Monday, July 25, 2022

NinetyForChill: The #Podcast - "The Producers" (1967) & the Accompanying Explicit Nonsense

 NinetyForChill.com: The #Podcast

Episode 78: "The Producers" (1967) & The Accompanying Explicit Nonsense (Michael Dubois ought to be in psychology [on the listening side].).

Summertime for Classy Eva Chaplin

The Producers 1967 and Accompanying Explicit Nonsense

July 26, 2022

Michael Dubois and Cool Movies Darth pick up where they left off with their discussion inspired by Mel Brooks's debut feature, "The Producers". The conversation starts with  exploring Zero Mostel's portrayal of Max Bialystock and his pension for seducing pensioners to fund his films. This leads into CM Darth's salacious adulthood, satirical takes towards parents, and "Star Wars" fandom. It only seems appropriate to attach a review for "Jay and Silent Bob Reboot" to this podcast.


Allow me to get out of third-person. Happy Prof. Shurtleff of Illinois Central College? I (CM Darth) will try not to make so much light of violent death in this summation. This is my declaration of changing perspective. 

I am big on squatting usernames/handles. This weekend I added @CoolMoviesDarth to my inventory of Twitter handles. The other five are @russthebus (I really should offer to sell that.), @MainEventZombie, @NinetyForChill, @CmDarth, and of course @catbusruss.

It seems that I was unaware of a default setting when I set up my latest account. When I started tagging people in my tweets, the immediate options included my aunt and uncle. One must go into their privacy settings to disassociate your contacts from being suggested as users to follow. This mean, use your email address instead of a phone number to start an account.

I bring this up because, despite I do not think I should feel shame in anything that I say on the podcast, there are people who may get offended who will panic, and tell people who will make my life tougher if they got this second hand. Not lose my job bad like the petty asshole Marissa Embry (Who I believe works at First Bank Tuscola), but familiar headaches and judgements. This episode divulges at least three stories that might trigger those feelings, especially since I just laugh them off.


After replaying the rest of the recording, it leaves me to wonder what I will have to talk about when I see my therapist later today. I like talking about myself, but I hate reruns (As I rewatch "Game of Thrones Season 4" in my peripheral.).

The important lesson is that Michael Dubois is wiser than I was at 30 years-old. Be sure to send him those birthday wishes. I envy him for having people remember his annual holiday.

As for true cinema chatter, I did get around to finally watching "Jay and Silent Bob Reboot". The only problem I could see the casual movie goer having with this feature is that Kevin Smith made this film for his fans. "Tusk", "Red State", "Zack and Miri Make a Porno", and even "Yoga Hosers" seemed like attempts to make movies for everyone. To truly appreciate this film, you have to hold him in high regard. So I fucking loved it.


This episode ended up being a nice step away from politics. Be aware, my next guest wants to talk about "They Live". Gregory Carl Gathmann may focus on Roddy Piper and wrestling chatter, but you cannot avoid the Reagan bashing that comes with John Carpenter's greatest satire.

If you want to end the politicization of my movie podcast, follow the instructions below.

Follow me on Twitter @catbusruss. If you want to be on the show, contact me on Twitter or send an email to russthebus07@gmail.com. All we need is a theme, movie, director, or actor and a focus on sub 100-minute material. As long as the credits start before the 1:39:59 mark on the runtime bar, the movie qualifies.

Sunday, July 24, 2022

NinetyForChill: The #Podcast - "The Producers" (1967) - A Guide to Punting Proud Boys

 NinetyForChill.com: The #Podcast

Episode 77: "The Producers" (1967) - A Guide to Punting Proud Boys (And Michael Dubois's Dream of Holographic Gene Wilder).

Skimble if hysterical, fluffy, and adorable

The Producers 1967 - A Guide to Punting Proud Boys

July 19, 2022

Michael Dubois returns to NinetyForChill: The #Podcast to continue their tribute to the late great Gene Wilder with 1967's "The Producers". It only seems fitting to revisit Mel Brook's motion picture debut in honor of his recent 96th birthday. This feature is Cool Movie Darth's favorite from the auteur, but Michael would have preferred Nathan Lane's presence. What the two do agree on: We need more mocking of the Far Right via cinema.


Allow me to get out of third-person. Happy Prof. Shurtleff of Illinois Central College? I (CM Darth) will try not to make so much light of violent death in this summation. This is my declaration of changing perspective. 

So...I am not waiting till the last minute to get this post completed. What is another lost day off? "Pokémon Legends: Arceus" is in my library. There will be a day when it will finally be played.

To my credit, I have at least figured out how to make these blog posts relatively concise. There is a chance that I will be ably to enjoy the rest of this Sunday. Too bad it has to be cut short since my early shifts always seem to come the day following my scheduled days off.

Sleeping in is something my cats graciously allow me. The result is I responsibly only get 10 hours to fuck around. Do employers consider that some people like to stay up late and do stupid things with their time? Sorry that I have chose not to procreate. Somethings you do not have to out grow.

