Michael and Us

Yes folks, it's another "Politics - what a concept!" movie, so strap in. When did America's news media lose its way? According to Jason Reitman's THE FRONT RUNNER (2018), it happened when Gary Hart exited the 1988 Democrat primary over a "personal indiscretion." Luke and Will explore why this movie was uniquely suited to land like a thud in a post-Trump, post-MeToo world. PLUS: Luke and Will reflect on the Golden Age of Toronto Twitter (circa the Rob Ford era), and Luke reports on Matt Taibbi's new book "Hate Inc."

PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/33038713

A benevolent patrician fights a vulgar populist in Tim Burton's game-changing comic-book adaptation BATMAN (1989). We discuss the film's distinctly Reagan-era vision of an urban hellscape, and theorize how Michael Keaton's Batman and Jack Nicholson's Joker symbolize two different style of corporate branding.

It was the best of decades, it was the worst of decades. Mostly the worst. We say goodbye to 2019 by discussing the year's most acclaimed film, Bong Joon Ho's PARASITE, asking: Why has such a rabidly anti-capitalist thriller been approved by Barack Obama, Elon Musk, and The Economist? PLUS: We reflect on what the 2010s meant to film and politics.

PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/32631287

We descend into madness discussing STAR WARS EPISODE IX: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER, a movie that symbolizes just about everything wrong with culture today.

It's the annual Michael & Us Christmas Spectacular, and have we got a holiday turkey for you! A Vietnam vet tackles his deadliest battle yet - the War on Christmas - in the hilarious right-wing drama LAST OUNCE OF COURAGE (2012). Watch a disgruntled Christian reclaim Christmas and fight the ACLU in this, the first film we've ever watched that is officially Chuck Norris Approved®. PLUS: we measure the state of the #NeverTrump movement.

"What's Left of Liberalism" by Sam Adler-Bell - https://theoutline.com/post/7687/what-is-left-of-liberalism-ahmari-french

WATCH "Last Ounce of Courage" on YouTube! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2biJXs37mY

PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/32296799Pumped after our deep-dive into The West Wing, we decide to tackle Aaron Sorkin's less-successful attempt to capture the zeitgeist, THE NEWSROOM. We revisit its pilot episode, in which Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels) epically owns a college girl by telling her that America is not great. In the process, we explore why the show is both an embarrassing relic of 2012, and also an ominous foreshadowing of the current-day Extremely Online Alt-Center. PLUS: Luke trembles with anticipation on the eve of the British election, while Will suffers an acute case of Star Wars Fever.

You know it. You love. You hate it. You love to hate it, and vice versa. It's THE WEST WING, the show that helped set the limits of the liberal imagination for a generation. Luke works through his long and complicated relationship to Aaron Sorkin's world by subjecting Will to three seminal Season 4 episodes: "Debate Camp," "Game On," and "Election Night." PLUS: Will considers the life and legacy of the late film critic John Simon, and Luke tells horrifying tales of seeing David Brooks at a recent instalment of the Munk Debate.

"The Obamanauts" by Corey Robin - https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/the-obamanauts

"How Liberals Fell in Love with The West Wing" by Luke Savage - https://www.currentaffairs.org/2017/04/how-liberals-fell-in-love-with-the-west-wing

"On John Simon" by Christopher Bonanos - https://www.vulture.com/2019/11/obituary-critic-john-simon-1925-2019.html

PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/31947728

To atone for antagonizing comedy legend Eric Idle on Twitter, Luke and Will have a good time revisiting MONTY PYTHON'S LIFE OF BRIAN (1979), the most overtly political film from Britain's most famous comedy troupe. They analyze the film's skeptical view of religious and political groups, and its thesis that "You don't need to follow anyone. You are all individuals." PLUS: What's the deal with all those "How To Argue With Your Trump-Supporting Uncle" articles that pop up every Thanksgiving?

Luke visits his friend and cohost Will in Twitter Jail, where he has been consigned after tweeting a death threat against a Disney character. They take aim at the Disney Company and watch SAVING MR. BANKS (2013), the touching and inspiring story of how wealthy oligarch Walt Disney wrestled humble author P.L. Travers' intellectual property away from her when she was financially desperate. The boys also discuss their distaste for Tom Hanks and the Fraser Institute's interpretation of MARY POPPINS as communist propaganda.

PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/31616652

With the downfall of Don Cherry, the Michael & Us boys ascend to the position of Canada's Top Public Intellectuals. They celebrate by watching ALAN PARTRIDGE'S SCISSORED ISLE (2016), a very funny mockumentary starring comic genius/Labour supporter Steve Coogan as his signature character, the reactionary talk-show host Alan Partridge. PLUS: Who's better - Hillary or Obama? The answer may surprise you!