American film director
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8 episodes with John Sayles
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5 episodes with John Sayles
3 episodes with John Sayles
5 episodes with John Sayles
9 episodes with John Sayles
3 episodes with John Sayles
On the latest episode of the podcast, Jamie reveals how long it takes before her attention drifts from movies (these Pluto commercials aren't helping), Doug believes two characters in this film are auditioning for a sitcom that never happened, and we both agree that not much has changed in society over the past 40 years (some for better but far more for worse). Pay for your fresh fruits before eating them, take off your fake eyelashes before bed, and join us as we celebrate Black History Month with a movie far more thoughtful and prescient than the title would have you believe, The Brother from Another Planet!The Brother from Another Planet is a 1984 film written and directed by John Sayles and starring Joe Morton, Steve James, Leonard Jackson, Maggie Renzi, Renn Woods, Tom Wright, David Strathairn, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Rosetta LeNoire, Fischer Stevens & Bill Cobbs.Visit our YouTube ChannelMerch on TeePublic Follow us on TwitterFollow on InstagramFind us on FacebookDoug's Schitt's Creek podcast, Schitt's & Giggles can be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/schitts-and-giggles-a-schitts-creek-podcast/id1490637008
John Sayles' new novel 'Crucible' is a sweeping historical epic that takes readers deep into the world of Henry Ford and the Motor City between 1927 and 1945. Sayles casts his net wide across this transformative era, capturing the rise and fall of industrial fortunes, the bitter struggles of workers and union organizers, and the cultural collisions of race, class, and power in America's heartbeat.
City Lights and Melville House Books celebrate the publication of Crucible – By John Sayles, published by Melville House. You can purchase copies of Crucible here: https://citylights.com/new-fiction-in-hardcover/crucible-3/ Originally held on site and broadcast via Zoom on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. Hosted by Peter Maravelis. Made possible by support from the City Lights Foundation: citylights.com/foundation
The filmmaker John Sayles (“Eight Men Out”, “The Brother From Another Planet”) returns for his 3rd visit. In addition to the 18 feature films he has written and directed, he is also a longtime author of novels. His latest, “Crucible” is now available where books are sold. From the Oscar-nominated filmmaker comes a complex and sweeping historical novel about Henry Ford — the Elon Musk of his day — and his attempt to rule not only an automotive empire but the rambunctious city of Detroit. It is an epic tale ranging from the 1920s through the second World War, featuring violent labor disputes, misbegotten jungle expeditions, a tragic race riot, and the gestapo tactics of Ford's private army . . . Already the gateway for illegal Canadian liquor during Prohibition, the Motor City becomes a crucible for American class conflict during the Great Depression, with an army of laid off Ford workers drifting into the ranks of the burgeoning union movement — Henry Ford’s worst nightmare. To keep the hundreds of thousands still employed by him in thrall, the man who was formerly ‘America’s favorite tycoon’ recruits black laborers migrating from the deep South to serve as ‘strike insurance’, and gives Harry Bennett, pugnacious as he is diminutive, free reign over the legion of barroom brawlers and ex-cons who make up the company's ‘Security Department’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_cHq5UhYRI The Model T mogul has also bought a sizable chunk of Brazil’s Amazonian rainforest, vowing to grow his own rubber for tires, but stubbornly refusing to include a botanist in his troop of would-be jungle tamers. As a series of biological plagues descend on the Fordlandia plantation, the racial melting pot he has created in Detroit begins to boil over, and not even the Sage of Dearborn can control the forces that have been unleashed. The novel’s cast — Ford workers black and white and their families, young radicals, cynical newsmen, gangsters, Brazilian rubber tappers, cameos from boxer Joe Louis and muralist Diego Rivera — create the tapestry of differing points of view that John Sayles has become famous for, the events portrayed fundamental to the country we live in today.
