Politics of Cinema (Aaron & Isaac)

We're celebrating May Day all month long by looking at various portrayals of workers on film.  On this episode Aaron has chosen Barbershop (2002) and Isaac has chosen The Molly Maguires (1970).

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What do 76 Days (2020), Men in Black: International (2019), Rebecca (1940), L.A. Wars, Virtuosity(1995), She Done Him Wrong (1933), Robo Vampire (1988) and Red Scorpion (1988) all have in common? 

They were all discovered (or re-watched) during our January Watch Challenge.

We also preview our February Watch challenge:

1. A film from the Afrofuturism genre
2. A film from a Black Female director
3. A Spike Lee film you've never seen.
4. Bonus: Pick your own film.

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On this episode, we focus on the year of 1965 thru the films; The Bedford Incident / Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill! / The Beach Party Report.  

We also discuss: The Sound of Music / Doctor Zhivago / Thunderball / Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours and 11 Minutes

Recommended films from the Beach Party genre: Bikini Beach / Pajama Party / For Those Who Think Young / A Swingin' Summer

Another Deep Dive episode and another return to the cinematic well of 1968.  This time we take a look at Sergio Corbucci's masterpiece The Great Silence.

You can stream The Great Silence on Kanopy or YouTube (but buy the Blu-ray).

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On this episode, we focus on the year of 1966 thru the films; Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? / The Shooting / The Endless Summer

We also discuss: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly / Django / RIde the Whirlwind / Time to Die / The Professionals / The Wild Angels / The Group / The Russians are Coming the Russians are Coming

Also of note from this year (from around the world): The Battle of Algiers / Alfie / Black Girl / Made in USA / The Pornographers / Blow-Up / Come Drink with Me

We're taking a look at Pre-Code Hollywood with a discussion about Blondie Johnson (1933).

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On this episode, we start off with some Genre Hunting - Hong Kong Kung Fu Films.  

Isaac's Picks: The One-Armed Swordsman (1967) & The Fearless Hyena (1979)

Aaron's Pick: The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)

Feature Presentation - Wanda (1970) Barbara Loden's one and only feature film as a director (and actor and screenwriter and a little of everything).  

Coming Attractions - on the next episode, we'll be discussing Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) as well as the Marvel machine.

For the last three years we've observed the month long celebration know as Noirvember, and this year is no exception. In 2021 we recorded an episode called Film Noir & Capitalism. For 2022 we went over to Japan and did two episodes looking at Yakuza Noir via Tokyo Drifter (1966) and A Colt is My Passport (1967). Last year we focused in on Neo-Noir with and episode on Killing them Softly (2012) and the roll of the 2008 economic crisis on modern American crime. 

This year, we're returning to the well of Film Noir & Capitalism by discussing Abraham Polonsky's Force of Evil (1948). Written and directed by an eventual victim of the Hollywood Blacklist, this film perfectly encapulate Polonky's own statement that "all films about crime are about capitalism, because capitalism is about crime". 

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On this episode, we continue our summer series taking a look at American Urban Landscapes on film. We take a look at John Sayles' City of Hope (1991). 

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This Halloween season we take a look at a recent film we hope gets to cult status soon, Green Room (2015). Anton Yelchin and his bandmates are forced to battle against Patrick Stewart and his group of Neo-Nazis. 

We get into the pros and cons of non-political punk bands, why the Pacific Northwest is such a haven for white ethnonationalists and when it's okay to swap out character arcs for a pure survival narrative. 

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On this episode, we start off with some Genre Hunting - Seventies Political Thrillers.

Isaac's Picks: Blow Out (1981)

Aaron's Pick: The Day of the Jackal (1973)

Feature Presentation - Captain America: Winter Soldier (2014)

Coming Attractions - on the next episode, we'll be discussing First Reformed (2017) 

Here's the link to Siddhant Adlakha's site that Isaac referenced during the episode.

Martin Scorsese's Marvel Op Ed

In case you want a point of reference of the MCU while listening.

As we hunker down and self-isolate, we also retreat to some of our favorite films and favorite film genres. 

On this episode Aaron and Isaac took a look at the Film Noir genre.  In particular they choose two very different Post WWII societies, United Kingdom and Japan.  They discuss just what those films have to say about their respective societies in the wake of unimaginable global destruction.

I Became a Criminal (aka They Made Me a Fugitive) (1947)

Drunken Angel (1948)

During our two part coverage of Uptight (1968) we included several clips from our interview with Mike Wendt from the Greater Cleveland Film Commission that pertained to the film.  

Here is the complete interview where we discuss: film productions in Cleveland, hometown pride, Paul Schrader, Cherry (2021), Judas and the Black Messiah (2021) and The Land (2016).

