All Episodes — The Treatment

Courtney Hunt

Elvis Mitchell hosts writer-director Courtney Hunt whose debut feature film, Frozen River, won the Grand Jury Prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Aug 6, 200829 min

Jenji Kohan and Roberto Benabib

The suburban dealer-mom of the cable series Weeds has moved her act to the beach and Mexico. Weeds’ executive producerss Jenji Kohan and Roberto Benabib hit us with the ideas they use to keep this comedy-drama fresh – and seedless.

Jul 30, 200829 min

Christopher Nolan: The Dark Knight

Christopher Nolan makes films in which the protagonists' emotional chaos is mirrored in the physical world around them. His second Batman film is the pinnacle of that.

Jul 23, 200829 min

Jonathan Levine

What do you get when you bring Ben Kingsley, Method Man, Josh Peck and Mary-Kate Olsen together? Besides the dream episode of Access Hollywood, you get writer-director Jonathan Levine's first, film, The Wackness.

Jul 16, 200829 min

Alex Gibney: Gonzo

WEB EXCLUSIVE: 2008 has been quite a year for director Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room). Two documentaries he was involved with were nominated for Oscars, and his film, Taxi to the Dark Side, won. His new doc, Gonzo, takes us into the heart and soul of Hunter S. Thompson. &nbsp;

Jul 9, 200829 min

Andrew Stanton

Animated films have had many stars: animals, fish, toys, bugs, cars... WALL-E is the first with a lead with no face. It's a trash compactor. Is this the future of cartoons? We ask WALL-E director Andrew Stanton (A Bug's Life, Finding Nemo)

Jul 2, 200829 min

David Hajdu

In the 1930's and 40's, comic books were as popular as movies -- and more influential. So much so that serious steps were taken to stop them. Writer David Hajdu (Lush Life, A Biography of Billy Strayhorn, Positively 4th Street) examines this controversy in his new book, The Ten-Cent Plague, and illustrates it. &nbsp;

Jun 25, 200829 min

Walter Mirisch

Some Like It Hot, The Magnificent Seven, In the Heat of the Night, the original Pink Panther. If you're lucky, you've seen these films. Walter Mirisch produced them. I Thought We Were Making Movies, Not History is his new book.

Jun 18, 200829 min

Michael Patrick King

For writer-director Michael Patrick King (Will and Grace, Murphy Brown) every season of Sex in the City was about changing expectations, which means he had his work cut out for him with the Sex in the City movie. See if the shoe fits.

Jun 11, 200829 min

Jay Roach

What's crazier than Austin Powers or Meet the Fockers? The 2000 presidential vote count, perhaps. It's the subject of Jay Roach's new film, Recount. Count yourself in when Elvis Mitchell speaks with Roach. &nbsp;

Jun 4, 200829 min

Henry Bean

As a writer, Henry Bean is responsible for films about self-destructive protagonists who skirt justice in Deep Cover Internal Affairs. With his directorial debut, The Believer, he took that character one step further. Now with his newest film, Noise, he moves into the realm of fable.&nbsp; We discuss his holy war: the brain versus the heart. &nbsp;

May 28, 200829 min

Doug Pray

Documentary filmmaker Doug Pray manages to nose his way into outcast societies -- de facto families -- with his films. Hype, on the 90's Seattle music world, and Scratch on the DJ culture. His latest, Surfwise, is about the most exclusive family, father Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz, who turns his nine kids into champion surfers. It's all about tribal rights. &nbsp;

May 21, 200829 min

Jon Favreau

Jon Favreau understands power. As an actor, he broke through by writing a roll for himself in Swingers. Then he made the move behind the camera as the director of Zathura and Elf and, now, the box-office smash Iron Man. &nbsp;

May 14, 200829 min

Garth Jennings

If you were creating an indie comedy about two London boys coming into their own in the 80's, the last title you'd use is Son of Rambow – unless you're writer-director&nbsp;Garth Jennings (The Hitchkikers Guide to the Galaxy).

May 7, 200829 min

David Mamet

There are few figures in American culture as with as potent a step as David Mamet (American Buffalo, House of Games, Heist), first as a playwright, then as a filmmaker. With his new movie, Redbelt, he takes on a new frontier, the action film. We hear how he came to climb that mountain. &nbsp;

Apr 30, 200829 min

Vadim Perelman

It's not often that filmmakers turn to literary devices rather than film conventions for their work. It happens to be the case for director Vadim Perelman for both House of Sand and Fog and his newest, The Life Before Her Eyes.

Apr 23, 200829 min

Anthony Minghella

The late writer-director Anthony Minghella (Michael Clayton, Cold Mountain, The English Patient, Truly, Madly, Deeply) focused on characters trying to come to terms with themselves and found drama in the misperceptions in films both epic and intimate. We use this sad occasion to revisit his thoughtful interview on his last film, Breaking and Entering. (This show originally aired February 7, 2007.)

