Episode 518: Hard-Boiled (1992)

Guest Co-Hosts: Beth Accomando, Jess Byard

John Woo's 1992 film, Hard-Boiled is the story of a hot-handed supercop, Tequila, (Chow Yun-Fat), and an undercover cop -- either Alan or Tony depending on what version you watch, played by Tony Leung. Tony and Tequila are working two sides of the same case involving the dastardly Johnny Wong (Anthony Wong). More than being a case of cops and robbers, the film is a farewell to the Hong Kong that Woo once knew and a farewell before emigrating to the U.S. for the next phase of his career.

Beth Accomando and Jess Byard join Mike to discuss this action-packed thriller.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 518: Hard-Boiled (1992)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Hard-Boiled on Blu-Ray
Buy John Woo: The Films by Kenneth E. Hall

Music:
Original Soundtrack - Michael Gibbs

Watch:

Episode 517: Escape from New York (1981)

Special Guests: Nick Castle, Adrienne Barbeau, Joseph Alves
Guest Co-Hosts: Aaron Peterson, Father Malone

On the second of our two-part discussion about John Carpenter films, Father Malone, Aaron Peterson and Mike discuss Escape from New York (1981). It's the story Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell), a former war hero turned disillusioned criminal in an America that has turned into a police state. When the President's plane crashes in the prison colony that was once Manhattan, Snake is sent in after him.

Interviews include co-screenwriter Nick Castle, actress Adrienne Barbeau, and production designer Joseph Alves.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 517: Escape from New York (1981)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Escape from New York on Blu-Ray
Buy Escape from L.A. on Blu-Ray
Buy Lockout on Blu-Ray
Buy There Are Worse Things I Could Do by Adrienne Barbeau

Music:
"Escape From New York" - Merciless Attack
"Escape from New York" - Robert Johnson And Punchdrunks
"The Duke Arrives -- The Barricades" - John Carpenter

Watch:

Special Report: Superman (1978)

Special Guests: Jeff East, Sarah Douglas
Guest Co-Hosts: James Lawrence, Mike Thompson

On this special episode we're looking at Richard Donner's Superman: The Movie. Released in 1978, the film stars Christopher Reeve as the titular man of steel. It’s neither bird, nor plane, but the story of a man whose father gave his only begotten son to the people of Earth and his travails in the mortal realm. He’s out to fight for Truth, Justice, and the American Way by foiling an elaborate Real Estate scam set up by Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman).

Jamie Lawrence of The Iron Sequel podcast and Mike Thompson join Mike (White) to discuss this first big budget foray into the world of superheroes. Jeff East (Clark Kent) and Sarah Douglas (Ursa) give the behind-the-scenes to their roles in the film.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Special Report: Superman (1978)" on Spreaker.

The Iron Sequel Superman II Episode:

The Death of Superman Lives: What Happened?:
Listen to "TPB: The Death of Superman Lives: What Happened?" on Spreaker.

Episode 516: Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)

Special Guests: Troy Howarth, Tommy Wallace
Guest Co-Hosts: Aaron Peterson, Father Malone

We kick off a two-part discussion of John Carpenter> with a look at his first proper feature film, Assault on Precinct 13 (1976). Father Malone (Dark Destinations) and Aaron Peterson (Hollywood Outsider) join Mike to look at the film and all of its various remakes (Ghosts of Mars, District B13, etc).

Troy Howarth talks about his new books, Assault on the System: The Nonconformist Cinema of John Carpenter, and Tommy Wallace discusses his work on Assault on Precinct 13 as well as many of his follow-up films.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 516: Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Assault on Precinct 13 on Blu-Ray
Buy Rio Bravo on DVD
Buy Ghosts of Mars on DVD
Buy the Assault on Precinct 13 (remake) on Blu-Ray
Buy District B13

Music:
"Assault On Precinct 13" - Garage A Trois
"You Can't Fight It" - Jimmy Chambers
"Assault On Precinct 13" - Nova Mura
"Assault On Precinct 13" - Zombie Zombie

Watch:

2021 Special Reports So Far...

Over the first few months of the year, we've put out several special episodes that you may have missed. Check the out below:

Melissa Maerz on Alright, Alright, Alright:

Listen to "Special Report: Melissa Maerz on Alright, Alright, Alright" on Spreaker.