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Uptight (1968) is a Cleveland set, Cleveland filmed masterpiece that is ripe for re-discovery. It was co-written, produced and co-stars Cleveland born Ruby Dee and documents the political and social struggle of local revolutionaries in the wake of MLK Jr.'s assassination.

One of the topics that first inspired us to start this podcast, Resource Frontiers. Back in 2016, when Hell or High Water was released, Isaac and I were still working at our beloved art house theatre and our discussion of the film kept coming back to its multi-layered resource frontier setting. Settler colonial zones and the effects on indigenous populations were regular topics of conversations and, of course, Wages of Fear (1953) kept coming up too.

Since it took us so long to finally cover this topic, we have a newer film in the mix. Neptune Frost (2021) rounds out our coverage on this episode. Between these three films we've got a stone cold French classic, a neo-western heist film and a sci-fi Afrofuturism visual feast...in other words, an Isaac triple feature special. 

Here is the paper by Jason W. Moore that Isaac referenced.

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We're celebrating May Day all month long by looking at various portrayals of workers on film.  On this episode Aaron has chosen Car Wash (1976) and Isaac has chosen Salt of the Earth (1954).

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As we kick off our Summer of Sixties, we start with an overview of the decade and highlight two films in particular.

Agnes Varda's Black Panthers (1968)

Gillo Pontecorvo's Burn! (1969)

We're celebrating May Day all month long by looking at various portrayals of workers on film.  On this episode Isaac has chosen How Green Was My Valley (1941) and Aaron has chosen Empire Records (1995).

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It's that time of year...

We decided to focus on the recent trend in horror cinema known as Art House Horror by taking a look at Ari Aster's sophomore film, Midsommar.  

We also discuss two horror sub-genres - we look at Werewolf films via; When Animals Dream, Ginger Snaps & Dog Soldiers and the metaphorical zombie film via; Pontypool, Deathdream (aka Dead of Night) and The Crazies.

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Aaron and Isaac discuss why they haven't been covering the films of 2020 and then cover a film from 2020.  Steve McQueen has "created a whoa! level piece of cinema"*.  

Film #1 in the Small Axe series, Mangrove, is the topic of this episode and Mr. McQueen has given us a lot to think about; C.L.R. James, The Black Jacobins, Marxist social movements, political strategies to fight a colonial power and (as they say) much, much more!

*actual Isaac quote

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On this episode, we kick off our summer series taking a look at American Urban Landscapes on film. We're starting off with Falling Down (1993).  It's a mess, but it's an interesting mess.

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Our fourth and final episode in our series on the history and politics of the blockbuster film.  

On this episode we focus on the Transformers franchise, 300, The Passion of the Christ and the Fast Franchise.

We also touch on The Matrix, Hunger Games, The Sixth Sense, The Blair Witch Project, Gladiator, Spielberg & Tom Cruise, toxic fan reactions to Star Wars: The Last Jedi. 

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On this episode we get nostalgic, well Isaac does.  He makes Aaron watch the 1982 John Milius opus, Conan the Barbarian.  

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On this episode, we take a look at one of the most watched Netflix films of all time (according to Netflix), Adam McKay's Don't Look Up (2021).

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When it comes to great political films, subtlety is vastly overrated. Why not go all in and express a point of view? Or better yet, throw in a bunch of competing viewpoints and see how they bounce off each other. Sounds like the recipe for conflict, insight, drama, action-packed set pieces, and maybe a few killer needle drops. 

Alex Garland's Civil War (2024) teeters on the edge of greatness, and it’s maddening becasue it's so close. On this episode, we argue that this films was just one screenplay draft away from delivering full-on, grimy, 1970s exploitation gold. If only the writers of How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2022) could have done a polish - or even better, let them direct.

But don’t get us wrong, we both enjoyed Civil War. The mere fact that it even nods to an American left (albeit off-screen) is telling; it shows that leftist ideas are creeping back into the cultural consciousness. It's just a bummer that the Portland Maoists and the New People's Army weren’t part of the narrative.

Other recommended viewing: Sleeping Dogs (1977) and War Photographer (2001)

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This October we're diving into the films of George A. Romero.  Sure, he's known as the father of the zombie film, but he also made a fascinating vampire film that came out the same year as Star Wars - Martin (1977).

Isaac and Aaron also chat about what they've been watching this Halloween season. 

Isaac - Titane (2021), Abby (1974), Frenzy (1972), House of Usher (1960) and Viy (1967). 

Aaron - Haunters: The Art of the Scare, Halloween (1978), Halloween (2007) and Halloween (2018).

Book Plug: The Next Shift by Gabriel Winant

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It's that time of year...

We decided to focus on the recent trend in horror cinema known as Art House Horror by taking a look at the stunning debut feature of Robert Eggers, The Witch.  

