All February we’re discussing movies about WOMEN IN CRISIS and we find ourselves in some strange Swedish territory. A mansion with very red interiors and sad women in white. In this big house a woman suffers from cancer and her sisters, one frigid and the other the opposite, must come to terms with their familial relationships and their own mental state. Then you have Anna, whose bosom is ready for the weary. Will the poor suffering Agnes part from her troubled sisters or does she need to hang on just a little bit more? She will love her sisters even if she has to cross a threshold of mortality to do so. We’re speaking on our very first Ingmar Bergman for the show with his 1972 film “CRIES AND WHISPERS” and there’s some great tips on how to avoid consummating with your husband. Oh, look! It would appear that a Bergman Youtube has the movie if you would like to watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rxJyl-twOM   Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

February’s theme is WOMEN IN CRISIS and that extends to all measure of crisis including matters of identity and personality and we finally cross the Robert Altman threshold for the show. You want to see some troubled women this month? Well, this surreal cult classic has three of them! Yes, we are discussing Altman’s 1977 film “3 WOMEN” starring Shelley Duvall, Sissy Spacek & Janice Rule. Millie Lammeroux is a modern and fashionable woman even if she doesn’t have the friendships and affection that often go along with something like that. Pinky Rose is a blank slate from nowhere Texas who becomes instantly attached to Millie and soon becomes her roommate and biggest admirer. Then there’s this older pregnant woman named Willie who is painting in pools a mythology of the open desert landscape around them all. Somewhere along the way, after some canned pudding is set out, things get frightened and confused. That’s putting it mildly. A dreamy story of desperation and identity and dresses stuck in car doors. Recommended. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

New month, new theme. For February we will be watching and discussing the dramatic plight of women in certain film. Be is physical, mental, existential or spiritual we will be discussing WOMEN IN CRISIS all month. Things might get intense for our dramatic leads and why not start with our third Anime feature discussion so far with Satoshi Kon’s classic and influential “PERFECT BLUE” from 1997? A pop idol turned actress has her reality discombobulated after diving into a fan site devoted to herself after she learns about this crazy new thing called The Internet. Her past and her performances are also starting to blur together as a strange man seems to be everywhere in her life. Who is Mima? Is she real? A psychedelic thriller an early parable of the modern age of communication. It’s easy to see why Kon’s cult classic manages to remain relevant. Oh shit here’s a dailymotion link for the movie: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8h56a7   Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

IT’S OSCAR SEASON FOLKS and there’s a bitter buzz in the air about who got nominated and who didn’t but our side theme this month has us watching the remainder of the best picture nominees that we have yet to discuss. We talk about some rather forced cultural commentary surrounding the Barbie nominations and what exactly that commentary means. Then we get into one of this year’s THIRSTIEST movies nominated by the Academy and it seems like proper Oscar bait from, maybe, 25 years ago. It seems like the ultra dramatic side universe of Bradley Cooper directing himself is just getting started and what a nice little terrarium Mr. Cooper has built for himself. It’s called “MAESTRO” and it stars Bradley Cooper & Carey Mulligan. Cooper plays the American Composer, Leonard Bernstein, and examines the relationship between the homosexual Leonard and his beard/wife, Felicia Montealegre with so much concentration and minimal emotional resonance. This movie makes Barbie seem restrained. Truly.   Maestro’s Oscar Nominations are: Best Picture Best Actor in a Leading Role Best Actress in a Leading Role Original Screenplay Best Cinematography Best Makeup and Hairstyling Best Sound

It’s a good bet that this year will be a very dreary year. We’re trucking on into it so why not spend the year talking about no less than a dozen Lars von Trier movies? All throughout the year, mostly every month and maybe a few twice a month, we will be talking about a dozen movies by the Unsane Dane himself. A polarizing man. Controversial. His movies? Heavily contemplated, quite scrutinized and often beloved. Everyone might have a von Trier movie they are partial too. What keeps Charlotte Gainsbourg and Stellan Skarsgård coming back? We’ll find out soon enough but there’s no more obvious a place to start off the YEAR OF VON TRIER than with his 1984 film debut and the first of the “EUROPE TRILOGY” (he likes trilogies). We’re discussing Von Trier’s drowned dystopian noir “THE ELEMENT OF CRIME”. Fisher is missing some memories of a previous police case so a hypnotist in Cairo drags him back to his experience hunting a serial killer with the help of an old mentor’s book. Interesting visuals, excellent shots and as muddy as the world it displays. Let’s get this year of von Trier drear popped off right! Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

PORTRAITS OF THE ARTISTS (AKA DENZEL MONTH) has been a hell of a time and it’s been fun to examine the lives of such cornerstone actors in Paul Robeson and Denzel Washington. Those two men seem very different in personality but for this final edition of our theme, Denzel takes on a role that might be the closest to Robeson’s preferred type. A struggling, hardworking, family man trying to make ends meet in a medical emergency. It was a hit during a time when random dramas seemed to be seen, though not much of it gets said even in context of the Denzel oeuvre and broader film culture. A very direct critique of the U.S. medical system in Nick Cassavetes’s absolutely dripping melodrama from 2002, “JOHN Q.”. Denzel is the obvious everyman who successfully holds his own dramatic weight. It also stars Kimberly Elise, James Woods, Anne Heche (RIP), Robert Duvall and Ray Fuckin’ Liotta. We miss you Ray. The people finally get a little propaganda in this far from perfect story that occasionally brushes up against “ridiculous”. Charming family dynamic with a few good dramatic moments and maybe a little misdirected in its cleanliness through the home stretch. Nonetheless, we can all relate to dealing with our shitty medical system. So long January’s theme. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

Sadly, our five film examination of the legendary Paul Robeson for this month’s theme of PORTRAITS OF THE ARTISTS end here. But we go out on Paul’s personal pick for his favorite looking back on his unique career. We’re talking about the struggle and heroisms of miners in Wales and the singing stranger that came along to make their choir better and soothe the struggle. We’re talking about the 1940 British film “THE PROUD VALLEY” starring Paul Robeson as “David Goliath” and co-starring Edward Chapman, Edward Rigby and Simon Lack. Them Welsh boys got it rough and shit might have to get….ORGANIZED! Well, London needs that coal to fight Hitler so can the Cymry posse and their new baritone buddy safely get these mines going? Hear us tell of it or just watch it here first: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyNWpRY5lH8 RIP to the man, Paul Robeson, a man beyond his time at any time. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