It is having late nights that allow me to find and truly appreciate classic cinema. This is especially true when you lived with a girl for the better part of four years who did not like Mel Brooks. You would think that Ally from Ally's Accessories Shop on Etsy would appreciate all of the musical numbers. Thankfully Michael Dubois does.


If anything, Michael missed the lack of them from Mel Brook's feature debut. He first saw the 2005 adaptation of the Broadway musical adaptation of this 1967 movie which famously had Nathan Lane portray scheming producer Max Bialystock. @GentleThemE on Twitter preferred the friendlier take on this lead role over Zero Mostel's return to Hollywood after the Black Listing from McCarthyism. I think adding context to the importance of this casting may have softened Michael's take. From there, we talk about the feature and my inquiries about whether or not the 2005 remake was comparable in quality.

1967...2005...we are talking about a movie that tells the tale of producing a play guaranteed to fail with songs that glorify Adolph Hitler. Because we are in 2022, it ends up being very easy for us to go on plenty of antifascist tangents. This gives Michael the forum to preach about how mocking them is the key for the Western world to survive.

If you need more backing behind this revelation, check out the videos of Lindsey Ellis on YouTube.


As I was pulling the above video from her channel, it opens with a statement about how people try to use "Mel Brooks did this" as a blanket statement for poor satire. Not what I was hoping for, but it serves as a great transition into other elements of the podcast we discuss. From mocking Proud Boys to trying to understand them and how they misinterpret cinema like "Fight Club" and "American History X". I am surprised that I did not ask about how Edward Norton is somehow the Neo-Nazi ideal.

The two of us ended up talking for over two hours, so this recording will be divided into two parts. I imagine it will get more political. That is what I look forward to when I have Michael as a guest. By the 1:30 mark, I am sure the language will finally get explicit, so next week may not be appropriate for kids. Actually, I can guarantee that.

After FanExpo, I watched "Jay and Silent Bob Reboot". Since the theatrical run was based around a tour showing the feature off, there are no green band trailers. Thus, to do it justice, you have to deal with a lot of cursing.

I guess my final word for part one is that if you do not like the politics on the pod, my next guest wants to talk about "They Live". Gregory Carl Gathmann may focus on Roddy Piper and wrestling chatter, but you cannot avoid the Reagan bashing that comes with John Carpenter's greatest satire.

If you want to end the politicization of my movie podcast, follow the instructions below.

Follow me on Twitter @catbusruss. If you want to be on the show, contact me on Twitter or send an email to russthebus07@gmail.com. All we need is a theme, movie, director, or actor and a focus on sub 100-minute material. As long as the credits start before the 1:39:59 mark on the runtime bar, the movie qualifies.

Monday, July 18, 2022

NinetyForChill: The #Podcast - Silent Bob’s Project Mayhem: Fan Expo Chicago 2022

NinetyForChill.com: The #Podcast

Episode 76: Silent Bob’s Project Mayhem: Fan Expo Chicago 2022 (Standing outside for hours with no encouragement).

More art than Pops! A first

Silent Bob’s Project Mayhem: Fan Expo Chicago 2022

July 12, 2022

Cool Movies Darth was able to binge "Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi" in 48-hours to prepare for Fan Expo in Rosemont, IL. Did he have the energy to thoroughly enjoy the reskin of Wizard World (and Chicago Comic Con before that)? There was Carl Weathers, Ron Perlman, Boyd Holbrook, and a bunch of Hobbits, but since there is only one "Return" (and it is not "of the King"), CM Darth was dedicated to the Kevin Smith content. Was he willing to put up with the challenges and lack of encouragement to get his Bluntman and Chronic Funko Pop! 2-Pack autographed? Here is his story.


Allow me to get out of third-person. Happy Prof. Shurtleff of Illinois Central College? I (CM Darth) will try not to make so much light of violent death in this summation. This is my declaration of changing perspective. 

It is kind of weird to have the lack of pressure to watch movies right now. Dare I say, it is a nice reset. Am I relaxing? Probably not enough. C2E2 is just around the corner, so I will have to get my binging spectacles on at some point. There is "The Boys" and "West World" to get to.

Granted, I have yet to see "West World" have much of a presence at either C2E2 or Wizard World/Fan Expo. HBO lacks a presence at the cons anyhow. COMIC CON San Diego will have occurred by the time I go up to Chicago proper. Is there much to get excited for the first weekend of August? If there is no Quentin Tarantino (which you know there will not be), what can top Kevin Smith when it comes to anticipation?


This episode of the podcast is all about my experiences at this past Fan Expo Chicago. To sum it up, Kevin Smith became Darth Maul. He recalls being at Wizard World 1999 where Ray Parks was the attraction that demanded lines that test the endurance of any nerd. My Saturday evening was devoted to waiting to be in his presence, and when the con organizers failed to realize the debacle that they had created, I accepted their suggestion that I would come to the "secret" signing Sunday morning to allow those cheap fans who only bought one-day passes to get their signatures from the third best screenwriter from the 1990s.

