Left of the Projector

Hollywood rarely makes films about the Soviet Union, at least from their perspective (even if it's a bit ahistorical). The Death of Stalin came out 100 years to the month of the Russian Revolution, which was no accident. Despite the flaws of this film, which we discuss in full, it's a really fun "fan fiction" (as per Jolly Leftist). I had fun watching and hearing those more knowledgable about the period that I am discuss all the facts. I am joined by podcast regular The Jolly Leftist as well as Comrade Larry, Comrade Muerte and Companero Cruz.  Podcast Stream Links  Merch Store YouTube Channel Instagram TikTok  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/leftoftheprojector/support

It's Groundhog Day...again. Actually, just the first time we have covered this time loop movie on the show. Groundhog Day is filled with jokes and Bill Murray being a total jerk. Probably for 100 or more years before he finally becomes class-conscious. We will mostly talk about how he gets to this point, how capitalist mode of production fits into the movie and lots of jokes. Left of the Projector Links ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Podcast Stream Links ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Merch Store⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠TikTok ⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/leftoftheprojector/support

District 9 is as pertinent as it was when it came out almost 15 years ago. There is a lot to discuss in this episode and we easily could have added another hour on more topics (possible bonus ep coming soon for supporters). One thing we did not address as it wasn't known prior was the director's (Neill Blomkamp) politics.  Specifically in an interview which he states that the reason for lack of resources worldwide is over population and thus not enough to go around. This is straight eugenic thinking and the reality is we have people hoarding the wealth and resources worldwide. I'm joined by Ryan Howze, host of The Conscious Environment Podcast, Nat, the host of Collective  Action Comics and leftist Libby. Left of the Projector Links ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Podcast Stream Links ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Merch Store⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠TikTok ⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/leftoftheprojector/support

Mystery Men is one of those films that you either love or hate. Or even more accurately, it's a film you've heard of or one you haven't. During the peak of Ben Stiller's acting career, he stared in There's Something About Mary and was riding high. Then Mystery Men came out which was an utter flop. Lucky for Stiller, Meet the Parents came out a year later and the rest is history. While Mystery Men is a goofy comedy film of working class superheros, it does say a lot about capitalist society, crime, poverty and lots of fart jokes.  Joining me is Hugo and Emlie or the Jolly Leftist. Left of the Projector Links ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Podcast Stream Links ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Merch Store⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠TikTok ⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/leftoftheprojector/support

Patrick Bateman is a hero to some, a person to be emulated. I’m here to tell you: don’t be like Patrick Bateman. American psycho is a satire of materialism, capitalism and the rotten core of finance capital and Wall Street. Left of the Projector Links ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Podcast Stream Links ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Merch Store⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠TikTok ⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/leftoftheprojector/support

Starship Troopers is one of, if not the greatest, the best spoof military films of all time. Paul Verhoeven is the GOAT when it comes to satire, especially military and police related. The mastermind behind Robocop brought the novel to life in a much better way. Verhoeven used the imagery of fascism, the third reich, the United States to show what ongoing militarism looks like if we keep going in that direction. My cast of guests are here to bring light to all the fash you see depicted in this movie and of course, make it funny. Left of the Projector Links ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Podcast Stream Links ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Merch Store⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠TikTok ⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/leftoftheprojector/support

The Menu was a film I was anticipating for a while and then got a flurry of friends saying I need to see this film. While I was slightly hesitant in the episode on saying I loved this film...I definitely did. I'm joined by 5 time guest Smirk Gently and Oslowe (formerly in the Film industry) to dissect all the class themes in this film. The Menu has two important deleted scenes, one that I did not discover until after release. Check out my TikTok page @leftoftheprojectorpod for more on that! This film pits staff, givers, against the rich, takers and really has a great commentary on art, food, and how we understand these things.  Left of the Projector Links ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Podcast Stream Links ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Merch Store⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠TikTok ⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/leftoftheprojector/support

Back to the horror genre once again (and next week too -- for my non-Horror fans, I got some fun episodes planned) with last years hit film The Barbarian. While this is a horror film, it definitely pushes the boundaries of a horror film. There are so many pertinent themes that are worth discussing. From Reaganomics to the me too movement, this film has much to talk about with my guests The Jolly Leftist and Comrade Cutiepie. Left of the Projector Links ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Podcast Stream Links ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Merch Store⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠TikTok ⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/leftoftheprojector/support

This first rule of Fight Club is to tell people to listen to this episode about Fight Club. Fight Club is probably one of the most beloved cult classics of the last 20 years despite the fact that most get all the wrong messages from the film. It is an athem for alpha male dude bros, when the reality is that the film is far more nuanced. You will find men who do domesticate and take to jobs that require what previously had been deemed "feminine" roles.  The movie, like the book, has a far more important message to impart: our society of over consumption and consumerism needs to to be stopped -- Capitalism cannot be the only way.  The film, while plotting to destroy credit card companies, does not truly provide a real revolutionary movement, but instead it plants the seed. The idea. You may notice that this episode was live streamed on YouTube...so if you want watch/listen that way, you can check the video here. Left of the Projector Links ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Podcast Stream Links ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Merch Store⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠TikTok ⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/leftoftheprojector/support

Ok, so the new Knives Out story just came out, but we are rehashing the OG first. Rian Johnson should stick to films like this and leave Star Wars for JJ Abrams. Johnson made a fantastic murder mystery film stuffed with class, race and money themes. The characters in this film are worthy of analysis, and hope to get an episode on the new film Glass Onion soon. Left of the Projector Links ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Podcast Stream Links ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Merch Store⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠TikTok ⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/leftoftheprojector/support