It’s the last full week of our PORTRAITS OF THE ARTISTS theme and we end it with Edward Zwick’s dripping military melodrama “COURAGE UNDER FIRE” from 1996. Denzel Washington plays a veteran military fellow who accidentally blasted his own men during the first Persian Gulf War in 1991. The government puts a bow on it and sticks him in a desk job. Now he has to review for a posthumous Medal of Honor candidate AND OH MY GOD THE NOMINEE IS A GIIIIIIIIIRL!!!!!!!! Did they inoculate her for cooties!? Cooties are very serious! Almost as serious as this movie. Anyway, Captain Karen is played by Meg Ryan who is also southern. Captain Karen is southern, I mean. Meg Ryan is from Connecticut. She gets to be the “Tex” in this military movie and she commands this whole troop. But what in the name of Uncle Sam’s beard lice happened out there? Also starring a gaunt Matt Damon and a sad Lou Diamond Phillips. What happened to Captain Karen? Hear us tell it. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

Our theme: PORTRAITS OF THE ARTISTS examines two significant black leading men from both ends of film history but just go ahead and call it DENZEL MONTH. We finally get to a Tony Scott film today. This over stylized, overwrought, over cooked hard action thriller is a wild ride that feels like it gets away with some goofy shit. Deceptively slow and visually rapid. Cuts like crazy and some very memorable torture scenes. Yeah, dude, what else could we be talking about other than the 2004 Tony Scott escapade of destruction “MAN ON FIRE” starring our guy Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Christopher Walken and Marc Anthony? The bullet never lies. Revenge is a meal best eaten cold. You have a bomb up your ass. This and many more gems in this wild, early post 9-11, feature. Revel in the torture. SOAK IN IT!!!Denzel and Dakota’s friendship actually feels genuine. Wow, that Denzel Washington is pretty good at this gig. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

This month’s theme of PORTRAITS OF THE ARTISTS digs us deeper into the film history of Paul Robeson. Soured greatly on the post-production outcome of his previous British film, “Sanders of the River”, Robeson asserted more creative control for his follow up feature “JERICHO” from 1937. Directed by Thornton Freeland. Robeson stars as Jericho Jackson, a U.S. soldier in WW1 who accidentally kills a commanding officer while rescuing some of his fellow soldiers. He jets off on a stolen boat with a snappy AWOL American to a North African desert scape where they help a small village prosper. “JERICHO”, like many Robeson features are deep cut in the greater film zeitgeist and yet often feature certain representative traits that just might hold several firsts for the history of cinema and African American History itself. Also, you know my man is in this picture soothing those desert hotties with his warm baritone from atop the tallest sand dunes. He’s pulling Sudanese Princesses up in this piece and his wisecracking white sidekick is off tending to the camels. That’s shit you don’t even see today. Camels are fun to look at. Here’s the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xwKPeyfuwg Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

This month’s theme is called PORTRAITS OF THE ARTISTS but we understand if you want to call it DENZEL MONTH because that’s mostly what it is. We’re capping off this week’s selections of lead characters holding power with the most recent film in our Denzel celebration. We’re talking about Joel Coen’s 2021 adaptation of Macbeth called “THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH” and it looks pretty amazing. It stars Denzel Washington, Frances MacDormand (sorry we misspelled your name on the scroll), Kathryn Hunter & Brendan Gleeson. It was a film made on a soundstage, delayed by pandemic and had a limited theatrical release that is only streamable on Apple Plus or TV or whatever the shit it’s called. I’m gonna put all these streaming services into one bigger service and call it “cable”. That’s my modern dad joke. I’m not a father but your mom calls me “daddy” every night. Stars hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires. Out you goddamn spot. Fley-Hive rise up. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

This month’s theme of PORTRAITS OF THE ARTISTS has us analyzing two, distinct, black leading men but the majority of the month is dedicated to Denzel Washington. This week we watch some portrayals of powerful men and this one is based on a true story though many of the real life players involved might dismiss much of it but it makes Frank Lucas look swag so he’s the least of the refuters. Yes, Denzel portrays real life gangster Frank Lucas. The Godfather of Harlem ran a heroin empire where he smuggled the good shit directly from a Vietnamese supplier through transport coffins with the help of the U.S. Military. Uh, allegedly. Denzel’s Frank Lucas is fairly wise and quite smooth but the screen is shared with Frank Lucas’s prosecutor AND LATER defense attorney, Richie Roberts, as portrayed by Russell Crowe. Also co-starring Josh Brolin as an obscenely corrupt NYPD with a broad cast of many rappers and well regarded actors. We haven’t even named the movie so I guess I can say that we’re discussing the 2007 gangster/crime film “AMERICAN GANGSTER” directed by the prolific Ridley Scott. We got to a Ridley Scott Denzel picture before we got to a Tony Scott Denzel picture. Tony Scott is next week. In the meantime, keep with the hustle. That’s honestly not a motto of mine. I’ve never said that or typed it out before in my life. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

January’s theme of PORTRAITS OF THE ARTISTS has us examining some of the works of two major black leading men in film and our Monday classic selections revolve around a man that would be ahead of his time at any time, Paul Robeson. We’ve seen him silent and now it’s time for the talkies as Paul Robeson plays the lead character of Brutus Jones in Dudley Murphy’s 1933 adaptation of the Eugene O’Neil play “THE EMPEROR JONES”. Jones hits some ups and downs and finds himself a crafty little despot on a small Caribbean island but getting power and keeping it are two different things. Featuring, for the first time this month, is Paul Robeson doing what he was very famous for doing. Singing. It’s pretty nice. We watched an excellent remaster from the Robeson Criterion collection (the title of that is what we named this month’s theme after) but there are other free versions online that you can find such as right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=suYeWvhFxwQ  Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