We also discuss the slasher genre via The Slumber Party Massacre and It's Alive and the recent 1980's nostalgia horror trend via Summer of '84.

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While Isaac is immersed in his Arabic language summer camp, we're rebraodcasting our very first episode. 

In 2027, after 18 years of global human infertility and depression, the world is on the brink of collapse and humanity faces extinction. The United Kingdom, one of the few nations with a functioning government (Stiff upper lip chap!), is deluged by asylum seekers fleeing radiation and plague. In response, the UK has become a police state as the British Army rounds up and executes immigrants.

In 2006, Alfonso Cuarón gave the world the film Children of Men.  A brilliant adaptation of P.D. James less than brilliant novel of the same name.  

In this episode we get into the psychology of the long take, Maoist Urban Guerrillas, Nationalism, Xenophobia, graffiti as political world building, the role of children in society, power dynamics within activist organizations and Neoliberal verses Fascist governments.  Children of Men has it all!

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This year we celebrated May Day (a little late) by watching a Latvian worker-revenge-horror-film. Aik Karapetian's The Man in the Orage Jacket (2014).

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What do The Pink Cloud, Enter the Ninja, Safe House, Revenge of the Ninja, Citizen Kane, Ninja III: The Domination and Bound all have in common? 

They were all discovered through our #PoCWatchChallenge.

Up next, Watch Challenge #4 - Films About Labor from different decades. Films about the labor movement, the nature of work, relationship between bosses and workers, we want to see how these portrayal change through time.

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On this episode, we wrap up our summer series looking at American Urban Landscapes on film with a Double Feature episode.  We each bring a few titles that exemplify this theme and then put together a Double Feature (or two...or three) for the listeners.  

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As we celebrate 3 years of the show, we decided to take a look at one of our favorite eras of American film - the 1970's. We're specifically looking at the Vietnam Anti-War Movement as captured by a fictional film and a documentary; Milestones (1975) and F.T.A. (1972).

On this episode we discuss Francine Parker's documenatry, F.T.A. (1972). Once again, we're also joined by special guest Jim Miller. As we celebrate Parker's film as well as Jane Fonda's career, Jim helps us to tie together alot of threads:

• IPC Production Comany - from F.T.A. (1972) to Coming Home (1978) to 9 to 5 (1980)
• The Spitting Image: Myth, Memory and the Legacy of Vietnam by Jerry Lembcke
• The propaganda of the POW/MIA flag
• Jane Fonda's Workout Videos
• The Rambo film franchise

In F.T.A., Parker's camera follows the 1971 anti-war, vaudville-style show as the performers entertain over 64,000 troops stationed in Okinawa, Japan, the Philippines, and Hawaii.

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The idea of Humans Hunting Humans has been a story told through film since The Most Dangerous Game back in 1932. There is something about this kind of story that lends itself to a variety of social and political metaphors. 

Here we take a look at two films from two countries that have virtaually the same plot synopsis, but couldn't be farther apart in execution and their politics. Punishment Park (1971) from the United States and Turkey Shoot (1982) from Australia. 

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On this episode, we take a look at the hilarious and politically timely film Plan B (2021) from director Natalie Morales.

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On this episode, we focus on the year of 1963 thru the films; The Birds / Blood Feast / Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment .  

We also discuss: The Cool World, The Organizer, The Ugly American and Dimentia 13 

Also of note from this year: Cleopatra / How the West Was Won / It’s a Mad Mad Mad World / Tom Jones / Irma la Douce / The Raven

On this episode, we take a look at Park Chan-wook's breakthrough film Joint Security Area (2000). Upon release, this film was the highest grossing film at the South Korean box office. Now, in 2024, it ranks at number 65. This really illustrates just how popular cinema is in South Korea. 

Along with this film, we discus the rise of South Korean cinema around the world since 2000. From Oldboy to The Handmaiden to The Wailing to I Saw the Devil to Squid Game to Parasite...there's no shortage of dynamite cinema being exported out to the world. Not to mention the global dominance of K-POP.

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On this Double Feature episode, we take a look at films about strikes. As the WGA and SAG continue to strike, we thought it would be a good time to examine how Hollywood has protrayed strikes throughout the years.

We discuss; Norma Rae (1979), The Pajama Game (1957), Sorry to Bother You (2018), Harlan County, USA (1976), The Organizer (1963) and Chi-Raq (2015) and then put together a double feature (actually two) recommendation. 

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Isaac finally make Aaron sit down and enjoy some DTV action, focusing on the John Hyams' last two entries in the Universal Soldier franchise. Regeneration (2010) and Day of Reckoning (2012).

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We continue our 2023 series on independent African American auteurs that made landmark films with Jamaa Fanaka's Welcome Home Brother Charles (1975). 

