With the British monarchy at its lowest ebb of popularity since the week after Diana's death, we consider these two moments within the context of the wretched institution's ignoble history. We watch Christopher Hitchens' documentary DIANA: THE MOURNING AFTER (1998) - a controversial dissenting take on the Diana myth - and also discuss Netflix's THE CROWN and the Harry/Meghan phenomenon. In the process, we speculate how the existential threat facing this frankly worthless institution might lead to an unholy reinvention. PLUS: a rueful look back at James Berardinelli, the most popular web-based critic of the '90s.

"The British Monarchy Will Not Survive Late Capitalism — And Harry and Meghan Are Proof" by Luke Savage - https://www.jacobinmag.com/2021/03/british-monarchy-neoliberal-age-prince-harry-meghan-markle

Michael and Us

#222- Guillotine in Piccadilly

In this episode, we discuss the essential work of Jonas Mekas, author of the Cinema Journal column in the Village Voice, founder of the Anthology Film Archives, and torchbearer for experimental cinema.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to drop us a line at importantcinemaclubpodcast@gmail.com

www.patreon.com/theimportantcinemaclub

#227 - The Cinema Journals of Jonas Mekas

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

This week we focus on the film distribution company SOMETHING WEIRD and discuss how important they were in terms of preserving the forgotten corners of cinema history which include the likes of The Curious Case of Dr. Humpp, Space Thing and Bat Pussy. 

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to drop us a line at importantcinemaclubpodcast@gmail.com

Listen to exclusive episodes at www.patreon.com/theimportantcinemaclub

Check out Justin's other podcast THE BAY STREET VIDEO PODCAST (@thebaystreetvideopodcast) and NO SUCH THING AS A BAD MOVIE (@nosuchthingasabadmovie/ As well as Will's other podcast MICHAEL AND US (@michael-and-us)

Follow Will: twitter.com/WillSloanEsq
Follow Justin: twitter.com/DeclouxJ

#234 - The Value of Something Weird

Ward Anseeuw on the International Land Coalition report "Uneven Ground: Land inequalities at the heart of unequal societies.

"https://www.landcoalition.org/en/uneven-ground/report-and-papers/

1269: Land inequality, social inequality / Ward Anseeuw

We dive into the terrifying filmography of films that spawned from SNL characters and focus on IT'S PAT, THE LADIES MAN, HOT ROD and MACGRUBER.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to drop us a line at importantcinemaclubpodcast@gmail.com

Listen to exclusive episodes at www.patreon.com/theimportantcinemaclub

Check out Justin's other podcast THE BAY STREET VIDEO PODCAST (@thebaystreetvideopodcast) and NO SUCH THING AS A BAD MOVIE (@nosuchthingasabadmovie/ As well as Will's other podcast MICHAEL AND US (@michael-and-us)

Follow the Podcast: twitter.com/ImprtCinemaClub
Follow Will: twitter.com/WillSloanESQ
Follow Justin: twitter.com/DeclouxJ

#238 - Big Screen Comedian Failures Vol. 2: The SNL Films

Martin Scorsese's new Netflix documentary PRETEND IT'S A CITY (2021) is nothing more or less than a series of jokes and riffs by former writer and current professional curmudgeon Fran Lebowitz. We take a dive into this New York institution and discover what happens when a legendary wit is sorely lacking a worldview. PLUS: new lockdown restrictions, what happens to politics and the media post-Trump, and Marvel vs. 1950s America.

"Pretend It's an Insight" by Will Sloan - https://willsloanesq.wordpress.com/2021/01/10/pretend-its-an-insight/

#201 - Pretend It's an Insight

The story of two men competing for the world Donkey Kong championship becomes a metaphor for so much in society, from celebrity culture to institutional power. We revisit THE KING OF KONG: A FISTFUL OF QUARTERS (2007) and celebrate two universal archetypes: Steve Wiebe and Billy Mitchell. PLUS: fiery hot takes on the Golden Globes, the Democrats' impending midterm strategy, and the lingering discourse on the Bernie mittens meme.

"PIXEL BURN - A King, Konquered: The Fall of Billy Mitchell" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNLqrOqUtEM&ab_channel=Bitscreed

#207 - A Fistful of Quarters

And introducing, on the ones and twos, it’s RICK RUBIN. One of the superstar producers of the last forty years, Rubin went from Long Island punk to hip-hop pioneer in the 80’s, founding Def Jam Records out of his dorm room with Russell Simmons. He’d go on to produce some of the top recording artists of his era, ranging from Beastie Boys to Neil Diamond, LL Kool J to Metallica, and co-head Columbia Records. And today we’re joined by producer Jesse Cannon to learn all about Rubin from the book “Rick Rubin in the Studio” by Jake Brown

Check out Jesse’s YouTube channel and other work here:
www.Musformation.com
www.Jessecannon.com

SONGS IN ORDER:
T La Rock & Jazzy Jay - It’s Yours
LL Cool J - I Need A Beat
Beastie Boys - Rhymin & Stealin
Public Enemy - Don’t Believe the Hype
Slayer - Raining Blood
Danzig - Mother
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Suck My Kiss
The Chicks - Lubbock of Leave It
The Chicks - Gaslighter
Lady Gaga - Dope

And Introducing

#85 RICK RUBIN! (feat. Jesse Canon)

Support Pushback at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aaronmate​

After The Grayzone's Max Blumenthal reported on newly leaked documents exposing a massive UK government propaganda campaign against Russia, Twitter added an unprecedented warning label that the material "may have been obtained through hacking." Although Twitter may have intended to restrict the article, the warning had the opposite effect: it quickly went viral. 

Max Blumenthal and Aaron Maté discuss the suppression effort and the damning UK government leaks at the heart of it. After years of fear-mongering about Russian interference in Western democracies, these UK government files expose a sprawling propaganda effort that explicitly aims to "weaken" Russia. The documents reveal that this propaganda campaign has also enlisted major media outlets Reuters and the BBC, as well as the NATO member state-funded website Bellingcat. 

Guest: Max Blumenthal, editor of The Grayzone and author of "The Management of Savagery."

As leaks expose UK op to 'weaken' Russia, suppression of Grayzone reporting backfires

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