Films are cultural artifacts. There is a political and artistic message in every one and we're here to document. On each episode we pick a film; sometimes current and sometimes from the riches of world cinema's 100+ year history, and take a deep dive into what the film is really saying about the world. Both overtly and covertly.
How to Mock a Tyrant in The Great Dictator (1940)
The Great Dictator (1940) · Nov 28, 2025
Imagination as a Form of Resistance in Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
Pan's Labyrinth (2006) · Oct 24, 2025
The Third Generation (1979) & Other Instruments of State Sponsored Terror
The Third Generation (1979) · Aug 29, 2025
Urban Guerrillas vs The State in Ice (1970)
Ice (1970) · Jul 31, 2025
Bearing Witness in Gwangju with A Taxi Driver (2017)
A Taxi Driver (2017) · May 30, 2025
Army of Shadows (1969) & the Weight of Impossible Choices
Army of Shadows (1969) · Mar 28, 2025
The Damned (1969), or Why Industrialists Love Authoritarians
The Damned (1969) · Feb 21, 2025
Entranced Earth (1967) as Radial Political Poetry
Entranced Earth (1967) · Jan 17, 2025
Z (1969) & the Enduring Threat of Authoritarianism
Z (1969) · Dec 20, 2024
Commentary Track: Sorry to Bother You (2018)
Sorry to Bother You (2018) · Oct 4, 2024
The Paranoid Lens: Warren Beatty vs Chuck Norris in 1970's Political Thrillers
The Parallax View (1974) · Sep 20, 2024
The Paranoid Lens: Warren Beatty vs Chuck Norris in 1970's Political Thrillers
Good Guys Wear Black (1978) · Sep 20, 2024
Beyond Borders: Joint Security Area (2000) and the Rise of South Korean Cinema
Joint Security Area (2000) · Jul 19, 2024
Political Vaudeville: FTA (1972), Jane Fonda, and Mobilizing the Military Against Vietnam
FTA (1972) · Mar 8, 2024
The Continuous Process of Becoming: Robert Kramer's Milestones (1975)
Milestones (1975) · Feb 9, 2024
Buñuel's Banquet: Feasting on Satire in The Exterminating Angel (1962)
The Exterminating Angel (1962) · Jan 12, 2024
Systemic Risk: Killing Them Softly (2012) & the Precarity of Modern American Crime
Killing Them Softly (2012) · Nov 10, 2023
Green Room & Fascist Tendencies in the Pacific Northwest
Green Room (2016) · Oct 20, 2023
Resource Frontiers: Commodity Zones and the Vampiric Nature of Capitalism
Hell or High Water (2016) · Sep 29, 2023
Resource Frontiers: Commodity Zones and the Vampiric Nature of Capitalism
Neptune Frost (2022) · Sep 29, 2023
Double Feature: Strike!
Double Feature (1984) · Sep 8, 2023
Rebroadcast - Children of Men: The Psychology of the Long Take, Maoist Urban Guerrillas Getting Lost in the Struggle and the Power of Radical Hope
Children of Men (2006) · Aug 4, 2023
July 4th Special: How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2022)
How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2023) · Jul 4, 2023
May Day Special: The Man in the Orage Jacket (2014)
The Man in the Orange Jacket (2015) · May 26, 2023
DTV Action: Universal Soldier Regeneration & Day of Reckoning
Universal Soldier: Regeneration (2010) · May 5, 2023
Double Feature: Hong Kong Action
Double Feature (1984) · Apr 21, 2023
Auteur Films: Claudine (1974)
Claudine (1974) · Mar 24, 2023
Auteur Films: Welcome Home Brother Charles (1975)
Welcome Home Brother Charles (1975) · Mar 3, 2023
Auteur Films: The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973)
The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973) · Feb 10, 2023
Classic: Alphaville - A Techno Dystopian Vision of the Future from 1965
Alphaville (1965) · Jan 20, 2023
