Cinebuds

It's another special guest episode!Getting the big welcome this time around is one of our wonderful return vistors: Julie Lookatch from the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center, who drops by to drop some knowledge about the 28th annual Milwaukee Jewish Film Festival. She's got all the who, what, when, where and why for this year's event that runs from Oct. 26-30 at the Marcus North Shore Cinema, followed by a streaming option the following week.Julie, Dori and Kpolly logically start with opening-night film Midas Man, the biopic about The Beatles' longtime manager (and the guy who discovered them), Brian Epstein. From there, they jump around the curated lineup to heartwarming dramedy The Ring, the more straightforward drama Soda, cat-and-mouse documentary The Stamp Thief, and the festival's romcom closer Matchmaking 2.#####Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Co.

Being the hosts of a big-time podcast like this one gets you access to some pretty cool stuff. It also turns out that being a fan of a big-time podcast like this one can pay off from time to time — like getting the chance to see the most talked about movie in the country before anyone else!We like exaggerating now and then, but for One Battle After Another, our cinematic trio (yes, trio) got the privilege to be in the audience for an advance screening happening at only 13 locations nationwide. Milwaukee’s own Oriental Theatre landed on that exclusive list, and Radio Milwaukee member Sara Frenn got the exclusive opportunity to watch the movie with Dori and Kpolly, then talk about it on this episode.What do they have to say about it? There are a lot of words in a 30-minute podcast, but some of the choice ones are “surprising,” “misleading” (in a good way) and “unexpected.”If you’ve only seen a trailer or ad for the film, you’d be forgiven for thinking One Battle After Another is an action-y thriller. While it has those elements, the laughs go well beyond mere comic relief and do more than break up tense moments. This is a genuinely funny movie that still manages to mix in impressive action sequences — a combination that makes this nearly 3-hour film feel much shorter and yet still epic in scale.

We've gotten more than a few chances to talk with special guests about a particular film they're involved in, but this episode takes things to a wonderful new level.At the center of our discussion is the beautiful new documentary, It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley, which received overwhelmingly positive reviews after its Sundance premiere. Through never-before-seen footage of Jeff, as well as interviews with people close to him, the film becomes a graceful retrospective on the gifted musician we lost far too soon.Nobody understands that feeling better than Jeff Buckley's mother, Mary Guibert, and we were honored to speak with her for this episode. She shares the origin story of this deeply personal project that was decades in the making, and how she decided to put the story of her son in the hands of director Amy Berg.We also hear about her earliest memories of Jeff's love for music, from singing Spanish nursery rhymes as a toddler to getting a Les Paul guitar that he practically slept with, and the nonprofit organization Road Recovery, which was inspired by Jeff's life to help at-risk youth turn tragedy into harmony through the power of music.Stick around to the end to hear Guibert's answer to Dori's trademark question, as she reveals what "Scotty" --- as his mom still calls him --- would say his childhood smelled like.*****Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Co.

This week, we’re talking all about The Roses, the new film starring the delightful Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch. It's a modern remake of the '80s classic The War of the Roses, telling the story of a lovely couple whose marriage begins to unravel, leading to a hilariously escalating divorce.Join us as we compare this updated version to the original, discussing how its deeper character development makes the couple’s mean-spirited sabotage feel both uncomfortable and pretty darn funny at the same time. We also dive into the stellar performances from the entire cast, including Andy Samberg and Kate McKinnon, and touch on fun details like the clever gender-role reversal from the original film.

The only way to describe this episode is "super special" considering the person in the spotlight: Milwaukee-born director Michael Schultz! Milwaukee Film introduced a new annual award named in his honor that recognizes luminary Black directors who have profoundly impacted culture and the film industry. Schultz himself will be the first recipient and, very deservedly, will get a full weekend of programming at the Oriental Theatre on Sept. 12 and 13.Dori and Kpolly delve into Schultz on this episode with a discussion about his prolific career directing for the stage and screen, his groundbreaking moment as the first Black director nominated at the Cannes Film Festival, and a look at some of his outstanding work, including The Last Dragon.*****Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Co. and our wonderful Radio Milwaukee members.

