Michael and Us

Latest Episodes:

PREVIEW - #370 - The World of Yesterday Oct 05, 2022

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PATREON EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/370-world-of-72907776 At long last, we have an extended discussion of a film by Wes Anderson. We discuss Anderson's political vision (or lack thereof) via one of his best films, THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (2013), and ask the question: What is Anderson nostalgic for?

#369 - I'm Not Mad Oct 03, 2022

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The new documentary series UNPRECEDENTED (2022) seeks to offer an unfiltered look at the Trump family in the weeks before the 2020 election and the January 6 riot. We discuss how its thickets of editorial commentary obscure a potentially compelling look into America's former first family, and then have a laugh reading from Trump Jr's debut book "Triggered." Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

PREVIEW - #368 - We Can Remember It For You Wholesale Sep 26, 2022

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PATREON EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/368-we-can-it-72470448 Our latest Superdelegate winner is Paul Verhoeven's demented blockbuster TOTAL RECALL (1990). We "get our asses to Mars" and discuss the film's future dystopia while also occasionally slipping into involuntary Arnold impressions.

#367 - Penn and Paintbrush Sep 25, 2022

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Libertarian magicians Penn & Teller turn their gaze to the art world in TIM'S VERMEER (2013), a documentary that attempts to prove that, with just the right set of tools and a lot of money, one wealthy entrepreneur can paint a Vermeer. We discuss the bleak, empty void that is Penn & Teller's view of art. See Luke at the Toronto International Festival of Authors on September 27 - https://festivalofauthors.ca/event/critical-conversation-new-working-class/ Check out Luke's book "The Dead Center" - https://www.orbooks.com/catalog/the-dead-center/

#366 - Coronation Training Montage Sep 19, 2022

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We mark Queen Elizabeth's passing by looking at towering work of royalist kitsch, THE KING'S SPEECH (2010). We discuss how this Oscar-winner humanizes the monarchy in order to uphold it. See Luke speak at the Toronto International Festival of Authors on September 27 - https://festivalofauthors.ca/event/critical-conversation-new-working-class/ Hear Will on Canadaland - https://www.canadaland.com/podcast/815-our-royals-our-elves/ Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

PREVIEW - #365 - Journeys With John Sep 18, 2022

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PATREON EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/365-journeys-72120783 Luke finally returns to the podcast, and have we got a doozy of a movie for him. We return to the oeuvre of political scion Alexandra Pelosi and discuss DIARY OF A POLITICAL TOURIST (2004), a freewheeling account of the 2004 Democratic Party primary. It's both the worst and the best Alexandra Pelosi documentary we've watched yet... as well as the most elusive movie we've ever tried to find. This episode was made possible by Kyle Bridgett, who found a very rare movie. Check out his website: https://kylebridgett.com/ Kyle Bridgett's YouTube channel, Canonically Crumb: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gm3vZynb5E&list=PLkZYyAJDZgAymetXARt7X8jmnzKM5U_nU&index=5&ab_channel=LittleCozyNostril

PREVIEW - #364 - The Obligatory My Son Hunter Episode (w/ Chris Berube) Sep 11, 2022

Show notes

PATREON EXCLUSIVE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/71837828 At last - conservatives have made a movie about the Hunter Biden laptop scandal. Director Robert David (yes, the villain from Goonies) and Breitbart Media present MY SON HUNTER (2022), a feature film that alleges to expose the Bidens as an international crime family. Longtime friend of the show Chris Berube stops by to discuss why the biggest scandal is how damn boring this movie is.

#363 - Pull the Strings! (w/ Valerie Faye) Sep 08, 2022

Show notes

Popularly known as "one of the worst movies ever made," Ed Wood's GLEN OR GLENDA? (1953) was a pioneering attempt at progressive cinematic treatment of trans issues. It's also a film at war with itself. We're joined by special guest Valerie Faye to discuss why this extraordinary film is cinema's greatest depiction of "closet mindset." Join Michael & Us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus Check out Valerie's podcast The Odd Pod - https://anchor.fm/theoddpodd/episodes/ODD-PODD-CLASSIC---Missing-feat--Chris--Kurt-e1lt39g On Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/oddpodd Valerie on Twitter - https://twitter.com/StealingValerie Watch Glen or Glenda? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVR1JmmvGiA&ab_channel=BloodyVengeance

PREVIEW - #362 - Hands Across America (w/ John Semley) Sep 03, 2022

Show notes

PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/71449739 In the mid-'90s, a car dealership in Texas offered contestants a chance to win a free truck if they could perform one feat of physical and mental agility: keep one hand on the truck for longer than anyone else. The documentary HANDS ON A HARDBODY (1997) captures the contest in all its agony. We're joined by John Semley to discuss what - if anything - this highly evocative document has to say about America.

#361 - In Old Brazil (w/ Violet Lucca) Sep 01, 2022

Show notes

One of the key films of Brazil's Cinema Novo movement, Glauber Rocha's masterpiece TERRA EM TRANSE aka ENTRANCED EARTH (1967) envisions a fictional Latin American country where the left- and right-wing parties both feed from the same trough, and asks what role art can play in revolution, if any. Friend-of-the- show Violet Lucca returns to place the film within the context of Brazil after the 1964 coup that led to decades of military dictatorship. "Revolutionary Lessons" by Robert Stamm - https://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/onlinessays/JC10-11folder/TerraTranseStam.html Check out Violet on The Harper's Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-harpers-podcast/id1405872370

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