Directors Episodes

This episode features the most scorching NDHT (Nicholas Dostal Hot Take™) in the history of the pod. Few modern directors have been as impactful as Damien Chazelle. Alex and Nick have a blast diving into Chazelle’s small but remarkable filmography. Stray topics include Justin Hurwitz’s score in “Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench,” the “Whiplash” short film, the lasting magic of “La La Land,” the sound in “First Man,” the cultural reclamation of “Babylon,” and much more. Visit our brand new websi...

Nick and Alex discuss the career of one of Nick’s favorite directors, the singular Jim Jarmusch. As the guys break down each Jarmusch film, stray topics include style vs. fashion, making the mundane cool, slow cinema, revelatory film structure, anthology films, and much more. Visit our BRAND NEW website waywpodcast.com for episode categories, merch, donations, comments, social media, and more!

To celebrate five years of What Are You Watching, Alex and Nick discuss the most influential director of Alex’s life, Steven Soderbergh. Thirty-five movies, (at least) five career phases, a Palme d’Or, an Oscar, and an unparalleled work ethic all make Soderbergh an icon of modern cinema. Let’s go! Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Twitter and Instagram and Letterboxd. Send mailbag questions to whatareyouwatchingpodcast@gmail.com

Alex and Nick profile the work of the iconic David Lynch. Stray topics include taking five years to make “Eraserhead,” Mel Brooks hiring Lynch for “The Elephant Man,” the pure Lynchian vibes of “Blue Velvet,” unabashed love for “Wild at Heart,” O.J. Simpson, the TV pilot for “Mulholland Drive,” Mary Sweeney, Angelo Badalamenti, TM, and much more. This episode does not contain any “Twin Peaks” material. Alex and friend-of-the-pod Dan will have a full “Twin Peaks” discussion in the next episode. F...

Terrence Malick has never talked about his films, but Alex and Nick are delighted to gush about them for over three hours. As the guys break down each Malick movie, topics include a career of all-timer voiceover, editing that moves like water, intentional music, the pissed-off crew of “Days of Heaven,” the perfect ending to “The New World,” how they made “The Tree of Life,” high praise for “Knight of Cups” and “Song to Song,” hearing Malick speak in Washington D.C., and so much more. Follow @WAY...

No one makes movies the way David Fincher does. Alex and Nick discuss Fincher’s obsessive filmmaking process, B-movies vs. sentimental films, “Alien³” being better than people remember, “Se7en” being better than ever, Fincher’s dry humor, “The Social Network” as a contender for Best Film of the Century, the most difficult film David Fincher ever made, and so much more. Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Twitter and Instagram and Letterboxd. Watch Alex's films at http://alexwithrow.com/ Watch Nick's films a...

Alex remembers the career of one of his favorite directors, the great William Friedkin, who died on Aug. 7, 2023 at 87 years old. Alex lists his Top 10 William Friedkin films, unloads tons of Friedkin trivia, and recalls how the director started following him on Twitter a decade ago. Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Twitter and Instagram and Letterboxd. Watch Alex's films at http://alexwithrow.com/ Watch Nick's films at https://www.nicholasdostal.com/ Send us mailbag questions at whatareyouwatchingpodcas...

With “Oppenheimer” hitting theaters today, Alex and Nick take a look at Christopher Nolan’s entire career. The guys discuss the props in “Following,” the structure of “Memento,” the editing of “Insomnia,” creative exposition in “Batman Begins”, twists in “The Prestige,” the questionable love triangle in “The Dark Knight,” and watching “Inception” on a plane. Shots are taken at “The Dark Knight Rises,” a balanced debate is had on “Interstellar,” “Dunkirk” is dissected, and Alex has an about-face ...

Three hours of Marty. All the movies, all the collaborators, all the stories. Stray topics include 4K set-ups, praise for "New York, New York," a shared obsession with “Casino,” Joe Pesci, Thelma Schoonmaker, Alex's favorite movie opening, and so much more. In the middle of the episode, Alex and Nick argue about the biggest movie disagreement they’ve ever had. Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Twitter and Instagram and Letterboxd. Watch Alex's films at http://alexwithrow.com/ Watch Nick's films at https:/...

