Christopher Media

Can Dialectics Break Bricks? is the 1973 film from Rene Vienet which is a re-dubbing of the 1972 film Crush. The film re-tells re-tells the story of Crush as the story of a bunch of rotten bureaucrats who have oppressed the working class long enough. The workers look forward to a day when the landlords will all hang, priests will be cut in two and the churches will be burned to the ground. Spencer Parsons and Rob St. Mary join Mike to to discuss the Situationist movement, detournement, and its modern implications.

We’re looking at the 1971 film from James Bidgood, Pink Narcissus. It’s a wordless film which tells the story of a young hustler played by Bobby Kendall who engages in a series of fantasies throughout an evening. The film was shot on 8mm but still presents a lush, fantastic color palette and incredible sets that are even more incredible when the viewer remembers that this was all shot in Bidgood’s Hell’s Kitchen apartment. Maitland McDonagh and David Kittredge join Mike to discuss lyrical pornography, New York real estate, and the importance of finishing projects.

Jess Byard and Heather Drain join Mike to discuss the Panic Movement and Fernando Arrabal’s freshman film, Viva La Muerte. It’s the surrealistic tale of Fando, a boy whose mother sold his father out to the fascists during the Spanish Civil War.

Daniel Kremer and Jarrod Labine join Mike to discuss The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart. Based loosely on Robert T. Westbrook’s book of the same name, the film follows the exploits of the unlikely-named protagonist who’s not very likable, Stanley Sweetheart (Don Johnson). He fancies himself an underground filmmaker and Lothario. The film follows him on his exploits as he navigates life, women, and the scene in 1970’s New York. Our episode features interviews with Robert Westbrook, actress Linda Gillen, and actor Brandon Maggart.

Bro, on this special episode of The Projection Booth we’re looking at the 2001 movie from R. D. Robb, Don’s Plum. The film remains officially unreleased in the U.S. while available legally in other parts of the world. The film stars a group of young actors known as “The Pussy Posse” including Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Macguire. It’s about a group of guys who bring their dates to the titular diner where they talk, boast, and engage in bathroom-bound monologues. Mike Sullivan (Shock Cinema, Cinema Sewer) and Andrew Rausch (My Best Friend’s Birthday: The Making of a Tarantino Film) join Mike to boast, debase women, and talk about the history of the film. Producer Dale Wheatley provides insights from behind-the-scenes.

French Month concludes with a look at Jean Rollin’s Lips of Blood (1975). The film stars Jean-Loup Philippe as Frederic, a man who, one night at a party, sees a photograph of a gothic castle that triggers a memory. He suddenly recalls a time when he was young when a young woman gave him shelter for the night. After that he’s plagued by visions of her and feels the need to reconnect. Maitland McDonagh and Samm Deighan join Mike to talk about Rollin, cinemafantastique, and Suck Me, Vampire.

French Month continues with a look at Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Le Corbeau. Also known as The Raven, the film was released in 1943 and made by Continental Films, a German company operated in France during World War II. It’s the story of the small town of Saint Robin which is plagued by a poison pen letter writer who torments citizens with scandalous details of their lives, turning people against one another and casting a net of suspicion across the entire region. Special guest Judith Mayne (Woman at the Keyhole) discusses Occupation Cinema in general and Le Corbeau in particular. Kat Ellinger and Ken Stanley help Mike unpack this incredibly fascinating film.

On this special episode of The Projection Booth we’re looking at a new series called Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All Time. Directed by Danny Wolf, the title might tip you off that this is a documentary about cult movies with an audacious title and scope. Rod Lott and Chris Stachiw join Mike to discuss this 5 1/2 hour, 3 part series.

French Month continues with a look at Alain Renais’s Last Year at Marienbad (1961). Based on a script by Alain Robbe-Grillet, the film tells the tale of three characters, M, A, and X, as they wander the halls and grounds of a vast hotel in Marienbad. What are their relationships? What are they doing in Marienbad? How does this film take apart everything that we think we know about narrative storytelling? We’ll try to figure some of that out as we go along. Jim Vendiola and Samm Deighan join Mike to discuss this challenging film.

On this special episode, Mike talks with director Andrew Ahn (Spa Night) about his latest film, Driveways. It’s a touching story of a mother and son who are cleaning up a relative’s house after her death. The son makes friends with their new neighbor, played by Brian Dennehy in one of his final performances.