We end week two of our PORTRAITS OF THE ARTISTS theme with a rare romance in the Denzel Washington oeuvre. Is it getting hot in here or is it just this muggy Mississippi atmosphere because I am totally chubbing out. We discussed Mira Nair’s hidden gem of ethnic culture clash from 1991, “MISSISSIPPI MASALA” starring Denzel Washington, Sarita Choudhury, Roshan Seth & Charles S. Dutton. Not only will this movie chub you out but it will also educated you about the history of Ugandan Indians and their migration to middle of nowhere Mississippi. Indian and black culture come together as hotel employee Mira falls for a hunky carpet cleaner named Demetrius. It doesn’t all go smoothly but after watching this one you might feel a little robbed that we so rarely get to see Denzel romancing the bone. It’s a very sharp and character rich romance and you can actually watch this hidden gem at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHQrw_s28qA So click that link and hit play on that and prepare to be chubbed and charmed. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

This month’s theme of PORTRAITS OF THE ARTISTS has us examining two distinct black leading men from across the history of film but you can also just call it DENZEL MONTH because most of what we are discussing stars Denzel Washington and we can’t do a Denzel month without a Spike Lee project so why not go with his ambitious and engrossing 1992 biopic “Malcolm X”. Denzel plays the iconic historical figure who turned into a spokesman for black nationalism and pan-africanism who was shot down by the religious and political institution he helped lift up. Denzel Washington has a classic leading man style that sets him apart from other actors but this may be his most embodied and methodical performance in his career. At least it felt that way. He is an actor after all. Love and Race is this week’s sub theme and with love also comes great tragedy. It’s easy to be lost between the truth and the performance in this film and it would seem the most notable difference would be the direct omission of Louis Farrakhan who, allegedly, made threats on Spike when he was making this movie. Baines seems to be the amalgam that holds pieces of the things that are missing. As usual, the truth may be darker. We gotta bring those zoot suits back in style. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

“WOOF” that’s what we said after we watched 2021’s “Clifford the Big Red Dog” directed by Walt Becker. “OOF” is the feeling of trying to discuss it. That’s the risk you take when you decide to randomly generate movie titles for specific content. Yes, two months ago “Clifford” came up in a random generator and here it is wedged between Paul Robeson and Denzel Washington movies. Nobody is making us do it but we have this compulsion and it sure as hell won’t blow the doors off. We all know about the Big Red Dog named Clifford. There is cuteness here. No doubt. Formulaic as hell? It’s practically a Hallmark movie. I think fuckin’ ChatGPT will be scripting kids movies soon and it will probably hit this exact tone and structure with the speech at the end. Continuity buffs are gonna be PEYISSED when they find out that this movie is set in New York City as opposed to Birdwell Island like in the books. It’s never as good as the book, is it? This dog would accidentally kill people in such a dense population area. They need a sequel where Clifford accidentally crushed someone to death as well as a pooping scene. God help us we randomly generate another movie to review at the end of this episode. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

This month’s theme is “PORTRAITS OF THE ARTISTS” where we analyze selections from the careers of two, distinct, leading black men from film history. Our classic selections are devoted to the one and only PAUL ROBESON. We delve into another silent film from 1930 with strong modernist influence that was made in Switzerland. Paul acts alongside his wife, Eslanda, whose character had an affair with a shitty little white dude named Thorne who is literally played by Chester A. Arthur’s grandson. Some fresh techniques, unique camera angles and lesbian bartenders set this 1930s silent “art film” ahead of its time by several decades. The historic significance definitely helps the overwrought drag that occurs mid-movie but Paul Robeson certainly stands out much more breathlessly than his bohemian writer and musician co-stars. Lost until the 80s, Kenneth Macpherson’s “BORDERLINE” from 1930 is a must see for folks interested in film history and Paul Robeson. You can find it right here: https://youtu.be/VmP1A8IvwB4?si=qrDkzzz0Os3BmJuW Be a nerd and go learn something because we got a special drop tomorrow that’s gonna dumb everything down. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

January’s theme is “PORTRAITS OF THE ARTISTS” where we analyze the works of two major black leading men and a lot of this month is devoted to DENZEL WASHINGTON. Today’s discussion is a bit of casting and franchising genius as Denzel gets to essentially be a superhero without the costume and green screen. Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington plucked a deep cut TV series and turned it into a box office action success. This one is for the grandads who imagine themselves being badass in a Home Depot. Bob has a mysterious past, a built in detective mode in his mind and he made friends with a sex-trafficked Chloe Grace Moretz so, of course, he has to kill a bunch of people. Russians in particular. We’re talking about THE EQUALIZER from 2014 and now they’re on the third one. The things he can do with a nail gun and a shot glass are a trip. Denzel pulls out “franchise action star” later in his career and it’s pretty impressive even if some of the story feels a wee bit overbaked. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

ACCIDENTALLY CALLED CARL FRANKLIN "Carl Perkins" A FEW TIMES. OOPS. January’s theme is “PORTRAITS OF THE ARTISTS” and we’re discussing some of the roles of two historically significant black leading men in film. Most of the month will be films starring DENZEL WASHINGTON. We’re starting it off mighty hot with a very solid noir adapted from a Walter Mosley book by director Carl Franklin. The Denzel study begins with the 1995 film “DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS” starring our man, Don Cheadle, Jennifer Beals, Tom Sizemore & Lisa Nicole Carson. Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins needs some cash to pay back some mortgage on his home and gets recruited by Tom Sizemore to find a woman by the name of Daphne and I bet you can’t guess what color she wears. Then you got poor Coretta who is quietly the most fatale. Then there’s Mouse as played by Don Cheadle in one of his best performance. Mouse is fucking wild. I gotta read those books to see what happens to Mouse. We got a soft spot for noir stuff and, honestly, you should too. It’s chill and gritty. And what’s up with that guy trying to cut down everybody’s trees?  Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

