Michael and Us

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PREVIEW - #467 - Underwater Impressions Oct 08, 2023

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PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/467-underwater-90598569 What happens when the most famous Nazi filmmaker makes a nature documentary at the ripe age of 100? We watch Leni Riefenstahl's UNDERWATER IMPRESSIONS (2002), and see if we can find any traces of fascism in the swan song of Hitler's favorite filmmaker. PLUS: Is the internet getting worse?

#466 - I Heart New Wave Oct 06, 2023

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In DEATH WISH 4: THE CRACKDOWN (1987), Charles Bronson wages a one-man war against the Los Angeles drug trade, despite being as old-looking as anyone has ever looked. We discuss how the ridiculous fourth entry in the iconic action franchise takes its reactionary politics a step beyond "law and order." PLUS: We discuss two milestones in cinematic surrealism (1989's THINGS and 1994's TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME) and bid farewell to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Preorder Luke's new book "Seeking Social Democracy: Seven Decades in the Fight for Equality," coauthored with Ed Broadbent - ecwpress.com/products/seeking-s…cracy-ed-broadbent OTTAWA: See Luke and Ed at the Ottawa Writers Festival on October 10 - https://writersfestival.org/events/fall-2023-in-person-events/seeking-social-democracy TORONTO: See Luke and Ed Broadbent in conversation at the Toronto Reference Library on October 22 - www.eventbrite.ca/e/seeking-social…ets-713793665067 VANCOUVER: See Luke and Ed at the Central Library on November 1 - vpl.bibliocommons.com/events/650b36e…0219cf8b5cf95f See Will moderate a Q&A following the Toronto premiere of Nate Wilson's THE ALL GOLDEN at the Revue Cinema on November 2 - https://revuecinema.ca/films/the-all-golden-toronto-theatrical-premiere/

PREVIEW - #465 - A No Movie Episode Sep 29, 2023

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PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/465-no-movie-90050486 We catch up on the news, with due consideration given to: ✓ The latest Republican presidential primary debate ✓ Rolling Stone's list of "The 50 Worst Decision in Movie History" ✓ Canadian parliament salutes a member of the Waffen-SS

#464 - Wheatfield with Crows Sep 27, 2023

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Late in his career, Akira Kurosawa plumbed his subconscious and came up with DREAMS (1990), one of his most underrated films. We discuss the ways that this film captures the mood and style of a dream, and its unifying theme of humankind's relationship with nature. PLUS: We attempt to define the ambient politics (and anti-politics) of the post-Trump years. "Martin Scorsese: 'I Have To Find Out Who The Hell I Am'" by Zach Baron - https://www.gq.com/story/martin-scorsese-profile Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - www.patreon.com/michaelandus Preorder Luke's new book "Seeking Social Democracy: Seven Decades in the Fight for Equality," coauthored with Ed Broadbent - ecwpress.com/products/seeking-s…cracy-ed-broadbent TORONTO: See Luke and Ed Broadbent in conversation at the Toronto Reference Library on October 22 - www.eventbrite.ca/e/seeking-social…ets-713793665067 VANCOUVER: See Luke and Ed at the Central Library on November 1 - vpl.bibliocommons.com/events/650b36e…0219cf8b5cf95f See Will introduce THINGS (1989) at the Fox Theatre on October 3 - www.foxtheatre.ca/movies/the-impor…classics-things/

#463 - Jewellbilly Elegy Sep 24, 2023

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In 2019, Clint Eastwood's RICHARD JEWELL took aim at two institutions — the FBI and the media — that were supposed to save America from Trumpism. We discuss one of the veteran auteur's most beautiful films, which is also one of his most loaded and ambiguous political hot-potatoes. PLUS: David Brooks' expensive meal, Doug Ford's about-face, and Jean-Luc Godard's film criticism. "David Brooks and the $78 airport meal the internet is talking about" by Timothy Bella - https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2023/09/22/david-brooks-newark-airport-meal/ See Will introduce THINGS (1989) at the Fox Theatre on October 3 - https://www.foxtheatre.ca/movies/the-important-cinema-club-masterpiece-classics-things/ Preorder Luke's new book "Seeking Social Democracy: Seven Decades in the Fight for Equality," coauthored with Ed Broadbent - ecwpress.com/products/seeking-s…cracy-ed-broadbent TORONTO: See Luke and Ed Broadbent in conversation at the Toronto Reference Library on October 22 - www.eventbrite.ca/e/seeking-social…ets-713793665067 VANCOUVER: See Luke and Ed at the Central Library on November 1 - https://vpl.bibliocommons.com/events/650b36ea2d0219cf8b5cf95f Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

PREVIEW - #462 - The Most Famous Facts Ever Sep 21, 2023

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PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/462-most-famous-89633259 In 2009, a wildly popular movie told the allegedly true story of a poor black football player who was uplifted by a rich white family. Nowadays, the movie's real-life subject says that the reality of the situation was very different. We discuss THE BLIND SIDE (2009), the most racist Hollywood blockbuster this side of D.W. Griffith. PLUS: Tim Ballard, the subject of Sound of Freedom, is at it again!

PREVIEW - #461 - Set of Assets Sep 17, 2023

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PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/461-set-of-89409879 We Need to Talk About the Death (or Rebirth?) of Cinema. On this special episode, we gather to discuss David Zaslav, Harmony Korine, Richard Linklater, and other visions of cinema's future (or lack thereof).

#460 - The Stranger Song Sep 15, 2023

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In Robert Altman's MCCABE & MRS MILLER (1971), a couple of entrepreneurs find themselves crushed by monopoly capitalism. Of course, this could only happen in a small Old West mining town. We discuss the power and beauty of one of the greatest films of all time. PLUS: A primer on the Ontario greenbelt scandal, and why are Joe Biden's poll numbers so bad? Preorder Luke's new book "Seeking Social Democracy: Seven Decades in the Fight for Equality," coauthored with Ed Broadbent - https://ecwpress.com/products/seeking-social-democracy-ed-broadbent See Luke and Ed Broadbent in conversation at the Toronto Reference Library on October 22 - https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/seeking-social-democracy-a-conversation-with-ed-broadbent-tickets-713793665067 Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

PREVIEW - #459 - Jerry's Kids Sep 09, 2023

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PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/459-jerrys-kids-89032472 From 1966 to 2010, THE JERRY LEWIS MDA LABOR DAY TELETHON raised billions for muscular dystrophy causes. It also lived long enough to become a relic of a long-gone monoculture, and incited the wrath of disability advocates. We discuss a bona fide American cultural phenomenon from a very, very different time.

#458 - Airport Paperback Sep 06, 2023

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Widely described as "Hollywood's response to the Lewinsky scandal," THE CONTENDER (2000) imagines a Vice Presidential confirmation process derailed by sexism and moral prudishness. We excavate some Oscar bait from the very tail end of the Clinton Era and find... yes, another Politics Movie™. Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

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