Cinebuds

We've got unicorns on the brain! 🦄On this episode, Dori and Kpolly wrangle their thoughts around the mythically weird and wild recent release, Death of a Unicorn. Forget those glittery gallopers you might be used to. This one from A24 serves up some serious "don't mess with magical creatures" vibes.Our cinematic duo chat about whether this flick gives them the same excited feeling as those old-school Miramax days (you know, before... that) and even pit it against the legendary Cocaine Bear. High praise or low bar? You gotta listen to find out!Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Co.

We’re a scant two days into April, and Milwaukee Film has lined up a couple series that will keep your eyes glued to the big screen throughout the month — one of which gets all of our attention on this episode of Cinebuds.Because they’re naturally colorful characters, Dori and Kpolly of course wanted to talk about “Animation April,” which will cover nearly 40 years of the art form that brings the fantastic to life at theaters everywhere. The Milwaukee Film series focuses intently on one particular theater: The Oriental, which will roll out nine selections over the next several weeks.“Animation can fascinate audiences both young and old,” Milwaukee Film’s Black Lens programmer Ty Williams said in a release. “From painstakingly made claymation to visually mind blowing anime, these films have been made with care from some of the greatest creatives in the industry.” April 3 at 7 p.m. — Ghost in the Shell April 3-5 at 9 p.m. — Cowboy Bepop: The Movie April 5-6 at 3 p.m. — The Land Before Time April 10-12 at 9 p.m. — Mindgame April 11 at 3 p.m. — Flow April 12-13 at 3 p.m. — The Prince of Egypt April 13 at noon and 6 p.m. — Flow April 17-19 at 9 p.m. — Paprika April 18 at 4 p.m. — Memoir of a Snail April 19-20 at 3 p.m. — The Last Unicorn April 20 at 6 p.m. — Memoir of a Snail

On this episode, we dive into the new concert film Lifers with two of the people who know it best because they lived it: Local H's Scott Lucas and cinematographer Wes Knot.They talk with Radio Milwaukee's Dori Zori about how the idea for Lifers came about during Local H's COVID-delayed tour and how Lucas wanted to create something beyond a typical concert video, drawing inspiration from movies like Goodbye Dragon Inn and Slacker. What they ended up with is a unique blend of live performance footage from their final tour stop at the Metro in Chicago and narrative vignettes featuring both actors and real concertgoers.Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Co.

We don’t exactly keep rock-solid statistics for this sort of thing, but to the best of our recollection, this episode of Cinebuds sets a new land-speed record for sheer number of movies mentioned in a single episode. Given the topic, that shouldn’t come as a surprise.In addition to being a Cinebud, Dori Zori is 88Nine’s morning host and — this next one is an unofficial title — queen of the station’s International Women’s Day programming. She got that particular tradition started a decade ago, putting her passion for female, femme and female-identifying artists on the air for all to hear.So you know we weren’t going to let March pass by without a Cinebuds episode devoted to impactful women in the movie industry. Dori and Kpolly name drop more than 30 films during their chat, in addition to giving general co-signs to the work of Marlene Dietrich and Katharine Hepburn. They also point out a few individuals who may not be quite as well-known to movie lovers, like film editor Thelma Schoonmaker, who has worked alongside director Martin Scorsese for more than five decades.We did our best to collect all the movies they mentioned and sort them in the lists below. Take a look at your options and host your own screening this March and all year round.Women’s History Month moviesStarring roles 9 to 5, starring Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda Coffy, starring Pam Grier (showing at the Oriental Theatre from March 20-22) Stormy Weather, starring Lena Horne Gaslight, starring Ingrid Bergman A League of Their Own, starring Geena Davis Private Benjamin, starring Goldie Hawn Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, starring Carrie Fisher Director’s cut The Future, directed by Miranda July Kajillionaire, directed by Miranda July Me and You and Everyone We Know, directed by (and starring) Miranda July Certain Women, directed by Kelly Reichardt First Cow, directed by Kelly Reichardt You Were Never Really Here, directed by Lynne Ramsay Lemon, directed by Janicza Bravo Zola, directed by Janicza Bravo The Hurt Locker, directed by Kathryn Bigelow The Fire Inside, directed by Rachel Morrison Behind the scenes The Departed, edited by Thelma Schoonmaker (showing at the Oriental Theatre on March 25) Black Panther, cinematography by Rachel Morrison Fruitvale Station, cinematography by Rachel Morrison Dope, cinematography by Rachel Morrison