This month we’re excited to analyze the films in our January theme of PORTRAITS OF THE ARTISTS. In this theme we will be discussing the films of two major black leading men in film. For our Monday classics we will be exploring the films of Paul Robeson, an actor and activist who would be an outlier in any era of film. The title of our theme is inspired from the Criterion Collection’s Paul Robeson set titled “Portraits of the Artist”. For our first discussion in this New Year of MOVIEHUMPERS, we’re going to explore an important root in film history with an early work by the prolific pioneering director, Oscar Micheaux. Religion gets a little dragged as a crooked and fraudulent reverend (played by Paul Robeson) has connived his way into women and money in the small town of Tatesville. Isabella’s mother wont let her marry the nerdy ass inventor, Sylvester (also played by Paul Robeson) because she’s gotta marry the evil faux reverend. Some great characters in a fairly strange story with an early appearance of a certain film trope. Oscar Micheaux certainly has plenty to say with his 1925 silent film “BODY AND SOUL”, which you can find easily on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A9alUp1pa8 Check out some history and hear our take on it. This is just the beginning of our talks on Paul Robeson and there is LOTS of Denzel Washington to pair with it. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

It’s been 20 years since Richard Curtis dropped “LOVE ACTUALLY” on our chestnuts and this holiday romantic comedy remains prolific. As lauded as it is critiqued. It seems like this UK ensemble movie may never leave the zeitgeist of Holiday hits. It’s here to stay. A tangential web of romance and sad attempts at romance. It has its ups and downs. “Love, Actually” is like a pie but you see that all the pieces are cut and each individual piece is its own flavor. There are a couple of pieces that are very good. Surprisingly good. A few pieces are fine. Typical of what they are but not bad. Then there’s a piece that seems like apple but tastes like they put anise in it so it’s kind of weird. Then you get to that one piece that you think is fudge but SURPRISE that piece is actually made of cat shit. “Love Actually” is that pie but how does the overall depth of the drama and comedy hold the film together? Bill Nighy, Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Alan Rickman, Colin Firth, Keira Knightly. That’s only about a quarter of the full cast. Hear us out in the final episode of our inaugural year of MOVIEHUMPERS. Thank you so much for hanging out with us. January is around the corner and we will be discussing the films of Denzel Washington and Paul Robeson. Until then, let’s hit you with it one last time in type, HAPPY NEW YEAR AND DEATH TO ALL TRAITORS. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

(PRETTY SPOILERY EPISODE ABOUT A TRUE STORY) December is always a good month for the movie theaters and we’ve been scouting the release of today’s discussion for a while now. As pro wrestling fans, we’re pretty much in the bag for this tale of wrasslin’ and tragedy but the family turmoil presented here can still hit home for a lot of people. We’re discussing Sean Durkin’s cinematic adaptation of the Von Erich wrestling family in “THE IRON CLAW” starring a yoked Zac Effron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Holt McCallany and many more. If you know anything about the Von Erich’s then you probably know this is going to be sad. There are many Von Erich in wrestling history. You had the father, Fritz Von Erich. Then you had Kevin Von Erich, Kerry Von Erich, David Von Erich, Mike Von Erich, Chris Von Erich, Lance Von Erich. One of these Von Erich’s wasn’t even a real Von Erich. All of the actual Von Erich’s listed have passed but one. Hell, one of those Von Erich’s wasn’t even in the movie because the truest form of the story is even more tragic. Not even getting into Jack, the oldest, who tragically passed when he was a small child. Shit, this family has been through it and a lot of it seemed rather avoidable in any other circumstance. It’s our last AT THE MOVIES drop of our inaugural year. Chill out with some leftovers and hear our judgement. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

MERRY CHRISTMAS! It’s that one and only day. Seems like people are mad as hell leading up to this day and can’t drive for shit but once the day gets here then it all feels all right. We culminate in our theme of THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR with this ultimate Christmas Classic. Some might say that having this movie as your favorite Christmas movie is perhaps typical. Cliche. But it’s much more typical to proclaim it as typical because this is one of the most anti-cynical movies ever made. It wasn’t even a hit in its time. Not until around the 70s did it truly become iconic holiday fare. It’s a heavy hitter that stands the test of time for a reason. Of course, we’re talking about Frank Capra’s 1946 classic “It’s A Wonderful Life” starring Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore & Henry Travers. Bob & Angela actually saw it in the theater as is the annual tradition of the Belcourt to show it during this time every year. There’s not much more you can say about it (we still say a lot) but maybe we can inspire you to relive it if it’s been a minute. Y’know we get choked up. Merry Christmas and a Happy New year. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

It’s THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR and for the tail end of the loaded week we’re presenting you a special episode for our last episode before Christmas. You didn’t really think we would go through this month without hitting up some HALLMARK CHRISTMAS SELECTIONS did you? When we come for Hallmark we gotta go to the queen. Nah, fam. We ain’t talking about that uptight Candice Cameron Bure. No we’re doing the Holidays right with “Party of 5” and “Mean Girls” alum, LACEY CHABERT. We’re hitting up another 6 pack and it’s all Lacey Chabert Hallmark Christmas movies. Relationships fail and spring anew. Jobs keep you busy until they don’t. Mistletoe smooches? Plenty. White dudes that all kind of look the same? Of course! Single parents? A couple. Ridiculous conflicts that feel forced? Just about all of them. CHRISTMAS CHEER????? COMING OUT OF EVERY GODDAMN ORIFICE! We’re talking “Christmas in Rome” from 2019, “Christmas Waltz” from 2020, “Pride, Prejudice and Mistletoe” from 2018, “The Sweetest Christmas” from 2017, “A Wish for Christmas” from 2016 and “A Christmas Melody” from 2015. That last one is directed by Mariah Carey but don’t get too excited. Half of these aren’t bad but that one is rough. Not because of Lacey Chabert. No way. She’s a perfect snow angel. You better not “Chablow” it because when it comes to Christmas, Lacey Chabert is going to “Chabring” it. Grab some pie and hear us out. Don’t make us HO HO HOLD you to it. ROFLMAO we’re totaled Hallmarked now. No going back. Never in my life have I had a roasted chestnut. Never. I didn’t even know they were actually nuts. I thought it was slang for boobies.  Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

