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Michael and Us

The adventure begins as Will Sloan and Luke Savage revisit Michael Moore's little-seen documentary about his 2004 "Slacker Uprising" tour.

#1 - Slacker Uprising

Will and Luke go back to the beginning and revisit arguably the only Michael Moore film that a sensible person might still watch in the year 2016.

#2 - Roger & Me

Will and Luke's depressing journey through the oeuvre of Michael Moore makes an obligatory stop at the master's one and only fiction film. Our heroes dig up a poorly-regarded and mostly forgotten comedy from 20+ years ago only to bury it all over again. In the process, they explore its class politics, its post-Gulf War media satire, and its status as a Clinton-era "End of History" relic.

#3 - Canadian Bacon

Michael Moore went from chronicling the downfall of Flint, Michigan to documenting his own friggin book tour in THE BIG ONE, his first feature-length documentary after ROGER & ME. Will and Luke discover that this forgotten relic of the Clinton era is forgotten for a reason, but still find plenty to say about neoliberalism, film marketing, and their own wasted Friday night. PLUS: our heroes pinpoint possibly the worst scene(s) in any Michael Moore movie.

#4 - The Big One

It was the movie that blew our heroes' minds when they were teenagers - but does it hold up? This week, Will Sloan, Luke Savage, and special guest Chris Berube revisit Michael Moore's Oscar-winning BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE. These three Canadians will unlock the doors... of your hearts.

#5 - Bowling For Columbine w/ Chris Berube

PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/41305114

Since the beginning, one of the functions of the podcast has been to reevaluate people, ideas, and cultural phenomena that were important to us when we were younger. And so, we finally get to Woody Allen. We discuss how the allegations against him have impacted how we view his work, and explore the implications of his "whatever works" philosophy. We also watch one of his best and darkest films, CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS (1989), and debate its vision of morality in a godless universe. PLUS: Ed Markey defeats Joe Kennedy, and one of our hosts pines for the Jerry Lewis Telethon.

PREVIEW - #169 - Deconstructing Woody

PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/42221857

By popular demand, we tackle the Russophobic kitsch of INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL (2008), examining how the franchise's uncritical perspective on old-fashioned entertainment leads to an uncritical acceptance of its values. PLUS: fiery hot takes on Trump's tax returns and the first Biden/Trump presidential debate.

PREVIEW - #173 - Cold Warrior

What does it mean to be "America's Critic"? What does it take to be the most powerful critic the world has ever known? Several months back we discussed "Siskel & Ebert," but now we turn our attention specifically to Roger Ebert, the Pulitzer-winner who may forever be America's best-known film critic. We watch the Ebert documentary LIFE ITSELF (2014), and ponder the movie's questionable assertion that "He did not get caught up in certain ideologies of what cinema should be." PLUS: why are liberals sending thoughts and prayers to the president?

NOTE: As a special experiment for the month of October 2020, we will be posting two episodes per week - one free, one Patreon-exclusive. Like the show and want more? Go to https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus.

Episode #152 ("Rule of Thumb" Part 1) - https://soundcloud.com/michael-and-us/152-rule-of-thumb

"Roger Ebert's Zero-Star Movies" by Will Sloan - https://hazlitt.net/feature/roger-eberts-zero-star-movies

#174 - Rule of Thumb, Part II

A former prickly TV personality tries to become a better man... a former president tries to refine his brand... on the pilot episode of the stupefyingly dull Netflix talk show MY NEXT GUEST NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION... WITH DAVID LETTERMAN (2018), the onetime innovator of late night is joined by Barack Obama for a gruelling conversation. PLUS: batten down the hatches for Ron Howard's "Hillbilly Elegy."

#178 - The Lame Show with David Letterman

A podcast about culture, politics, and our crumbling world. Hosted by Luke Savage and Will Sloan.

Exclusive subscriber-only episodes: https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus/overview