Categories: Podcasts

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 14 – ‘Ratcatcher’ (Ramsay, 1999)

Published by
Share

Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter 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 podcast we truly hope you love. On episode 14 of the Director Watch Podcast, the boys discuss the first film in their Lynne Ramsay series, 1999’s Ratcatcher.

Gaining notice throughout the 1990s for her short films, director Lynne Ramsay became a name cemented in the fabric of modern cinema as someone who was able to distinctly examine human relationships from such a raw yet honest perspective. After winning the 1996 Cannes Prix de Jury for her graduation short film, “Small Deaths,” she spent some time working on various short films, all with critical success, leading her to develop one of the most personal debuts of the last 25 years, Ratcatcher. In telling the story of a young boy trying to move on in his life after a tragedy to one of his best friends, Ramsay showcases what happens when the innocence of childhood is taken too soon before you are ready to grow up, and announces herself as one of the best visual storytellers of her generation. Led by a cast of mostly unknown actors and shot impeccably by cinematographer Alwin H. Küchler, Ryan and Jay break down Ramsay’s debut and where it ranks as some of the best debuts of the 90s, the child performances in the film, the open ending for the film, and the film year that was 1999.

You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more.

This podcast runs 1h19m. The guys will be back next week to continue their series covering the films of Lynn Ramsay with a review of her second feature film, Morvern Callar. You can stream Morvern Callar on Freevee, as well as rent it via iTunes or Amazon Prime Video 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)

Ryan McQuade

Ryan McQuade is the AwardsWatch Executive Editor and a film-obsessed writer in San Antonio, Texas. Raised on musicals, westerns, and James Bond, his taste in cinema is extremely versatile. He’s extremely fond of independent releases and director’s passion projects. Engrossed with all things Oscars, he hosts the AwardsWatch Podcast. He also is co-host of the Director Watch podcast. When he’s not watching movies, he’s rooting on all his favorite sports teams, including his beloved Texas Longhorns. You can follow him on Twitter at @ryanmcquade77.

Recent Posts

2024 Toronto Film Critics Association (TFCA) Winners: ‘Nickel Boys’ Named Best Picture, RaMell Ross Wins Best Director

The Toronto Film Critics Association (TFCA) has named Nickel Boys the Best Picture of 2024… Read More

December 15, 2024

2024 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Winners: ‘Dune: Part Two’ is Best Film

The 2024 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) winners have been announced and Denis Villeneuve's… Read More

December 15, 2024

2024 San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) Winners: ‘Anora,’ ‘The Brutalist,’ ‘Sing Sing’ Earn Top Awards

The San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle unveiled its 2024 winners today, with Sean… Read More

December 15, 2024

2024 Boston Online Film Critics Association (BOFCA) Winners: ‘The Brutalist’ Takes Five

The Boston Online Film Critics Association (BOFCA) has revealed its winners for the best in… Read More

December 15, 2024

2025 Oscar Predictions: BEST ACTRESS (December)

The hardest Oscar category of the season just got a lot harder. Before critics and… Read More

December 13, 2024

2024 San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) Nominations

The San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle unveiled its 2024 nominations today, with 35… Read More

December 13, 2024

This website uses cookies.