Dori is flying solo for this episode, but she made sure to keep the pod well-populated by inviting filmmakers Alex Lamb and Max Well to chat about their new documentary, The Donn of Tiki.This is a story that demanded to be told: A man living a life that makes it nearly impossible to separate fact from fiction while inadvertently creating the tiki subculture. The entire tale of Donn Beach is a wild one and extends all the way back to his birth, the location of which remains up in the air. He was a bootlegger and rum-cocktail inventor with mob ties who used his authentic love for Polynesian culture to become "the founding father of tiki.”Alex and Max share how they discovered old tapes with Donn's actual voice, used perfectly suited stop-motion animation to bring him to life, and wound up with enough material for an early cut that was three hours long. They also talk about how they whittled down that runtime and came up with a narrative approach for an unreliable narrator — something you can see for yourself at a screening of The Donn of Tiki this Saturday, Sept. 6, at the Oriental Theatre, followed immediately by a Q&A with the filmmakers.*****Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Co.

When Milwaukee Film rolls out one of their carefully curated series, it gives Dori and Kpolly a chance to do two things: Highlight a bunch of great movies around a particular theme. Rest their voices by bringing in a guest host. For the organization's monthly "Cinematic Sisterhood" run of films, they decided to go straight to the top. That's right, Milwaukee Film Executive Director Susan Kerns steps into the studio to give a very authoritative (but friendly!) perspective of the series made possible by a grant from the Women's Fund of Greater Milwaukee.Our trio of cinephiles talks about the programming that celebrates films directed by women, including the one coming up Aug. 23: The Queen of My Dreams from Fawzia Mirza, who took a creatively kinetic approach to telling a tale of mothers and daughters trying to connect. All three hosts already got their eyes on the 2023 movie and applied their respective seals of approval for the grounded story that finds a way to seamlessly stir in a heavy dose of fantasy.******Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Co.

This episode sees our cinematic duo turning their attention to Kiyoshi Kurosawa's new Japanese thriller, Cloud. This film, a hit at the spring film festivals and an Academy Award nominee, explores themes of capitalism through a young man reselling goods online. While some might expect a horror film based on Kurosawa's past work, Cloud is decidedly a thriller that keeps you guessing who to root for.Get ready for tonal shifts as the film evolves from a quiet drama to an absurd, action-packed thriller with characters who are — as our humble hosts remark — "an inch away from losing it." Dori and Kpolly also praise the unexpected character arcs of Yoshi's assistant, O, and his girlfriend, before moving on to their other recommendations: the 1980s-set, Pedro Pascal-starring Freaky Tales; and Bob Odenkirk's unexpected action turn in Nobody.

Earlier this year, we invited the filmmakers behind Cycle to the podcast for a deeper look at their document about police violence in America. In the months since, Cycle won Best Feature Documentary at the Brooklyn Film Festival and is now gearing up for more screenings and more film festivals around Wisconsin and beyond. So it seemed like a good time to revisit our conversation with directors Laura Dyan Kezman and William Howell. Enjoy. *****On this episode, Dori welcomes some very special guests to talk about a very important film: Cycle.More than five years in the making, Cycle takes an unflinching look at the patterns behind police violence in America through the story of Ty’rese West, an 18-year-old from Racine who was shot and killed by Mount Pleasant police officer Eric Giese in 2019 after being stopped for riding a bicycle without a headlight.Joining the podcast to talk about their film — and their deep connections to it — are directors Laura Dyan Kezman and William Howell, both of whom are from Racine. Uniquely Milwaukee host Kim Shine also sits in for this one as the quartet talk about:  Howell's personal connection to West's family and the Racine community, which helped build trust for the deeply personal footage in the film. The challenging process of obtaining public information from authorities. How the death of George Floyd in 2020 reframed their work. Who holds power in the criminal justice system, particularly the District Attorney. The challenges of and potential for filmmaking in Wisconsin. The hope that Cycle serves as a catalyst and inspires viewers to push social justice forward. *****Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Co.

 Director Wes Anderson has done something just about every person in his trade dreams to do: establish an instantly recognizable and virtually inimitable visual style.He’s reached a point in his career at which a member of the moviegoing public could jump in halfway through a trailer with no prompts whatsoever and go, “Huh, Wes Anderson’s got a new film coming out.” On this episode of Cinebuds, we ask the question: Has he reached a point in his career at which that’s not necessarily a good thing?Prompting that discussion is Anderson’s latest release, The Phoenician Scheme, which plays his greatest hits. Symmetrical shots? Yep. Scenes that could easily double as paintings? Sure. Flat, deadpan delivery? Bingo.As our hosts discuss, that final quality might be starting to catch up with Anderson, at least in this one. The Phoenician Scheme sports the top-notch writing and story beats we’ve also come to expect from Anderson. Yet, despite a cast with the ability to match that high level of scripting, they don’t get a chance to create a character. Perhaps you know the adage, “Show, don’t tell.” Based on our hosts’ experience, The Phoenician Scheme could’ve used a little more of that. But was that enough to sink the whole ship or just tip it slightly from side to side?Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Co.