It’s THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR! Get out that eggnog, stoke the fire, put on that cozy sweater because we’re all going to watch a movie that will bring the whole family together. Of course we’re talking about the 1999 Stanley Kubrick Christmas Classic “EYES WIDE SHUT” starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. This “erotic” thriller didn’t really chub us out. Beautiful but cold. A jealous cold. Stanley Kubrick passed away just a few days after screening it which lends a little bit of mystery to this strange movie. It also features the tamest illuminati orgy you’ve ever seen. Like, seriously, if they just let Dr. Bill go and he went to the police, what would he say? “A bunch of men in masks and cloaks were having consensual sex with women in masks”? There would have been nothing they could do. Were any visible laws even broken? They didn’t need to kill that lady at all. The man who invented the moon landing couldn’t go harder than this? You know these sick fucks are doing shit that you truly wouldn’t want to watch. But they did kill a girl. Maybe. I think the illuminati got ahold of Angela, actually. She seems to downplay their capabilities in this episode. Did they get to her? Is she one of them? What the hell is going on here? Is this entire YouTube/Podcast channel some kind of cover for dark elitist rituals??? Who am I? Who are you? Do you think that sailor is cute? Merry Christmas. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

There are some good looking movies coming out at the end of this year and they’re not disappointing. We knew long ago that we were going to be watching Yorgos Lanthimos’s newest surreal comedy “Poor Things” starring Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef & Jerrod Carmichael. We got a little bit of Frankenstein, some philosophical feminine and a “coming of life” story. Also, it’s steampunk. It’s surprisingly not as lame as you might think based on the word “steampunk’ but who doesn’t like stove pipe hats and telescope glasses and…what else is steam punk….air ships? Robots with handlebar mustaches? Ok, there are no robots with handlebar mustaches. Thank goodness. It’s just another strange and unique world full of fucking to behold from Yorgos Lanthimos and it doesn’t disappoint. Hear us tell of it. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

It’s THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR and we’re putting some extra movies in your stocking this week leading up to Christmas and we’re discussing a modern Christmas comedy hit that’s a pretty good movie to watch if you’re not really a big fan of Christmas. There’s, maybe, only one truly good person in this movie and his name is Thurman Merman. Everybody else from the derelict Santa and the homicidal dwarf to the everyday people we briefly interact with, most everyone in this movie is pretty insufferable. Crude but relatable, we sit down and discuss Terry Zwigoff’s (Crumb, Ghost World, Art School Confidential) most successful movie to date, “BAD SANTA” from 2003 starring Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox, John Ritter in his last performance, the late Bernie Mac and prime Lauren Graham. A couple of cons plot to play Santa and rob a store like they do every year, but the one playing Santa is a complete mess. He’s a Bad Santa who cons himself into the heart of a young, awkward boy, who gives him a purpose that involves attacking teenagers. It’s better than pissing yourself or running your car in the garage with a hose going from your exhaust to the driver’s seat. A crude embellishment with a pinch of heartfelt sincerity. Kind of like me.    Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

Going through some bonafide Christmas Classics every Monday and todays discussion is about a movie that might be slightly lesser known than the other vintage choices we discuss but no less full of seasonal joy. We’re talking about Roy Del Ruth’s Christmas comedy classic “It Happened on 5th Avenue” starring Victor Moore, Don DeFore & Gale Storm. Bonafide Hobo King, Aloysius T. McKeever, lives in the 5th Avenue mansion of the second richest man in the world when he leaves for Virginia every winter. There’s also a very relatable housing crisis going on that leads to homeless veteran Jim Bullock staying at the mansion as well. Then the millionaires daughter shows up and then the millionaire and from here things are, admittedly, contrived if not completely absurd but the movie’s comedy timing and one-liners manage to keep it going. But not without a hefty share of good will towards men. It's nuts, maybe slightly radical, and definitely not an accurate depiction of the charity of the ultra wealthy but it’s a worthy holiday comedic fantasy nonetheless. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

In contrast with our Classic Christmas Monday episodes, we’re tackling THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR with some off-kilter selections so let’s go to Finland for the strange tale of a boy, his Reindeer farming father and the ancient punishment god, SANTA CLAUS, who happens to have been buried alive under a mountain right next them. A unique take on the Santa mythology in Jalmari Helander’s “RARE EXPORTS” from 2010, starring Jorma & Onni Tommila. It’s like three different movies in one with more Santa Claus dicks than you ever thought you could handle. But you can handle them. Quite easily. You even begin to find comfort in all of the Santa dicks. They’re just there and it’s ok. Also, why not kill their god and make them our slaves? Go watch this shit on Tubi and that last sentence will make more sense. Santa meat fetches a hell of a price. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

(VERY MILD SPOILERS) Some good stuff to see at the movie theater this Holiday season and it’s unfortunate that we can’t get to them all.  We had to go watch what many are advertising, perhaps falsely, as Hayao Miyazaki’s last movie. He’s retired at least once already but much like that veteran pro wrestler who just can’t let it go, Miyazaki perhaps doesn’t know what else to do with his time. As of this writing he has not officially retired but he is 83 and smokes so it’s hard to say for sure. A firebombed Japan is the setting for the latest Miyazaki film “The Boy and the Heron” or 君たちはどう生きるか (How Do You Live?). Mahito lost his mother. The United States (we) firebombed the hospital where she worked and now Dad has met another lady and she seems nice and has seven lady dwarf assistants but Mahito struggles to face the new mother in his life. Also there’s a Heron hanging around and starts to talk and that’s all you really need to take it from here. It’s a beautiful film absolutely without a doubt and highly recommended for the theater experience. A must for anyone who appreciates animation. It’s nice to see true beauty in this world. Hey, imagine sticking one of those Warawara things up your ass. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

It’s THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR and we’re continuing down the line of obvious vintage holiday classics and you know this one was coming. Kris Kringle? 100% Real and he will definitely Santa-splain your decorations to you. He happens to come into the life of a single mother and her little girl and quickly begins healing the emotional wounds of the mother who has been intensely psychologically torturing her daughter by making sure she is never playful or imaginative. Who knows why that guy across the street wants to get with the mom but all men are whores, amiright? The consumption is redistributed here in George Seaton’s heavy hitter holiday classic “MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET” starring Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O’Hara and a pretty delightful young Natalie Wood. You know the story and the trial of the century. Great tips in this movie on how to keep a false identity. Just make sure you’re popular. Also, if Santa can’t get you a house? Then to hell with him. You can speak Dutch but you can’t get me a house? What a fraud. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