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With the voluntary passing of Jean-Luc Godard in 2022, we decided that it's long overdue to take a look at one of his classics. Alphaville (1965) is a dystopian science-fiction film shot in black & white on the streets of Paris and is infused with Godard's politics of the moment. But, can Aaron convince Isaac that he actually liked this one? 

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As we hunker down and self-isolate, we also retreat to some of our favorite films.  Isaac has been impatiently waiting for Aaron to watch The Night Comes for Us (2018), Timo Tjahjanto's Indonesian action opus that also features fellow Raid/Raid 2 alums Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim & Julie Estelle. 

We discuss the surprising level of heart, overlapping character arcs, some of the bloodiest fight sequences ever filmed and the current state of Indonesian cinema.

On this episode, we focus on the year of 1967 thru the films: Bonnie and Clyde / Point Blank / The Dirty Dozen / Beach Red / Dont Look Back / Titicut Follies

We also discuss: The Graduate / In Like Flint / Cool Hand Luke / Who’s that Knocking at my Door? / Valley of the Dolls / The Producers / Riot on Sunset Strip / The Love-Ins / The Wild Rebels / It’s a Bikini World

Also of note from this year: You Only Live Twice (Bond #5) / Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner / Thoroughly Modern Millie / Doctor Doolittle / Camelot / Good Times / In the Heat of the Night

As we celebrate 3 years of the show, we decided to take a look at one of our favorite eras of American film - the 1970's. We're specifically looking at the Vietnam Anti-War Movement as captured by a fictional film and a documentary; Milestones (1975) and F.T.A. (1972). 

On this episode we discuss Robert Kramer's experimental opus, Milestones, and are joined by special guest Jim Miller. Jim was an organizer during this period and provides key insights into just what was going on in that space at the same time Milestones is being made. Spoiler - the film is pretty accurate.

Robert Kramer has said that his films would one day add up to a whole. That all his films portray a "consciousness moving through time and place, trying to survive, trying to understand. The continuous process of becoming”. 

In Milestones we travel around American with 6 storylines and over 50 characters to survey the landscape of post-Vietnam anti-war activists. 

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It's our 100th episode and to celebrate we're doing something a little different. This is a syncable commentary of one of the films that inspired this podcast - Boots Riley's Sorry to Bother You (2018). 

Sync up this episode with the film to watch along and hang out with us while we geek out over this brilliant directorial debut and biting social satire. 

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How Joe Dante's Gremlins (1984) documents the crisis of Reagan's America and how it places Trump as an 80's throwback.  

Articles discussed on the show:

Trench Warfare by Mike Davis

Cute. Dangerous. Asian Americans. "Gremlins" @ 35 by Wendy Allison Lee

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In 1987, Paul Verhoeven came to Hollywood and gave us all the Neoliberal critique that is RoboCop.  A violent image of dystopian future where corporations run public services like hospitals, prisons, space exploration and the police.  How absurd!

Ten years later, after making Total Recall (1990), Basic Instinct (1992) and Showgirls (1995) Mr. Verhoeven gave the world a "film about fascists who don't know they are fascist".  Starship Troopers (1997) was dismissed at the time as a film celebrating fascism instead of being the great satire that it really is.

Articles mentioned on this episode: 

RoboCop review by Rita Kempley

RoboCop cartoon series

Paul Verhoeven interview about Starship Troopers

Goosestepping at the Movies by Steven Hunter

Starship Troopers review by Janet Maslin

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Well, the US election happened...what better way to mark the occasion that looking at the high concept horror film The Purge: Election Year.  

Political leaders making backroom deals that fuck over the poor and working class.  Religious zealots attempting to kill their enemies.  Heavily armed white nationalist storm troopers targeting  activists.  Community organizers and street medics taking care of people cast aside by the those in power.

Has this franchise veered away from high concept horror and steered into modern day political allegory?  Yes.  Yes it has...

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On this episode we take a look at Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland (2020) and also the oddly negative reviews from some Leftist film critics as well as Armond White.  

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On this episode, we each bring a few titles that exemplify Communism on Film and then put together a Double Feature for the listeners.  

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We're celebrating May Day with a triple feature of very different films about factory workers.  Bill Duke's The Killing Floor (1984), Ron Howard's Gung Ho (1986) and the collectively made Finally Got the News... (1970).

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This October we're diving into the films of George A. Romero.  Sure, he's known as the father of the zombie film, but we're starting off with a look at his deeply personal 1981 film about a troupe of medieval knights who travel the land performing jousting events on motorcycles.  

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Given the results of the US elections, we thought it would be a good idea to look at a great work of art to help with context and see how filmmakers can play a role in confronting state repression. It's a film we should have discussed at some point over the last four years: Costa-Gavras's political thriller Z (1969). 