Jeff Lieberman on Day of the Living Me:

Listen to "Special Report: Jeff Lieberman on Day of the Living Me" on Spreaker.

Rodney Ascher on A Glitch in the Matrix (2020):

Listen to "Special Report: Rodney Ascher on A Glitch in the Matrix (2020)" on Spreaker.

Ryan Cudahy on Mount Skylight:

Listen to "Special Report: Ryan Cudahy on Mount Skylight" on Spreaker.

Erin Vassilopoulos on Superior (2020):

Listen to "Special Report: Erin Vassilopoulos on Superior (2021)" on Spreaker.

Workhorse Queen (2021):

Listen to "Special Report: Workhorse Queen (2021)" on Spreaker.

A Ghost Waits (2020):

Listen to "Special Report: A Ghost Waits (2020)" on Spreaker.

Julien Temple on Crock of Gold (2020):

Listen to "Special Report: Julien Temple on Crock of Gold (2020)" on Spreaker.

Daniel T. Dorrance on The U.S. vs. Billie Holiday (2021):

Listen to "Special Report: Daniel T. Dorrance on The U.S. vs. Billie Holiday (2021)" on Spreaker.

Todd Melby on A Lot Can Happen in the Middle of Nowhere:

Listen to "Special Report: Todd Melby on A Lot Can Happen in the Middle of Nowhere" on Spreaker.

Thorsten Thielow on Boys State (2020):

Listen to "Speical Report: Thorsten Thielow on Boys State (2020)" on Spreaker.

Bill Leimbach on Walkabout to Hollywood (1980):

Listen to "Special Report: Bill Leimbach on Walkabout to Hollywood (1980)" on Spreaker.

Episode 515: Under the Flag of the Rising Sun (1972)

Special Guest: Linda Hoaglund
Guest Co-Hosts: Rob St. Mary, Chris Stachiw

Rob St. Mary returns to The Projection Booth to discuss Kinji Fukasaku's 1972 anti-war film, Under the Flag of the Rising Sun. The film stars Sachiko Hidari as the widow of Sgt. Katsuo Togashi who died in WWII. His death certificate is unclear about how he died and, thus, she can't claim survivor benefits.

The authorities are either unable or, more likely, unwilling to help her so she investigates her husband's death, tracking down his fellow soldiers and unraveling a Rashomon-like story of what might have really happened to him.

Along with Rob, Chris Stachiw joins Mike to talk about Fukasaku's film as well as Clint Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers / Letters from Iwo Jima double feature. Translator and filmmaker Linda Hoaglund provides insight on Fukasaku's motivations during her interview.

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Episode 515: Under the Flag of the Rising Sun (1972)" on Spreaker.

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Under the Flag of the Rising Sun on DVD
Check out Linda's latest film, Edo Avant Garde

Music:
"Mandatory Suicide" - Slayer

Watch:

Special Report: Bruce Campbell's Evil Dead II Watch Party

Special Guest: Bruce Campbell

Bruce Campbell provides live commentary on THE EVIL DEAD II on Saturday, April 24, 2021, at 6 PM PST/9 PM EST! Buy your tickets now!

Mike talks to Bruce about the screening, his book The Cool Side of My Pillow, and much more.

Music:
"Bruce Campbell" - Psychostick

Listen/Download Now:

Listen to "Special Report: Bruce Campbell's Evil Dead II Watch Party" on Spreaker.

Mike White March 2021: Pre-Code Films

Chris Stachiw has asked me once again to program March's shows for The Kulturecast. Not being too familiar with pre-Code films, I thought it'd be nice to watch a handful and talk about them with Chris's rotating group of co-hosts. I hope you have as much fun listening to these as I did recording them.

Jewel Robbery:

Listen to "Jewel Robbery" on Spreaker.

The Divorcee:

Listen to "The Divorcee" on Spreaker.

Blonde Crazy:

Listen to "Blonde Crazy" on Spreaker.

Three on a Match:

Listen to "Three on a Match" on Spreaker.

Babyface:

Listen to "Baby Face" on Spreaker.