Classic: Harakiri (1962)
Harakiri (1962) · Dec 25, 2022
Yakuza Noir #2 - A Colt Is My Passport (1967)
A Colt Is My Passport (1967) · Dec 2, 2022
Yakuza Noir #1 - Tokyo Drifter (1966)
Tokyo Drifter (1966) · Nov 18, 2022
Double Feature: Halloween Night
Double Feature (1984) · Oct 28, 2022
Humans Hunting Humans: Punishment Park (1971) & Turkey Shoot (1982)
Punishment Park (1971) · Oct 21, 2022
LSD Horror: Blue Sunshine (1977) & Mandy (2018)
Blue Sunshine (1977) · Sep 23, 2022
Double Feature: American Urban Landscapes
Double Feature (1984) · Sep 9, 2022
American Urban Landscapes: Summertime (2020)
Summertime (2021) · Aug 26, 2022
American Urban Landscapes: The Plot Against Harry (1971)
The Plot Against Harry (1990) · Aug 5, 2022
American Urban Landscapes: City of Hope (1991)
City of Hope (1991) · Jul 22, 2022
American Urban Landscapes: Falling Down (1993)
Falling Down (1993) · Jul 1, 2022
May Day Special: Reds (1981)
Reds (1981) · May 6, 2022
Auteur Films: Ganja & Hess (1973)
Ganja & Hess (1973) · Apr 22, 2022
Auteur Films: The Watermelon Woman (1996)
The Watermelon Woman (1997) · Apr 8, 2022
Auteur Films: Losing Ground (1982)
Losing Ground (1982) · Feb 25, 2022
Auteur Films: Killer of Sheep (1978)
Killer of Sheep (1978) · Feb 18, 2022
On Screen: Plan B (2021)
Plan B (2021) · Feb 4, 2022
On Screen: Don't Look Up (2021)
Don't Look Up (2021) · Jan 14, 2022
On Screen: The Last Duel (2021)
The Last Duel (2021) · Dec 31, 2021
On Screen: Dear Comrades! (2020)
Dear Comrades! (2020) · Dec 10, 2021
Films of Romero - Martin (1977)
Martin (1978) · Oct 15, 2021
Films of Romero - Knightriders (1981)
Knightriders (1981) · Oct 1, 2021
History of the Blockbuster Film - Part II: The 1980's
Beverly Hills Cop (1984) · Jul 2, 2021
History of the Blockbuster Film - Part II: The 1980's
Flashdance (1983) · Jul 2, 2021
History of the Blockbuster Film - Part II: The 1980's
Full Metal Jacket (1987) · Jul 2, 2021
History of the Blockbuster Film - Part II: The 1980's
Top Gun (1986) · Jul 2, 2021
History of the Blockbuster Film - Part II: The 1980's
Platoon (1986) · Jul 2, 2021
History of the Blockbuster Film - Part II: The 1980's
Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) · Jul 2, 2021
History of the Blockbuster Film - Part II: The 1980's
Big (1988) · Jul 2, 2021
History of the Blockbuster Film - Part II: The 1980's
Tootsie (1982) · Jul 2, 2021
History of the Blockbuster Film - Part II: The 1980's
Stir Crazy (1980) · Jul 2, 2021
History of the Blockbuster Film - Part I: The 1970's
Star Wars (1977) · Jun 18, 2021
History of the Blockbuster Film - Part I: The 1970's
Jaws (1975) · Jun 18, 2021
History of the Blockbuster Film - Part I: The 1970's
Superman (1978) · Jun 18, 2021
Workers on Film: Barbershop (2002) & The Molly Maguires (1970)
Barbershop (2002) · May 28, 2021
Workers on Film: How Green Was My Valley (1941) & Empire Records (1995)
How Green Was My Valley (1941) · May 14, 2021
Workers on Film: Car Wash (1976) & Salt of the Earth (1954)
Car Wash (1976) · May 7, 2021
May Day Special: The Killing Floor (1984), Gung Ho (1986) & Finally Got the News... (1970)
Gung Ho (1986) · May 1, 2021
May Day Special: The Killing Floor (1984), Gung Ho (1986) & Finally Got the News... (1970)
Finally Got the News (1970) · May 1, 2021
May Day Special: The Killing Floor (1984), Gung Ho (1986) & Finally Got the News... (1970)
The Killing Floor (1984) · May 1, 2021
Double Feature: They Live (1988) & Society (1989)
They Live (1988) · Apr 30, 2021
