A Film By... Episodes

In the late 60's and early 70's, he led several young directors in the creation of a new Hollywood. He's won 6 Academy Awards, 5 Golden Globes, and the Palmes d'Or twice. He is Francis Ford Coppola. From his masterpiece, The Godfather, to his...

Sofia Coppola is the youngest child and only daughter of Francis Ford Coppola. Her films have a visual style that have been described as hazy and dream-like; filled with neglected characters that long to be acknowledged and seen. Coppola has...

To celebrate the 94th Academy Awards, Brad nominates Dayton Johnson of the Docking Bay 77 podcast to join him for a frank conversation on the Academy's hits and their very many misses! From those who were robbed, to those robbed more by the omission...

Catherine Hardwicke has achieved things most directors dream of and so very few accomplish. Her directorial debut, thirteen, garnered Oscar attention. Her adaptation of YA novel, Twilight, was a global blockbuster, and turned relative unknowns Kristen...

Amy Heckerling's written and directorial efforts make her a comedic legend in Hollywood. She gave a voice to teenagers everywhere in separate decades with Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and Clueless. She took the Griswold's to Europe, and made us think...

Antoine Fuqua is one of Hollywood's busiest directors because he's one of the most successful directors working today. His appreciation for Kurosawa shows in many of his films, from Tears of the Sun to his Equalizer franchise. Brooklyn's Finest; his...

"What is high? What is high-er? What is learn? What is learn-ing" Higher Learning was John Singleton's third film about college life on a highly volatile campus; boasting an incredible ensemble cast, poignant storytelling, and a diversified hit...

Kevin Reynolds is a director known for offering up the occasional blockbuster, and his many collaborations with Kevin Costner. In 1988, he created one of the more poignant films about war with his Soviet tank drama, The Beast.

Vietnam. Presidents. Rock stars. Social commentary. Throughout his storied career, filmmaker Oliver Stone has written outstanding scripts, made memorable movies, and won Academy Awards. With this neo-noir crime thriller, he delves into the world of...

It's the annual Christmas episode! This year, Brad and Jeff discuss Nora Ephron's dark Christmas comedy "Mixed Nuts"! It's a wild night of unexpected events taking place at a crisis hotline center with Steve Martin doing his best to control the...

Hot off the back-to-back blockbuster success of Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, rising star Steven Spielberg took a shot at comedy in 1979 with his WWII parody film, 1941. On the 80th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, Brad and Jeff...

The Wachowskis are known for big budget, FX-driven blockbusters. Their directorial debut, Bound, is a small, neo-noir thriller starring several actors at the top of their game. With a new Matrix film about to be released, Brad and Jeff discuss the...

They're back! Five years after the massive success of Ghostbusters, Director Ivan Reitman brought the boys back together to battle the ectoplasmic supernatural in Ghostbusters 2. Brad and Jeff team up with Dee and Jason of the Surely You Can't Be...

Alfred Hitchcock's body of work proves he's the master of suspense! Brad and Jeff discuss his first American film, Rebecca; a gothic romantic thriller. Listen along as they talk about comparison's to a recent episode topic Crimson Peak, their favorite...

Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg's successful career has spanned more than half a century. Regarded as the originator of the body horror genre, his work is known to be strange, cerebral, and limit-pushing for it's visuals and effects. Join us, as...

Guillermo del Toro has a reputation for the fantastical. He's danced with the darker heroes of comics with Blade and Hellboy. He's softened our hearts with oddities in Pan's Labyrinth and his Oscar-winning The Shape of Water. In 2015, del Toro offered...

15 years after Earth, humanity's last hope...is Titan A.E. Don Bluth was Disney royalty before moving on to form his own independent animation company. Brad is joined by special co-host Dayton Johnson to discuss Bluth's ambitious sci-fi fantasy Titan...

Comedy legends Billy Crystal and Danny DeVito team up for an unlikely murder plot in the dark comedy Throw Momma From The Train! Jeff is joined by regular 1986 contributor David Burns to discuss DeVito's feature directorial effort with the memorable...

No place to run. No reason to hide. Kevin Costner delivers another powerhouse performance both on the screen and behind the camera with his third directorial effort, Open Range. Brad and Jeff discuss the stellar cast, the gorgeous cinematography, and...

You have a red, white, and blue American right to eat cotton candy and ride roller coasters! So says Kevin Costner's charming but dangerous escaped convict character Butch to 8 year-old hostage turned partner, Buzz. Clint Eastwood's crime drama A...

After The Sixth Sense shocked a generation of movie goers, we've come to expect thrills, chills, and mind-bending twists from M. Night Shyamalan. With his 2015 "found footage" style comedic thriller, The Visit, he delivers exactly what we want!

Jeremiah Johnson, Tootsie, 3 Days of the Condor, The Firm. Filmmaker Sydney Pollack was truly one of the greats! In 1974, he stepped outside his comfort zone to direct The Yakuza; a neo-noir drama that showcased Robert Mitchum is his last leading role.

What would you do if you were held captive, without reason, for 20 years? Would you want answers? Would you want revenge? Film auteur Spike Lee delivers his neo-noir, action-packed "reimagining" of the 2003 Korean thriller of the same name, Oldboy!...

When loyalty is tested by obsession, betrayal leads to revenge! Known for his blockbuster films and penchant for flawed heroes, Tony Scott delivered his underrated, romantic thriller Revenge in 1990. Join us as we examine the morality of the...