Patrick Millikin in conversation with John Sayles
In our latest, we talk with legendary filmmaker, screenwriter and novelist John Sayles. We start with a discussion about his new novel "Crucible." But also talk about labor, class consciousness, portraying the organizer as a hero, the border and the American empire in his, and other, films and novels. Bio//John Sayles is an Oscar nominated American independent film director, screenwriter, editor, actor, and novelist. He is known for writing and directing the films The Brother from Another Planet, Matewan, Eight Men Out, Passion Fish, The Secret of Roan Inish, Lone Star, Men with Guns, Sunshine State, Silver City and Amigo. He has written eight novels, the most recent being Yellow Earth, To Save the Man, Crucible and the forthcoming Gods of Gotham.-------------------------------
2/9/26: Megan Zinn w/ Broadside's Roz Kreshak-Hayden: books to read & indies to support. Writers Block w/John Sayles's on “Crucible,” Henry Ford, industrial policy & his antisemitism. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: Bad Bunny, schools, MTA negotiations, icy roads, state aid, & financial modernization. John Bonifaz, Pres & Founder of Free Speech for People: prosecuting ICE agents, the AG, DAs, & the police.
2/9/26: Megan Zinn w/ Broadside's Roz Kreshak-Hayden: books to read & indies to support. Writers Block w/John Sayles's on “Crucible,” Henry Ford, industrial policy & his antisemitism. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: Bad Bunny, schools, MTA negotiations, icy roads, state aid, & financial modernization. John Bonifaz, Pres & Founder of Free Speech for People: prosecuting ICE agents, the AG, DAs, & the police.
2/9/26: Megan Zinn w/ Broadside's Roz Kreshak-Hayden: books to read & indies to support. Writers Block w/John Sayles's on “Crucible,” Henry Ford, industrial policy & his antisemitism. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: Bad Bunny, schools, MTA negotiations, icy roads, state aid, & financial modernization. John Bonifaz, Pres & Founder of Free Speech for People: prosecuting ICE agents, the AG, DAs, & the police.
2/9/26: Megan Zinn w/ Broadside's Roz Kreshak-Hayden: books to read & indies to support. Writers Block w/John Sayles's on “Crucible,” Henry Ford, industrial policy & his antisemitism. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: Bad Bunny, schools, MTA negotiations, icy roads, state aid, & financial modernization. John Bonifaz, Pres & Founder of Free Speech for People: prosecuting ICE agents, the AG, DAs, & the police.
John Sayles and Maggie Renzi. Photo: Richard Wolinsky John Sayles, author of the novel “Crucible” and director of eighteen independent films, including “Lone Star,” Eight Men Out” and “The Secret of Roan Inish” in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. They are joined by Maggie Renzi, John Sayles' producer on fourteen of his eighteen films. John Sayles is best known for his work as a director, screenwriter and actor, though this is his sixth novel. Among the films he directed are Lone Star, Sunshine State, Eight Men Out, Matewan, The Brother from Another Planet, Baby It's You and Passion Fish. His acting credits include small roles in several films, and he wrote the screenplay for the films he directed. Maggie Renzi, his wife, produced fourteen of his eighteen films, and acted in several of them. She is currently producing John's upcoming western film, to be shot in Spain in Summer, 2026. In the first part of the interview, John Sayles discusses the real-life events behind his novel, “Crucible,” set between the 1920s and 1940s in Detroit and Brazil and focusing on Henry Ford, and the workers at his plants, and his attempt to create a rubber plantation and city in the jungles of Brazil. In the second part, he and Maggie Renzi talk about the making of his films, from his early days as a screenwriter to some of his later work, including the three films mentioned above and “Matewan,” along with difficulties in streaming rights. The post John Sayles, Film-maker and Novelist, “Crucible,” 2026 appeared first on KPFA.
Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues John Sayles: Novelist and Director, author “Crucible,” 2026 John Sayles and Maggie Renzi. Photo: Richard Wolinsky John Sayles, author of the novel “Crucible” and director of eighteen independent films, including “Lone Star,” Eight Men Out” and “The Secret of Roan Inish” in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. They are joined by Maggie Renzi, John Sayles' producer on fourteen of his eighteen films. John Sayles is best known for his work as a director, screenwriter and actor, though this is his sixth novel. Among the films he directed are Lone Star, Sunshine State, Eight Men Out, Matewan, The Brother from Another Planet, Baby It's You and Passion Fish. His acting credits include small roles in several films, and he wrote the screenplay for the films he directed. Maggie Renzi, his wife, produced fourteen of his eighteen films, and acted in several of them. She is currently producing John's upcoming western film, to be shot in Spain in Summer, 2026. In the first part of the interview, John Sayles discusses the real-life events behind his novel, “Crucible,” set between the 1920s and 1940s in Detroit and Brazil and focusing on Henry Ford, and the workers at his plants, and his attempt to create a rubber plantation and city in the jungles of Brazil. In the second part, he and Maggie Renzi talk about the making of his films, from his early days as a screenwriter to some of his later work, including the three films mentioned above and “Matewan,” along with difficulties in streaming rights. Review of “How Shakespeare Saved My Life at ACT Berkeley Rep's Peets Theatre through March 1, 2026. The post Bookwaves/Artwaves – February 5, 2026: Filmmaker and Novelist John Sayles, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.