It’s THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR and we’re dropping some offbeat fare for Christmas and today’s discussion is much more influential to certain films you might be more likely to watch around Halloween. “Billy” the phone creep might not be as prolific as Freddy, Jason or Michael Myers but he certainly stands out and he’s very creative even if you have no idea who he is. It’s a Christmastime sorority slasher classic that spawned an entire horror sub-genre. We’re talking Bob Clark’s “BLACK CHRISTMAS” starring Margot Kidder, Olivia Hussey, Andrea Martin and John Saxon. What’s with these horrible (but great) obscene phone calls? Where are my sorority friends disappearing to? Why is my boyfriend so angry and bad at piano? These are important questions. If only someone checked the attic. Ah well. It’s Billy’s world and we’re just yuletiding in it. Here’s that AV Club Margot Kidder interview. RIP Queen: https://www.avclub.com/random-roles-margot-kidder-1798215851   Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

(MILDLY SPOILER-FREE, NO SIGNIFICANT DETAILS) IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR and I think it’s obvious what this month’s overarching theme will be and it might get a little offbeat but on Wednesdays (at least) we will be going to the movies for our picks and it looks like there is a lot of good looking flicks to be seen. Although…”Wonka”??? Not sure if we want to contribute to the “Fantastic Beasts” version of the Roald Dahl-verse and the new Aquaman looks like even more of a video game cut scene than the first one did though anything featuring an Octopus playing drums automatically gets an additional half point. To get our theater selections started off on the right foot we set out for an actual Christmas movie and we happened to have caught it in 35mm at our local independent movie theater. We’re discussing Alexander Payne’s brand new “70’s” movie “The Holdovers” starring Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph & Dominic Sessa. An unlikable and over academic prep school professor must keep ward of a troublesome and emotionally isolated student during Christmas break while in the company of the school cook who is mourning the loss of a son. Thankfully, this wry story of solitude isn’t some overtly saccharine dramatic piece. It’s sweetness feels more realistic. How does Alexander Payne’s latest hold up? Let us tell you all about it (WITH NO SIGNIFICANT DETAILS) unless you’re some sort of penis cancer in human form. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

It’s what they call THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR and for our vintage Monday picks we’re going straight for the Christmas Classic Heavy Hitters and no better place to start than with a little Irving Berlin. Bing Crosby stops beating his son long enough to star in the Michael Curtiz holiday musical “WHITE CHRISTMAS” from 1954. It also stars Danny Kaye, the enjoyable Rosemary Clooney and the talented Vera-Ellen. This movie is about a two star general who is the greatest human ever and the celebration of love and honor and yuletide through singing and dancing. Complete with that bit where the characters misunderstand to cause friction between them. We all love that shit right? It should be in everything. Quentin Tarantino should start doing that in his stuff. With montages of the characters being sad while a Taylor Swift song plays. Also, would you wash your hair with snow? Maybe some folks have to. Rosemary Clooney seems to enjoy it. Either you watched this with your Grandma or you are Grandma. Thanks for hanging out with us, Grandma. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

It’s THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR! At least that’s what they tell me. We’ve coasted out of COMFORT FOOD and now we’re full blown into the Christmas season and why not get it started with…MURDER! It’s a bloody scene one Christmas Day. We see a Christmas tree. A decorated table. We hear screams. We see stabbing in the shadows. A knife falls to the floor. A children’s feet step into frame. What the hell happened here? Are all Italian Christmases like this? It’s time to solve some serial murders and who better than a pianist to get the job done. We’re discussing Dario Argento’s classic Italian slasher film “DEEP RED” from 1975 starring David Hemmings and Daria Nicolodi with proggy jams by Giorgio Gaslini & Goblin. The streets are running a very bright red. A killer is on the loose and they’re very good at making mechanical dolls. Also they’re playing children’s music when they kill. They like to stick to a theme. It’s like a Batman villain from the 40s. How does it all connect with that terrifying Christmas Day? Sit through it and then hear us tell the tale shock by shock. They’re trying to kill me, yeah? Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

Just before we get into the meat of the Christmas season we’re gifting you early with a movie talk every day this week and let’s close out a very COMFORT FOOD theme November with one of the most well regarded films about a small town that ever was. In Anarene, nothing really changes and we’ve all know plenty of Jacys and Duanes and Sonnys so some of the ups and downs in the 1971 film “The Last Picture Show” might be familiar to you. Directed by Peter Bogdanovich and co-written by Larry McMurtry who wrote the original novel. Filmed in Larry McMurty’s home town of Archer Texas and launching several careers like Cybill Shepherd, Jeff Bridges and Timothy Bottoms and redefining the careers of others like Ben Johnson, Ellen Burstyn and Cloris Leachman. A straight shooting movie with no overflowing saccharine (well, maybe a dash) and not much animosity (well, maybe some). Small town flicks don’t get much better than this. Which person in this movie is the most like you? Don’t say Sam the Lion. There’s not enough of those guys out there. You’re probably a Billy. That’s not meant to be an insult. Billy is the most innocent. Just be the Billy and stay out of traffic, ok? Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

For November’s theme of COMFORT FOOD we’re revisiting movies of our youth and analyzing inspirational features featuring actors portraying characters with intellectual disabilities and it all culminates into this particular discussion which covers both bases quite nicely. The 1994 Robert Zemeckis film “Forrest Gump” starring Tom Hanks was a huge hit that landed a best picture Academy Award. It’s an inspirational piece bookended by a feather that features a simple (dumb) man living an extraordinary life that he recounts to folks sitting on a park bench and nobody seems to recognize him despite the fact that he’s an All-American college football player, a Medal of Honor winner, an international Ping Pong superstar, the owner of a very successful shrimping boat business and a guy that ran coast to coast for three years very publicly. He also gets laid only one time to a girl with AIDS but doesn’t get it but he does get to raise the AIDS baby all by himself. I gotta remember to go easy on Jenny. She had a horrible childhood. She should have been in that room with Forrest inventing dances for Elvis. This movie still kind of hits even if it’s even cheesier than you might recall. Funny for, perhaps, some unintentional reasons. He dropped the dime on Watergate, y’know? Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

