The Projection Booth

Explore the dualities of morality, fate, and human frailty in Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989), Woody Allen's masterful blend of dark comedy and philosophical drama. To close out 2024 and our Patreon-requested series, Mike White welcomes Andras Jones and Keith Gordon for a spirited discussion of this haunting tale. With Martin Landau and Allen himself leading parallel storylines—one of an ophthalmologist spiraling into ethical darkness, the other of a struggling documentarian chasing unrequited love—the film weaves an intricate tapestry of guilt, ambition, and existential reckoning. Along the way, a blind rabbi offers wisdom (and serves as a poignant metaphor) as the characters navigate their moral crossroads.  

The episode features an interview with Woody Allen's friend and biographer Eric Lax who describes Allen's process and the evolution of Crimes and Misdemeanors. 



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--5513239/support.

Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth 

The Projection Booth is part of the Weirding Way Media podcast network. Explore more of our shows at http://weirdingwaymedia.com.

Mike is joined by co-hosts Father Malone and Chris Stachiw to sink their teeth into J.C. Chandor's Kraven the Hunter (2024), the latest cinematic adaptation from Sony's Spider-Man universe. They dissect the film’s portrayal of the infamous anti-hero (Aaron Taylor Johnson)), the performances, and its place in the broader superhero genre. The trio tackles the creative choices, the film’s fidelity to its source material, and whether it brings anything fresh to the crowded landscape of comic book adaptations.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--5513239/support.

Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth 

The Projection Booth is part of the Weirding Way Media podcast network. Explore more of our shows at http://weirdingwaymedia.com.

Dive into a neon-drenched dystopia as Mike is joined by Chris Stachiw and Heather Drain to dissect 1982's Kamikaze 89! This cult oddity, directed by Wolf Grem, is the fifth adaptation of Per Wahlöö's Murder on the 31st Floor, but this version catapults the narrative into the "futuristic" world of 1989. Together, the team explores the film’s avant-garde aesthetic, its sly satire on media and power, and the iconic performance of Rainer Werner Fassbinder in a leopard-print suit. It’s a wild ride through West German sci-fi that defies convention and genre.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--5513239/support.

Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth 

The Projection Booth is part of the Weirding Way Media podcast network. Explore more of our shows at http://weirdingwaymedia.com.

When cult cinema maestro Jess Franco turns his lens to noir with Downtown (1975), you know you're in for a sleazy, surreal ride! Join Mike White, Heather Drain, and Jessica Shires as they unravel the tangled web of private eyes, femme fatales, and Franco’s unmistakable flair.

This Patreon-requested episode, brought to you by the fabulous Pat Radke, dives deep into one of Franco’s lesser-seen gems. Is Downtown a gritty noir, an erotic fever dream, or something in between? Tune in to find out as the crew discusses its place in Franco's prolific filmography, its unique style, and why it deserves more love.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--5513239/support.

Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth 

The Projection Booth is part of the Weirding Way Media podcast network. Explore more of our shows at http://weirdingwaymedia.com.

Mike converses with Stephen Brotherstone and Dave Lawrence, the authors of the Scarred for Life  book series. They discuss the unsettling aspects of 1970s and 1980s pop culture that left lasting impressions on a generation.

From chilling public information films to haunting children's television and dystopian sci-fi, discover how these dark cultural elements shaped their acclaimed books. Tune in for a captivating discussion that blends nostalgia with insightful analysis of the media that scarred us for life.

Order your copy today at https://linktr.ee/scarredforlife 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--5513239/support.

Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth 

The Projection Booth is part of the Weirding Way Media podcast network. Explore more of our shows at http://weirdingwaymedia.com.

Noirvember 2024 ends with a bang as we delve into Stephen Frears's electrifying neo-noir The Grifters (1990). Adapted from Jim Thompson’s novel by screenwriter Donald Westlakd, this razor-sharp film stars Angelica Huston as Lily Dillon, a veteran con artist manipulating the odds at the racetrack. Her uneasy reunion with estranged son Roy (John Cusack) and his cunning girlfriend Myra (Annette Bening) sparks a volatile triangle of deception and betrayal in the high-stakes world of grifting.

Mike is joined by crime fiction experts Andrew Nette and Jedidiah Ayres to untangle this web of cons and double-crosses. Plus, executive producer Barbara De Fina and producer Peggy Rajski reveal what it took to bring this stylish, unsettling tale to life.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--5513239/support.

Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth 

The Projection Booth is part of the Weirding Way Media podcast network. Explore more of our shows at http://weirdingwaymedia.com.

Step into the weird and wonderful world of Crust as Mike sits down with actor, writer, and director Sean Whalen! Best known for his unforgettable roles in cult classics like The People Under the Stairs and Twister, Sean takes us behind the scenes of his latest venture—a bizarre and heartfelt horror-comedy about a laundromat worker, his insecurities, and a monster made from soiled socks.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--5513239/support.

Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth 

The Projection Booth is part of the Weirding Way Media podcast network. Explore more of our shows at http://weirdingwaymedia.com.

Yaniv Eidelstein and Will Youmans join Mike to discuss Avanti Popolo (1986), from writer/director Rafi Bukai. Set at the end of the Six-Day War, this poetic and darkly comedic masterpiece follows a group of Egyptian soldiers navigating the vast Sinai Desert on their journey to the Suez Canal. Along the way, they're thrust into surreal and precarious scenarios, exposing the absurdity and humanity of war.

We explore the film's rich cultural commentary and unforgettable performances. Plus, we welcome the film’s editor, Zohar Sela, who provides behind-the-scenes insights into the creative process and the enduring impact of Bukai's vision.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--5513239/support.

Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth 

The Projection Booth is part of the Weirding Way Media podcast network. Explore more of our shows at http://weirdingwaymedia.com.

#Noirvember 2024 shines a spotlight on Otto Preminger's Angel Face (1952), a twisted tale of obsession and betrayal. Robert Mitchum stars as Frank Jessup, an ambulance driver entangled with the wealthy Tremayne family. Torn between the dangerously alluring Diane Tremayne (Jean Simmons) and his steadfast girlfriend Mary (Mona Freeman), Frank is drawn into a deadly web of manipulation and deceit.

Jedidiah Ayres and Lexi Van Dyke join Mike to discuss this gripping exploration of desire and duplicity.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--5513239/support.

Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth 

The Projection Booth is part of the Weirding Way Media podcast network. Explore more of our shows at http://weirdingwaymedia.com.

On this special episode, Mike talks with actor/musician Dash Mihok a little bit about his career including his latest film, Armor (2024).  The film will be in Theaters, On Digital and On Demand November 22, 2024.

Learn more at https://dashmihok.net/


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--5513239/support.

Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth 

The Projection Booth is part of the Weirding Way Media podcast network. Explore more of our shows at http://weirdingwaymedia.com.