Jim Laczkowski
@directorsclub.substack.com
Hat-Wearing Librarian (chipublib.org). Podcaster/Writer (directorsclub.substack.com), Film Critic, (chicagofilmcritics.org), (http://linktr.ee/jimlaczkowski). Movies, music, cats, coffee, books, podcasts, libraries!
Pinned
In addition to a new episode of Director's Club, you also get the debut of the spin-off podcast, B-SIDE ME, feat. co-host Sharon Gissy as we take the format of my other show and instead of directors, we discuss music/bands. Check out our first episode here! directorsclub.substack.com/p/smashingpu...
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
This is, again, another meeting at the White House about how to prevent the release of FBI documents about child rape. Think for a second, if you were accused of raping children, would you be convening multiple meetings about how to prevent the release of documents that prove your innocence?
Exclusive: Top Trump administration officials plan to meet today to discuss House efforts to force the release of the Epstein files. https://cnn.it/3WSyk2Y
November 12, 2025 at 6:14 PM
This is, again, another meeting at the White House about how to prevent the release of FBI documents about child rape. Think for a second, if you were accused of raping children, would you be convening multiple meetings about how to prevent the release of documents that prove your innocence?
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
Carface (1983)
November 15, 2024 at 12:33 AM
Carface (1983)
We hate it when our friends become successful directors
November 12, 2025 at 2:32 PM
We hate it when our friends become successful directors
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
More CPL in the news. This time, in the Chicago Tribune! If you don’t have a subscription, you know how you can read the article? Accessing online resources with your Chicago Public Library card (your pin is your zip code): www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/07/o...
Ald. Samantha Nugent: Libraries in Chicago are essential. Why is the mayor cutting CPL’s budget?
Halving the Chicago library’s collections budget will mean longer wait times for new books and a reduced ability to serve residents.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:47 PM
More CPL in the news. This time, in the Chicago Tribune! If you don’t have a subscription, you know how you can read the article? Accessing online resources with your Chicago Public Library card (your pin is your zip code): www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/07/o...
Is it really the northern lights or is it…??
November 12, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Is it really the northern lights or is it…??
Actually this is me after receiving my DoorDash order from Portillo’s
📽️ : 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' (2022) #filmsky
November 12, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Actually this is me after receiving my DoorDash order from Portillo’s
The human body during sex: yay, being alive is pretty great!
The human body when sick with a stuffy nose: boo, being alive kinda blows.
The human body when sick with a stuffy nose: boo, being alive kinda blows.
November 12, 2025 at 6:27 AM
The human body during sex: yay, being alive is pretty great!
The human body when sick with a stuffy nose: boo, being alive kinda blows.
The human body when sick with a stuffy nose: boo, being alive kinda blows.
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
Michael Shannon cooking with gas here:
November 11, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Michael Shannon cooking with gas here:
Stopped by Aurora, IL to see what the fuss was about. I did not see Borealis.
November 12, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Stopped by Aurora, IL to see what the fuss was about. I did not see Borealis.
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
For years, advertising has been how Stereogum made money to pay its writers. While we made progress moving away from that model, Google AI search has decimated the business almost overnight. Today we relaunch with a greater focus on subscription. We’d love your support: stereogum.com/2478838/ster...
November 10, 2025 at 11:40 PM
For years, advertising has been how Stereogum made money to pay its writers. While we made progress moving away from that model, Google AI search has decimated the business almost overnight. Today we relaunch with a greater focus on subscription. We’d love your support: stereogum.com/2478838/ster...
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
Rescued this teddy from the sidewalk near Sheridan and Winona
If you live in the area, share to help it find its owner
If you live in the area, share to help it find its owner
November 10, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Rescued this teddy from the sidewalk near Sheridan and Winona
If you live in the area, share to help it find its owner
If you live in the area, share to help it find its owner
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
As long as @stereogum.com is around, we have a music site that isn't run by private equity, isn't owned by a billionaire, isn't overrun with slop, isn't susceptible to pop-star over-flattery, isn't partnering with U.S. army, and isn't afraid to let me go long on Fiery Furnaces. We can't lose that.