To state the obvious, this depiction of government conspiracies, assassination attempts, rising authoritarianism, the deep state, and a sprawling cover-up feels quite prescient. However, unlike your favorite YouTube channel, we discuss what the deep state actually is and how the true definition of corporatism is used in this film (and in real life).

Our discussion wouldn't be complete without Yves Montand's magnetic performance in this film and in the recording booth. Montand's illustrious career was at its peak as both actor and singer when he starred in this certified masterpiece of leftist cinema. Bella Ciao!

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We wrap up our series on independent African American auteurs that made landmark films with Bill Gunn's Ganja & Hess (1973).

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On this episode we get nostalgic, with the Hughes Brothers 1995 sophomore feature film Dead Presidents.  

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Luis Buñuel was a master at creating lasting images that stay in the viewers brain long after the film is over. He had a career that spanned multiple decades and working in multiple countries, yet he consistantly took aim at political and social elites. 

In his 1962 masterpiece, The Exterminating Angel, the acclaimed filmmaker crafts an allegorical comedy that confronts the socio-political realities of Franco's Spain. Infused with a surrealistic touch and a substantial dose of satire, the film allows for a multi-layered interpretation.

Plus, it's just plain funny to watch the rich fall apart and destroy themselves. 

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On this Double Feature episode, we highlight some of the horror films we've been watching this Halloween season as well as our planned double (maybe triple) features for Halloween night.

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On this Double Feature episode, we take a look at two of the greats from the best era for cinematic action - 1980's Hong Kong. On this episode we discuss the art of action and (oftentimes) convoluted politics of In the Line of Duty 4 (1989) & Righting Wrongs (1986). 

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On this episode, we're looking at two cinematic exampoles of the Palestinian expereince. One documentary and one fictionalized portrayal.

The documentary, Gaza Ghetto: Portrait of a Palestinian Family (1985), captures exactly what the title implies. We get the lived experiences from grandmother down to grandchildren as they recount their experiences ranging from the 1948 exile to the 1967 war to the 1971 “pacification campaign”. 

The fiction film is the very poorly titled, The Dupes (1973). It's an adaptation of Ghassan Kanafani's acclaimed book, Men in the Sun (1963). In this portrayal, three Palestinian men of different generations and and backgounds employ a fourth man to drive them past Iraqi checkpoints in hopes of getting to Kuwait and (hopefully) jobs. It's a fantastic example of realist cinema from Tawfiq Saleh, one of Egypts best filmmakers.

Links to things mentioned on the show:

The Accented Cinema book that Aaron discussed.

Solidarity Cinema

Palestine Film Institute.

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On this episode we dive into one of Isaac's favorite films of the 2020's, Michael Sarnoski's Pig (2021). Sure, on the surface it's a simple story of a man who just wants his beloved pig back. But, as Robin and Amir journey through the Portland culinary scene to find said pig, the film explores what it means to live a life true to oneself, the importance of rejecting marketplace expectations, and finding authentic human connections.

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What do 1968 < 2018 > 2068 (2018), Afronauts (2014), The Last Angel of History (1996), The Changing Same (2001), Watermelon Woman (1996), Eve's Bayou (1997), Bamboozled (1999), School Daze (1988), The Learning Tree (1969) and Welcome Home Brother Charles (1975) have in common? 

They were all discovered (or re-watched) during our February Watch Challenge.

Here's the link to the UCLA L.A. Film Rebellion program Aaron mentioned.

We also preview our March Watch challenge:

1. Listen to a commentary track
2. An Eco-Apocalypse film
3. A ninja film
4. Bonus: Listen to a score, then watch the film

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It's Double Feature time!  Isaac has paired up two eco-apocalypse films for this episode: Cornel Wilde's No Blade of Grass (1970) & Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke (1997).  

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It's Double Feature time!  Isaac has paired up two 1980's Class War horror films for this episode: John Carpenter's They Live (1988) & Brian Yuzna's Society (1989).  

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On this episode, we focus on the year of 1962 thru the films; Advise & Consent, The Manchurian Candidate and The Intruder.  

We also discuss: Satan in High Heels, Cleo from 5 to 7, All Night Long, Harakiri , Carnival of Souls, Lolita and Ivan’s Childhood.

Also of note from this year: Cape Fear / Birdman of Alcatraz / Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? / To Kill a Mockingbird / Ride the High Country / How the West Was Won / Man Who Shot Liberty Valance / Miracle Worker / Music Man

On this episode, we focus on the year of 1964 thru the films; Nothing but a Man / The Pawnbroker.  

We also discuss: Seven Days in May, Dr. Strangelove…, A Hard Day’s Night and Babo 73 

Also of note from this year: Mary Poppins / My Fair Lady / Goldfinger / A Fistful of Dollars / For Those Who Think Young / Two Thousand Maniacs! / The Last Man on Earth 

Wrapping up our October coverage of the films of George A. Romero with a discussion of Monkey Shines (1988), The Dark Half (1993) and all six films in the Dead series.  

