PODCAST · tv
The Director's Chair Network
by Ryan Rebalkin
Join Ryan and many featured guests and other hosts as they break down and review a variety of directors and their films! So far, this podcast has featured films from Edward Zwick, John Hughes, Brian De Palma, and Michael Mann.Soon, we will feature Edgar Wright, Sam Peckinpah, Paul Verhoeven, and David Fincher!
Episodes
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Tree of Life
Ryan is in the middle of a Terrence Malick season on Directors Chair Network, and this one is *The Tree of Life*. Last time out he sat with Craig on *The New World*. This time Doug is in the chair. They have been doing shows together for years and still have not met in person. Both are fathers of...
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Junior Bonner
Scott hosts Bloody Sam, a Peckinpah fan podcast, with guest Paul of Spotlight — the Star Trek-movies show that started as a 13-episode dare and is now pushing 150. After a botched intro they keep anyway. *Junior Bonner* (1972): Jeb Rosebrook script, McQueen first, Peckinpah for hire, still…
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The New World
Ryan welcomes returning co-host Craig back to The Director’s Chair Network for Terrence Malick’s *The New World* (2005). They talk first viewings in theaters, why Malick belongs on the biggest screen possible, the three existing cuts of the film, Emmanuel Lubezki’s natural-light cinematography…
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Soldier of Orange - Film Review (Part 2)
In-depth analysis of Paul Verhoeven’s 1977 classic *Soldier of Orange* (*Soldaat van Oranje*). We cover the film’s personal roots for Verhoeven, its massive production and royal involvement, historical context of the Dutch occupation, fraternity hazing as fascist allegory, multiple cuts, critical...
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Straw Dogs (1971)
In-depth discussion of Sam Peckinpah’s 1971 film Straw Dogs, featuring guest Liam (co-host of the Spotlight Star Trek podcast and major Peckinpah fan). We cover the film’s origins, Peckinpah’s career and struggles, the infamous controversy, themes of masculinity and violence, editing, score, and...
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101 Dalmatians (1996 Live-Action)
Katie and returning guest Lizzie rewind to 1996 for Disney’s live-action 101 Dalmatians, written by John Hughes and starring Glenn Close as an unforgettable Cruella de Vil. From 90s fashion trivia to puppy overload, family viewing, and why this remake still works, they dig into the spots that…
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Soldier of Orange - (Part 1)
Paul Verhoeven's 1977 masterpiece Soldier of Orange isn't just another WWII film — it's a deeply personal, morally complex look at occupation, resistance, collaboration, and survival born from the director's own childhood under Nazi rule in the Netherlands. In Part 1 of this Director's Chair deep...
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The Ballad of Cable Hogue
Darryl Edge from Cage Rage (Nicolas Cage podcast) and Getting Dafoe You joins Bloody Sam: A Peckinpah Fan Podcast for his VERY FIRST Sam Peckinpah film — the surprisingly gentle, funny, and romantic 1970 Western comedy The Ballad of Cable Hogue starring Jason Robards, Stella Stevens, and David...
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Baby's Day Out
Step back to 1994 with Katie as she welcomes back Milo Denison for a deep dive into the chaotic John Hughes-produced comedy *Baby's Day Out* — where a baby outsmarts three bumbling kidnappers in a city-wide slapstick adventure! In this episode we spin the 1994 trivia wheel (books, cartoons &...
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She's Having a Baby
Join Katie for a deep dive into John Hughes’ 1988 film **She’s Having a Baby** starring Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth McGovern! This more personal, semi-autobiographical entry from Hughes explores marriage, suburban life, growing up, and the pressures of starting a family — with plenty of his…
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The Secret of Nikola Tesla & Home Alone 3
Katie dives into two wildly different John Hughes projects spanning 17 years: the obscure 1980 Yugoslavian biopic **The Secret Life of Nikola Tesla** (his first writing credit) and the 1997 sequel **Home Alone 3**. She explores the Tesla film’s ambitious story of invention, corporate greed, and...
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Turkish Delight
Paul Verhoeven’s breakthrough 1973 film **Turkish Delight** (Turks Fruit) gets the full deep-dive treatment. Sicco explores the massive commercial success (3.3 million Dutch viewers — a quarter of the population!), the Oscar nomination, the real-life inspirations from controversial writer Jan...
