Tag: indie film

Cinema Smorgasbord – Eric Roberts is the Man – Violet (/w Mike X Nichols)

What’s THIS? A returning episode of ERIC ROBERTS IS THE MAN with guest Mike X Nichols joining us to talk about all the latest Eric Roberts news as well as an odd AI-centered thriller from 2025 called VIOLET with a WILD backstory that is way more interesting than the film itself? IT’S TRUE! We talk about celebrity chefs, the SPIN cycle, mockbusters, stop motion, and so, SO much more before breaking down the unbelievable story behind VIOLET, which – despite being about the AI takeover of the world – features a ton of AI-generated content! WILD STUFF. CHECK IT OUT!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Cinema Smorgasbord Sells Out – Blue Heron (2025)

OH CANADA! On this episode of Cinema Smorgasbord Sells Out, our hosts have a chat about Canadian cinema having a moment, what the country can do to become a bigger player internationally (and at home) and some of our favorite Canadian films before taking a look at Sophy Romvari’s tremendous semi-autobiographical drama BLUE HERON from 2025. It’s a quietly experimental film about a family becoming increasingly fractured by a child’s erratic behavior, and it’s worth going out of your way to see. And hear us talk about!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Bartel Me Something Good – Chopping Mall (1986) & The Living End (1992)

On this free-wheeling episode of BARTEL ME SOMETHING GOOD we’re doubling up with two films featuring notable Paul Bartel ACTING performances. Uh.. kinda. We start with the cult-classic killer robots in a mall horror film CHOPPING MALL, directed by Jim Wynorski. With an all-star cast including Kelli Maroney, Barbara Crampton, DICK MILLER, Gerrit Graham, Mel Welles, Angus Scrimm and – of course – Paul Bartel and Mary Woronov, reprising their roles from EATING RAOUL! Then we put on our deerstalker hats and pull out our magnifying glasses as we solve the mystery of WHERE IS PAUL BARTEL (as “Twister Master”) IN GREGG ARAKI’S THE LIVING END?! The record will be changed PERMANANTLY as we discuss Araki’s transgressive 1992 road comedy-drama ALSO featuring an appearance by Mary Woronov. Have a listen, friends!

Cinema Smorgasbord – How Do You Do, Fellow Kids? – The Impostors (1998)

Steve Buscemi.. the CROONER? It happened! In this episode of HOW DO YOU DO, FELLOW KIDS? we’re checking out Stanley Tucci’s throwback comedy THE IMPOSTERS from 1998 where Tucci teams with Oliver Platt as a pair of struggling actors/con-artists who find themselves in the middle of MANY plots when they accidentally stowaway on an ocean liner. I’m laughing already! And you’ll be laughing(?) alongside an all-star cast that includes Alfred Molina, Tony Shalhoub, Hope Davis, Lili Taylor, Richard Jenkins, Allison Janney, and – of course – Steve Buscemi as “Happy” Franks. Also Woody Allen shows up. Anyway, all that and the latest Buscemi news. Stop reading this and start listening!

Cinema Smorgasbord – How Do You Do, Fellow Kids? – Parting Glances (1986)

On a returning HOW DO YOU DO, FELLOW KIDS? (the world’s finest Steve Buscemi-themed podcast) we’re heading back to the past with Bill Sherwood’s gay romantic drama PARTING GLANCES from 1986, featuring Steve Buscemi’s breakout performance as Nick, an HIV-positive rock musician. Two straight dudes talking about a pioneering queer work? It happened! Now you can hear it and all the latest Steve Buscemi news. Enjoy!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Halloween Horror Special – Working Class Goes to Hell (2023) & Black Eyed Susan (2024)

It’s the 2025 Cinema Smorgasbord HALLOWEEN HORROR SPECIAL and as usual we’re taking a look at two underloved horror (or, in this case, horror adjacent) films that deserve a little more attention. We start with the Serbian 2023 socio-political satire WORKING CLASS GOES TO HELL from LIFE AND DEATH OF A PORNO GANG director Mladen Djordjević about a group of exploited workers who turn to Satan for some help battling corrupt businessmen and political leaders. We follow that up with Scooter McCrae’s BLACK EYED SUSAN, which features Yvonne Emilie Thälker as a sex doll designed for punishment, and tackles some iffy moral questions about the future of artificial intelligence and.. Hey! This isn’t very spooky at all! Oops!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Bartel Me Something Good – Hollywood Boulevard (1976)

Uh oh! The gang is back talking all things Paul Bartel on another episode of BARTEL ME SOMETHING GOOD and this time not only are we yacking about 1976’s HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD, the made-for-a-bet directing debut of both Joe Dante AND Alan Arkush (and featuring Paul Bartel, Dick Miller and Mary Woronov among many other familiar faces), but we also start with a very special episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents from 1985 directed by Tim Burton(!), featuring music by Danny Elfman(!) and starring Griffin Dunne, Laraine Newman and – wait for it – Paul Bartel as a pretentious art critic. It’s even.. uh.. sort of an adaptation of a Ray Bradbury story. All that and so much more, so enjoy!