Isaac and Aaron also chat about what they've been watching this Halloween season. 

Isaac - Curse of the Cat People (1944), Lord of Illusions (1995) & Angel Heart (1987).

Aaron - House (1977), Death Bed: The Bed That Eats (1977) & Halloween Kills (2021) 

Book Plug: Leatherface vs Tricky Dick: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre as Political Satire by Martin Harris

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As we hunker down and self-isolate, we also retreat to some of our favorite films and favorite film genres. 

On this episode Aaron and Isaac discuss what films they've been gravitating towards while on lock-down and how they select the films they've been watching.  From long forgotten Spaghetti Westerns, Kung-Fu Blaxploitation, Italian Colosseum films to British Military dramas...it's an eclectic selection of titles.

In the second half of the episode, they discuss the potential future of motion picture theatres by looking at the trend of film festivals moving to streaming platforms, studios versus multiplexes chains, the art house theatre circuit and when will people feel safe at a theatre.

This Noirvember, we are taking a look at some Yakuza Noir films from Japan. On this episode we're gushing over Seijun Suzuki's Tokyo Drifter (1966).

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We're back in the waters of contemporary cinema for this episode. Dear Comrades! was Russia's official submission to the Academy Awards for 2020 and the most recent film of Andrei Konchalovsky's erratic and storied career.  

From collaborating with Tarkovsky to directing a Kurosawa script to working with Stallone to Bryan Adams cameos to documentaries and tv work...still going strong at 84 years of age. 

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October has arrived and as we are wont to do here at The Politics of Cinema, we are diving into an approiate theme within the horror genre to celebrate. In the past we've looked at; Fascism in Green Room (2015), Humans Hunting Humans, Art House Horror, and the career of George Romero. This year we are heading into the thick of the woods to explore Folk Horror. 

We discuss a few classics of the genre, such as Witchfinder General (1968), The Blood on Satan’s Claw (1971), The Wicker Man (1973), and Ganja & Hess (1973). We also connect the themes in those early films to those explored in modern folk horror like The Witch (2015), It Follows (2014), Hereditary (2018), and Midsommar (2019)—before Isaac reins us in so we don't include every single horror film in this genre.

Our main focus is also on one classic and one modern example: Penda's Fen (1974) and La Llorona (2019). These two striking examples of folk horror delve into the complexities of identity, history, and the landscapes that shape us. In Penda's Fen, we find a pagan anarchist manifesto within a coming-of-age story set in rural 1970s England. With La Llorona, we see how the ghosts of the past exact revenge on the Guatemalan General who orchestrated an Indigenous genocide. Both films yield surprisingly upbeat results within their narratives—at least to us.

If folk horror piques your interest, we would also highly recommend watching Keir-La Janisse's documentary, Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror (2021).

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Noirvember concludes with one more Yakuza Noir film from Japan. On this episode we're dicussing Takashi Nomura's A Colt is My Passport (1967).

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This July 4th, celebrate with a true Leftist film that will have you on the edge of you seat with suspense, a pulsing score and politics that will have you debating the need for a diversity of tactics when fighitng the evils of capitalism. We're discussing the film Daniel Goldhaber's How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2022).

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Over the next few episodes, we're taking a look at some independent African American auteurs that made landmark films.  First up is Charles Burnet's Killer of Sheep (1978).

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On this episode we dive into a bit of Russian history and a bit of film history as we take a look as Sergei Eisenstein's Battleship Potemkin (1925).  

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As we work our way thru the 1960's, we'll take the occasional break from Hollywood to look as some other countries and films movements that helped the massive transition that took place during this decade.

Today, a very brief look at the French New Wave via two of the greats; Agnes Varda and Jean-Luc Goddard.

On this episode, we focus on the year of 1969 thru the films: Easy Rider, Medium Cool & Several Friends.

We also discuss: Wild Bunch / Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid / True Grit  / Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice / Midnight Cowboy / Model Shop / Putney Swope / The Learning Tree / Lions Love

Also of note from this year: Alice’s Restaurant / Burn! / Z / if…. / They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? / The Gay Deceivers / Blue Movie

Our third in a series on the history and politics of the Hollywood Blockbuster.  We're in the 1990's for this episode and we discuss Ghost, the return of Star Wars, Disney animation, Will Smith (aka Mr. July 4th), Kevin Costner and James Cameron. 

We also discuss: Twister, Independence Day, True Lies, Men in Black, 90's conspiracy theories and the continued trend of studio consolidation. 

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Over the next few episodes, we're taking a look at some independent African American auteurs that made landmark films.  On this episode, Kathleen Collins' Losing Ground (1982).

