March 19, 2025

Episode 735: Blood and Diamonds (1977)

Guest Co-Hosts: Jedidiah Ayres, Ryan Luis Rodriguez

The Projection Booth’s Patreon Picks series charges ahead with Blood and Diamonds (1977), a gritty crime saga from Fernando Di Leo. Claudio Cassinelli stars as Guido Mauri, a man fresh out of prison and ready to settle old scores in a world where loyalty is a fleeting illusion. As Guido cuts a ruthless path through former allies, betrayal and bloodshed go hand in hand.

Host Mike White is joined by crime fiction aficionado Jedidiah Ayres and podcast favorite Ryan Luis Rodriguez to dissect this pulpy revenge tale, discussing Di Leo’s signature style, the film’s place in the Eurocrime pantheon, and why Blood and Diamonds deserves a closer look.

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Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Eurocrime on DVD
Buy Blood and Diamonds on Blu-Ray

Music:
"Shock Me" - Original Soundtrack

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March 12, 2025

Episode 734: Love Circle (1969)

Episode 734: Love Circle (1969) Guest Co-Hosts: Spencer Parsons, David A Heath

Passions swirl and reality bends in Love Circle (1969), the intoxicating tale of desire, deception, and dangerous games from writer/director Giuseppe Patroni Griffi. Also known as Metti, una sera a cena (Suppose One Night at Dinner), this stylish drama follows a celebrated writer, Michele (Jean-Louis Trintignant), who concocts intricate fantasies about his wife Nina (Florinda Bolkan) and his best friend Max (Tony Musante). But what if his imaginings aren’t so imaginary?

Mike White, Spencer Parsons, and David A. Heath dissect this sultry, surreal web of passion, joined by Andrei Idu, who requested the film as part of our month of Patreon picks. With a screenplay co-written by and an unforgettable score by Ennio Morricone, Love Circle is a hypnotic blend of psychosexual intrigue and high-art aesthetics.

Listen/Download Now:

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Love Circle on DVD
Buy the Love Circle soundtrack by Ennio Morricone

Music:
"Metti Una Sera A Cena" - Mafalda Minnozzi

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March 11, 2025

Special Report: First Look 2025

Special Report: First Look 2025 Special Guests: Edo Choi, Eric Hynes

Mike welcomes Eric Hynes and Edo Choi, curators of First Look 2025 at the Museum of the Moving Image, running running March 12-16 in Astoria, New York. Now in its 14th year, the festival remains a vital showcase for bold, boundary-pushing cinema from around the world.

This year’s lineup includes 38 films—20 features and numerous shorts—spanning 21 countries, with three world premieres and 24 U.S. or North American premieres. Each evening culminates in a Showcase Screening at MoMI’s Sumner Redstone Theater. The festival opens with the U.S. premiere of Durga Chew-Bose’s Bonjour Tristesse, a contemporary take on the classic novel, and closes with Giovanni Tortorici’s Diciannove, an intimate portrait of a young man’s journey across Italy.

Mike, Eric, and Edo dive into the festival’s mission of discovery, its rigorous selection process, and the importance of in-person filmmaker appearances. They also highlight First Look’s unique inclusion of work-in-progress screenings and discussions, offering a behind-the-scenes look at emerging cinematic voices. Whether you’re attending or just love adventurous filmmaking, this episode provides an insightful preview of what makes First Look a can’t-miss event for cinephiles.

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Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Find out more at the MOMI website

Music:
"First I Look At The Purse" - The Contours

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March 5, 2025

Episode 732: Death of a Bureaucrat (1966)

Episode 732: Death of a Bureaucrat (1966) Guest Co-Hosts: Cullen Gallagher, Rob St. Mary

Mike kicks off a fresh month of Patreon picks alongside Cullen Gallagher and Rob St. Mary to unpack the satirical brilliance of Tomás Gutiérrez Alea's 1966 gem, Death of a Bureaucrat. When a revered Cuban sculptor invents a revolutionary bust-making machine only to meet his untimely demise at its mechanical hands, bureaucratic absurdity kicks into high gear. Buried proudly with his labor card, the sculptor inadvertently sparks a Kafkaesque quest as his widow and nephew wrestle hilariously with red tape, relentless officials, and ridiculous obstacles—all in pursuit of the one document standing between them and survival. Special thanks to Patreon supporter John Redford for this sharp, comedic dive into the madness of bureaucracy.