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 AM
As long as @stereogum.com is around, we have a music site that isn't run by private equity, isn't owned by a billionaire, isn't overrun with slop, isn't susceptible to pop-star over-flattery, isn't partnering with U.S. army, and isn't afraid to let me go long on Fiery Furnaces. We can't lose that.
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
Call in the troops to solve the commercial real estate crisis in our swanky downtown cores
You can’t make this shit up, folks
You can’t make this shit up, folks
November 11, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Call in the troops to solve the commercial real estate crisis in our swanky downtown cores
You can’t make this shit up, folks
You can’t make this shit up, folks
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
Public outrage after Chicago PD helps ICE
November 11, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Public outrage after Chicago PD helps ICE
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
The great screenwriter Charlie Kaufman on art & AI
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/se...
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/se...
November 11, 2025 at 4:45 PM
The great screenwriter Charlie Kaufman on art & AI
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/se...
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/se...
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
Deep in this article is a hint at the strategy here. They are going to places where crime is dropping drastically, then terrorizing the community & claiming responsibility for the drop in crime that was the result of efforts by local officials for years before they started abductions.
Border Patrol boss Greg Bovino and other federal immigration agents could be leaving Chicago this week, reports say. blockclubchi.co/4qT41qx
November 11, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Deep in this article is a hint at the strategy here. They are going to places where crime is dropping drastically, then terrorizing the community & claiming responsibility for the drop in crime that was the result of efforts by local officials for years before they started abductions.
Once a month, I ask my fiancee Sharon to join me in nerding out about music for an hour on the new Director's Club spin-off pod, B-Side Me! Though we missed October (due to being a busy month), we're back for November with an episode all about Belle & Sebastian! directorsclub.substack.com/p/belle
B-Side Me Episode #2: Belle & Sebastian
A brand-new music spin-off version of Director's Club, only this time, it's all about music co-hosted with my intelligent, talented fiancée Sharon. This time, we get a little twee!
directorsclub.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Once a month, I ask my fiancee Sharon to join me in nerding out about music for an hour on the new Director's Club spin-off pod, B-Side Me! Though we missed October (due to being a busy month), we're back for November with an episode all about Belle & Sebastian! directorsclub.substack.com/p/belle
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
This is why they were in downtown Chicago today.
"one agent shouted, “Everyone say, ‘Little Village!’”"
Nuremberg Trials are the moderate stance
blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/10/b...
"one agent shouted, “Everyone say, ‘Little Village!’”"
Nuremberg Trials are the moderate stance
blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/10/b...
November 10, 2025 at 3:42 PM
This is why they were in downtown Chicago today.
"one agent shouted, “Everyone say, ‘Little Village!’”"
Nuremberg Trials are the moderate stance
blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/10/b...
"one agent shouted, “Everyone say, ‘Little Village!’”"
Nuremberg Trials are the moderate stance
blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/10/b...
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
The Republicans will kill you, and the Democrats will let you die.
An explainer on enablers from last year -- and before: sarahkendzior.substack.com/p/ten-articl...
An explainer on enablers from last year -- and before: sarahkendzior.substack.com/p/ten-articl...
Ten Articles Explaining the 2024 Election
Some background reading
sarahkendzior.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:56 AM
The Republicans will kill you, and the Democrats will let you die.
An explainer on enablers from last year -- and before: sarahkendzior.substack.com/p/ten-articl...
An explainer on enablers from last year -- and before: sarahkendzior.substack.com/p/ten-articl...
Trump is a huge fan of his work in Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm. Found one scene in particular very relatable.
President Donald Trump has pardoned his former personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, his former chief of staff Mark Meadows and others accused of backing the Republican’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, a Justice Department official says.
https://to.pbs.org/3JMklZu
https://to.pbs.org/3JMklZu
Trump pardons Rudy Giuliani and others who backed efforts to overturn 2020 election, official says
Government pardon attorney Ed Martin posted on social media a signed proclamation of the pardons.
www.pbs.org
November 10, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Trump is a huge fan of his work in Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm. Found one scene in particular very relatable.
Today in Chicago we have to look out for two very different kinds of ICE.
November 10, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Today in Chicago we have to look out for two very different kinds of ICE.