With all the enthusiasm and boundless energy of a certain super-canine, we jump all over the new Superman movie that director James Gunn controversially decided to call ... Superman.We try not to give away too much in these descriptions, but it's kind of hard to avoid the fact that our hosts do a lot of gushing in this particular episode. In that way, they took in this film the same way a lot of people did: with appreciation for quite possibly the most human Superman ever seen on the big screen.Then there's the brilliant Nicholas Hoult's turn as Lex Luthor, deep-cut heroes like bowl-cutted Green Lantern Guy Gardner and the even-keeled Mr. Terrific, so many Easter eggs and cameos, and (of course) Krypto the Superdog. Basically, it's an episode-long reminder that breaking down a film critically is equally possible with one you love as it is for one you revile.Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Co.

Are you ready for a deep dive into cinema history?That's certainly not the last acquatic pun you'll get from us as we hunt down one of cinema's most impactful movies: Jaws! The big-mouthed killing machine (literally ... the many breakdowns the "shark" experienced on set are legendary at this point) turns 50 this year and is as relevant as ever a half-century after essentially creating the concept of a summer blockbuster.Dori and Kpolly fire up the engines and chug out into the waters off the coast of Amity to get their hooks into why Jaws remains a must-see movie. Our hosts dig into all of the ingredients that give the film its staying power, from memorable one-liners to sneaky pop-culture references to brilliant casting (particularly the scene-stealing Robert Shaw).They also explore the enduring horror of a shark attack, the iconic John Williams score, and the indelible impression of seeing Jaws on the big screen. Plus, you'll hear what else they've been watching, including The Shark Whisperer and Paddington in Peru.Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Co.

Get ready for a local cinema deep dive as Dori chats with Michael Wendt from Woodland Pattern and Takahiro Suzuki from the aCinema series.Our guests demystify experimental film, explaining why its non-linear, poetic style isn't intimidating as you think and just might unlock new viewpoints you never would've seen otherwise. They share insights into the upcoming aCinema screening series, now in its ninth season, running July 18-20 at Woodland Pattern. This year features 41 international works across six programs that explore themes like identity, home and the environment, with some even utilizing AI.You'll hear all about the series, how Woodland Pattern became a vital home for poets and artists over the last 46 years, and how even the name "aCinema" is wonderfully unique in its own right.Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Co.

Get ready for fireworks and film!On this special Fourth of July episode of Cinebuds, Dori and Kpolly are talking movies that scream independence. From iconic historical musicals like Hamilton and Yankee Doodle Dandy to all-American sports flicks like A League of Their Own and The Sandlot, they've got a fun list of blockbusters and hidden gems. Whether you're cheering for heroes in Captain America movies, reliving childhood memories with An American Tale or even facing terrifying sharks in Jaws, discover the perfect film for your patriotic celebrations.Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Co.

In the 40+ years of box-office tracking, the numbers for North America are pretty easy to summarize: up.Almost without exception, the total gross and the number of releases that found their way into theaters rose steadily every year, hitting their peak in 2018 with 993 releases grossing nearly $11.9 billion. The next year saw a slight dip to 910 releases and nearly $11.4 billion — and we know what happened after that.The movie industry, like many others, hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic levels and may never get there. In 2024, 675 releases hit screens across North America and tallied just shy of $8.6 billion. While those totals are well behind the previous pace, that doesn’t necessarily mean the cinema is worse off — perhaps just different.One of the people navigating the new environment is director Danny Villanueva Jr., a Chicago native whose move northward greatly influenced his second feature-length film, What Happened to Dorothy Bell? Since premiering in 2024, the horror movie has been met with positive reviews from audiences, including the ones at this year’s Milwaukee Film Festival, where it made its Wisconsin debut.Technically a found-footage paranormal film, What Happened to Dorothy Bell? is also described by its director as “a story about generational trauma and self-discovery.” On top of that, it’s a story about Kenosha — or at least starring Kenosha. The city’s 125-year-old Gilbert M. Simmons Library, and the ghost tours found therein, stoked Villanueva Jr.’s creative fires and ultimately became the filming location.On this episode of Cinebuds, he joins us to talk about how he gravitated to the horror genre, his path to becoming a “micro-budget” filmmaker and the part our state — and events like the Milwaukee Film Festival — has to play in the wider world of moviemaking.