CineAre you about to experience the most adorable episode of Cinebuds ever? It’s hard to say definitively, but considering the podcast has somehow never reviewed a film from the Paddington Cinematic Universe, the cute factor will be pretty high for this one.The latest entry in the series featuring the duffle-coat-wearing ursine, Paddington in Peru, puts the premise right there in the title. Paddington receives some concerning news about his Aunt Lucy from the Home for Retired Bears in and crosses an ocean — with the Brown family in tow — to learn that she’s vanished. So, with help from Antonio Banderas, they set out to find her. And maybe discover an ancient treasure.In a very on brand sort of way, both of our cuddly hosts came into this episode as fans of the previous Paddington movies. One of them even listens to the voice of Ben Wishaw (as Paddington, of course) at bedtime because it’s “delightful and gentle and kind.”Not to give too much away, but only two of those adjectives apply to Paddington in Peru. Whether it’s because the previous films set a very high bar or the latest entry didn’t quite coalesce the way those others did, Dori and Kpolly weren’t quite as tickled this time around.Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Garage Door Company.

When you subtitle your film The Burden of Black Genius, it’s clear you’re going to venture into heavy territory. That’s something Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson hasn’t shrunk from since adding the job title of director to his extensive resume, and it serves him well again in Sly Lives!To properly navigate the ins and outs of this complex look at a complex man, Dori and Kpolly call on the services of HYFIN’s Anthony Foster — a longtime fan of Sly & The Family Stone whose own family has passed that love from one generation to the next. The trio dig into Sly’s musical legacy, his struggles with fame and substance abuse, and what “black genius” even means.

The Captain America wing (heh) of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has carved out a logical space over the course of its four movies. Sure, they have the whiz-bang action sequences and solid acting performances as the other MCU entries — most of them anyway — but they’re also palpably political thrillers. The same is true of the latest entry in Cap’s corner, Captain America: Brave New World, which marks the first film with Anthony Mackie’s Falcon chucking that shield hither and yon. But, without giving too much away, the new movie is kind of like the new Captain America: not as strong as the old one and thus somewhat drained of its impact.Does that make CA:BNW not enjoyable? Far from it. If you’re generally pleased by Marvel’s output, you’ll likely be generally pleased by this one. Dori and Kpolly both count themselves in that camp, and in this episode they throw around such lofty praise as “very acceptable.” They also dig into the performances from a stellar cast that includes Mackie, Harrison Ford, Giancarlo Esposito and a possibly CGI Liv Tyler.You can hear all of their thoughts in this very acceptable episode by using the player at the top of the page or by finding Cinebuds wherever you do your podcast-listening.

Live from Milwaukee ...Too easy? Sure. But appropriate considering the subject of this episode, in which we find out hosts diving into Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music.While not a movie, per se, the documentary does have movie-ish qualities rolled up into its 3-hour runtime --- most prominently in the meticulous approach of its director, Questlove. The co-founder of The Roots has added to his already-good name by establishing himself as a top-notch documentarian, and in this project he uncovers behind-the-scenes stories behind the show's most iconic performance while highlighting its surprising influence on music history.

This year for Black History Month, Milwaukee Film tapped its new Black Lens programmer Ty Williams to curate selections that examine various aspects of the Black experience. We didn’t just want to share his picks (although we do that below), so we invited Williams to join this episode of Cinebuds to take us deeper into this month’s programming.As is usually the case when we talk with creatively minded folks, the thought process Williams went through when coming up with his list is as interesting as the list itself. You’ll hear about his background, which includes graduating from the film department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; how he balances between choosing films he loves and one the public will enjoy; and the personal favorites that didn’t make the final cut but are well worth your time.Check out the full lineup of Milwaukee Film’s Black History Month programming below (including ones that have already screened in case you want to track them down yourself) and grab tickets on the Milwaukee Film website. Feb. 2 — Drylongso Feb. 7 — Do the Right Thing Feb. 14 — Obsessed Feb. 15 — Who Killed Captain Alex? Feb. 16 — Nationtime Feb. 19 — Boyz N the Hood Feb. 22 — Get Out Feb. 23 — Malcolm X Feb. 28 — Glory

