Director Watch Podcast Ep. 131 - 'High Life' (Claire Denis, 2019)
Release Date: 12/22/2025
AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 330 - Reviewing Sam Raimi's 'Send Help'
The AwardsWatch Podcast
On episode 330 of The AwardsWatch Podcast, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade is joined by AwardsWatch contributor Trace Sauveur to discuss the latest film from director Sam Raimi, Send Help. You can listen to The AwardsWatch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. You can also listen to it on our AwardsWatch YouTube page. This podcast runs 1h. We will be back later in the week for an Oscar retrospective for the 74th Academy Awards, covering the films of 2001. Till then, let’s get into it. Music:...
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Director Watch Podcast Ep. 137 - 'Je Tu Il Elle' (Chantal Akerman, 1974)
The AwardsWatch Podcast
On episode 137 of the Director Watch Podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter discuss the first film in their Chantal Akerman series, Je Tu Il Elle (1974). Welcome back to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, the boys attempt to break down, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema’s greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you’ve got yourself a...
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Director Watch Podcast Ep. 136 - 'Rules Don't Apply' (Warren Beatty, 2016)
The AwardsWatch Podcast
On episode 136 of the Director Watch Podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter are joined by AwardsWatch contributor Trace Sauveur to discuss the final film in their Warren Beatty series, Rules Don't Apply (2016). Welcome back to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, the boys attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema’s greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game...
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AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 329 - 98th Oscar Nominations Reactions: For Good
The AwardsWatch Podcast
The are in and we're wasting no time. On episode 329 of the AwardsWatch podcast, Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade and contributor Mark Johnson, aka The Awards Alchemist, break down the Oscar nominations for the 98th Academy Awards, including the record-setting number earned by Sinners, the total exclusion of Wicked: For Good and the most wtf nominations of the day. You can listen to The AwardsWatch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. You can also listen to it on our...
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AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 328 - Reviewing '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' with Special Guest Christina Jeurling Birro
The AwardsWatch Podcast
On episode 328 of The AwardsWatch Podcast, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade is joined by Pop Culture Confidential host Christina Jeurling Birro to discuss the latest film from director Nia Dacosta, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. You can listen to The AwardsWatch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. You can also listen to it on our AwardsWatch YouTube page. This podcast runs 47m. We will be back later in the week to give our reactions to the 2026 Oscar nominations. Till then, let’s get into it. ...
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AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 327 - Final Oscar Nomination Predictions for the 98th Academy Awards
The AwardsWatch Podcast
On episode 327 of The AwardsWatch Podcast, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade is joined by Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson, AwardsWatch Associate Editor Sophia Ciminello, and AwardsWatch contributor Josh Parham to discuss their final Oscar nomination predictions for the 98th Academy Awards coming this week on January 22. It's been a long run of this phase of awards season, which truly starts all the way back at the Sundance Film Festival last January, where potential contenders debut, to summer blockbuster, big Christmas releases, and the critics awards, guild awards, Golden Globes and our gut...
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Director Watch Ep. 135 - 'Bulworth' (Warren Beatty, 1998)
The AwardsWatch Podcast
On episode 135 of the Director Watch Podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter are joined by Pop Culture Confidential host Christina Jeurling Birro to discuss the next film in their Warren Beatty series, Bulworth (1998). Welcome back to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, the boys attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema’s greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a...
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AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 326 - Recapping The Golden Globes and Last Week's Guild Nominations
The AwardsWatch Podcast
On episode 326 of The AwardsWatch Podcast, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade is joined by AwardsWatch Associate Editor Sophia Ciminello to discuss their reactions to the 2026 Golden Globe Awards, as well as thoughts on the SAG, DGA, PGA nominations, BAFTA long list mentions, and preview next week’s big episode as we went the final stages of Oscar voting for the 2026 nominations. You can listen to The AwardsWatch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, and more. You can also listen to it on our AwardsWatch YouTube...
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Director Watch Podcast Ep. 134 - 'Dick Tracy' (Warren Beatty, 1990)
The AwardsWatch Podcast
On episode 134 of the Director Watch Podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter are joined by Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson and Izzy of Be Kind Rewind to discuss the next film in their Warren Beatty series, Dick Tracy (1990). Welcome back to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, the boys attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema’s greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and...
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AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 325 - Predictions for SAG, DGA and PGA Nominations and Golden Globe Winners
The AwardsWatch Podcast
On episode 325 of the AwardsWatch podcast, Associate Editor Sophia Ciminello leads the team of Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade and contributor Mark Johnson on predictions for the massive week of SAG, DGA and PGA nominations and next weekend's Golden Globes. After attending the Critics Choice Awards last weekend, we turn our eyes to our first major bite of the top guilds in the industry: the Screen Actors Guild, Directors Guild and Producers Guild, who will all be announcing their nominations this week. While we intersect a lot as a foursome, each of us have...
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Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema’s greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you’ve got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. On episode 131 of the Director Watch Podcast, the boys are joined by AwardsWatch Associate TV Editor Karen Peterson to discuss the final film in their Claire Denis series, High Life (2019)
In the final look into the cinematic world of Claire Denis, we see the guys, alongside Karen, give into what is widely known as the director's most celebrated modern film, about a futuristic, sci-fi film that examines the flaws and humanity of those who have harmed or destroyed other human beings. Set on a spaceship travelling to the ends of our galaxy, carrying a group of dangerous group criminals being experimented on by a crazed, horned up doctor, Denis examines if these humans who have committed the most heinous crime should be treated like decent members of society, and what it is life to care for life at the end of the space and time; it’s simple beautiful as well as complexly unique in terms of style and story, essentially Denis at her best. Ryan, Jay, and Karen break down their thoughts on the film, Robert Pattinson’s performance, if these characters deserve a second chance, “the box” scenes, what this film says about being a parent, as well as the boys’ rankings of Denis’ filmography and a preview of their newest series.
You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, YouTube and more.
This podcast runs 2h03m. The guys will be back later this week to begin their series on the films of Warren Beatty with a review of his first film, Heaven Can Wait. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let’s get into it.
Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).