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The Wild Bunch
Scott is joined by Ryan Rebalkin (Director’s Chair Network CEO) for a deep dive into Sam Peckinpah’s most famous film, The Wild Bunch (1969). They discuss the groundbreaking violence, nihilistic themes, aging outlaws, male codes of honor, and the film’s massive influence on later movies like…
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Pretty in Pink
Katie and guest Kyle Peterson head back to 1986 to revisit John Hughes’ classic teen romance **Pretty in Pink**. They spin the time capsule wheel for 1986 pop culture trivia (Nancy Drew, Ramona Quimby, Light Bright, mullets, The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Dallas, Murder She Wrote, and 60 Minutes),...
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The Thin Red Line
Join Ryan and returning guest Hughezy for a no-holds-barred discussion on Terrence Malick’s 1998 war epic *The Thin Red Line*. From star-studded cameos and chaotic production stories to poetic voiceovers, intense battle scenes, and honest opinions on whether this cinematic poem holds up, this...
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National Lampoon's Class Reunion
Dive into 1982’s most forgotten John Hughes screenplay: National Lampoon’s Class Reunion – the horror-parody comedy that followed Animal House but totally bombed. Katie goes solo to break down this rare National Lampoon gem, the Lizzie Borden High reunion gone wrong, the infamous twin-sister…
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Major Dundee
Major Dundee (1965): Sam Peckinpah's troubled Civil War Western starring Charlton Heston & Richard Harris! In this episode of Bloody Sam: A Peckinpah Fan Podcast, host Scott Murphy and guest Adam Thornton dive deep into the film's chaotic production (budget battles, on-set fights, drunken chaos),...
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Days of Heaven
Dive into Terrence Malick's stunning 1978 masterpiece Days of Heaven with special guest Cayley! @OnceOverwithCayley We explore its breathtaking cinematography, poetic narration by Linda Manz, the improvised dialogue, Richard Gere's raw performance, the biblical undertones, and why every frame...
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The Fourth Man (De Vierde Man)
Deep solo dive into Paul Verhoeven's 1983 Dutch masterpiece "The Fourth Man" (De vierde man), arguably his best film from his Dutch era! This psychological erotic thriller, adapted from Gerard Reve's provocative novel, blends surrealism, Catholic iconography (Mary, Jesus, spiders…
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Ride the High Country
Join us on Bloody Sam: A Peckinpah Fan Podcast for an in-depth discussion of *Ride the High Country* (1962), Sam Peckinpah's underrated early Western masterpiece starring Joel McCrea and Randolph Scott. In episode 2 of our 14-month journey through all of Peckinpah's feature films, host Scott…
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Badlands
Dive into the world of acclaimed director Terrence Malick with the season premiere of the Director's Chair Podcast! Host Ryan Rebalkin welcomes guest Katie for an engaging discussion on Malick's 1973 debut film, Badlands. From Ryan's personal journey discovering Malick through The Thin Red Line…
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Some Kind of Wonderful
Dive deep into John Hughes' 1987 teen romance *Some Kind of Wonderful* – the gender-flipped spiritual successor to Pretty in Pink that's often called the better film! We break down the heartfelt story of unrequited love, class divides, standout performances (Eric Stoltz as Keith, Mary Stuart...
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Robocop (1987)
Dive into the ultimate breakdown of **RoboCop (1987)**, Paul Verhoeven's groundbreaking sci-fi action film! Join host and guest Sean (from the defunct "I Must Break This" Dolph Lundgren podcast) as we explore why this violent, satirical masterpiece still holds up 40 years later. We cover...
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Michael Mann Films Ranked
Join Ryan as he ranks all of Michael Mann's films, pulling from his detailed reviews on The Director's Chair Network podcast where he's broken down the legendary director's entire filmography in an epic retrospective. This is a must-watch for film buffs craving honest critiques and fresh...
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National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Katie welcomes superfan Doug Greenberg for a hilarious deep dive into the 1989 holiday classic National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, exploring its enduring relatability as adults grapple with family chaos, holiday pressures, and Clark Griswold's optimistic disasters, from epic light displays to...
