Tag: Podcast

Shame List Picture Show S9E4 — BLOOD BEAT feat. Susan Kerns

Welcome to another episode of the Shame List Picture Show! This week, Michael is joined by special guest Susan Kerns to discuss Fabrice-Ange Zaphirato’s Blood Beat, along with their shared love for arthouse horror, bonkers cinema, and Wisconsin-made indie films. Some of our Shame Listeners may remember Susan for her Ph.D. in Media, Cinema, and Digital Studies from UWM, and as an accomplished filmmaker and scholar, she is now the new Executive Director of Milwaukee Film.

Cinema Smorgasbord – Cinema Smorgasbord Sells Out – Anora (2024)

How do you solve a problem like ANORA, the recent Best Picture Oscar winner directed by problematic(?) fav Sean Baker? It seems like everyone has an opinion on the film (about a young sex worker who marries the son of a Russian oligarch), so why not add OURS into the mix? We get down and dirty with some of the controversies surrounding the film, but mostly just talk about what we liked and didn’t like about the film like good little critics. ENJOY!

Cinema Smorgasbord – How Do You Do, Fellow Kids? – Youth in Revolt (2009)

On this episode of the world’s greatest Steve Buscemi-themed podcast, we’re taking a look at the odd coming-of-age nightmare comedy YOUTH IN REVOLT from 2009 where Michael Cera creates a sociopathic version of himself in order to impress a young woman he meets at a trailer park. Stuffed with great character actors (Jean Smart, Justin Long, Fred Willard, Mary Kay Place, M. Emmett Walsh), its episodic format takes some getting used to, but it’s much more interesting – and stranger – than the marketing would have you believe. Also, Steve Buscemi is in it (as Michael Cera’s father!). All of this and the latest Buscemi news, and all for FREE! You can’t pass up that deal.

Cinema Smorgasbord – George Kennedy is My Copilot – Uninvited (1988)

On this long-awaited return of GEORGE KENNEDY IS MY CO-PILOT the gang are joining Alex Cord, Clu Gulager and – of course – George Kennedy on a beautiful sea voyage only partially spoiled by the presence of a genetically modified cat that spits up a weird gremlin thing that is killing everyone. Uh oh! There’s murder, mystery, insanity-due-to-hunger, ankle-biting, finger munching and a bevy of horny teens because, heck, why not? All this and a look at George’s time as a pitchman for Schaefer Beer! JOIN US!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Whatever Happened to Vic Diaz? – Black Mama, White Mama (1973) (THE FINALE!)

We knew this day was coming, but it’s the FINAL EPISODE of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO VIC DIAZ?, our glorious deep-dive into the film career of “the Filipino Peter Lorre” Vic Diaz which was one of our first ever podcasts under the Cinema Smorgasbord banner. It’s been a fine few years, and what better way to round things out than with an all-timer exploitation classic starring Pam Grier and Margaret Markov as two women chained together and making their way through a peril-filled “South American” jungle. Add in a truly demented Sid Haig performance and you’ve got a recipe for (filthy) fun. And of course we have a tremendous Vic Diaz performance as the sleazy drug dealer Victor “Vic” Cheng! Let’s end this thing with a bang!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Cinema Smorgasbord Sells Out – Conclave (2024)

The Pope is DEAD and someone needs to replace him in Edward Berger’s unique political thriller/mystery CONCLAVE from 2024, featuring Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence, who is leading the replacement process, as well as Stanley Tucci, Lucian Msamati, John Lithgow, and Sergio Castellitto as potential new popes (if they can get the votes). It’s fascinating stuff, with a controversial element that we’ll get into during our spoiler section (don’t worry, we’ll warn you!). We also chat about the recent passing of David Lynch in the opening segment, so get ready and LISTEN!

Shame List Picture Show S9E1 – ROCKY II (1979) feat. Austin Proctor

Welcome to Season 9 of the Shame List Picture Show! In this episode, we’re diving into Sylvester Stallone’s electrifying sequel Rocky II. Joining me is Austin Proctor. Many of you know him from Frightmares and his past guest appearances on our show, but now you’ll be hearing his name a lot more as he’s officially our new Executive Producer and Editor. We’re beyond excited to have Austin on board and to help him cross Rocky II off his shame list!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Wild in the Streets – The Cynic, The Rat and The Fist (1977)

On this episode of WILD IN THE STREETS, Maurizio Merli is (former) Inspector Leonardo Tanzi, a retired cop constantly disciplined for his unusual (brutal) methods, which in this case involves faking his own death so he can take down the psychopathic Luigi ‘The Chinaman’ Maietto (Tomas Milian) and master criminal Frank Di Maggio (John Saxon) in Umberto Lenzi’s THE CYNIC, THE RAT AND THE FIST. Full of two-fisted action, and a “laser” wall you have to see to believe, there’s plenty to like – and be confused by – here, but is it any good? We talk about the good, the bad and the ugly (and try to decide exactly which character is meant to be the cynic/rat/fist) and will let you know. Enjoy!