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
happening now:
community members are gathering at the chicago fbi field office to demand ice and border patrol agents leave the city and stop terrorizing residents.
yesterday, the fbi and other feds helped greg bovino and a caravan of border patrol agents ravage little village and cicero.
community members are gathering at the chicago fbi field office to demand ice and border patrol agents leave the city and stop terrorizing residents.
yesterday, the fbi and other feds helped greg bovino and a caravan of border patrol agents ravage little village and cicero.
November 9, 2025 at 8:11 PM
happening now:
community members are gathering at the chicago fbi field office to demand ice and border patrol agents leave the city and stop terrorizing residents.
yesterday, the fbi and other feds helped greg bovino and a caravan of border patrol agents ravage little village and cicero.
community members are gathering at the chicago fbi field office to demand ice and border patrol agents leave the city and stop terrorizing residents.
yesterday, the fbi and other feds helped greg bovino and a caravan of border patrol agents ravage little village and cicero.
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
YI YI
DEEP COVER
THE DEVIL'S BATH
NOTORIOUS
PEKING OPERA BLUES
WALKER
EVE'S BAYOU
CITY ON FIRE
JOHNNY GUITAR
THE APPOINTMENT
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST
MY DINNER WITH ANDRE
HANGOVER SQUARE
MCCABE & MRS.MILLER
THE HOUSE WITH LAUGHING WINDOWS
THE COOK, THE THIEF, HIS WIFE AND HER LOVER
DEEP COVER
THE DEVIL'S BATH
NOTORIOUS
PEKING OPERA BLUES
WALKER
EVE'S BAYOU
CITY ON FIRE
JOHNNY GUITAR
THE APPOINTMENT
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST
MY DINNER WITH ANDRE
HANGOVER SQUARE
MCCABE & MRS.MILLER
THE HOUSE WITH LAUGHING WINDOWS
THE COOK, THE THIEF, HIS WIFE AND HER LOVER
What is the best movie not from this year that you’ve seen this year? Bonus points if you say why
November 9, 2025 at 8:49 PM
YI YI
DEEP COVER
THE DEVIL'S BATH
NOTORIOUS
PEKING OPERA BLUES
WALKER
EVE'S BAYOU
CITY ON FIRE
JOHNNY GUITAR
THE APPOINTMENT
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST
MY DINNER WITH ANDRE
HANGOVER SQUARE
MCCABE & MRS.MILLER
THE HOUSE WITH LAUGHING WINDOWS
THE COOK, THE THIEF, HIS WIFE AND HER LOVER
DEEP COVER
THE DEVIL'S BATH
NOTORIOUS
PEKING OPERA BLUES
WALKER
EVE'S BAYOU
CITY ON FIRE
JOHNNY GUITAR
THE APPOINTMENT
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST
MY DINNER WITH ANDRE
HANGOVER SQUARE
MCCABE & MRS.MILLER
THE HOUSE WITH LAUGHING WINDOWS
THE COOK, THE THIEF, HIS WIFE AND HER LOVER
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
Thank you ! Just to clarify, bit.ly/LetterFundCPL is a letter writing tool that goes to the mayor, alderperson, and library commissioner Chris Brown.
No Layoffs or Cuts to Chicago Public Library!
It’s budget season! Do you love the Chicago Public Library? Tell the City of Chicago NO LAYOFFS, AND NO CUTS ! Chicago faces a 2026 budget deficit of over $1 billion. The Mayor has said that everythi...
bit.ly
November 8, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Thank you ! Just to clarify, bit.ly/LetterFundCPL is a letter writing tool that goes to the mayor, alderperson, and library commissioner Chris Brown.
Reposted by Jim Laczkowski
The People Want to Read: on the massive budget cuts proposed for Chicago Public Library. What's at stake and what you can do, whether or not you live in Chicago.
buttondown.com/wellsourced/...
buttondown.com/wellsourced/...
The People Want To Read: On Massive Budget Cuts Proposed in Chicago
If passed, Chicago Public Library will lose half their budget for acquiring new books and materials.
buttondown.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:03 PM
The People Want to Read: on the massive budget cuts proposed for Chicago Public Library. What's at stake and what you can do, whether or not you live in Chicago.
buttondown.com/wellsourced/...
buttondown.com/wellsourced/...