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The Deadly Companions
In Sam Peckinpah's overlooked directorial debut The Deadly Companions (1961), Brian Keith stars as Yellowleg, a scarred ex-soldier driven by vengeance against a former comrade (Chill Wills) who tried to scalp him, only to accidentally kill the young son of a tough, ostracized dance-hall woman...
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Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
In this cozy holiday episode, host Katie welcomes back regular guest Ryan Rabalkin to dive into the 1994 John Hughes-scripted remake of Miracle on 34th Street, exploring why this nineties update of the 1947 classic became its own nostalgic time capsule filled with Christmas magic. The duo opens a...
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Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Katie and guest Andy from The All Apologies Podcast take a nostalgic deep dive into the 1992 sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, revisiting Kevin McCallister's chaotic Big Apple adventure against a vibrant early-'90s backdrop of neon windbreakers, Crystal Pepsi, and emerging boy bands. They…
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Ferrari
In this candid Michael Mann season finale for a Michael Mann retrospective, Ryan and Hughezy dissect the director's 2023 biopic Ferrari, starring Adam Driver as Enzo Ferrari, with brutal honesty, calling it dull, miscast, and a box-office disaster that lost over $50 million despite its $95…
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Flesh + Blood
Join Ryan and Sicco for a passionate 40th-anniversary celebration of Paul Verhoeven’s brutal, chaotic medieval epic Flesh and Blood (1985). The two dive deep into the film’s unique place in Verhoeven’s career as the transitional work between his raw Dutch style and the hyper-stylized American…
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Home Alone
Katie welcomes Evan and Andrew from the Nothing Worthwhile Podcast for a deep-dive rewind into the 1990 holiday juggernaut Home Alone. The trio kicks off with a lively 1990 pop-culture trivia wheel (nailing jelly bracelets, Magic Eye posters, Hammer pants, “Just Do It,” Chili’s baby-back-ribs...
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Showgirls
Host Sicco and guest Craig Cohen unpack Paul Verhoeven’s fearless audacity as the Dutch provocateur who weaponized sex, violence, and razor-sharp satire to shatter Hollywood taboos, defending Showgirls as a hyperbolic big-budget exploitation masterpiece—an unapologetic art-house fever dream...
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Dutch
Katie rewinds to 1991 to unpack the forgotten John Hughes-scripted road-trip comedy Dutch – a working-class guy vs. spoiled prep-school brat odyssey starring Ed O’Neal and a young Ethan Embry (billed as Ethan Randall) that bombed hard at the box office ($4.6M against $17M) yet somehow earned a…
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The Running Man (2025)
In the chaotic, spoiler-filled finale of Trucker Andy’s Edgar Wright retrospective on the Director’s Chair Network, Cayley, Christian Bladt, Ryan Rebalkin, Tony from Hack the Movies, Joe Sixpack, Producer Chris, and Tooké tear into the 2025 Glen Powell Running Man remake. The verdict is nearly...
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Blackhat
In Michael Mann’s 2015 cyber-thriller Blackhat, Chris Hemsworth trades Thor’s hammer for a keyboard as a jacked, brilliant hacker sprung from prison to hunt a mysterious “black hat” cyber-terrorist whose real-world-grade code has already triggered a nuclear-plant explosion and threatens global...
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Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Katie welcomes back guest Scott Murphy to dissect the 1987 John Hughes Thanksgiving classic *Planes, Trains and Automobiles*, starring Steve Martin as the uptight Neil Page and John Candy as the lovably chaotic Del Griffith; the duo explore the film's chaotic cross-country misadventures inspired…
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Last Night in Soho
In this penultimate episode of the Director's Chair Network's "All the Right Moves" limited series, host Andy and guest Tony from Hack the Movies dissect Edgar Wright's psychological thriller *Last Night in Soho* as a bold stylistic departure from his Cornetto Trilogy and *Scott Pilgrim vs. the...
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Showgirls
Host Sicco and guest Craig Cohen unpack Paul Verhoeven’s fearless audacity as the Dutch provocateur who weaponized sex, violence, and razor-sharp satire to shatter Hollywood taboos, defending Showgirls as a hyperbolic big-budget exploitation masterpiece—an unapologetic art-house fever dream...
