On this episode, I welcome the filmmaker Noah Pritzker (“Quitters”) with his latest film “Ex-Husbands” which opens theatrically in NYC today, Friday, February 21st. The film will continue its national theatrical roll out over the course of the next few weeks. Appearing here with Noah are cast members Griffin Dunne —for his 6th appearance on Filmwax Radio— and the great...
Returning for his third visit to the podcast, bestselling Hollywood biographer and film historian Scott Eyman tells the story of Charlie Chaplin’s fall from grace. in his latest “Charlie Chaplin vs. America“. In the aftermath of World War II, Chaplin was criticized for being politically liberal and internationalist in outlook. He had never become a US citizen, something that would be...
Ryan Lee Crosby blends echoes of Mississippi, Mali, and India into songs that speak from—and to—the heart. Produced by Fat Possum’s Bruce Watson, Crosby’s latest “Winter Hill Blues” evokes the essence of Mississippi, refracted by influences of Indian slide guitar. The sound is forged from his life as a traveling musician and studies with Jimmy “Duck” Holmes and...
The 1996 Sundance hit indie “Girls Town” has gotten the 4K restoration treatment thanks to Indie Collect (a company run by former Filmwax guest Sandra Schulberg). The film is the directing debut of guest Jim McKay, and stars Lili Taylor, Bruklin Harris, Aunjanue Ellis and other guest Anna Grace. The plot follows a group of girl friends and their coming-of-age during their senior year...
Joseph McBride is a film historian and a professor in the School of Cinema at San Francisco State University. He is the author of biographies of Frank Capra, John Ford, and Steven Spielberg; three books on Orson Welles; and critical studies of Ernst Lubitsch, Billy Wilder, and the Coen Brothers. He acted for Welles in The Other Side of the Wind and has won a Writers Guild of America award. His...
The great actor of stage and screen, Harris Yulin (“Scarface”, “Ozark”), returns to the podcast. He was in the 1987 film “Candy Mountain” which was recently re-released. New York City, 1980s. A struggling, deadbeat musician named Julius has fallen on hard times. With no guitar, band or paying gigs, he cooks up a get-rich-quick scheme – to find the legendary...
On the day of his first fight since leaving prison, Mikey (Michael Pitt), once champion boxer, takes a redemptive journey through his past in Jack Huston’s “Day of the Fight”. As Mikey prepares for the most important fight of his life, he reconnects with the people he was closest to and tries to make things right. Mikey’s coach, Stevie Ross, is played by my guest in this...
Film editor Michael Taylor, A.C.E. returns for his 7th visit to the podcast. Taylor is helping to program a series at the Metrograph Cinema in NYC called Filmcraft: American Cinema Editors. This series showcases the best of editing by pairing a screening with a Q&A with its editors. This Friday, December 6th, there is a sold out screening of Elaine May’s “Mikey & Nicky”...
“Beatles ’64” is an all-new documentary from producer Martin Scorsese and director David Tedeschi. The documentary is currently streaming exclusively on Disney+. The film captures the electrifying moment of The Beatles’ first visit to America. Featuring never-before-seen footage of the band and the legions of young fans who helped fuel their ascendance, the film gives a rare glimpse...
Actor Chris Jackson makes his first appearance on the podcast. This Broadway and film actor is currently in the cast of the new indie film “Boundary Waters”. In this lyrical coming-of-age film, 12-year-old Michael Murray relishes the carefree joys of early adolescence – girls and friends – until his mom has a black eye and a busted lip. Michael is desperate to know what happened, but...
The animator, filmmaker, actor and podcaster Jack Dunphy is the guest. Jack has recently launched a very bold new podcast called REVELATIONS WITH JACK DUNPHY where he talks very frankly and as honestly as one can, with his guests. These are sometimes highly intense confessional conversations about addiction, mental illness, sexuality, and more. You can find Jack’s films on various platforms...
Actors Eric Roberts (“The Pope of Greenwich Village”, “Runaway Train”) and Eliza Roberts (“Animal House”) are the guests. They are both involved in a new indie genre film called “Hippo” which hits theaters Friday, November 8th. Directed by Mark H. Rapaport, the film is about a girl who loves classical music and Jesus and who grows up with a video...
The indie filmmaker Alan Rudolph (“Choose Me”, “Trouble in Mind”) makes his first appearance on the podcast. His 1999 film, originally written for his mentor Bob Altman to direct but ended up in his hands some years later. That film is”Breakfast of Champions” and, after 25 years, is returning to theaters. The film was adapted from the unadaptable novel by Kurt...
In this special episode, I welcome documentary filmmaker Lee Hirsch (“Bully”) and producer Houston King (“The Hero”, “Computer Chess”) who together founded the political action committee —or PAC— Local Voices. In our conversation we discuss the Local Voices’ vision that goes into their impactful campaigns, produced and aired in battleground states like...
Politician and voter suppression activist Stacey Abrams is joined by her co-producer Kristi Jacobson regarding a new documentary they have, along with Selena Gomez, made called “Louder: The Soundtrack of Change” which is available on Max. The documentary is a celebration of music and rallying cry across generations, genres, anchored by female icons whose songs and activism inspired...