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On this episode we chat about a few films that exemplify the theme of Film Noir and Capitalism.  Underworld USA (1961), Never Let Go (1960), Mildred Pierce (1945), New World (2013) and Pickup on South Street (1953) are highlighted.

Then we dive into Jules Dassin's noir masterpiece, Night and the City (1950).

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This year we celebrated May Day by finally watching Warren Beatty's passion project, Reds (1981).

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It's time for another Double Feature!  This time we broke up the films into two separate episodes.  

In Part 1, we dive into Julia Reichert & Steven Bognar's Oscar nominated The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant (2009).  This documentary takes a Direct Cinema approach to...well the closing of a GM plant near Dayton, Ohio and what that means to the employees and the local economy.

We also discuss the state of documentary films over the last few years on the Art House circuit, the boom of true crime docs on streaming platforms and the entire catalogue of Citizens United Productions.

Join us for Part 2, when we will be taking a deep dive into Julia Reichert & Steven Bognar's Oscar winning American Factory (2019).

LSD has been portayed on film in a number of different ways. From the trippy visuals and gonzo narration in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) to the "how-to trip" guidance of The Trip (1967) to the POV death trip of Enter the Void (2009).

Here we take a look at how two LSD fueled horror films explore the cultural detritus of the 1960's ripples all the way to Ronald Reagan's America in the early 1980's. It ain't pretty, but it makes for some wild films.

Here's a link to the Lockheed Martin: LSD Case Study video that Aaron mentions.

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It's masterpiece time here at Politics of Cinema. We're finally discussing Masaki Kobayashi's Harakiri (1962).

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On this episode, we focus on the year of 1968 thru the films: Targets, Barbarella & Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One and a documentary update with Monterey Pop & In the Year of the Pig.

We also discuss: Rosemary’s Baby / 2001: A Space Odyssey / Faces / The Great Silence / Uptight / Night of the Living Dead / Wild in the Streets / Angels from Hell / Bullitt / Once Upon a Time in the West / 

Also of note from this year: God Respects Us When We Work, but Loves Us When We Dance / Planet of the Apes / Head / Psych-Out / Beyond the Law / The Killing of Sister George / The Queen / The Astro-Zombies / Finian’s Rainbow / Hell in the Pacific / The Night They Raided Minsky’s / The Swimmer / Vixen!

The fallout 2008 financial crisis has been portrayed on film in a number of ways; from documentary's like Iniside Job (2010) and Capitalism: A Love Story (2009) to ficiton films "inspired" by the events like The Big Short (2015) and Margin Call (2011). 

Andrew Dominik's Killing Them Softly (2012) takes a different approach. It starts with George V. Higgins' 1974 crime novel, itself the third in a series, that centers on a lower level crime syndicate in Boston. Then Dominik places that story in a 2008 New Orleans during the final weeks of the Obama/McCain presidential election. 

We get into the obvious metaphors that occur when organized crime is compared to financial institutions. But, we also end up discussing the various ways that Nationalism can manifest itself in America; from George W. Bush, to Obama, to Trump and Biden. 

We'll be dipping our toes back into this Systemic Risk topic, the intersection of the 2008 crisis and it's portrayal on film. So if you have any particularly intereseting examples to suggest (documentary or fiction), send them to politicsofcinema@gmail.com

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A few final thoughts on our viewing experiment that documented the years 1962-1969 in Hollywood along with a couple detours to the French New Wave and the Japanese New Wave.  

We also share our watchlists of favorite discoveries as well as films in our queue to watch immediately.

Uptight (1968) is a Cleveland set, Cleveland filmed masterpiece that is ripe for re-discovery. It was co-written, produced and co-stars Cleveland born Ruby Dee and documents the political and social struggle of local revolutionaries in the wake of MLK Jr.'s assassination.

It's time for another Double Feature!  This time we broke up the films into two separate episodes - and this is part 2.

On this episode, we’re watching Julia Reichart & Steve Bognar’s Oscar winning documentary - American Factory (2019).

We discuss the history of documentary sequels, Julia Reichart's Oscar speech, the parallel story structure, hyper-exploitation of workers, automation myths vs realities, Lean Production methods and how much fun it really is to stay at the Y.M.C.A.

Don't forget to check out Part 1 of this Double Feature - our episode on Julia Reichert & Steven Bognar's Oscar nominated The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant (2009).

We start off with a discussion of the current uprising in the United States.

Settle (settler colonialism) - Five Fingers for Marseilles (France), Utu (New Zealand), The Proposition (Australia).

Aaron - Activists Docs Whose Streets? (also mentioned: Pickaxe & The Miami Model)

Feature Presentation - First Reformed (2017)

Here's the link to a brief overview of Transcendental Style in Film as we discussed on this episode. 