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Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth

Music:
"Roldán: Danza Del Diablito" - Leo Brouwer

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February 28, 2025

Episode 733: Captain America - Brave New World (2025)

Episode 733: Captain America - Brave New World (2025) Guest Co-Host: Chris Stachiw

The shield is back in action! Mike is joined by Chris Stachiw of The Kulturecast to take on Captain America: Brave New World (2025), the latest chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With Anthony Mackie stepping into the role of Captain America, the film explores Sam Wilson’s challenges as he navigates political intrigue, old enemies, and new threats—including the return of Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Sterns, now fully embracing his role as The Leader.

Directed by Julius Onah, this entry also introduces Harrison Ford as President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross and teases the rise of the Serpent Society. But does Brave New World deliver a worthy continuation of the Captain America legacy, or is it another symptom of the MCU’s growing pains?

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Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Truth: Red, White and Black by Robert Morales, Joe Quesada, and Kyle J Baker

Music:
"Mr. Blue" - The Fleetwoods

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February 26, 2025

Episode 731: Theodore Rex (1995)

Episode 731: Theodore Rex (1995) Special Guest: Jonathan Betuel
Guest Co-Hosts: Brad Jones, Kevin Lehane

#Whoopbruary concludes with a look at Theodore Rex (1995), the buddy cop dino flick where Whoopi Goldberg stars as the cyber-enhanced supercop Katie Coltrane who gets begrudgingly partnered with the titular Theodore Rex -- an ambitious, wisecracking, impeccably dressed dinosaur with a badge and a dream.

Joining Mike to excavate this fossilized oddity are Brad Jones and Razzie-nominated screenwriter Kevin Lehane, who help unearth the film’s bizarre production history, its straight-to-video fate, and its legacy as one of Hollywood’s strangest contractual obligations. Plus, we hear from the mastermind himself, writer/director Jonathan Betuel, who sheds light on the film’s wild journey from concept to cult curiosity.

Listen/Download Now:

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me by Whoopi Goldberg
Buy Theodore Rex on DVD
Get Bat Pussy by Brad Jones

Music:
"Theodore REX: Main Theme" - Robert Folk

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February 19, 2025

Episode 731: Fatal Beauty (1987)

Episode 731: Fatal Beauty (1987) Special Guests: Bill Svanoe, Tom Holland
Guest Co-Hosts: Kevin Lehane, Rob St. Mary

#Whoopbruary keeps the action rolling with Fatal Beauty (1987), a hard-hitting crime thriller starring Whoopi Goldberg as tough-talking detective Rita Rizzoli. Directed by Tom Holland and based on a script by Bill Svanoe, the film follows Rizzoli as she battles to keep a deadly designer drug off the streets. Co-hosts Rob St. Mary and Kevin Lehane join the discussion, and we’ve got exclusive interviews with writer and director Tom Holland to break down the film’s mix of action, comedy, and social commentary.

Listen/Download Now:

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me by Whoopi Goldberg
Buy Fatal Beauty on Blu-Ray

Music:
"Criminal (Theme From Fatal Beauty)" - Shannon
"Sin City" - War

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February 12, 2025

Episode 730: Burglar (1987)

Episode 730: Burglar (1986) Special Guests: Lawrence Block
Guest Co-Hosts: Kevin Lehane, Cullen Gallagher

Whoopbruary rolls on with Burglar (1987), a comedic crime caper starring Whoopi Goldberg as Bernice Rhodenbarr -- Hugh Wilson's reimagining of the literary burglar created by .With Bobcat Goldthwait bringing his signature chaos as her loyal sidekick and G.W. Bailey on her trail, this one’s packed with familiar faces and offbeat energy.

Guest co-hosts Cullen Callagher and Razzie-award nominated screenwriter Kevin Lehane join the discussion, plus we’ve got an interview with Lawrence Block himself.

Listen/Download Now:

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me by Whoopi Goldberg
Buy Burglar on DVD
Buy The Burglar in the Closet by Lawrence Block
Buy The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling by Lawrence Block

Music:
"Bobcat Rap (I'm A Lot Like You)" - Bobcat Goldthwait

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