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Flubber
Katie welcomes guest Dustin from the Retro Movie Round Table to dissect the 1997 Disney remake "Flubber," penned by John Hughes and starring Robin Williams as the absent-minded Professor Philip Brainard. They dive into 1997 pop culture trivia, including fads like Beanie Babies and Tamagotchis,...
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Baby Driver
In Edgar Wright's "Baby Driver," hosts Andy and Doug dissect the stylish heist thriller as the director's bold American debut, praising its groundbreaking musical synchronization—where gunshots, tire screeches, and foot chases pulse to a curated soundtrack like a rock opera on wheels—while...
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National Lampoon's European Vacation
Buckle up for a riotous retro road trip on this special anniversary episode of the podcast, where we dive headfirst into the 40th anniversary of National Lampoon’s European Vacation (released July 26, 1985), reliving the Griswold family's uproarious misadventures from London fog to Roman…
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The World's End
Join hosts Trucker Andy, Hughezy, and Tooke in this episode of "All the Right Moves," a limited series podcast exploring Edgar Wright's filmography, as they dive into "The World's End" (2013). The discussion kicks off with personal reflections on aging, alcoholism, and the inner "Gary King" that...
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Total Recall
Sicco and Doug Greenberg, joined by guest Craig, dive into the cinematic brilliance of *Total Recall*, hailed as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s peak performance and Paul Verhoeven’s directorial masterpiece. They explore the film’s gripping Philip K. Dick-inspired narrative, blending mind-bending sci-fi...
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Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Host Andy and guest Producer Chris from WATP dive deep into Edgar Wright's beloved film "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," praising its genre-blending mastery of video games, rock music, romance, and comic books, while highlighting its passionate creation and relatable themes of immature…
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Public Enemies
Join hosts Ryan and Doug on The Director's Chair Network as they dive into Michael Mann’s Public Enemies (2009), a thrilling crime epic that pits notorious bank robber John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) against FBI agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) in a high-stakes 1930s cat-and-mouse chase. This...
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Hot Fuzz
Episode three of All the Right Mov(i)es, hosted by Trucker Andy with guest Cayley from Once Over With Cayley, dives into the filmography of Edgar Wright, focusing on his early work Spaced and the iconic Hot Fuzz. The discussion highlights Wright’s unique directorial style, marked by quick edits,...
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Fistful of Fingers
"All the Wright Moves," a limited series podcast from the Director's Chair Podcast Network, hosted by Trucker Andy with guest Ryan Rebalkin, dives into the filmography of Edgar Wright, beginning with his obscure 1995 debut, A Fistful of Fingers. This episode explores the film’s significance as a...
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Weird Science
In this lively, host Katie dives into the chaotic 1985 John Hughes teen fantasy Weird Science with returning guest Chad and newcomer Russell, both from the Retro Movie Round Table podcast. The trio spins a 1985 time capsule wheel for trivia on test-tube babies, the Night Stalker capture, Mikhail...
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Miami Vice
Join host Ryan and co-host Kevin as they explore Miami Vice (2006), Michael Mann’s cinematic take on his iconic 1980s TV series. From Colin Farrell’s mullet to Jamie Foxx’s stoic cool, we break down the film’s intense action, digital aesthetic, and polarizing reception. Expect deep dives into the...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Join Ryan and many featured guests and other hosts as they break down and review a variety of directors and their films! So far, this podcast has featured films from Edward Zwick, John Hughes, Brian De Palma, and Michael Mann.Soon, we will feature Edgar Wright, Sam Peckinpah, Paul Verhoeven, and David Fincher!
HOSTED BY
Ryan Rebalkin
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Director's Chair Network have?
The Director's Chair Network currently has 103 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Director's Chair Network about?
Join Ryan and many featured guests and other hosts as they break down and review a variety of directors and their films! So far, this podcast has featured films from Edward Zwick, John Hughes, Brian De Palma, and Michael Mann.Soon, we will feature Edgar Wright, Sam Peckinpah, Paul Verhoeven, and...
How often does The Director's Chair Network release new episodes?
The Director's Chair Network publishes regularly with 103 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Director's Chair Network?
You can listen to The Director's Chair Network on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Director's Chair Network?
The Director's Chair Network is created and hosted by Ryan Rebalkin.
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