mike@projection-booth.com mike@projection-booth.com

May 1, 2024

Episode 683: Bowfinger (1999)

Episode 683: Bowfinger (1999) Guest Co-Hosts: Kevin Lehane, Rob St. Mary

We’re kicking off a month discussing comedy films with a look at Frank Oz's Bowfinger. Released in 1999, the film was written by and stars as the titular Bowfinger, a struggling filmmaker who, along with his group of misfit artists, makes a movie around the unknowing presence of unstable superstar Kit Ramsey, played by Eddie Murphy.

Kevin Lehane and Rob St. Mary join Mike to keep it together.

Listen/Download Now:

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Bowfinger on Blu-Ray

Music:
"The Magic Store" - Paul Williams
"Chocolate Rain" - Tay Zonday

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April 24, 2024

The Chasing Chevy Chase Podcast

The Chasing Chevy Chase Podcast
Mark Begley (Wake Up Heavy), Chris Stachiw (The Kulturecast), and Mike White (The Projection Booth) host the Chasing Chevy Chase Podcast! Join us on an exciting journey through the illustrious career of this comedy icon as we explore his groundbreaking roles, behind-the-scenes stories, and timeless contributions to the world of entertainment.

Each episode of the Chasing Chevy Chase podcast brings you expert analysis, and nostalgic reflections on Chevy Chase's most iconic characters in classic films like National Lampoon's Vacation, Caddyshack, and Fletch.

On our official first episode we're discussing Joe Camp and his Benji Empire which includes the film Oh! Heavenly Dog (1980) in which Chevy plays a private dick who is killed on a case and gets sent back to Earth not as Warren Beatty but Benji the dog.  He tries to solve the case of his own murder and continue wooing Jane Seymour

Episode 0: Foul Play:

Episode 1: Oh! Heavenly Dog:

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Subscribe today at http://www.chasingchevypodcast.com

Subscribe at Spotify
Subscribe at iTunes

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Episode 682: Demons (1970)

Episode 682: Demons (1970) Guest Co-Hosts: Samm Deighan, Emily Intravia

We conclude a month of discussing Japanese films with a look at Toshio Matsumoto's 1971 film Demons AKA Shura AKA Pandemonium.  The story of the film is part of the fabric of the larger 47 Ronin narrative and is the story of a ronin (Katsuo Nakamura) who is cheated by a geisha and how he carves a bloody path for revenge.

Emily Intravia and Samm Deighan join Mike to discuss this breathtaking, disturbing film.

Listen/Download Now:

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Watch Shura at Archive.org

Music:
"Shura No Hana" - Meiko Kaji

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April 17, 2024

Special Report: Civil War (2024)

Special Report: Civil War (2024) Guest Co-Hosts: Chris Stachiw, Father Malone

What kind of American are you?

On this special cross-over episode with The Kulturecast, Chris Stachiw and Father Malone join Mike to analyze the film Civil War (2024) and the work of its writer/director, Alex Garland. We discuss the film's oblique narrative and how it fails to reflect the current political powder keg of the United States.

Listen/Download Now:

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy The Next Civil War: Dispatches from the American Future by Stephen Marche
Buy How Texas Can Be Its Own Country by Johnny Vincento
Buy They Want to Kill Americans: The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency by Malcolm Nance

Music:
"Let's Have a War" - Fear

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In Smog and Thunder - Trailer from Sean Meredith on Vimeo.

Episode 681: Heroic Purgatory (1970)

Episode 681: Heroic Purgatory (1970) Guest Co-Hosts: Axel Kohagen, Earl Jackson

We continue our discussion of Japanese films this month by returning to the world of Yoshishige Yoshida and his 1970 film Heroic Purgatory. It's the story of Nakano (Mariko Okada). She returns home with a lost teenager, Ayu (Kazumi Tsutsui). Meanwhile, a man posing as her dad tries to get her back, causing Nanako's husband, Shoda (Naizo Kamoda) to recall his youth as a revolutionary. Like his previous film, Eros plus Massacre, Heroic Purgatory moves with its own logic moving back and forth in time in order to tell its story.

Earl Jackson and Axel Kohagen join Mike to try and parse this dense tale of revolutionaries through the mid- to late-20th century.

Listen/Download Now:

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy the Kiju Yoshida Collection on blu-ray

Music:
"Purgatory" - Vangelis

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April 12, 2024

ICYMI - Bonus Episodes Galore!


In case you missed it, we occasionally do some bonus episodes that don't always get a mention on the website. Here's a whole batch of them from the beginning of 2024 until now!

Stephen Moyer on A Bit of Light (2022):

Laura Hudock on Girls State (2024):

Kim's Video:

Bill Plympton on The Tune (1992):

Peter Flynn on Film Is Dead! Long Live Film! (2024):

Nicholas Wright on French Girl (2024):

Terry Hayes on The Year of the Locust:

Dan Partland on God & Country:

Roxine Helberg on Cold Copy (2023):

Andrew Cumming on Out of Darkness (2024):

Peter Hutchings on Which Brings Me to You (2024):

Thomas Vincent on Role Play (2024):

Riccardo Scamarcio on Race for Glory (2024):

Bruce Vilanch Makes the Yuletide Gay:


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April 10, 2024

Episode 680: Millennium Actress (2001)

Episode 680: Millennium Actress (2001) Guest Co-Hosts: Earl Jackson, El Goro

We continue Japanese month with a request from listener Vaughn Kuhlemeier, Millennium Actress (2001). Directed by Satoshi Kon, the film tells the story of Chiyoki Fujiwara, an actress who met a fugitive when she was a young lady who spent the rest of her life looking for him. She’s approached by a filmmaker and his cameraman to celebrate the studio she helped make famous. As they learn about her life they enter into her memories and films -- as does the audience. We move seamlessly between fantasy and reality in this beautifully animated film.

El Goro and Professor Earl Jackson join Mike to discuss Kon's work.

Listen/Download Now:

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Millennium Actress on Blu-Ray

Music:
"rotation (LOTUS-2)" - Susumu Hirasawa

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April 3, 2024

Episode 679: R100 (2013)

Episode 679: R100 (2013) Guest Co-Hosts: Samm Deighan, Jim Vendiola

We are kicking off a month dedicated to Japanese Film with a look at Hitoshi Matsumoto’s 2013 film R100 .  It’s the story of a man (Nao Ă”mori) who makes a contract with an organization called Bondage.  For a year they’ll surprise him with appearances from a variety of dominatrices who will attack and humiliate him at random.  When they begin to show up where he works and lives he tries to cancel the contract but finds this impossible. 

This was a suggestion from Jim Vendiola who joins Mike along with Samm Deighan to discuss this hilarious film.

Listen/Download Now:

Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy R100 on DVD

Music:
"Friday Night" - Arabesque
"Life" - Down Town Boogie-Woogie

Watch: