We’re looking at the 1972 film from Rainer Werner Fassbinder, The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant. It’s the story of love and loss for the titular Petra Von Kant (Margrit Carstensen) a fashion designer and her model/muse Karin (Hanna Schygulla). We see the beginnings and endings of that relationship as well as the fall out.
Special Guest: Adam Elliot Guest Co-Host: Maurice Bursztynski
We’re looking at the 2009 film from director Adam Elliot, Mary & Max, the story of two unlikely pen pals -- Mary Daisy Dinkle (Bethany Whitmore / Toni Collette) and Max Jerry Horovitz (Philip Seymour Hoffman) -- a lonely little girl from Australia and a middle aged man with Asperger's Syndrome in New York City.
Writer/director Adam Elliot discusses the origins of Mary & Max while Maurice Bursztynski joins Mike to discuss this amazing film.
Special Guest: Richard Kelly Guest Co-Hosts: Rob St. Mary, David Kittredge
Southland Tales (2006) tells the sprawling story of a world in which alternative energy is a big business and teams up with the political police state. Meanwhile actor Boxer Santaros (Dwayne Johnson) has a schizophrenic break and thinks he's the character that he and part-time prophet/full time porn star Krista Now (Sarah Michelle Gellar) have created, Jericho Cane. Also in the mix are Roland and Ronald Taverner (Seann William Scott), a cop and his twin who may hold the secret to ending the world.
The episode features an interview with writer/director Richard Kelly.
David Kittredge and Rob St. Mary join Mike to discuss the various cuts of the film, Philip K. Dick, and much more.
Special Guests: Jeanne Abel, Jenny Abel Guest Co-Hosts: Skizz Cyzyk, Heather Drain
Alan and Jeanne Abel's Is There Sex After Death? is a mockumentary from 1971 that dares to ask the hard hitting questions with ridiculous answers. It’s a series of vignettes with some familiar faces like Buck Henry, Marshall Efron, Holly Woodlawn, Robert Downey, and more.
Special Guest: Daniel Pyne Guest Co-Hosts: Andrew Nette, Jedidiah Ayres
Jedidiah Ayres and Andrew Nette join Mike to look at the 1992 neo-noir film from director Roger Donaldson, White Sands. The film stars Willem Dafoe as Ray Dolezal, a small town Sheriff who tries to solve the murder of a man in his jurisdiction by assuming the dead man’s identity and getting embroiled in a world of arms dealing,
We speak to the film's screenwriter, Daniel Pyne (The Hard Way, The Sum of All Fears, Where's Marlowe?) about the film's journey from page to screen.
Special Guests: Dan Shor, William Sadler, Alex Winter, Chris Matheson Guest Co-Hosts: Chris Stachiw, Josh Stewart
On a special crossover episode with The Kulturecast, Chris Stachiw and Josh Stewart join Mike to discuss The Bill & Ted Trilogy from 1988's Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure to 2020's Bill & Ted Face the Music.
Interviews: 00:26:00 - Dan Shor discusses his role as Billy The Kid
01:26:22 - William Sadler talks about naked Tai Chi and being The Grim Reaper
02:25:48 - Alex Winter returns to talk about being Bill S. Preston, esquire
02:37:41 - Chris Matheson provides an overview of writing all three of the Bill & Ted films
Music:
"Billy the Kid" - David Newman
"Excute Them" - David Newman
"Play with Me" - Extreme
"God Gave Rock & Roll To You Part II" - KISS
"Two Heads are Better Than One" - Power Tool
"History Report" - Bill & Ted: The Musical Soundtrack
Special Guests: John Byrum, Kevin Jones Guest Co-Hosts: Emily Intravia, Maurice Bursztynski
Musical Month concludes with a look at Bruce Paltrow's Duets (2000). Written by John Byrum, the film stars Paul Giamatti, Huey Lewis, Maria Bello, Andre Braugher, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Scott Speedman in a drama about the world of karaoke.
Emily Intravia (The Feminine Critique) and Maurice Bursztynski (See Hear) join Mike to discuss the film's incredibly troubled production history. Our interview subjects, Byrum and producer Kevin Jones, give the behind-the-scenes scoop.
Links:
Buy Duets on Blu-Ray
Buy the Duets soundtrack
Music:
"Sweet dreams (are made of this)" - Maria Bello
"Hello, it's me" - Paul Giamatti
"Free bird" - Arnold McCuller
"Try a little tenderness" - Paul Giamatti & Arnold McCuller
Mike talks with writer/director Jeff Lieberman about his memoir, Day of the Living Me: Adventures of a Subversive Cult Filmmaker from the Golden Age. The book is full of great behind-the-scenes stories of Lieberman's films (Squirm, Blue Sunshine, Just Before Dawn, Satan's Little Helper, etc.) as well as some other amazing tales.
Guest Co-Hosts: Kat Ellinger, Heather Drain
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