For November’s theme of COMFORT FOOD we wanted to try and keep it clean. We didn’t even come close. Every episode says “fuck” at least 12 times. So many “shits”. There’s always a “cunt” popping up randomly. Revisiting and discussing films that meant a lot to our childhood just reminded as that we were also crude as children. So let’s get crude with a movie that actually meant a lot early in Bob and Angela’s relationship. For years, whenever they would travel and stay in a hotel, they would randomly turn on the hotel room cable and inevitably find the 2008 comedy “Role Models” directed by David Wain and starring Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott amongst several other comedy stalwarts of the day. They couldn’t possibly watch anything else once they discovered that “Role Models” was on. Maybe it passed you by? On the surface, it seems indistinguishable from several comedies throughout the 2000s. While there are tropes, we feel that this one stands out pleasantly. These types of comedies have quietly faded from the current movie theater landscape. People might claim “woke” is to blame but the reality is that those brands of comedies just got very stale. They were beat into the ground. All the quirky jokes are in superhero and fantasy movies now and that’s also starting to feel quite stale. The future of comedy at the movies has yet to really reveal itself and it will have to be something fresh and unique to catch the spark again. Anyway…”Role Models” is kinda funny. Check it out. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

We’re dropping an episode every weekday this week to send off November’s theme of COMFORT FOOD and coast right into our Christmas selections. We start the week with Bob’s last nostalgia selection and there is truly none more nostalgic for a young Bob Sham than this ode to cartoon history in the form of a noir romp in the 1988 Robert Zemeckis film “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” starring Bob Hoskins and Christopher Lloyd with the vocal talents of Charles Fleischer and Kathleen Turner featuring animation by Richard Williams. Big credit goes to Steven Spielberg as well who used his weight to actually get Warner Bros characters, as well as a few other cartoon properties, onto a Disney production. Seeing characters like Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny, Betty Boop and Woody Woodpecker on the same project together was mind blowing to our young minds. The original character of Roger Rabbit was pretty great too but no cartoon character stood out of the pack quite like Jessica Rabbit. We were all horned up for this cartoon character at the time and she has never quite left our brains. Much of our nostalgia picks have been interpreted a little bit different in our adult minds but there’s something about “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” that still hits us as strong as it ever did. That poor shoe. Goddamn, Judge Doom was scary as fuck.  Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

For November’s theme of COMFORT FOOD we’re discussing the heartfelt fare of our moviegoing past as well as the sweet inspiration that is often found in movies where actors are portraying characters with intellectual disabilities. This discussion kinda goes both ways but we won’t say it’s overtly sweet. It may actually be one of the better portrayals of the sincerity and depression of a small town in the United States. Gilbert Grape? What’s eating him? Everything. He’s played by Johnny Depp and his brother,Arnie, is intensely played by a young Leonardo DiCaprio and this character is easily our most mentally challenged of the month. Not much to clown here but the focus doesn’t sit solely on DiCaprio’s shoulders as there is a good cast and story surrounding him. A big difference from our other “challenged” discussions. Once again, Europeans explain our culture to us in Lasse Hallstrom’s 1993 melancholy “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” and it stars a mess of talented people not the least of which being Darlene Cates who was cast after going on the Sally show and talking about her extreme weight gain and how she hadn’t left the house in 5 years. Hear us tell of it and learn about the Elmer Fudd effect. We can teach you so much. Just give your mind over to us. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

((NO SPOILERS)) - HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Stay home tonight. You don’t need a 50% off waffle maker. If your job is making you work on Thanksgiving then quit. Even if you work at a movie theater. You have our blessing. Thanksgiving is about being with family and eating too much and then falling asleep in front of the Lions game for an hour and then getting up and eating more. Be thankful for us because we’re giving you a special holiday drop that you probably won’t have time to see or hear until the following weekend. We’re thankful for this movie we’re discussing, the fresh-ass Eli Roth slasher gore-fest “Thanksgiving” in which a mysterious killer known as “John Carver” tears ass through Plymouth, Massachusetts one year after a horrid Black Friday incident shook the town to it’s core. Thanksgiving is Bob’s favorite holiday and make no bones about it, he was completely in support of the actions of John Carver. 100%. These people should have taken Thanksgiving much more seriously. We’re just thankful that John Carver is out there fighting back against the War on Thanksgiving. The villain here is Black Friday and people who put up their Christmas lights too early. You’ll fucking get yours. That’s a promise. HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

There isn’t much to grab onto out there when you need a good Thanksgiving themed movie. Off the top of my head there’s “Son in Law” with Pauly Shore. “Dutch” with Ed O’Neil. We got a new Eli Roth “Thanksgiving” slasher. The musical documentary “The Last Waltz” took place on Thanksgiving. “Hannah and Her Sisters” works but we’re not gonna make Angela watch any Woody Allen just yet. There is one that has risen up over the limited pack and it has slowly become one of John Hughes most well regarded movies despite it not having any teenagers making dramatic speeches. We’re breaking the show’s Steve Martin hymen with what might be the most well regarded Thanksgiving themed movie, “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” from 1987. Uptight Neal Pierce and friendly salesman slob Dell Griffith (played by the late, great John Candy)  wind up in each others company when a plane reroutes and lands them in Wichita causing them to scramble to get Neal home by Thanksgiving. I’ll let you guess what kind of vehicles they use on their journey. We got some distinct complaints and some high compliments in this warm holiday fare where Steve Martin does plenty of “fucking”. Chug it down like warm gravy with us.   Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