For a podcast called Cinebuds, reviewing a film called Friendship sounds like a match made in celluloidic heaven. As you’ll hear, that depends on your vision of the afterlife.Just to get this out of the way, your beloved hosts Dori and Kpolly have a wonderful bond that would make a … let’s say questionably entertaining movie. Fortunately, the duo in Friendship — Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd — are less focused on a seamless relationship and more focused on making a film people actually want to watch.On that last point, how into the movie you are depends greatly on how much you get down with cringey humor that occasionally jumps over the line into downright dark. Also, how you feel about drug-trip fantasies involving a certain nationwide sandwich shop.Check out the full episode to hear everything Dori and Kpolly had to say about Friendship, as well as their top three movies about male friendship (spoiler: one of them features Pee-Wee Herman).

Because everyone loves a double meaning, Milwaukee Film took one look at the month of June, contemplated it being the start of summer as well as Pride Month, and came up with a movie series titled “Summer CAMP!” that covers the latter with just a sprinkling of the former.The 10 films selected for the monthlong run primarily reflect the Merriam-Webster definition of camp as “something so outrageously artificial, affected, inappropriate, or out-of-date as to be considered amusing.” You’ll also find a couple movies that head to camp as in cabins and mosquitos and — in one case — slasher horror.Here’s the full lineup, all of which unspool at the Oriental Theatre: Death Becomes Her — June 4 at 6:30 p.m. Polyester (in Odorama!) — June 6 at 7:30 p.m. Xanadu — June 7-8 at 3 p.m. Grease 2 — June 12-13 at 9:30 p.m. Showgirls — June 19-21 at 9 p.m. Brokeback Mountain (4K restoration) — June 22 at noon and 6 p.m.; June 24 and 26 at 6 p.m. Moonrise Kingdom — June 21-22 at 3 p.m. D.E.B.S. — June 26-27 at 9 p.m. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? — June 28-29 at 3:45 p.m. Sleepaway Camp — June 28 at 9:45 p.m.

We’re switching things up for this episode of Cinebuds and talking about … the theater!OK, sure, Dori and Kpolly talk about theaters all the time in the context of movies. For this installment, they’re talking about live theater being brought to movie theaters to give audiences the chance to experience live theater while sitting in a movie theater.Milwaukee Film has done this in the past and recently resuscitated the practice via National Theatre Live, which for 15+ years has delivered the best of British theatre to movie houses around the world. We’re talking instantly recognizable names and faces like Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Sheen, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Andrew Scott treading the boards in productions of Hamlet, Frankenstein and Vanya.The brilliant Scott gets the spotlight treatment in this episode of Cinebuds, as our movie-loving duo applies some of that adoration to Scott’s astounding performance in Vanya. The stage play sees him take on every character in a way few actors can while utilizing subtle shifts in tone, expression and body language, with a little help from creative propwork.You can hear all about Vanya and Scott’s sizable undertaking in the full episode of Cinebuds, and find more information on National Theatre Live at the Oriental via the Milwaukee Film website.Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Co.

Reunited, and it feels so good ...After taking a breather during the Milwaukee Film Festival (more on that in a moment), Dori and Kpolly got back behind the microphone to talk about the latest Marvel movie, Thunderbolts*. Due in part to the break in recording, this might be the first time in Cinebuds history that a film changed its title between its release and getting discussed on the podcast — nice to know the Marvel Cinematic Universe can still keep us on our toes 36 movies in.You’ll hear our hosts talk about the focus on mental health that hovers over Thunderbolts*, the ideas about found family (or teammates), David Harbour’s welcome heaping helping of comic relief amid many other brooding characters and Florence Pugh’s commitment to her role that saw her leap off a 2,000-foot skyscraper.Of course, we couldn’t close the episode with getting a quick Milwaukee Film Festival report from Kpolly, who happily notes the event’s 47% increase in attendance per theater.

On this episode, Dori welcomes some very special guests to talk about a very important film: Cycle.More than five years in the making, Cycle takes an unflinching look at the patterns behind police violence in America through the story of Ty’rese West, an 18-year-old from Racine who was shot and killed by Mount Pleasant police officer Eric Giese in 2019 after being stopped for riding a bicycle without a headlight.Joining the podcast to talk about their film — and their deep connections to it — are directors Laura Dyan Kezman and William Howell, both of whom are from Racine. Uniquely Milwaukee host Kim Shine also sits in for this one as the quartet talk about: Howell's personal connection to West's family and the Racine community, which helped build trust for the deeply personal footage in the film. The challenging process of obtaining public information from authorities. How the death of George Floyd in 2020 reframed their work. Who holds power in the criminal justice system, particularly the District Attorney. The challenges of and potential for filmmaking in Wisconsin. The hope that "Cycle" serves as a catalyst and inspires viewers to push social justice forward. Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Co.