With some movies, you don’t want to know what you’re in for. Processing the unexpected is part of the experience, whether it’s a great twist (The Usual Suspects). or a jaw-dropping comedic element (Something About Mary). Other films absolutely require some form of preparation. Nickel Boys is one of those.Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Colson Whitehead, Nickel Boys — as the synopsis states — “chronicles the powerful friendship between two young Black teenagers navigating the harrowing trials of reform school together in Florida.” What the synopsis doesn’t say is how wrecked the movie will leave you.As Dori and Kpolly make very clear in this episode, the devastation is worth it based on the care and creativity poured into this film by all involved.

One of the prominent talking points around recent Best Picture nominee The Brutalist is the level of commitment it asks of its audience. Tipping the scales at a hefty 214 minutes, the film is thoughtful enough to include an intermission as it tells a tale about the complexity of creation, collaboration and capitalism.With more than three and a half hours of movie to talk about, our hosts have ample opportunity to share thoughts about the latest from director Brady Corbet — well, one of them does anyway. An unfortunate household appliance situation interrupted Kpolly’s attempt to see The Brutalist, leaving Dori as our lone Cinebud with opinions to offer.Fortunately, this just so happens to be a “very special guest” episode featuring not one but TWO podcast debutants: Milwaukee Film’s Kelsey Parks and Kevin Rice!We asked the organization’s technical manager and technology director to join us because this film is a bit of a technological marvel because of its … film. With an assist from IMDb, here’s a quick explainer:The film was shot entirely in VistaVision, a widescreen format that runs 35mm film horizontally through the camera to create eight perforation film frames, twice the size and resolution of standard four perforation 35mm. The film was then released in theaters with 70mm film prints. … This is the first American film in 61 years to be entirely shot in the format, the last being My Six Loves (1963). Director Brady Corbet explained: "It just seemed like the best way to access that period (1950s) was to shoot on something that was engineered in that same decade."It’s one thing to read about the unique filming approach and another to actually show it to audiences. Kelsey and Kevin have the insiders’ perspectives on what it took to get The Brutalist on the big screen at the Oriental Theatre, which is one of a shrinking number of venues across the country equipped to project 70mm film.Then there’s the workout the Oriental Theatre’s projectionists get with every screening. Each reel weighs roughly 40 pounds, and they need to be changed every 40 minutes without audiences noticing the transitions. It’s a really interesting look behind the curtain (or into the projection booth) that we’re proud to provide in this episode.

There are some things that are never a good idea. Eating Tide pods, for instance. Then there are things that deserve selective engagement — facing your fears, if you will.In the movie-watching realm, the horror genre falls into this general area because it’s frequently cited as the segment certain people simply will not venture into. Occasionally, however, a film comes along that at the very least merits consideration for taking that spooky road into the woods rather than staying on Rom-Com Boulevard.This episode of Cinebuds takes just such a detour as our hosts discuss the new Robert Eggers film, Nosferatu. Dori and Kpolly are particularly suited for this exercise, with both falling into the “not a big horror fan” camp and thus taking tentative steps into the genre from time to time.Spoiler alert (for the podcast, not the movie): Nosferatu is worth it.Will you need to be OK watching scenes involving thousands of rats? Yes. Does one of the main characters appear to be the physical embodiment of standing in the middle of a garbage dump in the middle of a fetid swamp and taking a big deep breath through your nose only? Sure. But, as Kpolly so eloquently states in the episode, if a film makes you feel strongly one way or the other, it’s time well spent.

When filmmaker Wendy Schneider started going to Aztalan Cycle Club in Lake Mills as a curious fan 20 years ago, there was a lot she didn’t know.She didn’t know she’d be moved by the young girls racing motorcycles on the quarter-mile dirt oval. That she would form a strong connection to one particular racer, Charlotte Kainz, and her family. That a car accident would derail the project and a tragic racing accident would bring Schneider back to it.It’s a story that deserves to be heard and seen, which is why we invited Schneider to join this episode and talk about the finished product, as well as the difficult road it traveled, in advance of the Angels of Dirt special screening happening at Times Cinema on Jan. 18.