Need a warm cinematic hug from a group of close friends? Want to spend some time with people who get all your jokes? In this episode, we discuss The Return of the Secaucus 7 (1980), a foundational work of American leftist cinema. We also look closely at John Sayles' early career as a novelist and screenwriter in the buildup to his debut as a director. Follow us at: Patreon / Instagram / Letterboxd / Facebook
For the first show of the New Year, we're sharing a couple of previously unaired live conversations: Adam with Matt Singer about Jeff Nichols's TAKE SHELTER, recorded at Filmspotting Fest; and with Michael Phillips at the City of Chicago's 50th anniversary celebration of Siskel & Ebert about John Sayles's 1996 western noir LONE STAR. This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. (Timecodes and chapter starts may not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:01:55) Take Shelter with Matt Singer, Live at Filmspotting Fest (00:01:56-00:26:45) Next Week / Notes (00:26:46-00:29:33) Lone Star with Michael Phillips, Live at Siskel & Ebert 50th Anniversary (00:29:34-01:04:25) Credits / New Releases (01:04:26-01:05:44) Links: -Filmspotting Fest https://www.filmspotting.net/filmspotting-fest -Siskel & Ebert 50th Anniversary https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/provdrs/chicago_film_office/news/2025/october/siskel_ebert.html Feedback: -Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net. -Ask Us Anything and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and archive access. http://filmspottingfamily.com -T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop. https://www.filmspotting.net/shop Follow: https://www.instagram.com/filmspotting https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting https://facebook.com/filmspotting https://twitter.com/filmspotting https://www.instagram.com/larsenonfilm https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm https://www.facebook.com/larsenonfilm https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's our 100th episode! We have a bumper edition this week to celebrate with a somewhat eclectic triple feature (as is our wont). Mike White and Sammy join us to discuss Sisters (1972), directed by Brian De Palma, The Brother from Another Planet (1984), directed by John Sayles, and Twins of Evil (1971), directed by John Hough. A sadly still very relevant critique of intolerance and division in the USA wedged between two lurid but very different tales riffing on the horror of psychological duality - there's so much to discuss and we duly do just that in our longest episode to date. Never fear though - it's all killer, no filler! We manage to get deep into The Brother From Another Planet without really spoiling it, and although we do discuss the ending of Twins of Evil, plot is not really the point of most Hammer horror and this is no exception. We do, however, call out Spoiler Territory for Sisters. If you want to skip ahead from that point, you can rejoin the conversation at the 1:35:59 mark to avoid spoilers. Thanks for being withus over this first hundred episodes - we aim to keep going for many hundreds more! Want to get in touch? You can reach us on caliber9fromouterspace@gmail.com Theme music: "The Cold Light of Day" by HKM. Check out HKM on #SoundCloud or Bandcamp "Big Calm" by Morcheeba
Chuck Collins joins to discuss his new book on wealth and power, Burned by Billionaires. Then, John Sayles of the Vermont Foodbank breaks down how the government shutdown is impacting hunger in Vermont—and what we can do about it.This episode of Vermont Viewpoint was published 11/06/25.
Jim has fun with a breakout cult film celebrating its 45th Anniversary this year - "Alligator," directed by Lewis Teague, written by John Sayles and starring Robert Forster Robin Riker, Michael Gazzo, Dean Jagger, Jack Carter, Perry Lang, Henry Silva, Bart Braverman, Angel Tompkins, Sue Lyon, and Royce D Applegate, A giant alligator who was flushed down a toilet as a baby, grows up and up and up in the sewers and wrecks havoc on a city. Find out more on MONSTER ATTACK!, The Podcast Dedicated To Old Monster Movies.
Jim has fun with a breakout cult film celebrating its 45th Anniversary this year – “Alligator,” directed by Lewis Teague, written by John Sayles and starring Robert Forster Robin Riker, Michael Gazzo, Dean Jagger, Jack Carter, Perry Lang, Henry Silva, Bart Braverman, Angel Tompkins, Sue Lyon, and Royce D Applegate, A giant alligator who was […] The post Alligator | Episode 488 appeared first on The ESO Network.
