#745 - The Bear Necessities

Luke tests out the APPLE VISION PRO and it leads us on a long discussion of the many ills (and even some of the upsides) of our emerging techno pseudo-utopia. PLUS: On the return of Sacha Baron Cohen, and on the coming Toronto mayoral election. Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://patreon.com/michaelandus TORONTO: See Luke in conversation with Matt McManus on "What Is Liberal Socialism?" at Flying Books (371 Queen St. W) on November 23 - https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/matt-mcmanus-in-conversation-with-luke-savage-tickets-2003631803661 Check on Plan 9 from Outer Space on Blu-Ray featuring a booklet essay by Will - https://shop.bfi.org.uk/plan-9-from-outer-space-blu-ray/ Check out the Michael & Us website and episode guide - https://michael-and-us.com/

At long last, we discuss one of the most popular American liberal Zionist movies of all time, Adam Sandler's YOU DON'T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN (2008)... and discover a movie that is actually about leaving Israel behind! PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus/posts/752-dont-mess-173188694

After a run of highbrow content, we're right back in the muck! We treated ourselves to the ridiculous Christian hostage thriller FORGIVEN (2016), starring Kevin Sorbo as a police negotiator dealing with a kidnapping at a church. PLUS: The hosts disagree sharply over whether or not Shane Gillis is worth talking about. Watch FORGIVEN if you dare - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKzNTNlUrEw Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://patreon.com/michaelandus Check out the Michael & Us website and database - https://michael-and-us.com/

In the early 1970s, Japanese New Wave auteur Masao Adachi travelled to Lebanon, joined the Japanese Red Army, and chronicled the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in his film RED ARMY/PLFO: DECLARATION OF WORLD WAR (1971). And when the PLFO was designated a terrorist organization, Adachi found himself labelled "the terrorist filmmaker," and didn't return to Japan for over 20 years. In this special interview episode, Will talks to scholar William Andrews, author of a comprehensive new biography about Adachi, about one of the last survivors of an era when filmmakers from around the world considered how to make films politically - not just make political films. Buy William Andrews' book Pink Auteur, Red Outlaw: Adachi Masao and Japan's Cinema of Revolution - http://awaimedia.com/WilliamAndrewsBook.html "The Last Revolutionary Filmmaker" by William Andrews - https://jacobin.com/2026/09/adachi-film-japan-1960s-politics Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://patreon.com/michaelandus Check out the Michael & Us website and episode guide - https://michael-and-us.com/

On public space, the death of cinema, cruising in Taipei, and Tsai Ming-liang's masterpiece GOODBYE, DRAGON INN (2003). PLUS: How many DIGGERs is a CEO payout worth? Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://patreon.com/michaelandus Check out the Michael & Us website and episode guide - https://michael-and-us.com/

With Sylvester Stallone back in the news, we felt it was time to consider a movie that has become not just a consensus classic, but also a piece of American folklore, ROCKY (1976). What does this movie tell us about ourselves? Will, a lifelong Rocky fan, and Luke, who only just saw his first Rocky movie today, try to get some answers. PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus/posts/748-great-white-171798733

Eight years after the start of the Great Recession, and mere months before a certain New York real estate mogul ascended to the presidency, several of Hollywood's most elite liberals made a cinematic response to the financial crisis. We discuss Jodie Foster's MONEY MONSTER (2016), starring George Clooney as Jim Cramer. PLUS: Can monoculture be declining when all of culture is centralized? We ponder this question. Check out the Michael & Us website and episode guide - https://michael-and-us.com/ Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://patreon.com/michaelandus

We continue our patriotic streak by finally tackling one of the true Canadian cultural institutions of our childhoods. In the days of the monoculture, they defined Canadian political satire. And to many, they were a little bit lame. But today we ask: can we reclaim THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FARCE? PLUS: What is "imperialist realism"? PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus/posts/746-chicken-170944703

With Luke returning from a week in the Algonquin wilderness, we discuss another great Canadian outdoorsman, Troy Hurtubise. We discuss the cult documentary PROJECT GRIZZLY (1996), about one man's quixotic journey to create a big metal suit that withstand a bear attack. PLUS: On the right-of-centre politics of the reigning Canadian Liberal government, and a scene report from the Toronto International Film Festival. Watch Project Grizzly online - https://www.nfb.ca/film/project_grizzly/ Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://patreon.com/michaelandus Check out the official Michael & Us website and episode guide - https://michael-and-us.com/

Shortly before he was unceremoniously cancelled, Morgan Spurlock (y'all remember him?) directed a documentary about the legendary Simpsons episode "Homer at the Bat." Sort of. We discuss SPRINGFIELD OF DREAMS: THE LEGEND OF HOMER SIMPSON (2017). PLUS: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times in popular cinema - and our financial system is to blame. Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://patreon.com/michaelandus Check out our official website and episode guide - https://michael-and-us.com/ "Why Netflix Only Champions Crap" by Coleman Spilde - https://www.salon.com/2026/09/02/why-netflix-only-champions-crap-like-the-whisper-man-the-last-house/ Watch SPRINGFIELD OF DREAMS if you dare - https://vimeo.com/1131490789