Classic: Blondie Johnson (1933)
Blondie Johnson (1933) · Apr 16, 2021
Double Feature: No Blade of Grass (1970) & Princess Mononoke (1997)
No Blade of Grass (1970) · Mar 26, 2021
Deep Dive: The Great Silence (1968)
The Great Silence (1968) · Mar 12, 2021
Watch Challenge #2
Bamboozled (2000) · Mar 1, 2021
Watch Challenge #2
School Daze (1988) · Mar 1, 2021
Watch Challenge #2
Eve's Bayou (1997) · Mar 1, 2021
Watch Challenge #2
Welcome Home Brother Charles (1975) · Mar 1, 2021
Watch Challenge #2
The Learning Tree (1969) · Mar 1, 2021
Watch Challenge #2
The Last Angel of History (1996) · Mar 1, 2021
Watch Challenge #2
Afronauts (2014) · Mar 1, 2021
Watch Challenge #2
The Changing Same (2001) · Mar 1, 2021
Nostalgia Pick: Dead Presidents (1995)
Dead Presidents (1995) · Feb 19, 2021
Classic: Battleship Potemkin (1925)
Battleship Potemkin (1925) · Feb 12, 2021
Watch Challenge #1
Rebecca (1940) · Feb 5, 2021
Watch Challenge #1
Virtuosity (1995) · Feb 5, 2021
Watch Challenge #1
Red Scorpion (1988) · Feb 5, 2021
Watch Challenge #1
She Done Him Wrong (1933) · Feb 5, 2021
Watch Challenge #1
Robo Vampire (1988) · Feb 5, 2021
Watch Challenge #1
Men in Black: International (2019) · Feb 5, 2021
Watch Challenge #1
76 Days (2020) · Feb 5, 2021
Bonus: Uptight and Filming in the CLE with Mike Wendt
Uptight (1968) · Feb 2, 2021
Deep Dive: Uptight (1968) - Part II
Uptight (1968) · Jan 29, 2021
Deep Dive: Uptight (1968) - Part I
Uptight (1968) · Jan 22, 2021
Holiday Special: Gremlins (1984)
Gremlins (1984) · Dec 24, 2020
On Screen: Mangrove (Small Axe Film #1)
White Mangrove (2020) · Dec 18, 2020
Nostalgia Pick: Conan the Barbarian (1982)
Conan the Barbarian (1982) · Dec 4, 2020
RoboCop / Starship Troopers: Neoliberalism, Fascism and Paul Verhoeven's Unsung Comedic Skills
Starship Troopers (1997) · Nov 20, 2020
RoboCop / Starship Troopers: Neoliberalism, Fascism and Paul Verhoeven's Unsung Comedic Skills
RoboCop (1987) · Nov 20, 2020
The Purge - Election Year: From High Concept Horror to an American Reality
The Purge: Election Year (2016) · Nov 13, 2020
Art House Horror - Midsommar (2019) / Werewolves and Metaphorical Zombie Films
Midsommar (2019) · Oct 30, 2020
Art House Horror - The Babadook (2014) / Vampires and Horror in the 80's
The Babadook (2014) · Oct 23, 2020
Summer of Sixties - 1968: Targets / Barbarella / Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One / Monterey Pop / In the Year of the Pig
Barbarella (1968) · Sep 18, 2020
Summer of Sixties - 1968: Targets / Barbarella / Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One / Monterey Pop / In the Year of the Pig
Targets (1968) · Sep 18, 2020
Summer of Sixties - 1968: Targets / Barbarella / Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One / Monterey Pop / In the Year of the Pig
Monterey Pop (1968) · Sep 18, 2020
Summer of Sixties - 1968: Targets / Barbarella / Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One / Monterey Pop / In the Year of the Pig
Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One (1968) · Sep 18, 2020
Summer of Sixties - 1968: Targets / Barbarella / Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One / Monterey Pop / In the Year of the Pig
In the Year of the Pig (1969) · Sep 18, 2020
Summer of Sixties - 1967: Bonnie & Clyde / Point Blank / The Dirty Dozen / Beach Red / Dont Look Back / Titicut Follies
Bonnie and Clyde (1967) · Sep 11, 2020
Summer of Sixties - 1967: Bonnie & Clyde / Point Blank / The Dirty Dozen / Beach Red / Dont Look Back / Titicut Follies