On the thirtieth night of our #31DaysToHalloween the Mister joins me in reviewing THE HOWLING (1981), from director Joe Dante, the film has a screenplay by Gary Brandner, John Sayles and Terence H. Winkless. Scarred after a terrifying encounter with a serial killer, Los Angeles television news anchor Karen White (Dee Wallace) is sent with her husband to "The Colony," a secluded, New Age-style self-help retreat for trauma patients in the countryside. As her husband is seduced by one of the seductive, predatory locals, Karen and her journalist friend slowly discover that the peaceful commune is secretly inhabited by a pack of werewolves who can transform at will. Realizing her life is in danger and the world must be warned, Karen races against time to expose the horrifying truth before the bloodthirsty community can silence her permanently. The film clocks in at 1 h and 31 m, is rated R and we caught it on Prime Video but you can find it on Fawesome, Tubi and on Prime Video to buy/rent. Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.#TheHowling #JoeDante #GaryBrander #JohnSayles #TerenceHWinkless #DeeWallace #KarenWhite #PatrickMacnee #DrGeorgeWaggner #DennisDugan #ChrisHoward #ChristopherStone #BillNeill #BelindaBalaski #Terry #KevinMcCarthy #Fred #JohnCarradine #Erle #SlimPickens #Sam #ElisabethBrooks #Marsha #RobertPicardo #Eddie #BHorror #DarkComedy #Farce #FolkHorror #Slapstick #SplatterHorror #SupernaturalHorror #BodyHorror #FolkHorror #WerewolfHorror #Horror @PrimeVideo @FAwesome @Tubi #31DaysToHalloween #SpookySeason #Day30 #FridayFamilyFilmNight And in #SpookySeason don't forget to use your powers for good - support our friend KT as she raises funds for the good folks at St. Jude's - any little bit helps and is whole heartedly appreciated by the families who rely on St. Jude's @stjudehttps://fundraising.stjude.org/goto/thewolfmansOpening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library
Hot off SINNERS last week, this week we're tackling a different kind of story about racial tensions in the south: independent filmmaker novelist John Sayles' neo-western mystery, LONE STAR from 1996!We're talking Sayles' career and how his fingerprints cover Hollywood from Roger Corman to ET the Extraterrestrial before diving into thoughts on the Alamo. And in our discussion of this film's themes and central mystery that deal with the grey areas of borders we all experience, we define once and for all what "politics in movies" means.The cast is all on fire, and we discuss how Chris Cooper plays subtext to the back walls, how we need to see more Elizabeth Peña & Joe Morton, how Kris Kristofferson is always scary, and how Matthew McConaughey has always been Daddy.Next time we're squeezing in something spooky just in time -- Tom Cruise goes southern gothic in INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE!
Gartbage is back and we're heading south with several Michael B Jordan's for Ryan Coogler's period horror musical SINNERS! As always, we're discussing with full spoilers.We're tracing Sinners' path from conception to theatre, from Coogler's visit to a cotton plantation outside of Atlanta, to discovering Miles Caton and treating Jack O'Connell like Beyonce, to one of the best theatre experiences of the year.This film trusts its audiences in ways that recent blockbusters haven't, so we're getting into some of the details that make up this (our?) world: Hoodoo, the Great Migration, Juke Joints, Choctaw vampire hunters, we've got it all.Plus, Erin breaks down how Ludwig Goransson's blues-based score helps tell this story of racism, colonialism, and vampires. And how did we feel about the big Generations dance scene? The answer may surprise you!Next week we're taking another look at racial and colonial attitudes in the south with John Sayles' LONE STAR (1996)
Marianne Leone is an actress, essayist, and screenwriter. She is the author of three memoirs “Jesse,” “Ma Speaks Up,” and most recently “Five-Dog Epiphany.” She had a recurring role on HBO's “The Sopranos” as Joanne, Christophers Mother. She has also appeared in films by David O. Russell, Larry David, and John Sayles.Her latest project is a novel, and it is “Christina the Astonishing.” It's a coming-of-age novel told from the perspective of an irrepressible girl by the name of Christina. Her encounters with Catholic school, nuns, Italian mothers, and smalltown Massachusetts all come together in one brewing stew.