A familiar face from the Cinebuds crew returns to join Dori Zori and Kristopher Pollard for a lively chat about their favorite films of 2024! Who could it be? Tune in to this episode to uncover the mystery guest and their top movie picks

Adapting a beloved Brodway musical is a road fraught with danger. Just ask Dear Evan Hansen. From box-office receipts alone (more than a half-billion dollars worldwide as of this writing), we know Wicked managed to avoid any sleep-inducing poppies and flying monkeys waiting for it on the path to success. But movie executives and movie audiences have very different definitions of “good,” and we only care about the second one.Dori and Kpolly went into Wicked with fond memories of the classic Judy Garland film, and yet carried a healthy amount of excitement into the theater rather than skepticism. For the most part, that faith was rewarded by a film that managed to balance its two assignments: entertain the audience and set the table for part two.You’ll hear all the details about their theater-going adventures (one involved an intrusive singalong, one did not) and their in-depth feelings about Wicked in the full episode.

Even before the casting was announced, we knew the success or failure of this film would hinge on the performance of the actor at its center. Ultimately, that task fell on the physically slight but thespian-ly broad shoulders of Chalamet, who in the past few years has established himself as one of the more reliably solid actors in Hollywood.From a breakout performance in Call Me by Your Name to the excellent Dune movies to the adequate Wonka, Chalamet consistently rises to meet the challenge in front of him.While vastly different films, Dune and A Complete Unknown presented a similar task: Fully embody a character with a rabid fan base ready to tear you apart if you set a foot wrong. As a result, Chalamet finds himself at the center of the critical discussion around the Bob Dylan biopic — as well as the discussion you’ll hear in this episode.The movie doesn’t come out until Christmas Day, but Dori and Kpolly managed to secure one seat at an advanced screening and — in the spirit of the season — gifted it to someone perfectly suited to cast a critical eye (and ear) toward the screen. Sam Taffel, in addition to earning a master’s degree in film, is a huge Dylan fan from a family of Dylan fans who grew up in New York City, the setting for most of A Complete Unknown. You’ll hear him lay out his bona fides at the top of the podcast before he launches into his well-informed review of director James Mangold’s film.

Traditions make the holiday season what it is. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. A treasured decoration hanging in a place of honor on the tree. The annual viewing of Stanley Kubrick’s psycho-sexual thriller Eyes Wide Shut.Maybe you don't venture outside the lines quite that much, but Milwaukee Film's "Season's Screenings" holiday series sure does. In honor of the adventurous range of selections being shown at the Oriental Theatre through Jan. 1, Dori and Kpolly have a spirited conversation about what we watch around this time of year, roast a few and unwrap the ones they might not be quite as familiar with (perhaps Tangerine or Tokyo Godfathers).To see the full lineup of films, along with links to purchase tickets, go to our story on the Radio Milwaukee website.

Our two very definitely not old hosts welcome another very definitely not old guest and first-time Cinebuds visitor: Molly Snyder from OnMilwaukee!!! The young-at-heart trio talk about the newest gem in Aubrey Plaza's acting crown, My Old Ass. In the new movie, an 18th-birthday mushroom trip brings Elliott face-to-face with her wisecracking 39-year-old self. When the older Elliott starts handing out warnings about what her younger self should and shouldn't do, she realizes she has to rethink everything about family, love and what's becoming a transformative summer.Hear what Dori, Kpolly and Molly thought about this time-trippy and other-trippy film, and whether they learned a thing or two along the way.

Movie studio A24 gets a lot of credit for injecting new life into the horror genre. Talk to Me, Midsommar, The Witch, Hereditary — whoever’s making the decisions over there seems to have their finger firmly on the pulse of what notoriously passionate (and opinionated) fans of the genre are looking for.Most recently, their loving gaze has fallen on Heretic and the familiar face of Hugh Grant playing a role that would’ve been deeply unfamiliar earlier in his career: unhinged psychopath.Grant brings his unique mix of charm and smarm and menace to the new movie, which shares that complexity by throwing philosophical ingredients into its mix of horror and psychological thriller. In other words, it does what A24 movies have been doing for the last decade or so. But does it connect with everyone?Our focus group of two shares their surprisingly divergent thoughts on this episode of Cinebuds.