Apr 16, 200829 min

Charles Burnett

He's one of America’s premier filmmakers and has devoted his career to bringing a nuanced portrayal of the African American experience to the screen. Writer-director Charles Burnett (Killer of Sheep, My Brother's Wedding, American Family) describes what got him into the movies and how stereotypes is still a battle worth fighting.

Apr 9, 200829 min

Kimberly Peirce

What a difference a decade makes. In the 1990's, director Kimberly Peirce brought Boys Don’t Cry to the big screen. Almost a decade later, she returns with Stop-Loss.

Apr 2, 200829 min

Mark Harris

What do Dr. Doolittle, The Graduate, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Bonnie and Clyde and In the Heat of the Night all have in common? All play a prominent role in movie history, as Mark Harris (Entertainment Weekly) notes in his new book, Pictures at a Revolution. It's history with a surprise ending.

Mar 26, 200829 min

James Lipton

The book Inside Inside not only takes a behind-the-scenes look at the television show Inside the Actors' Studio, but at its creator and host, James Lipton. This time, it's questions for the interrogator!

Mar 19, 200829 min

Brett Morgen: Chicago 10

As a filmmaker, director Brett Morgen (The Kid Stays in The Picture) is attracted to real-life subjects about bigger-than-life figures. Chicago 10 is his biggest yet.

Mar 12, 200829 min

Jon Poll

You may know the name Jon Poll from his work as editor on Meet the Parents and two of the Austin Powers films. He's just directed his first film, Charlie Bartlett, starring Anton Yelchin, Robert Downey, Jr. and Hope Davis. He discusses being the guy that makes the cut and the guy who says, "Cut."

Mar 5, 200829 min

Neil LaBute

You might think it difficult to make fear, weakness bulling a career. Writer-director Neil LaBute (In the Company of Men, Nurse Betty) disagrees with you. He's proved it works in film, on stage and with the West Coast premiere of his new play, Some Girls. &nbsp;

Feb 27, 200829 min

Nancy Oliver

Yes, Lars and the Real Girl is about a man who falls for a sex doll. It's also about the women who help pull him out of his shell – and a lot more. Screenwriter Nancy Oliver (Six Feet Under) talks about the work behind building the real girl.

Feb 20, 200829 min

Jason Reitman

In just two films, writer-director Jason Reitman (In God We Trust) has found comedy in the realm of personal responsibility. First, Thank You for Smoking and, now, Juno. For this Oscar nominee, the first and second times are the charm.

Feb 13, 200829 min

Tony Gilroy

Not only has screenwriter Tony Gilroy (The Devil's Advocate, Dolores Claiborne) had quite a career, but quite a year as well. He adapted the Bourne books, including Ultimatum. Now he makes his directorial debut with Michael Clayton. NOTE: This encore presentation of The Treatment will not be heard live on KCRW as it will be pre-empted by special post-primary election coverage. &nbsp;

Feb 6, 200829 min

Paul Thomas Anderson

Elvis Mitchell hosts director-writer-producer Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Punch-Drunk Love) whose latest film is There Will Be Blood. This critically acclaimed, epic film has just received eight Academy Award nominations, including two for Anderson in the categories of Directing and Adapted Screenplay.

Jan 30, 200816 min

Scott Simmon

Treasures III: Social Issues in American Film, 1900-1934 is not only a mouthful as a title, but this DVD set deals with plain-spoken and direct controversy on the big screen in the silent era. You can hear all about it from its curator, Scott Simmon.

Jan 23, 200829 min

Denzel Washington

After Malcolm X and The Hurricane, you'd think Denzel Washington had enough of real life. But The Great Debaters, his second film as director, shows why fact drew him back. It's life as drama.

Jan 16, 200829 min

Marc Forster

It's an unusual grouping of films for Marc Forster: Finding Neverland, Monster's Ball, Stranger than Fiction and his newest, The Kite Runner. And many of them deal with storytellers. It's narratives and narrators.

Jan 9, 200829 min

Julian Schnabel

With Basquiat, Before Night Falls and his newest, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, artist and director Julian Schnabel turns film biography into art. He discusses separating fiction from fact.

Jan 2, 200829 min

Tamara Jenkins

Elvis Mitchell hosts writer-director Tamara Jenkins (Slums of Beverly Hills) whose latest film is The Savages, starring Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Dec 26, 200729 min

Joel and Ethan Coen

Since 1984, writer-directors Joel and Ethan Coen (Blood Simple, Fargo, O Brother, Where Art Thou?) have taken the chase and made some of best films of the past decade about it. Their newest, an adaptation of Colmac McCarthy's No Country for Old Men, is a high-octane version of that. Start your engines!

