Closed Set w/ Themistoklis Alexis

Our director for this month is the mercurial Sam Peckinpah (1925-1984), who left an indelible mark on American television and cinema over a 30-year career. Despite his many clashes with Hollywood studio brass (and often his own crew) and his early passing at the age of 59, Peckinpah distinguished himself with a singular vision of the Old West and his graphic depictions of violence

This month, we return to celebrate and examine the work of a personal favourite of mine: Greek-Cypriot director Yannis Economides (b. 1967). Heralded as one of several filmmakers responsible for a recent resurgence in Greek cinema and an auteur of modern realism, Economides has spent a 20-year career as a feature director exploring the darker sides of human nature and their many ma

This episode takes a stab at covering the life and early work of Hal Ashby (1929-1988), a director who was synonymous with the New Hollywood era of the 70s and helmed a string of beloved films that often doubled as social commentaries, including The Landlord, Harold & Maude, The Last Detail, and Shampoo. We'll revisit these films, Ashby's apprenticeship under filmmaker Norman Jewis

The show is (finally) back to celebrate the life, work, and legacy of Renaissance man Melvin Van Peebles (1932-2021), a well-travelled director, songwriter, actor, playwright, and novelist who played an integral role in breaking the color barrier for Black filmmakers in Hollywood during the late 60s-early 70s and helmed the groundbreaking and provocative independent hit Sweet Sweet

After a hectic month away, the show is back for a look at the life of Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni (1912-2007) and his portraits of existential dread in the modern world. Antonioni helped pave the way for Italy's post-war neorealist movement with a series of short documentaries, then set a new standard for European art films in the 60s with L'Avventura, La Notte, L'Eclis

The marvelous Elaine May (b. 1932) has worn many different hats over a lifelong career that began in the Yiddish theatre during childhood, and before she receives an overdue Honorary Academy Award at this month's Oscars, we're celebrating her with a look at the four films she directed in the 70s and 80s. An accomplished improvisational comedian, actress, filmmaker, screenwriter, an

Fans of old film noir know and love the director we're covering on today's episode: Joseph H. Lewis (1907-2000). In a prolific career that saw him helm 40 films for every Hollywood studio in operation from the late 30s through the 50s, Lewis cemented himself as a workhorse with a knack for making the most of limited means. The New York native made low-budget westerns, war films, mu

Director, producer, screenwriter, film critic. Tony Richardson (1928-1991) held every one of these distinctions over his long and prolific career, but he's best remembered as a leading figure of the Free Cinema and British New Wave movements, which produced many great filmmakers and shed light on the plight of England's post-war working class in the late 50s and early 60s. His film

After a rest and a surprise visit from the Rona, we're back with a slightly different format for a look at Alan J. Pakula (1928-1998) and his Paranoia Trilogy. This trio of classic 70s films includes Klute, a murder mystery and character study carried by an incredible performance from Jane Fonda, the slow-burning conspiracy thriller The Parallax View, and All the President's Men, w

We conclude our series on Elia Kazan (1909-2003) with a look at his later works, his marriages, his infidelities, and some allegations that surfaced long after his passing. The third act of Kazan's career saw him helm some personal passion projects, including America, America and The Arrangement, albeit with mixed results. Join us as we cover Kazan's last five films, his contradict