This week Frank is joined by returning guests Harvey Kaye (award-winning author and Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay) and Jon Shelton (professor and chair of Democracy and Justice Studies). In honor of Labor Day they discuss the John Sayles union drama Matewan and dive into labor issues, with insights on workers' rights and the fight for social democracy. For next week's movie, we'll be watching the 2001 CIA thriller SPY GAME..
This week, Frank is joined by comedian and actress Andrea More (STICK) and returning guest Mike Benner (Bob's Burgers) to talk about the Paul Rudd/Jason Segel bromantic comedy I Love You, Man. Together, they unpack the epidemic of male loneliness, the pitfalls of toxic masculinity, and how male friendships are portrayed on screen—especially compared to female ones.
If you think animals only attack in the country, you're dead wrong. Erin Dawn (Manic Movie Monday Podcast ) follows us into the city sewer for ALLIGATOR (1980) starring Robert Forster and Robin Riker in this film about a mutant man-eater. Alligator was directed by Lewis Teague and written by John Sayles. Manic Movie Monday Podcast Instagram - Manic Movie Monday Podcast
This week we explore John Sayles's 1996 bordertown drama Lone Star, starring Chris Cooper, Matthew McConaughey, and Kris Kristofferson. Plus: Sam goes to the Emmys!LINKS:Trailer for Lone StarA Scene from Taste of CherryDooghSupport the show
It's time for terror to go small with genetically altered PIRANHA (1978) directed by Joe Dante, screenplay by John Sayles, and executive produced by Roger Corman. Jen Howell of the Every Rom Com podcast joins us to discuss the horror comedy classic. https://www.everyromcom.com/ https://www.instagram.com/everyromcom/ https://bsky.app/profile/everyromcom.bsky.social
On this episode of Drive-In Double Feature, Nathan and Ryan dive into the murky depths of Alligator (1980), the killer creature feature that made everyone second-guess flushing their toilet. Directed by Lewis Teague and written by John Sayles, this smart and satirical B-movie gem turns urban legend into urban menace with a giant, mutated gator terrorizing the city. The hosts discuss the film's mix of social commentary, practical effects, and Robert Forster's charmingly self-aware performance. Is Alligator just a Jaws ripoff, or is it something more? Grab your flashlight and waders—we're going sewer spelunking!
In this episode, our Year of the Nineties continues as Nate and Adam review the 1996 western drama from writer/director John Sayles, "Lone Star", starring Chris Cooper! Listen now!
In the thirty-second episode of Season 11: The Son of Cult Flicks, Kyle is joined by screenwriter Katy Baldwin and cinematographer Ezra Balcha to discuss John Sayles' low-budget science-fiction parable about the alienation of the immigrant experience, the complexities of assimilation, and the preservation of community in the warm, tender, and often times silly The Brother from Another Planet (1984).
It's been a little light out there for titles in physical media world but this week has no shortage of interesting ones and Peter Sobczynski joins Erik Childress to talk you through them. They include one of Wong-Kar Wai's most remembered films and John Sayles' foray into studio filmmaking in the ‘80s. John Wayne goes to war and then later goofs off with John Ford. There are new 4K editions of two of Steven Soderbergh's films plus one of Abel Ferrara's more treasured crime dramas. Then the pair wade into the controversies and legacy of Paul Verhoeven's Basic Instinct. 1:49 - Criterion (Chungking Express 4K) 7:57 - Kino (Sands of Iwo Jima 4K, Donovan's Reef 4K) 18:33 - Fun City (Baby, It's You) 27:21 – Lions Gate (King of New York 4K, Basic Instinct 4K) 56:04 – Warner Bros. (The Good German 4K, The Informant 4K) 1:14:19 – New Theatrical Titles On Blu-ray (Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Heart Eyes) 1:16:53 - New Blu-ray Announcements CLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCAST
9 am - week in review9:15 - Morgan Valley, UConn basketball assistant coach and VT legend.10 am - John Sayles, CEO Vt Foodbank.10:30 - Ian Ackerman, Cabot sugar maker.
We return to the early days of The Mission, where Vincent and Len share their assessment of writer-director John Sayles' sci-fi classic that gave the world actor Joe Morton and provided Vincent with one of his favorite reviews ever. Subscribe to the Mission on YouTube Rate & Review The Mission on Apple Email micheauxmission@gmail.com Follow The Mission on Instagram We are a proud member of The Podglomerate - we make podcasts work! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's time for another Mike Makes Mike Watch! This week, Mike D is making Smith watch John Sayles' thrilling neo-noir LONE STAR, while Smith is making Mike D catch up with Weird Al Yankovic in 1989's UHF!
