly about whereas I thought that it wasn't one of his strongest films for reasons you heard me bring up with Nick & Steve. I decided it was best to conclude this double dose of PTA talk with the original hosts on a film that Patrick did love.

Speaking of that, be sure to stick around for the intro monologue since I go into greater detail on how I feel about Inherent Vice since I didn't express it entirely last time. Coming soon is Bill Ackerman's next contribution and it'll be a doozy for sure! Thank you all for listening, and thanks to Ethan & Patrick!

00:00 - 18:00 - Intro / Inherent Vice Summation 18:01 - 52:06 - Interview With Ethan Warren 52:07 - 02:17:30 - Patrick Reviews Licorice Pizza

Visit Ethan Warren's Site: http://ethanrawarren.com

Buy His Book on PTA: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/the-cinema-of-paul-thomas-anderson/9780231204590

Follow Ethan On Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ethan_Warren_

In Case You Missed PTA Part II: https://www.directorsclubpodcast.com/episodes/pta2

Check Out Patrick's Podcasts: https://link.chtbl.com/uptown https://www.nowplayingnetwork.net

One of my favorite films of the year so far is Alex Heller's THE YEAR BETWEEN, now available on VOD. The reason for that is detailed further in my review during the first ten minutes but after that, stay tuned for guest correspondent (and Mental Filmness film festival founder) Sharon Gissy as she speaks with the writer/director and star of this excellent, insightful look at Bipolar disorder and so much more. It'll be playing on March 30th at the Music Box Theatre so I encourage you to come that night if you live in and around the Chicagoland area!

00:00 - 12:32 - Intro / Jim's Review of THE YEAR BETWEEN 12:33 - 37:47 - Sharon's Interview With Alex Heller

Hosts Bill Ackerman and Jim Laczkowski were asked to talk with two filmmakers about their latest work - both of which has received awards consideration and acclaim. First up, Jim speaks with Lukas Dhont about his coming-of-age tale CLOSE which is opening on February 3rd here in Chicago. Then, Bill had the opportunity to interview Mia Hansen-Løve about her latest drama ONE FINE MORNING. Incredibly grateful to both directors for taking the time to talk with us.

00:00 - 02:39 - Intro 02:40 - 16:45 - Jim's Interview With Lukas Dhont (CLOSE) 16:46 - 43:43 - Bill's Interview With Mia Hansen-Løve (ONE FINE MORNING)

Order Tickets In Advance For Close (Chicago):  https://musicboxtheatre.com/films-and-events/close

Order Tickets For One Fine Morning (NYC): https://www.filmlinc.org/films/one-fine-morning

It's the most wonderful time of the beginning of the year! The title of this episode says it all and I'm so grateful to my two guests for joining me for this epic reflection on the film year that was 2022! Now I'll be going back to 1993 for February's retrospective episode so until then enjoy 6 hours of nerding out. Also please be sure to check out the two new podcasts soon to be added to the Now Playing Network! Thank you so much for listening to a yearly tradition that is always a complete joy!

00:00 - 22:50 - Intro / General Thoughts 22:51 - 01:07:33 - Ancillary Awards 01:07:34 - 02:17:55 - Honorable Mentions 02:17:56 - 04:16:10 - #10-#6 04:16:11 - 05:54:23 - Top 5 Films Of 2022 05:54:24 - 06:03:43 - Outro Feelin Film: https://feelinfilm.com We Doing Filmographies: https://www.facebook.com/wedoingfilmographies

Bill Ackerman's List: 40-favorites.html"> https://auteuristtrap.blogspot.com/2022/12/2022-40-favorites.html

Jim Laczkowski's List: https://letterboxd.com/jimlaczkowski/list/2022-ranked/

Brad Strauss' List: https://letterboxd.com/brads/list/year-by-year-2022-ranked

Guest host Bill Ackerman invites author, film historian and Twitch Of The Death Nerve co-host Samm Deighan to discuss the work of Ken Russell, the visionary talent who directed groundbreaking profiles of artists for the BBC before attaining international acclaim and notoriety through bold, often controversial films like WOMEN IN LOVE, THE MUSIC LOVERS, THE DEVILS, THE BOY FRIEND, MAHLER, TOMMY and ALTERED STATES.  00:00 - 21:49 - Introduction 21:50 - 38:51 - Monitor, ELGAR and the early BBC years 38:52 - 46:30 - Early Theatrical Features and THE DEBUSSY FILM

46:31 - 59:09  WOMEN IN LOVE

59:10 - 1:09:19 DANCE OF THE SEVEN VEILS and World War II imagery

1:09:20 - 1:16:46 THE MUSIC LOVERS 

1:16:47 -1:37:23 THE DEVILS

1:37:23 - 1:51:17 THE BOY FRIEND

1:51:18 - 2:00:17 SAVAGE MESSIAH and Andrzej Żuławski’s THE BLUE NOTE 2:00:18 - 2:17:10  MAHLER, TOMMY, LISZTOMANIA and VALENTINO 2:17:11 - 2:31:53 ALTERED STATES and Ken Russell in the 80s 2:31:54 - 2:44:15 WHORE and the later films of Ken Russell 2:44:15 - 2:46:40  Favorite Ken Russell movies and conclusion

Follow Samm Deighan on Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/sammdeighan/posts

Listen to Twitch Of The Death Nerve: https://cinepunx.com/podcast-episodes/twitch-of-the-death-nerve/

Buy The Legacy of World War II in European Arthouse Cinema by Samm Deighan: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/the-legacy-of-world-war-ii-in-european-arthouse-cinema/ Read Samm Deighan’s Ken Russell Retrospective series at Diabolique Magazine: https://diaboliquemagazine.com/category/columns/a-ken-russell-retrospective/

Listen to The Projection Booth Podcast on Ken Russell: report-tommy-1975.html?m=0">https://www.projectionboothpodcast.com/2020/03/special-report-tommy-1975.html?m=0 168-devils.html">https://www.projectionboothpodcast.com/2014/05/episode-168-devils.html 216-altered-states.html?m=0">https://www.projectionboothpodcast.com/2015/04/episode-216-altered-states.html?m=0

Director Joe Talbot on WOMEN IN LOVE:

https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/6435-more-is-more-lessons-in-excess-from-women-in-love

Elgar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPNrKx4dKfU

The Debussy Film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsdAIYmSHAg

Dance Of The Seven Veils https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA3C645436B787602

The Music Lovers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8Tf31aOITI&t=2s

Mahler https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGq7TFoxB4E&t=2s

Salome’s Last Dance https://rarefilmm.com/2019/09/salomes-last-dance-1988/

The Blue Note (Andrzej Żuławski’s 1991 film about Frédéric Chopin)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z06E3HKnzAI