Dec 19, 200729 min

Andrew Wagner

Family, the ties that bind and, sometimes, strangle. Writer-director Andrew Wagner's made this the subject of two movies, including his newest, Starting Out in the Evening.

Dec 12, 200729 min

Craig Zobel

In writing and directing his first feature film, Great Wall of Sound, Craig Zobel drew from his real life and focuses the film on the south that few see. It's a low-budget comedy about predators who are also prey.Note: This show will not be broadcast on 89.9 FM due to special holiday programming but it will be available online.

Dec 5, 200729 min

Brian De Palma

Should a director court controversy? If you're Brian De Palma you might answer that with a question. How can you not? The man who made Carrie, Dressed to Kill, The Untouchables and Scarface is back with Redacted, a look at US involvement in Iraq. He'll discuss the court of public opinion.

Nov 28, 200729 min

Julien Temple

Elvis Mitchell hosts writer-director Julien Temple (Vigo, The Great Rock n Roll Swindle, Absolute Beginners, Glastonbury) whose new film is Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten.

Nov 21, 200729 min

Ridley Scott

This year, director Ridley Scott celebrates 30 years of filmmaking, a career that includes Blade Runner, Thelma &amp; Louise, Gladiator and his newest, American Gangster. Past, present and future.

Nov 14, 200729 min

Peter Hedges

Dan in Real Life is not only a family comedy, it's a comedy about family. Writer-director Peter Hedges (What's Eating Gilbert Grape, About a Boy screenplay; Pieces of April writer/director) talks about noise and quiet that define family.

Nov 7, 20071 min

Casey Affleck

Not many actors get to show the range that Casey Affleck (Ocean's Thirteen, Good Will Hunting) unveils in two very different films: an elegiac western and a dour urban tale. He reflects on traveling those distances.

Oct 31, 200729 min

Shekhar Kapur

Director Shekhar Kapur (Bandit Queen, The Four Feathers) has mastered bringing flesh and blood to the epic film. The story he began with Elizabeth in 1998 continues with Elizabeth: The Golden Age. He discusses combining grandeur and intimacy.Elvis Mitchell hosts writer-director-actor-producer Shekhar Kapur , Elizabeth) whose most recent film is Elizabeth: The Golden Age, starring Cate Blanchett.

Oct 24, 200729 min

Jenji Kohan

The pot-dealer comedy Weeds brings humor, drama and detail to a genre -- the sitcom -- in need of weeding. Jenji Kohan (Gilmore Girls, Sex and the City, Will &amp; Grace), its creator and executive producer, talks about keeping it alive.

Oct 17, 200729 min

Tony Gilroy

Not only has screenwriter Tony Gilroy (The Devil's Advocate, Dolores Claiborne) had quite a career, but quite a year as well. He adapted the Bourne books, including Ultimatum. Now he makes his directorial debut with Michael Clayton, starring George Clooney. We look at his career so far.

Oct 10, 200729 min

Robert Benton

Esquire magazine art director, part of a legendary screenwriting partnership and, finally, writing and directing on his own, Robert Benton has seen many sides of the film business. He takes us from Bonnie and Clyde, to Kramer versus Kramer, to his newest, Feast of Love.

Oct 3, 200729 min

Jon Robin Baitz

Family, secrets, money and guilt. Watchwords found in the plays of Jon Robin Baitz -- and also seen in his show, Brothers and Sisters, the first show he created for network TV. He talks about moving from the stage to the small screen.

Sep 26, 200729 min

David Axelrod

David McCallum, William Blake, Lou Rawls and jazz fusion--unlikely components, all a part of producer David Axelrod's work. He's featured in a new concert DVD and he talks about it all.

Sep 19, 200729 min

Christopher Monger and Garry Shandling

If you've watched The Larry Sander's Show, you've seen the words "Special Thanks to Roy London." It's also name of a documentary on the acting coach. Its director, Christopher Monger (Voice Over, The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain, Seeing Red), and Garry Shandling discuss London and his legacy.

Sep 12, 200729 min

Neil Jordan: Web Only Special Edition

In this web-only edition of The Treatment, Elvis Mitchell interviews Irish director Neil Jordan during the Toronto International Film Festival about his latest movie The Brave One, starring Jodie Foster.

Sep 7, 200741 min

Jeff Garlin

I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With is the directorial debut of Jeff Garlin, creator of Curb Your Enthusiasm with Larry David. He's an actor and stand-up comedian as well as a writer and director (Mad about You, Daddy Day Care). How does he define himself primarily?

Sep 5, 200729 min