Cinebuds

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. [https://www.joewilde.com]

Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Co. [https://www.joewilde.com] The Milwaukee Film Festival doesn’t stop after week one, so neither do we! We’re into the second phase of the annual event, and in the extremely remote chance you thought Dori and Kpolly would run out of films to talk about, rest assured that the folks at Milwaukee Film have provided plenty to cover. Speaking of those folks, programming director Kerstin Larson is back! If you want to get technical about how we record these things, she actually never left … but still. It’s great to have an insider like Kerstin helping us sort through the 96(!) features and oodles of short programs across five screens at the Oriental and Downer theaters. On this episode, the trio briefly hit on the unique environment of a film festival, the excitement around seeing these projects that aren’t always what you expect, and how going to a theater will always (always!!!) kick the rear end of watching a movie at home. Milwaukee Film Festival picks: Week 2 What Happened to Dorothy Bell? [https://mkefilm.org/events/mff25/what-happened-to-dorothy-bell]  After uncovering disturbing revelations from her early childhood involving her late grandmother, Ozzie Gray sets out to investigate her past. Desperate for answers, she attempts to communicate with Dorothy's spirit but unwittingly awakens something malevolent. Midnight Shorts [https://mkefilm.org/events/mff25/shorts-the-best-damn-f-@ing-midnight-program-ever] Who doesn't love a little mayhem? Your inner monster will thank you for this night of kooky comedies, hair-raising horror and cRuNCHy sqUISHYyy battles between flesh and … is that Cate Blanchett?! It's a late-night party so unhinged, you can only see it after midnight. OK, it starts at 10 p.m. … but maybe it’ll go until midnight? Balomania [https://mkefilm.org/events/mff25/balomania] The culture and work of Brazilian baloeiros — secret groups of men who craft and launch intricate hot-air balloon art — deserve a place on the big screen. This epic portrayal captures the free-spirited artistry and subculture, showcasing a raw, authentic exploration of Brazilian masculinity. Harvest [https://mkefilm.org/events/mff25/harvest] Over seven hallucinatory days, a village with no name, in an undefined time and place, disappears. Tsangari’s follow up to 2015's Chevalier, this tragicomic take on a Western follows townsman-turned-farmer Walter Thirsk (Caleb Landry Jones) and befuddled lord of the manor Charles Kent (Harry Melling), childhood friends who are about to face an invasion from the outside world: the trauma of modernity.  The Milwaukee Show (One [https://mkefilm.org/events/mff25/the-milwaukee-show-i] and Two [https://mkefilm.org/events/mff25/the-milwaukee-show-ii]) Each year, The Milwaukee Show is one of the hottest tickets of the festival — a rare chance to see work from our local best and brightest in the gloriously opulent setting of our beloved Oriental Theatre's Abele Cinema. This collection of stunning shorts allows you to watch locally, yet think globally. 40 Acres [https://mkefilm.org/events/mff25/40-acres] In a post-apocalyptic future where food is scarce, the last descendants of a Black family of farmers who settled in Canada after the American Civil War must protect their homestead from an organized militia hell-bent on taking their land. Structured like a typical apocalypse film, 40 Acres subverts expectations in ways that will leave you breathless.  Magic Farm [https://mkefilm.org/events/mff25/magic-farm] A film crew working for an edgy media company travels to Argentina to profile a local musician, but their ineptitude leads them into the wrong country. As the crew collaborates with locals to fabricate a trend, unexpected connections blossom while a pervasive health crisis looms unacknowledged in the background.

OMilwaukee Film programming director Kerstin Larson joins Dori and Kpolly to talk about the return of the Milwaukee Film Festival, including some of their favorite selections from the two-week event: * Sally [https://mkefilm.org/events/mff25/sally], a documentary about Sally Ride, directed by Milwaukee native Christina Constantini, is the opening night film. Christina Costantini also directed Science Fair, which was an opening night film a few years prior. * Teaches of Peaches [https://mkefilm.org/events/mff25/teaches-of-peaches], a documentary about the musician Peaches, will be shown on the first full day of the festival. This film is part of the Sound Vision program and also fits into the genre queer category. * Desperately Seeking Susan [https://mkefilm.org/events/mff25/desperately-seeking-susan], starring Madonna, will have a screening with Susan Sidleman in attendance for a book signing and talk. This is the film's 40th anniversary. * Boys Go to Jupiter [https://mkefilm.org/events/mff25/boys-go-to-jupiter] is an animated film described as goofy and cute with a cast of alternative comedy voice actors. * Waves [https://mkefilm.org/events/mff25/waves] is a historical period piece about a rogue radio station in the Czech Republic in the 1960s. * Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse [https://mkefilm.org/events/mff25/art-spiegelman-disaster-is-my-muse], a documentary about the graphic novelist who wrote "Mouse," will be featured. * Green Blah [https://mkefilm.org/events/mff25/green-blah-the-history-of-green-bay-punk-rock], The History of Green Bay Punk Rock is a documentary about the punk rock scene in Green Bay. * Pavements [https://mkefilm.org/events/mff25/pavements] is a documentary about the band Pavement with an experimental twist that includes a fictional movie about the band being filmed simultaneously, starring actors like Joe Keery and Jason Schwartzman. For more info on this year's film festival, visit the Milwaukee Film website [https://mkefilm.org/mff25]. Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Co. [https://www.joewilde.com]

When you heard the news earlier this month that Val Kilmer died, your mind likely jumped to an image of him from one of his movies. Iceman from Top Gun was no doubt the one that most people conjured. Or was it Doc Holliday from Tombstone? Or Jim Morrison from The Doors? Or Madmartigan from Willow? If you need evidence of Kilmer’s lasting impact on the film world, that should be enough. Even the most casual of movie-watchers can easily replay a scene in their head from one of his many memorable roles (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373469/] being a personal favorite … if you haven’t seen it, it’s well worth your four bucks to rent). On this episode of Cinebuds, Dori and Kpolly take a beautifully heartbreaking trip through Val Kilmer’s filmography by sharing their personal connections to his work and delving into his illustrious career — with a slight bias you’d expect from kids of the ’80 and ’90s, as our hosts are. Was Kilmer the most unsung leading man of his generation? Does that sell him short from a career perspective considering his theater work and Grammy nomination? We start to answer those questions in this episode.