Of course, that autograph session they would arrange for the humble supporters did not go off as they sold it. I cannot blame the "Clerks" director. Being a nobody, me having to wake up early to wait two and a half hours is fine. Being the Smodfather, no way that I am coming in at 9:45 am when you were not scheduled to.

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

NinetyForChill: The #Podcast - ”Mad God” = Expletives & Nutty Podcasters with Gregory Gathmann

NinetyForChill.com: The #Podcast

Episode 75: ”Mad God” = Expletives & Nutty Podcasters with Gregory Gathmann (The Case of Cinema Versus Art).

Eva prepped for a journey into Phil Tippett's nightmare

”Mad God” = Expletives & Nutty Podcasters with Gregory Gathmann

July 5, 2022

NinetyForChill.com's Guide to Shudder, "The Mudshow's" Gregory Gathmann needed five beers and someone to chat about Phil Tippett's magnum opus "Mad God", so he came to Cool Movies Darth. The two were impressed with this dialogue-free, stop-motion, animated feature that took 30 years to make, but what does it mean? Is it good cinema or merely superb visual art? These two podcasters try to make sense of this feature and perhaps even their lives.


Allow me to get out of third-person. Happy Prof. Shurtleff of Illinois Central College? I (CM Darth) will try not to make so much light of violent death in this summation. This is my declaration of changing perspective. 

So...the scheduling of how I am handling my podcast blogs is changing. This may only be temporary. Last weekend, I had ended up drinking three of four nights.

Night one was the monthly Bat Factory Goth Night by The Darkness Underground at the Rose Bowl in Urbana, IL. My therapist wants me to take on any social interaction I can get regardless of the 10-hour retail shift to follow. Night 2 was made up of trying to stay conscious enough to watch this film. Night 3 was for drinking and recording this podcast's episode. I also had to try and stay up after the recording (and 7-hour shift) to watch 1967's "The Producers" in preparation for another recording. Night 4 had me finishing off the $2 frozen July 4th cocktails (with added vodka) and recording that episode with Michael Dubois (this after an 8-hour shift).

Of course, I had to work the July 4th holiday. My exhaustion had not been this bad since I was starting my weekends on Thursday nights to exploit VIP room discounts at Big Al's, drudging through a copywriting shift and two hotel concierge shifts only to end up drinking on Saturday nights. At least that was a time where I would never allow myself to work seven days in a row. Remember the Sabbath I suppose.


The first week of July was going to conclude with my trip to all four days of Fan Expo Chicago. This meant at least two more long nights. I may have been sober for them, but I am really backed up when it comes to nerd culture. I have yet to start up season three of "The Boys" or season four of "Westworld". With Kevin Smith being my primary draw to the convention, it seemed necessary to complete his filmography with "Jay & Silent Bob Reboot". One thing for certain, binging "Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi" was a must. Thus, two more nights of little rest.

In the end, I knew I was not going to have the energy to edit this episode of the podcast or write up this blog post last week. Recovering from Fan Expo meant that I did not have the energy to write a blog post for my experiences at the con (which will be the subject of next week's episode). My plans are to leave Podbean once my contract ends because they only seem to promote hate speech on their network (Glenn Beck, Steve Bannon, Ben Shapiro, Joe Rogen, Right Side Patriots), but their distribution is great when it comes to Twitter updates about the pod. Hence, the blogs for these episodes will come the week after I exploit that system while I can.

As for this podcast, "Mad God" is a stunning piece of work that demands multiple viewings to understand. I first heard of this feature from listening to the "Screen Drafts: Adult Animation Draft". The drafters reason for not including this in the top seven was that it took 31 years to make. It was seen as much as an experiment as it was a feature. With no dialogue and nightmarish imagery from Oscar-Winning stop motion effects legend Phil Tippett, I can see why it would be tough for people to strongly suggest this feature to friends.

But I must have the right kind friends. Gregory Carl is fascinated my almost everything on Shudder. He once suggested "The Baby" which I kind of thought was too creepy. Of course, I had not had a guest for the show in weeks and this sounded cool, so who was I to deny him or the "Mad God". It is a violent nightmare with a sense of humor.

For some, that may sound like hell, but does the actual Lucifer have a sense of humor. "Mad God" is like a Rube Goldberg device of mayhem, so if you love Warner Bros. cartoons, you owe it to yourself to check this out. You may want to do that first and then let me and Greg try to make sense of it all.

Follow me on Twitter @catbusruss. If you want to be on the show, contact me on Twitter or send an email to russthebus07@gmail.com. All we need is a theme, movie, director, or actor and a focus on sub 100-minute material. As long as the credits start before the 1:39:59 mark on the runtime bar, the movie qualifies.

Streaming Daylight Vampires & "The Return of Godzilla" (Godzilla 1985)

Ninety For Chill: The #Podcast with @CatBusRuss Episode 189: Streaming Daylight Vampires: Dracula Untold & V for Vengeance CatBusRuss...