Michael and Us

Latest Episodes:

PREVIEW - #496 - An Autumn Afternoon Feb 07, 2024

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We're in a contemplative mood on this episode, and there's no filmmaker better suited for such a mood than Yasujirō Ozu. We discuss his final film, AN AUTUMN AFTERNOON (1962), and how Ozu's seemingly narrow thematic and stylistic palette encompasses so much of the human condition. PATREON-EXLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/496-autumn-97874507

#495 - Adaptation Feb 04, 2024

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Are commercial considerations always doomed to taint art? And are commercial considerations really a taint? We discuss Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman's meta-movie ADAPTATION (2002) and the artist/hack dichotomy. PLUS: We mark the passing of the world's most famous minimalist sculptor and murder suspect. Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

PREVIEW - #494 - Joke Save America Feb 04, 2024

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Can "anti-woke comedy" save America? That's what a conservative scribe for the Washington Times theorizes. We give the idea due consideration, and find some of the essential contradictions in conservative comedy. PLUS: Luke visits London, and tries to find the real London. PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/494-joke-save-97392407

#493 - The Inevitable Barbie Episode Jan 26, 2024

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The world can't stop discoursing about it. Hillary Clinton herself has championed it. And our Superdelegate patrons specifically requested it. It time for us to turn our attention to the most discussed movie of the past year. We talk about BARBIE (2023). PLUS: We bid a fond farewell to Ron DeSanctimonious. "Seeking Social Democracy," the book Luke coauthored with Ed Broadbent, is available here: https://ecwpress.com/products/seeking-social-democracy-ed-broadbent Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

PREVIEW - #492 - The Eddie Anderson Story Jan 21, 2024

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When he emerged on radio, he was celebrated as a pioneering black star in a white entertainment landscape. By the time of the Civil Rights Movement, he was regarded by many a symbol of black subservience. In this solo documentary episode Cohost Will considers the career and thorny legacy of Eddie Anderson, the actor and comedian who played "Rochester" on The Jack Benny Show. PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/96931714

#491 - Stone Dead (w/ Jack Frayne-Reid) Jan 19, 2024

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Cohost Will asks your kind indulgence as he invites Jack Frayne-Reid (from the Reel Politik podcast) to has over one of his personal obsessions: the blockbuster 2014 Monty Python reunion show. They discuss MONTY PYTHON LIVE (MOSTLY) and how comedy can change and wilt under different social and political contexts. Check out Reel Politik - https://soundcloud.com/reelpolitikpodcast Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

PREVIEW - #490 - Grindset Wonka Jan 17, 2024

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The thing about mass culture is, it channels the ambient wisdom of its day. So we applied this theory to the new Willy Wonka reboot WONKA (2023) and looked to see what it said about our times. Friends... we were not disappointed. PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/490-grindset-96483445

#489 - Meet Me in Helsinki Jan 10, 2024

Show notes

Your coworkers are spying on you. Your boss won't let you keep the expired food. The coffeeshop is charging you an arm and a leg to rent a laptop. In Aki Kaurismäki's funny and wonderful FALLEN LEAVES (2023), can a budding romance survive the everyday indignities of life under capitalism? PLUS: What would a British West Wing look like? Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus TORONTO: See Will introduce The Dragon Lives Again (1977) at the Fox Theatre on February 23 - https://www.foxtheatre.ca/movies/the-important-cinema-club-masterpiece-classics-the-dragon-lives-again/

PREVIEW - #488 - The Fourth Annual Michael & Us Year-in-Review Extravaganza Jan 07, 2024

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From THE FLASH to SOUND OF FREEDOM and many more along the way, we look back at some of the movies that defined the podcast in 2023, and hand out the coveted Michael & Us Awards. What won Best Movie? Worst Movie? Dumbest Idea for the Podcast? Biggest Disappointment? PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/488-fourth-us-in-96020283

#487 - We Invented Chill! Jan 01, 2024

Show notes

We ring in the new year by raiding the fridge for some holiday leftovers. It's become an annual tradition on this podcast to try to extract ideology from Tim Allen's "Santa Clause" franchise. With THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE (2006), we hit the motherlode. Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

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