The Dirty Dozen (1967) · Sep 11, 2020
Summer of Sixties - 1967: Bonnie & Clyde / Point Blank / The Dirty Dozen / Beach Red / Dont Look Back / Titicut Follies
Point Blank (1967) · Sep 11, 2020
Summer of Sixties - 1967: Bonnie & Clyde / Point Blank / The Dirty Dozen / Beach Red / Dont Look Back / Titicut Follies
Beach Red (1967) · Sep 11, 2020
Summer of Sixties - 1967: Bonnie & Clyde / Point Blank / The Dirty Dozen / Beach Red / Dont Look Back / Titicut Follies
Titicut Follies (1967) · Sep 11, 2020
Summer of Sixties - Japanese New Wave: Seijun Suzuki and Nagisa Oshima
Branded to Kill (1967) · Aug 14, 2020
Summer of Sixties - Japanese New Wave: Seijun Suzuki and Nagisa Oshima
Death by Hanging (1968) · Aug 14, 2020
Summer of Sixties - Japanese New Wave: Seijun Suzuki and Nagisa Oshima
Night and Fog in Japan (1960) · Aug 14, 2020
Summer of Sixties - 1964: Nothing But A Man / The Pawnbroker
The Pawnbroker (1965) · Aug 7, 2020
Summer of Sixties - 1964: Nothing But A Man / The Pawnbroker
Nothing But a Man (1964) · Aug 7, 2020
Summer of Sixties - 1963: The Birds / Blood Feast / Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment
Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment (1963) · Jul 31, 2020
Summer of Sixties - 1962: Advise and Consent / The Manchurian Candidate / The Intruder
The Manchurian Candidate (1962) · Jul 10, 2020
Summer of Sixties - 1962: Advise and Consent / The Manchurian Candidate / The Intruder
The Intruder (1962) · Jul 10, 2020
Summer of Sixties - Kick Off with Black Panthers (68) & Burn! (69)
Burn! (1969) · Jul 3, 2020
Summer of Sixties - Kick Off with Black Panthers (68) & Burn! (69)
Black Panthers (1968) · Jul 3, 2020
First Reformed - Transcendence Thru Cinema
First Reformed (2018) · Jun 19, 2020
Captain America - Winter Soldier: Hijacking Geekdom for Capitalist Profits and Scorsese vs Marvel
Winter Soldier (1972) · May 29, 2020
Wanda: Second Wave Feminism and 1970's Industrial Spaces
Wanda (1970) · May 15, 2020
Film Noir: Corona Comfort Cinema Vol. 2
Drunken Angel (1948) · Apr 17, 2020
Film Noir: Corona Comfort Cinema Vol. 2
They Made Me a Fugitive (1947) · Apr 17, 2020
Night Comes for Us: Corona Comfort Cinema Vol. 1
The Night Comes For Us (2018) · Apr 3, 2020
American Factory: Hyper-Exploitation, Lean Production and the Village People
American Factory (2019) · Mar 27, 2020
The Last Truck - Closing of a GM Plant: Direct Cinema, Obama's Trade Legacy and the Inefficiency of Capitalism
The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant (2009) · Mar 20, 2020
Invasion U.S.A. & Wolf Warrior 2: American Blue Jean Masculinity versus Chinese Elite Forces Hypermasculinity
Wolf Warrior 2 (2017) · Mar 6, 2020
Cinema Yearbook 2019 (Part II): The Rest of the Best, 14 Films from 2019
Atlantics (2019) · Feb 7, 2020
Cinema Yearbook 2019 (Part II): The Rest of the Best, 14 Films from 2019
The Lighthouse (2019) · Feb 7, 2020
Cinema Yearbook 2019 (Part II): The Rest of the Best, 14 Films from 2019
Booksmart (2019) · Feb 7, 2020
Cinema Yearbook 2019 (Part II): The Rest of the Best, 14 Films from 2019
Knives Out (2019) · Feb 7, 2020
Cinema Yearbook 2019 (Part II): The Rest of the Best, 14 Films from 2019
Dark Waters (2019) · Feb 7, 2020
Cinema Yearbook 2019 (Part II): The Rest of the Best, 14 Films from 2019
Climax (2020) · Feb 7, 2020
Children of Men: The Psychology of the Long Take, Maoist Urban Guerrillas Getting Lost in the Struggle and the Power of Radical Hope
Children of Men (2006) · Jan 24, 2020