When the worlds of music and movies intersect, we tend to think about concert films — gigantic spectacles glamorizing the wonderful side of fame, like Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé or Olivia Rodrigo: GUTS World Tour.On some level, we know that we don’t really know these artists. Yet it’s still jarring every time we get a glimpse at their actual lives, especially when we discover that these larger-than-life individuals often have problems to match.They don’t come much bigger than what indie-pop duo Tegan and Sara endured in secret for years while playing some of the biggest stages on the planet. They shared their story with the recent release of Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara — an eye-opening documentary now available on Hulu.Dori and Kpolly provide the two perspectives most people will bring to this film: Tegan and Film superfan (Dori) or total newbie (Kpolly). Fanatical is pretty much guaranteed to connect with the first audience, but what about the second group? The conversation between our cinematic duo answers that question and might just nudge you toward Hulu for a home viewing (and spook you away from social media for a little while).

Forget the chicken and the egg. Nevermind the sound of one hand clapping. Let's answer something truly difficult:What's your favorite Keanu Reeves movies?That’s what Dori and Kpolly bravely take on in this episode of Cinebuds, which takes inspiration from the Keanuthon currently underway at the Oriental Theatre.As you follow along with our duo’s typically high-minded conversation, ponder your own preference when it comes to the filmography of Keanu Reeves. Do you go for the clueless comedic version in the Bill & Ted series? The “in over his head” action star of Point Break and The Matrix? The “man of few words but many guns” from the John Wick series?Dori and Kpolly run through all the Keanus in this episode and hopefully discuss why Milwaukee Film didn’t include his best role — Duke Caboom in Toy Story 4 — in the Keanuthon that runs through the end of the month.

Dori Zori & Kristopher Pollard interview comedian Eugene Mirman (voice of Gene in Bob's Burgers) and discuss what they've been watching lately.

Dori Zori from 88Nine recently spoke with Micki Seinfeld, Director of Special Events, and Julie Lookatch, Marketing Director, to highlight must-see films at the 27th Annual Milwaukee Jewish Film Festival. The festival will take place from October 27th to 31st. For more information, visit the event website here.

'The Wild Robot'

First rule of bite club is to talk about it as much as you can. They talk about the Oriental Theater's upcoming "Bite Club," an exploration of vampire movies of all blood types; from funny to scary they break down their favorites.-Produced & Edited by Guru Amrit Singh

Dori delves into the new documentary 1-800-ON-HER-OWN by talking with its central figure, Ani DiFranco. The film examines DiFranco's balancing act between two passions: creating music, and being a wife and mother. Dori speaks with director Dana Floor and DiFranco herself in this revealing interview.Produced and edited by Marcus Doucette

MKE Film is introducing the first edition of its planned annual event: the Dialogues Documentary Festival. Dori and Kpolly chat about the LARP-oriented film "We Can Be Heroes," a doc about kids being kids and the worlds of imagination. Fun stuff! They also touch on documentaries in general and the start of a new thing you might want to try. Produced and Edited by Marcus Doucette

Dori Zori is on a wing of her own with writer, director and star East Forest for a conversation about mental health, magic and mushrooms, as well as the new film Music for Mushrooms.Produced and Edited by Marcus Doucette

Beetlejuice is back baby! Dori and K-Polly give it the old Cinebuds back rub. The 2024 version is gonna be playing for a bit at the historic Oriental Theater, and the way our cinematic duo tell it, you'll probs want to go see it. They reminisce over the original 1988 film and its more recent tranformation; role reprises, career arcs and even the dope new soundtrack. Plus, they talk about a couple of other films they've been viewing, like The Fall Guy and the documentary Lover of Men.Produced and Edited by Marcus Doucette

Dori Zori of 88Nine x Kristopher Pollard of MKE Film x Tom Crawford of WMSE = wow! Big conversation. Past present and future. Cinema is just the tip of the iceberg, pop your own popcorn.Produced and edited by Marcus Doucette

A 93 on Imdb, Sing Sing is a movie about a man falsely accused and Dori and Kristopher have some thoughts. Sounds serious but, in truth, a comedy of sorts.Divine G (Colman Domingo), imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn’t commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group with other incarcerated men. When a wary outsider joins the group, the men decide to stage their first original comedy, in this stirring true story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art, starring an unforgettable ensemble cast of formerly incarcerated actors.Also, further thoughts on the new Deadpool film and Kristopher revisits all the X-Men movies...-produced and edited by Marcus Doucette