Alex and Nick list their favorite film directors of all time and pick three movies from each filmmaker to represent their work. Stray topics include: Context for the “Everybody Wants Some!!” episode, accidentally getting drunk during a commentary, and putting in the work to fight depression. Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Twitter and Instagram and Letterboxd. Watch Alex’s film “I Am Alive” on Vimeo Watch Nick’s film “There I Go” on Vimeo Send us mailbag questions at whatareyouwatchingpodcast@gmail.com

Just in time for the holidays, Alex and Nick discuss the work of their favorite filmmaker of all time, Ingmar Bergman. The guys break down Bergman’s essential films, the Bergman Acting Troupe, Sven Nykvist, Bergman’s cultural influence, and so much more. Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Twitter and Instagram. Watch Alex's films at http://alexwithrow.com/ Watch Nick's films at https://www.nicholasdostal.com/ Send us mailbag questions at whatareyouwatchingpodcast@gmail.com

It’s finally here, our full career breakdown of the one, the only, Quentin Tarantino. As Alex and Nick review every movie in Tarantino’s filmography, stray topics include favorite characters, best music moments, loudest controversies, the films that influenced Tarantino, and so much more! Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Twitter and Instagram. Watch Alex's films at http://alexwithrow.com/ Watch Nick's films at https://www.nicholasdostal.com/ Send us mailbag questions at whatareyouwatchingpodcast@gmail.co...

Visionary director, Andrea Arnold, is one of Alex and Nick’s favorite filmmakers. The guys break down all of Arnold’s film work and discuss filming in the 4:3 aspect ratio, Shia LaBeouf, Riley Keough, Oscar-winning short films, working with unknown actors, and so much more. Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Twitter and Instagram. Watch Alex's films at http://alexwithrow.com/ Watch Nick's films at https://www.nicholasdostal.com/ Send us mailbag questions at whatareyouwatchingpodcast@gmail.com

Alex and Nick wrap up Gaspar Noé’s filmography with thoughts on his Saint Laurent short film, “Lux Æterna,” and his emotionally devastating sixth feature film, “Vortex.” The guys also have extended conversations about Lars Von Trier's "Antichrist," and Céline Sciamma's "Petite Maman." Listen to our previous podcast on Gaspar Noé here. Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Twitter and Instagram. Watch Alex's films at http://alexwithrow.com/ Watch Nick's films at https://www.nicholasdostal.com/ Send us mailbag ...

Gaspar Noé. Unapologetic provocateur. Technical master. Sensitive genius. Alex and Nick dive deep into the twisted world of one of cinema’s most polarizing filmmakers. This episode covers “I Stand Alone,” “Irreversible,” “Enter the Void,” “Love,” and “Climax.” Episode 60 will feature conversations on “Lux Æterna” and “Vortex.” Stay tuned. Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Twitter and Instagram. Watch Alex's films at http://alexwithrow.com/ Watch Nick's films at https://www.nicholasdostal.com/ Send us mail...

Nick and Alex make their way through the great films of Paul Thomas Anderson. Stray topics include the editing in “Hard Eight,” the parents in “Boogie Nights,” making “Magnolia,” the sounds of violence, Thomas Jane, favorite Philip Seymour Hoffman characters, Haim, not putting expectations on a movie, and so much more. The guys end with a spoiler-free review of PTA’s new film, “Licorice Pizza.” Also, Alex explains how PTA’s work helped save him after an insurmountable loss. Follow us on Twitter ...

With “The French Dispatch” out next week, Alex and Nick break down Wes Anderson’s stylish and iconic career. The guys talk style vs. substance, Wes’s complex relationship with animals, European film influences, music in movies, and much more! Let us know your favorite Wes Anderson film on Twitter @WAYW_Podcast. Watch Alex's films at http://alexwithrow.com/ Watch Nick's films at https://www.nicholasdostal.com/ Tell us what you're watching at whatareyouwatchingpodcast@gmail.com

Alex and Nick dive into the work of cinema’s most discussed filmmaker, the legendary Stanley Kubrick. During their full career breakdown, the guys discuss Kubrick as a visual rule breaker, deliberate acting performances, playful narration, how each Kubrick film gets better with every rewatch, and much, much more. Tell us your favorite Kubrick film on Twitter @WAYW_Podcast! Watch Alex's films at http://alexwithrow.com/ Watch Nick's films at https://www.nicholasdostal.com/ Tell us what you're watc...

Alex and Nick offer up their biggest episode yet, a deep dive into the career of the Godfather of independent cinema, John Cassavetes. The guys discuss Cassavetes’ early acting work, filmmaking style, working collaborations, and each of Cassavetes’ magnificent films. Tell us your favorite Cassavetes film on Twitter @WAYW_Podcast. Watch Alex’s film “I Am Alive” Watch Nick's film "There I Go" Tell us what you're watching at whatareyouwatchingpodcast@gmail.com

"A Martin Scorsese Picture,” "A Spike Lee Joint,” and now, "A Richard Linklater Jam.” Nick and Alex discuss the work of one of their favorite filmmakers, the great Richard Linklater. Lots of love for the “Before” Trilogy, “Tape,” and “Everybody Wants Some!!” Watch Alex's work at http://alexwithrow.com/ Watch Nick's work at https://www.nicholasdostal.com/ Tell us what you're watching at whatareyouwatchingpodcast@gmail.com