Michael and Us

Latest Episodes:

#428 - iPhone, Therefore I Am May 24, 2023

Show notes

As Canadians, we simply couldn't pass up a movie about our greatest national export. Matt Johnson's BLACKBERRY (2023) puts a darkly comic spin on the rise and fall of "the phone you had before your iPhone." We discuss the ways that this very funny film is both similar to and crucially different from such recent boardroom dramas as AIR. PLUS: the return of Pete Buttigieg, and a weekend with the world's most prolific songwriter. If you watch only one movie on Will's recommendation in your life, make it LOCAL LEGENDS - https://vimeo.com/ondemand/locallegends "BlackBerryIs a Movie That Portrays Tech Dreams Honestly—Finally" by John Semley - https://www.wired.com/story/blackberry-movie-review/ Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

PREVIEW - #427 - Night of the Streaming Dead May 18, 2023

Show notes

PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/83192875 Rushed out within a month of lockdown, CORONA ZOMBIES (2020) was the first feature-length (well, 60-minute) movie about the COVID pandemic. And it shows. We discuss what it tells us about modern-day exploitation movies, and our thoughts inevitably drift to A.I. in entertainment.

#426 - By Grapthar's Hammer May 16, 2023

Show notes

We begin with a rundown of recent events, from the Coronation to the CNN Trump town hall to the Liberal Party of Canada's recent convention, before discussing this month's Superdelegate pick: the beloved comedy GALAXY QUEST (1999). We situate the film's satire in the context of 1999-era fan culture, and hash over our own respective histories with the Star Trek franchise. PLUS: a dive into a young Tucker Carlson's journalism. Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

#425 - A Populist Dracula May 08, 2023

Show notes

"A soy-banter Nicolas Cage Dracula movie" was too enticing a pitch to pass up, so we hit up our local multiplex to see RENFIELD (2023). PLUS: Do conservatives need "a populist Dracula"? At least one right-wing outlet thinks so! Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

#424 - Know Thyself (w/ Alex Shephard) May 02, 2023

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A Christian boy goes up against his sinister atheist philosophy teacher (played by Kevin Sorbo!) in GOD'S NOT DEAD (2014), one of the biggest Evangelical blockbusters of all time. Luke and guest host Alex Shephard discuss the film's tone-deaf depiction of academia and its particular streak of right-wing sadism. PLUS: What's next for Tucker Carlson? And is there any life at all in the ol' Ron DeSantis? Watch the whole damn movie for free on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ek2LEoSut0&ab_channel=Se%C3%B1iorFroggy "Tucker Carlson Has Already Lost His War With Fox News" by Alex Shephard - https://newrepublic.com/article/172274/tucker-carlson-twitter-video-lost-war-fox-news Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

PREVIEW - #423 - The Silence of Pod Apr 26, 2023

Show notes

PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/423-silence-of-82062473 Your hosts agree that Martin Scorsese's SILENCE (2016) is one of his great films, but also find room for discussion on how their differing backgrounds with religion affect their perspectives on the spiritual side of Scorsese. PLUS: Elon Musk's Twitter: is there a plan? (Hint: no)

#422- The Great Moving Right Show Apr 25, 2023

Show notes

A young man caught between his socialist father and Thatcherite uncle falls in love with a young National Front street punk while building a laundromat. We watched MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE (1985) and discuss the context that birthed it. PLUS: Fiery hot takes on Bruceploitation and Ron DeSanctimonious. Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

PREVIEW - #421 - Super Ideology Bros. Apr 18, 2023

Show notes

PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/421-super-bros-81712064 Look, we're lifelong Mario-heads, so we were curious to see the most popular movie in the world right now. We discuss some of the funnier culture-war takes that have greeted THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE (2023) during its right to the top of the box office, and perhaps even generate a few more of our own.

#420 - Ten Days That Shook the World Apr 17, 2023

Show notes

How did Warren Beatty convince a Hollywood studio to make a movie about American communists in 1981? We discuss REDS (1981), his epic biopic of writers John Reed and Louise Bryant, as well as Reed's landmark book about the Russian Revolution, Ten Days That Shook the World. PLUS: Fiery hot takes on billionaire Hitler collector Harlan Crowe. "The Paid Pundits Defending Clarence Thomas And His Billionaire Benefactor" by Andrew Perez - https://www.levernews.com/the-paid-pundits-defending-clarence-thomas-and-his-billionaire-benefactor/ Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

PREVIEW - Bonus: Déjà Q (w/ Will Sommer) Apr 13, 2023

Show notes

PATREON-EXCLUSIVE BONUS - https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-deja-q-w-81469561 Luke talks to Will Sommer, author of the new book Trust the Plan: The Rise of QAnon and the Conspiracy That Unhinged America, about where QAnon came from, why it isn’t going away anytime soon, and how material deprivation helps drive conspiracy theories. Buy Trust the Plan: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/trust-the-plan-will-sommer?variant=40493482541090

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