M. Night Shyamalan's latest film is called "Trap," but what do Dori and Kristopher Pollard think about it? Produced and edited by Marcus Doucette

“Creepy kids” is practically a movie genre unto itself, especially if you broaden the scope and rightfully include films like Baby Geniuses and characters like Sid from Toy Story. Generally, though, these spooky little squirts are a well-deserved subset of horror that’s ripe for conversation — including the one in this episode of Cinebuds.The easy thing to do would be to just jump into examples and rattle off a list, but that isn’t their style. Our film-loving duo digs down to the foundation and determines what qualifies as a “creepy kid” movie. What age is prime “creepy kid” territory? What are the tropes that connect these films? How did Martin Short find his way into the subgenre?Produced and edited by Marcus Doucette

Cinebuds on the sound board with Immortal Girlfriend talking about the Milwaukee duo's past, present and future.-Produced and edited by Marcus Doucette

Are you tired of the multiverse? The Marvel Cinematic Universe? The universe in general? Do we have a movie for you — as long as you’re down for a movie that ridicules those things while also being kind of reverential about them???There’s really only one Marvel character who could handle such an assignment: the fourth-wall-breaking, wise-cracking, foul-mouthed Deadpool. But the part Ryan Reynolds was born to play is only half of the cinematic equation in the latest MCU offering. Hugh “I’ll never play Wolverine again” Jackman is, of course, back as Wolverine to provide the gravitas to Reynolds’ goofiness — a balancing act that gets a lot of attention from Dori and Kpolly in this episode.That’s really what the success or failure of Deadpool & Wolverine rides on. If it’s too smarmy and self-referential, there’s no substance for Wolverine to dig his adamantium into. If it’s too substantial, then we’re missing out on the smarm of a Deadpool movie. For one of our Cinebuds, the movie got it just about right.Produced and edited by Marcus Doucette

Even if you really love movies, you likely have at least one genre that’s sectioned off with caution tape. For Dori, it’s romance. So when Kpolly approached her with an unapologetically romantic selection for this episode, her instinct was to turn tail and head the other way. Then he said the magic words:“It’s Icelandic.”OK, not the most traditional of magic words. But it was at least enough to pique Dori’s interest and get her eyeballs on the film at the center of their conversation: Touch. This story from household name Baltasar Kormákur is miles away from the rom-coms that have very nearly ruined romances for Dori. It’s a decade-spanning journey one man takes to track down his first love, and of course there are very dramatic stakes involved. There are also not one but THREE languages featured in the film, which allowed our Cinebuds to check off the rare “trilingual Icelandic romance” off their genre bucket list.So did Touch completely restore Dori’s belief in love (or movies about love anyway)? Or was it an obvious attempt to get her to cry in public?Produced and edited bt Marcus Doucette

Kristopher Pollard and Dori Zori are joined by Radio Milwaukee's Jen Ellis as they talk about the new biker flick, The Bikeriders. Over the course of a decade, a Midwestern motorcycle club evolves from a gathering place for local outsiders to a sinister gang, threatening the original group's way of life. Tom Hardy, Austin Butler and Jodie Comer lead a strong cast capturing an era of motorcyle clubs transitiononing into gangs, and the consequences that become inevitable and deadly.Our hosts also dive into Chicagoland accents, as well as vintage bikes and style.-Produced and edited by Marcus Doucette

Unlikely revenge thriller Thelma goes through the Cinebuds rinse. Thelma follows the titular nonagenarian lead as she gets scammed and gets revenge in a film that is part comedic and part Mission: Impossible in all the best ways.Produced and edited by Marcus Doucette

Dori and Kpolly delve into Femme, a fascinating take on the revenge film theme and one that keeps you guessing while delving into themes of redemption, self-acceptance and taking back your strength. It's a film with a very powerful arc yet may be triggering for some.Produced and edited by Marcus Doucette