This week, I'm recommending four movies that have some connection to Ireland, whether through folklore, setting, or just a certain Irish sensibility. There's a mix of fantasy, horror, family-friendly adventure, and romantic drama, so no matter what you're in the mood for, you might find something here to check out.The Secret of Roan Inish (1994) – A quiet, beautifully filmed story about a girl uncovering her family's past on a small Irish island. Directed by John Sayles, it weaves folklore into everyday life in a way that feels completely natural. The cinematography captures the beauty of the Irish coast, and the film has a slow, almost dreamlike quality. It's based on the book Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry, but Sayles changed the setting to Ireland and made it feel like an old story passed down through generations. If you like films that take their time and let you soak in the atmosphere, this is one to watch.Note: I am not sure why I cannot properly differentiate the syllables when I pronounce Roan Inish. I kept trying to say it with two syllables in a natural way, but when it did it blends. Not sure why.Leprechaun (1993) – A horror-comedy that leans into its absurd premise and I love it! Warwick Davis plays the title character, and his performance is a big part of what makes the movie memorable. The film was originally meant to be more of a straight horror movie, but as they shot it, they leaned into the campy humor. This was Jennifer Aniston's first film role, before Friends made her famous, and it's fun to see her in an early ‘90s horror setting. The movie spawned a long series of sequels so if you enjoy this kind of thing, there's a lot more to watch.The Luck of the Irish (2001) – A Disney Channel Original Movie that a lot of people remember from childhood. It follows a teenager who finds out he's part leprechaun, which leads to some strange changes in his life. Like a lot of early 2000s Disney Channel movies, it has a mix of comedy, adventure, and a little bit of sports. The villain, played by Timothy Omundson, gives an over-the-top performance that makes the movie more fun than it probably should be. If you grew up watching it, it's a nostalgic rewatch, and if you haven't seen it, it's an interesting look at the kind of family movies Disney was making at the time.Only the Lonely (1991) – A romantic dramedy starring John Candy in a more low-key role. In it, he plays a Chicago cop dealing with his overbearing mother, played by Maureen O'Hara, while trying to start a relationship with a shy funeral home worker, played by Ally Sheedy. O'Hara came out of retirement for this film, and she still had the same screen presence she had in movies like The Quiet Man. Chris Columbus directed this, right around the time he was making Home Alone, and you can see a similar mix of warmth and humor. It's an underrated John Candy performance, showing more depth than his usual comedic roles. If you like movies that balance comedy with a little drama, it's worth checking out.That's this week's recommendations. If you end up watching any of these, let me know what you think and remember someone will be back behind the counter next week with four more recommendations.Thanks for reading Video Store Podcast! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.videostorepodcast.com
Send us a textMonster March continues as Eric and Neil talk about this pretty enjoyable movie from 1980, Alligator. The John Sayles script is better than it needs to be, and Robert Forster's performance is also top notch. Mind your hairline and join us!
Prolific singer-songwriter Will Oldham has been able to maintain what Marc calls “a haunting and elated tone” over the course of his career, whether in his collaborations with other artists or under the name Bonnie “Prince” Billy. Will talks with Marc about how his music stems from the example of his artist mother, records checked out of the library, and his Kentucky roots. They also talk about his recent album The Purple Bird as well as Will's acting career, which launched when he was a teenager and John Sayles cast him in the film Matewan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Drew and Travis are caught in the orbit of Lone Star: the 1996 neo-western written, directed and edited by John Sayles! This episode is the first of five episodes in another month of Weird Westerns! Today's episode has no Currently Consuming, due to our review of Lone Star running longer than usual. TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Lone Star 01:20:19 - The Shelf 01:24:38 - Calls to Action 01:27:11 - End SHOW LINKS Crash (2004) Stand by Me A Good Interview with John Sayles about Lone Star Drew and Travis' Video About RoboCop 3 GenreVision on Letterboxd GenreVision on Bluesky Drew Dietsch on Bluesky
Patrick Millikin in conversation with John Sayles
Holy Hell that was a long release gap! But here it is, the next episoide I'd promised. If you remember that I'd promised it. And if you're still interested in what I'd promised, which was an episode about four different Jaws knockoff movies with killer animals. This it a fun one between myself and Michael Heffernan, who was a good sport about having to watch four movies of wildly varying quality.
