The Projection Booth Podcast

The Marvel machine rolls on! Mike welcomes Chris Stachiw and Father Malone back to The Projection Booth to unpack Thunderbolts (2025), Marvel’s latest plunge into the morally murky side of the MCU. With a roster of antiheroes and reformed villains, Thunderbolts flips the superhero script—so does it soar or stumble? The trio dives deep into the film’s character dynamics, chaotic action, and franchise fatigue, pulling no punches as they debate whether Marvel’s gamble pays off.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Mike welcomes film writer Mike Sullivan and critic/podcaster Amy Nicholson (Unspooled) to dig into So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993), Tommy Schlamme’s cult romantic comedy where Mike Myers plays it (mostly) straight — no prosthetics, no outlandish characters, just a jittery San Francisco beat poet navigating his fear of commitment. That is, until his charming new love, played by Nancy Travis, starts to look suspiciously like a black widow killer. Expect plenty of riffs on the film’s quirky mix of romance, murder mystery, and Myers’s rare leading-man turn — plus some love for its killer soundtrack and sharply oddball 90s vibe.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Director Rachel Feldman joins Mike to discuss her powerful new film Lilly (2025), a long-overdue portrait of activist Lilly Ledbetter. They explore the real-life struggles that inspired the story, the battle to bring Lilly’s fight for equal pay to the big screen, and the challenges of crafting a deeply personal historical drama in today’s Hollywood landscape. Feldman shares behind-the-scenes insights into the film’s development, the emotional performances at its core, and why Lilly’s story continues to resonate now more than ever.The film opens in the US on May 9, 2025.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Prepare for takeoff as Mike White is joined by Mark Begley (Wake Up Heavy) and Chris Stachiw (The Kulturecast) for a high-flying deep dive into Airplane II: The Sequel (1982)! Buckle up for a spirited discussion about the often-overlooked follow-up to one of the greatest comedies of all time. Beyond the crew's lively breakdown, the episode features an impressive lineup of interviews with writer/director Ken Finkleman, legendary comedy writers Al Jean and Mike Reiss, and actors Robert Hays and James A. Watson Jr. Get ready for behind-the-scenes stories, writing room war tales, and reflections on the film's unique legacy — all while trying to avoid the sun!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Join us on The Projection Booth as we welcome back Turner Classic Movies host, Alicia Malone, to discuss her latest book, TCM Imports: Timeless Favorites and Hidden Gems of World Cinema. In this episode, we delve into how Alicia curated a selection of international films, organizing them by season and mood to provide the perfect watch for any time of year. Alicia shares the fascinating process behind the book's creation, including the hidden gems she unearthed during her research and her personal favorite discoveries. Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned cinephile, this conversation is packed with insights and recommendations that celebrate the rich diversity of global cinema.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Tension simmers in La Haine (1995), Matthieu Kassovitz’s electrifying portrait of disenfranchised youth in the Parisian banlieues. Mike is joined by guest co-hosts Lumi Etienne and Judith Mayne for a deep dive into the film’s kinetic black-and-white visuals, pulsing energy, and unflinching look at police violence, social unrest, and alienation.Over the course of a single 24-hour span, we follow Vinz, Saïd, and Hubert—three friends caught in a spiral of rage, hopelessness, and reaction to systemic oppression.Special guest Ginette Vincendeau, renowned scholar of French cinema, offers historical and cultural insights into the film’s legacy, its groundbreaking release in 1995, and why La Haine remains tragically relevant in today’s global conversations about race, inequality, and law enforcement.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Co-hosts Maurice Bursztynski and Jonathan Melville join Mike to take on a Patreon request from listener John Atom—Nevil Shute’s On the Beach. They dive into both the 1959 Stanley Kramer film and the 2000 TV mini-series directed by Russell Mulcahy. Set in the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust, the story centers on a U.S. submarine that finds refuge in Melbourne, Australia, where residents face the grim reality that the fallout is heading their way.The episode explores the emotional depth and existential dread of both adaptations, from the restrained melancholy of Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner to the more modern approach with Armand Assante and Rachel Ward. With perspectives shaped by different eras, the hosts unpack how each version captures the quiet devastation of waiting for the end.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Film historian Samm Deighan and cult cinema expert Andrew Leavold join Mike to shine a light on Jean-Pierre Melville’s Two Men in Manhattan (1959). Often overshadowed by his better-known crime films, this moody noir follows a journalist and a photographer as they comb the streets of New York in search of a missing French diplomat. The trio digs into Melville’s fascination with American style, the film’s ethically murky characters, and how it fits within the director’s larger body of work. They also explore the tension between documentary realism and stylized noir, and why Two Men in Manhattan deserves a second look. Author Ginette Vincendeau (Jean-Pierre Melville: An American in Paris), discusses this unique entry in Melville's filmography. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Mike speaks with director Paige Bethmann and editor Stephanie Khoury about their powerful 2025 documentary Remaining Native. Bethmann and Khoury discuss the challenges of telling a deeply personal story within a broader political context, the importance of Indigenous voices in environmental activism, and the responsibility of documentary filmmakers in preserving cultural truth.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

The Projection Booth wraps up another month of Patreon picks with what might be the most obscure film ever discussed on the show—Casablanca (1942), that little-known wartime romance directed by Michael Curtiz. Big thanks to Brian Tessitore for this hidden gem.Mike is joined by Bill Ackerman and Federico Bertolini to unpack the fog, flashbacks, and unforgettable lines of this cinematic unicorn. Humphrey Bogart stars as Rick Blaine, the brooding American expat running a nightclub in Vichy-controlled Morocco, where refugees gather in hopes of escaping the tightening grip of the Nazi regime. Things get complicated when Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman) strolls in—out of all the gin joints, etc.--alongside her resistance-leader husband, Victor Laszlo (Paul Henried).We're thrilled to be joined by two heavy-hitting guests: film historian Noah Isenberg, author of We'll Always Have Casablanca, and biographer Alan K. Rode, author of Michael Curtiz, A Life in Film which sheds light on the director’s layered legacy. Together, we explore the myth, the making, and the magic of one of Hollywood’s most enduring classics.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.