Problemista centers on Alejandro, an aspiring toy designer who's struggling to bring his unusual ideas to life in New York City. As time on his work visa runs out, a job assisting an art-world outcast becomes his only hope to stay in the country and realise his dream.The film is directed by and stars Julio Torres, who's joined by the always-wonderful Tilda Swinton. Kristopher and Dori had all the feels for this comedy-fantasy hybrid, and also chat about their current cinema playlists, as well as the upcoming Pride-friendly showcase coming to Milwaukee's iconic Oriental Theater.Produced & edited by Marcus Doucette

The comedy subgenre of “oh crap I’m pregnant and not ready to have a baby” is fertile ground. Pun intended. Recent years have brought us the likes of Juno, Knocked Up and Waitress, and to that list we add the focus of this episode: Babes.It should first be noted that the comedy chops behind this recent release are strong. Ilana Glazer penned the script along with Broad City alum Josh Rabinowitz, Pamela Adlon handled directing duties, and Glazer stars with the similarly wonderful Michelle Buteau. Of course, great talent does not guarantee good results. And R-rated comedy is a tricky area to navigate. So how does this one fare?Obviously, we’d like you to listen to the full podcast to find out. But we can say, like Glazer’s character in Babes, initial results are positive.- Produced and edited by Marcus Doucette

The Mad Max saga continues, and Dori Zori is joined by guest host Marcus Doucette to talk about the post-apocalyptic hellscape the series is set in, as well as some of the great performances in this prequel to 2015's Fury Road.Produced and edited by Marcus Doucette

Dori and Kpolly sit down with documentary filmmaker Gary Hustwit about his new Brian Eno docupic, a groundbreaking an adventurous project that live-edits at every screening to ensure no two are the same.- Produced and edited by Marcus Doucette

Dori Zori and Kristopher Pollard tangle with a love triangle not of their own making as they review the new movie Challengers. They talk about what worked, what didn't work and give it a long review so you don't have to.Produced and edited by Marcus Doucette

We’re down a Cinebud this week, but worry not because we called in a couple of Jokers to compensate.To be more accurate, our very special guests joining us on this episode are two of the people who worked on viral and cinematic sensation The People’s Joker: composers Justin Krol and Quinn Scharber. The Milwaukee-based duo are the driving force behind the film’s score and thus have enjoyed a front-row seat to its tumultuous and controversial existence.We won’t get too into the legal weeds here, but to summarize: The People’s Joker debuted at the Toronto Film Festival back in 2022, was shelved under the threat of legal action from Warner Bros., snuck in a secret midnight screening at the Milwaukee Film Festival in 2023 and then finally began its proper theatrical run last month.With Kpolly on the sidelines for this one, Dori uses her finely honed interviewing skills to get Krol and Scharber chatting about their early days as Milwaukee musicians, their connection to the movie’s star/creative force Vera Drew, and the chutzpah required to get into this very competitive field.Produced and edited by Marcus Doucette

Kpolly and Dori discuss the film Sasquatch Sunset, and things gets a little hairy.Produced & edited by Marcus Doucette

Kristofer Pollard and Dori Zori talk all things Footloose, with a nice little Q&A.Produced and edited by Marcus Doucette

Did you know that over the course of its two weeks, this year’s Milwaukee Film Festival will have screened 131 features and 169 shorts? For the math heads out there, that’s a whopping 300 titles filling the 2024 event’s program. Even for a cinephile with unlimited time and energy reserves, seeing every single one isn’t an option. That’s why we’re here."We" is, of course, Kpolly and Dori — AND returning for yet another Milwaukee Filmtastic episode is the organization’s programing director, Kerstin Larson. If you missed our last installment, Kerstin joined our ’Buds to provide the kind of recommendations you might expect from the person responsible for picking the films that show up in the fest. But that was just week one. We have a whole second week to tackle, and you can hear the trio’s must-see movies in this episode.Produced and edited by Marcus Doucette

Dori Zori and K-Polly are joined by Kerstin Larson of MKE Film to breakdown some highlights from week one of The Milwaukee Film Festival. Things get pretty Footloose in a hurry ...Produced by Marcus Doucette

In this episode of Cinebuds, Dori & Kristopher talk about the next installment of the Ghostbusters franchise, Frozen Empire. In this one, the Spengler family returns to the iconic New York City firehouse where the original Ghostbusters have taken ghost-busting to the next level. When the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must unite to protect their home and save the world from a second ice age.Produced & edited by Kim ShineTheme music by NewskiSponsored by Associated Bank