1/27/25: Northampton Mayor GL Sciarra: Northampton Municipal Budgeting 101. Prof Amilcar Shabazz: Why is Amherst's first black female school superintendent under fire? Amherst Town Mgr Paul Bockelman on schools, library, new fire & police chiefs, warming centers, and more. Megan Zinn w/ John Sayles on his new novel “To Save the Man.”
1/27/25: Northampton Mayor GL Sciarra: Northampton Municipal Budgeting 101. Prof Amilcar Shabazz: Why is Amherst's first black female school superintendent under fire? Amherst Town Mgr Paul Bockelman on schools, library, new fire & police chiefs, warming centers, and more. Megan Zinn w/ John Sayles on his new novel “To Save the Man.”
1/27/25: Northampton Mayor GL Sciarra: Northampton Municipal Budgeting 101. Prof Amilcar Shabazz: Why is Amherst's first black female school superintendent under fire? Amherst Town Mgr Paul Bockelman on schools, library, new fire & police chiefs, warming centers, and more. Megan Zinn w/ John Sayles on his new novel “To Save the Man.”
John Sayles is an independent film director, screenwriter, actor, and novelist. His latest novel, "To Save the Man," sheds light on an American tragedy - the Wounded Knee Massacre, and the ‘cultural genocide' experienced by the Native American children at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School.
Nominated for two Academy Awards and for the National Book Award, Sayles is here to announce his latest novel “To Save The Man”. He will be appearing at the Gallery Bookstore in Mendocino Village on January 22nd. Sayles has published 8 novels and a short story collection. “To Save The Man” tells the dual story of the Carlisle Indian School and the Massacre at Wounded Knee. It juxtaposes the life of Indigenous children who are forced to give up their heritage and the struggles of the Native American tribes who are forced onto reservations and allotments in what was known in the 1800s as The Territory. Sayles talks about his inspiration for the novel, the hardships Native Americans faced, the prejudice and fear of the white population, and the impact on children. In his novel, he details the lead-up to the massacre and takes the reader through the moments when the US Army gunned down hundreds of innocent Lakota Sioux. The story is told through the eyes of Carlisle Indian School students. According to Sayles, Carlisle was the blueprint for the Indian Boarding Schools that sprung up across the US and Canada causing immeasurable hardship to native populations.
Matewan (written and directed by John Sayles) dramatizes the events of the Battle of Matewan, a coal miners' strike in 1920 in a small town in the hills of West Virginia. In the film, Joe Kenehan (Chris Cooper, in his film debut), an ex-Wobbly organizer for the United Mine Workers (also known as the “Wobblies”), arrives in Matewan, to organize miners against the Stone Mountain Coal Company. Kenehan and his supporters must battle the company's use of scabs and outright violence, resist the complicity of law enforcement in the company's tactics, and overcome the racism and xenophobia that helps divide the labor movement. Sayles's film provides a window into the legal and social issues confronting the labor movement in the early twentieth century and into the Great Coalfield War of that period. I'm joined by Fred B. Jacob, Solicitor of the National Labor Relations Board and labor law professor at George Washington University Law School. Fred's views on this podcast are solely his own and not those of the National Labor Relations Board or the U.S. Government.Timestamps:0:00 Introduction2:46 A miner's life7:44 The power of the mining companies12:25 Law's hostility to labor19:01 Violence and the labor movement25:33 Organizing the miners in Matewan30:08 Overcoming racial and ethnic tensions within the labor movement39:29 What was law and who was law46:40 The Battle of Blair Mountain51:54: From the Great Coalfield War to the National Labor Relations Act56:59 Barbara Kopple's Harlan County, USA1:01:59 The power of the strike Further reading:Green, James, The Devil Is Here in These Hills:West Virginia's Coal Miners and Their Battle for Freedom (2015)Hood, Abby Lee, “What Made the Battle of Blair Mountain the Largest Labor Uprising in American History,” Smithsonian Magazine (Aug. 25, 2001)Moore, Roger, “A Masterpiece that reminds us why there is a Labor Day,” Movie Nation (Sept. 2, 2024)Sayles, John, Thinking in Pictures: The Making of the