Coming Attractions - on the next episode we'll be kicking off our Summer of Sixties with Agnes Varda's Black Panthers (1968) documentary and Gillo Pontecorvo's Burn! (1969).

On this episode, we continue our summer series taking a look at American Urban Landscapes on film. For this episode we watch Summertime (2020). 

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Over the next few episodes, we're taking a look at some independent African American auteurs that made landmark films.  On this episode, Cheryl Dunye's The Watermelon Woman (1996).

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American cinema of the 1970's is generally known as the golden age of the paranoid thirller. Specifically, the paranoid political thriller. The genearl idealism of the 1960's was met with increasing cynicism by the 1970's, but do these films actually go for the politics of the era or are they just dealing with vibes? 

In this episode, we focus on two films of the era; The Parallax View (1974) and Good Guys Wear Black (1978). Is it possible that an early Chuck Norris film has more to say about American politics than a Warren Beatty film that was made during the Watergate hearings? 

We also briefly discuss a number of other films from the era, just to see if they're providing vibes or real content. Films discussed include; The Day of the Jackel (1973), The Spook Who Sat By The Door (1973) [see our previous episode], Marathon Man (1976), All the President's Men (1976), Three Days of the Condor (1975), The Domino Principle (1977), The China Syndrome (1979), and Cutters Way (1981).

This era also saw a proliferation of Biker films after the box office success of Easy Rider (1969). Two that we discuss because of their Vietnam War connection are The Losers (1970) and Brotherhood of Death (1976).

We also discuss two European examples just to see how the comparison works; Revolver (1973) and The Assassination (1972).

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We conclude our 2023 series on independent African American auteurs that made landmark films with Claudine (1974). 

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Sources:

White Balance: How Hollywood Shaped Colorblind Ideology and Undermined Civil Rights by Justin Gomer

Daniel Amir Jackson article on Claudine

On this episode, we take a look at one of two Ridley Scott films to be released in 2021 - The Last Duel.  It's feminism and feudalism  in this #MeToo era film that is filtered through a 14th century France lens.  

We also mention a few holiday films that we watch this season.

Here is the Slate article Isaac mentions. 

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Our second in a series on the history and politics of the Hollywood Blockbuster.  We're in the 1980's for this episode and we discuss the Vietnam War trend via Good Morning, Vietnam, Platoon & Full Metal Jacket.  We then deconstruct the Rambo franchise for the conspiracy theory nonsense that it really is.  

We also discuss: Top Gun, Flashdance, Stir Crazy, Tootsie, Beverly Hills Cop, Three Men and a Baby, Big and the continued trend of studio consolidation. 

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On this episode, we continue our summer series taking a look at American Urban Landscapes on film. For this episode we watch The Plot Against Harry (1971). 

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It's that time of year...

We decided to focus on the recent trend in horror cinema known as Art House Horror by taking a look at the stunning debut feature of Jennifer Kent, The Babadook.  

We also discuss the vampires of films in the late 1980's via The Hunger, Lifeforce, The Lost Boys, Fright Night and Near Dark.  We also take a look at the year of horror that was 1980.

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We kick off a series on the history and politics of the Hollywood Blockbuster with a conversation about its origins in the 1970's (and a few films that were earlier).  We discuss Jaws and Star Wars, but mostly it's a lot of Superman talk.

We also touch on: The Sound of Music, James Bond films, The Godfather, The Poseidon Adventure, The Exorcist, Rocky, Smokey and the Bandit, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Saturday Night Fever.

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As we work our way thru the 1960's, we'll take the occasional break from Hollywood to look as some other countries and films movements that helped the massive transition that took place during this decade.

Today, a very brief look at the Japanese New Wave via two of the greats; Seijun Suzuki (Branded to Kill) and Nagisa Oshima (Night and Fog in Japan & Death by Hanging).

Also recommended: Kill! / A Colt is My Passport / Pigs in Battleships / Black Lizard / Genocide / The Pornographers / Tokyo Drifter 

It's Double Feature Time!  Isaac has an uncanny ability to come up with thematic cinema pairings and this episode is the first case we make to the public that displays this power.

In 1985, Chuck Norris and Cannon Films gave America the blue jean clad one man army it needed to fight off Russian invaders.  Invasion U.S.A. typified the rouge individualist mentality of a Reagan/Bush America and came out at the height of Mr. Norris' box office powers. One year after Missing in Action and one year before Delta Force.

In 2017, Wu Jing produced, starred, wrote and directed Wolf Warrior 2.  While most viewers in the USA are unaware of this film, it made more at the worldwide box office than Thor: Ragnarock, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 and Wonder Woman.  Wu's special forces soldier in exile gave the world a hypermasculine Chinese action hero unlike anything we've seen before.