November’s theme of COMFORT FOOD has got us chugging nostalgia straight out of the gravy boat. Every Monday this month we’re talking about a formidable movie from our youth and this one hits that sweet spot for both hosts. You’ve probably heard everyone between the ages of 36 and 46 quoting the hell out of this movie. If you’re one of our children then we’ve definitely forced you to watch it at some point. Sloth loves Chunk. We all know this. How will our tired adult eyes and damaged  adult brains take in Richard Donner’s beloved 1985 kids adventure romp? We’re speaking of “THE GOONIES”, of course, and it stars a whole mess of 80s kid actors you’ve come to either love or gawk at. It had that catchy Cyndi Lauper song come out for it. Can the Goonies navigate felons and traps to find the treasure of the original Pirate Goonie known as One Eyed-Willy or will they lose their neighborhood forever? How the hell can an entire neighborhood just foreclose at once? Who does Troy’s dad work for to have this much power to get away with doing such things? We got some theories on that. The story is kind of strange but the adventure still feels fun. Hear us tell it.  Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

Admittedly, we’re in a strange hole with our film choices this month because we’ve watched some predictably saccharine and inspirational “challenged” movies in which actors play characters with intellectual disabilities. They don’t seem to get better. It’s supposedly COMFORT FOOD all month long and each movie cringes harder than the previous and we’ve reached the absolute valley with the prolifically panned “Riding the Bus with My Sister” directed by Anjelica Huston. Yes, the daughter of John Huston did this. It also stars Andie MacDowell as the workaholic who takes bad photographs and has been ignoring her mentally challenged sister as played by Rosie O’Donnell. Their dad dies and it brings the sisters together and the one challenged sister ends up helping the yuppie, bad photographer, sister “find herself”. It’s based on a true story from a book. Except the dead dad part. They added that in for spice. Also, “The Police” drummer, Stewart Copeland, did the music for this movie if you just want to throw in more random collaboration onto this thing. There’s always some strange hubris with these types of dramas but who is this story ultimately benefitting in reality? We can’t quite divorce ourselves from several questions regarding the truth and intent of the overall story of Rachel and Beth Simon. There should have been more dirt eating at the very least. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

The cinema of the mentally challenged as played by actors who are not mentally challenged is part of our family/inspirational selections for November’s theme of COMFORT FOOD. Maybe it’s 1999 and you met your mother for lunch at the Olive Garden by the mall and you decided to go see a movie and your mother sees that there’s a new Garry Marshall movie with Juliette Lewis and Giovanni Ribisi in it called “The Other Sister” and they play special needs children of Bohemian Grove candidates. It’s not what you would have picked but there’s no way your mother was going to watch any of the other movies that were playing like “Eyes Wide Shut” or “Existenz”. “The Green Mile” was ok, but when you talked her into seeing “The Virgin Suicides” she just thought it was kind of weird. She really related to Diane Keaton’s character and loved her hats. She made note that Tom Skerritt could park his shoes under her bed anytime. After the movie, the first thing she said was “I’m glad you’re not retarded”. You’ve been No Contact with her since Covid. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

It’s COMFORT FOOD selections all month long and we’re getting nostalgic on Mondays so it’s Bob’s turn and he picked a movie that he was so unbelievably excited for as a child that we can say with all honesty that, for the rest of his life, he was probably never as excited for anything as we was excited for the feature film debut of “TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES” back in 1990. Directed by Steve Barron and some fantastic animatronic and puppet effects by Jim Henson’s Creature Workshop. It’s hard to imagine that studios were so resistant to turning this property into film but, of course, it was a tremendous hit. It’s still a sight to behold even if it’s even cornier than you might remember. Plus you got a rat (pre-mutated by goop) practicing martial arts in a bird cage. And that Foot Clan lair??? No wonder New York was so gripped in this crime wave. The criminals got to skateboard all day and smoke cigars. What more do you need to inspire a life of crime? I’ll take the whippings from the Japanese men for unlimited arcade plays. I don’t care. They can whip me anytime. Cowabunga. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

We keep it family style for November’s theme of COMFORT FOOD and what better way to keep it clean than watching movies where actors play mentally challenged characters? Unlike “Radio” and “Bill” this next choice is not based on a true story so all of this was as intentional as could possibly be. These movies are saccharine by nature but they might have to amputate your feet after this one. They really thought they had a special award winner on their hands with the very blue (literally) “I Am Sam” directed by Jessie Nelson in 2001 and starring Sean Penn as “Sam” a man who with the mental capacity of a seven year old who raw dogs an adorable baby girl (played by Dakota Fanning) into this world. How does he get to have an apartment that nice in San Francisco as a single father working at Starbucks? This movie is pretty much an ad for Starbucks but even Starbucks, in it’s product placement, can’t pretend to pay a mentally disabled single father a living wage. Also starring Michelle Pfeiffer as an angry lawyer who learns a thing or two from this simple father and they might have fucked in some cut scene in this movie. We’re fairly certain. Does Sam get to keep custody of his daughter? Well, you’ll have to sit though many “choices” to find out OR you can hear us tell it. Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought

Open up your gullets because it’s time for some more mentally challenged COMFORT FOOD just as it should be for a November and it’s finally time to break the seal on a Made for TV movie. The true story of Bill Sackter is a brutal one about a boy, maybe a little slower than the other kids, being thrown away in an institution when he totally could have easily eked out a menial everyday life working at a gas station or a Lowes and having three kids with two different women. The first baby momma would be absolutely fucking crazy and one of the kids goes to prison for attempted murder but the other two get bachelor’s degrees in Theater at the nearest state school so it all balances out. We elect people dumber than the real Bill Sackter but Mickey Rooney’s portrayal may linger between “gump” and “totally drunk”. I’m happy to report that Mickey Rooney’s portrait as Bill Sackyer in Anthony Page’s 1981 made-for-tv movie “Bill” doesn’t even crack the top 10 cringiest roles in the man’s long career. Barry Morrow (who would later write “Rain Man”) is the man-handler of the Bill story. It’s a sweet story that’s supposed to go through you like warm milk, but are we lactose intolerant? Here’s the actual movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ6Am18Tf9Q   Here is the “Asian American Perspective” thing Bob was discussing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAafI9w7CY8   Subscribe to us on YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJf3lkRI-BLUTsLI_ehOsg Contact us here: [email protected] Hear us on podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6o6PSNJFGXJeENgqtPY4h7 Our OG podcast “Documenteers”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/documenteers-the-documentary-podcast/id1321652249 Soundcloud feed: https://soundcloud.com/documenteers Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/culturewrought