Movie Matewan (1987)Zappia, Charles A., “Labor, Race, and Ethnicity in the West Virginia Mines: 'Matewan,'” 30(4) J. Am. Ethnic History 44 (Summer 2011) Law on Film is created and produced by Jonathan Hafetz. Jonathan is a professor at Seton Hall Law School. He has written many books and articles about the law. He has litigated important cases to protect civil liberties and human rights while working at the ACLU and other organizations. Jonathan is a huge film buff and has been watching, studying, and talking about movies for as long as he can remember. For more information about Jonathan, here's a link to his bio: https://law.shu.edu/profiles/hafetzjo.htmlYou can contact him at jonathanhafetz@gmail.comYou can follow him on X (Twitter) @jonathanhafetz You can follow the podcast on X (Twitter) @LawOnFilmYou can follow the podcast on Instagram @lawonfilmpodcast
And you thought YOU were gonna have a lot of holiday company! Poor Mary, who's only given birth a week or so ago, now faces this onslaught of unexpected visitors in today's episode. We'll find out who exactly all those folks are, their connection to one of the most powerful families in Europe, and what's up with the peacock. Pretty sure that wasn't one of the animals at the Nativity... SHOW NOTES “A Long Look” themes are "Easy" by Ron Gelinas https://youtu.be/2QGe6skVzSs and “At the Cafe with You” by Onion All Stars https://pixabay.com/users/onion_all_stars-33331904/ Episode music “Joy to the World” and “We Three Kings” performed by John Sayles http://www.jsayles.com/familypages/holidaymusic.htm “Mass for 4 Voices,” composed by William Byrd, performed by Ensemble Morale. Courtesy of musopen.org https://musopen.org/music/44138-mass-for-4-voices “Suite in F Major” composed by Michael Praetorius. Performed by Michel Rondeau. Courtesy of musopen.org https://musopen.org/music/43633-suite-in-f-major Artwork information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.41581.html https://www.nga.gov/collection/highlights/angelico-lippi-the-adoration-of-the-magi.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adoration_of_the_Magi_(Fra_Angelico_and_Filippo_Lippi) https://www-jstor-org.dclibrary.idm.oclc.org/stable/20074684?seq=6 (JSTOR article, may need to log in through your library) Magi gifts https://uscatholic.org/articles/202212/why-did-the-magi-bring-jesus-gold-frankincense-and-myrrh https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/why-did-the-magi-bring-gold-frankincense-and-myrrh/ Medici information https://www.britannica.com/topic/Medici-family Karen's favorite illuminated manuscript “The Hours of Catherine of Cleves” https://www.themorgan.org/collection/Hours-of-Catherine-of-Cleves Recommended Reading: “Fra Angelico” by Laurence Kanter and Pia Palladino. Published by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Yale University Press, 2005. Pgs 278-283. Explains Magi's visitation. (Free PDF) https://cdn.sanity.io/files/cctd4ker/production/f9c70388da067f22ea0e43e5e512fb5f8d2b0d33.pdf Transcript available at https://alonglookpodcast.com/adoration-magi-angelico-lippi/
April 11 -16 , 2004 This week Ken welcomes Bridge 9 Records and Sully Brands impresario Chris Wrenn to the show. Ken and Chris discuss their shared Boston punk rock history, the 2004 Red Sox World Series victory, regional variations, Ken's complete lack of sports knowledge, very specific niches, T-shirts that are hard to explain, building a community space, the sports punk rock overlap in Boston, vending outside of Fenway park, how weirdly horny 2004 was, JJ Jackson's death, being stuck in traffic outside a game, John Sayles, indecency on television, the Janet Jackson Justin Timberlake Superbowl incident, the Red Sox vs Yankees rivalry, the long history of novelty sporting sayings in New England, Stephen King's book about the 2004 Red Sox season, Fever Pitch, The Celtics, Mel Gibson, Quantum Leap, Outlander, the TV on DVD phenomenon, offensive cigarette discount stores, Ms Pac Man, Running your own dorm room video store, Gilmore Girls, working at Tower Records, making art projects, Yao Ming, when terrible things make money, The Town, DIY ethos, when TV Guide switched formats, and Romeo Must Die.
The Secret (1979) / Lone Star (1996) This week we're looking for clues as we try to solve a southern fried cold case with John Sayles and get to the bottom of a shocking murder with Ann Hui
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