Maximum Film!

Today we're taking a look at a movie from director Luke Gilford that started out as a book of photographs taken on the Gay Rodeo circuit and became a lot more. It's NATIONAL ANTHEM, with EUROVANGELISTS' own Oscar Montoya as our very special guest! Plus, we're naming favorite instances of drag on film and pitching fresh Westerns that deserve that angel investor capital. What’s Good Alonso - McConnell’s x See’s Candy Ice Cream Collab Drea - Minnesota State Fair’s “Fried Ranch” Oscar - Platform Crocs Ify - going to the beach (esp Carbon, Zuma)/ “listening to me” Drag Moment Movie Mentions See them as a Letterboxd List! Sylvia Scarlett Some Like it Hot Yentl Victor/Victoria Bugs Bunny Port Authority Romeo + Juliet To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar Legend Cole Escola’s “Our Home Out West” Staff Picks Alonso - Small Town Gay Bar Drea - A Quiet Place: Day One (and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe) Oscar - Hellzapoppin’ Ify - Boys in the Sand (FYI: NSFW) Follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram With Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Ify Nwadiwe Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Listener Harrison gave us a great shortlist of films to choose from this year – a prize Harrison became eligible for by supporting the show at MaximumFun.org/join. We went with Nahnatchka Khan’s slasher comedy from last year, TOTALLY KILLER (starring Kiernan Shipka as a teen who ends up back in time and tries to catch a murderer…before the murderer catches her! That inspires our latest slate of Hall of Excellence nominees: Best Time Travel Movie. (Vote for your winner at facebook.com/groups/maximumfilm before July 29, 2024). What’s Good Alonso - Not watching the news Drea - cat ordeal over at last Ify - WHOOP band Hall of Excellence Nominees Alonso - Time After Time Drea - Peggy Sue Got Married Ify - Interstellar Staff Picks Drea - The Final Girls Alonso - Let It Snow Ify - The Blackening Follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram With Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Ify Nwadiwe Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

The third installment of Ti West's maybe-a-trilogy, MaXXXine follows up on the bloody sagas of X and Pearl. And it does so in 1980s LA drag. Writer and critic Sarah Gorr joins us to share her big feelings about it! Then most of us take a Hotline email about introductions to horror for the horror-averse. What’s Good Alonso: Corpses, Fools and Monsters by Willow Maclay and Caden Gardner Drea: European election relief Sarah: Sister’s first visit to LA Ify: Sundresses, day parties…etc ITIDIC John Cena is Retiring from the WWEToho Will Release My Hero Academia: You’re Next in the USMark Ruffalo Got The Avengers Cast Together to Dub the Film in the Lakota LanguageStaff Picks Alonso - FTA Drea - Dandelion Sarah - Mother, Couch Ify - A Nightmare on Elm Street Sarah’s Letterboxd list, “Horror 101" Follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram With Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Ify Nwadiwe Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Director Erica Tremblay's narrative feature debut stars Lily Gladstone and Isobel Deroy-Olson as an aunt and niece on the Seneca-Cayuga rez. After a long search for distribution, it's finally found its home on AppleTV+. We'll tell you why you should look out for it, and then round out the aunt-ly experience with a movie quiz all about the Aunts of Cinema. What's Good Alonso - the hand fan Drea - Diet Cherry Ginger Ale ("Fruit Splash") Ify - not the hockey clinic, but Arizona Hard Iced Tea ITIDIC IATSE and Studios Reach a Tentative AgreementWicked Release Moved Up to Nov 22 – The Same Weekend as Gladiator 2World’s Largest Screen X Auditorium to Open at a New Jersey Mega-MallStaff Picks Alonso - Catch the Fair One Drea - Frybread Face and Me Ify - Sorry to Bother You Look out for: Justin Simien’s BLACK HOLLYWOOD on MGM+ Alonso's screening in Tennessee Follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram With Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Ify Nwadiwe Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

June Squibb’s film career has always defied expectations for what an actor can do at what age. So why not star in your first headlining role - an action movie no less- at 94? We talk THELMA, then pitch some frankly amazing ideas for future action thrillers with unlikely stars. What’s Good Alonso - Sasha Geffen’s article on Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Welcome to the Pleasuredome Drea - returning to swimming Ify - cropping his t-shirts…oh and TV Chef Fantasy League, now on MaxFun! ITIDIC Neon Exec: Independent Films Have to be an “Event” to succeed in theatersBoulder Looking Like A Top Candidate to be the New Home of SundanceEddie Murphy Says New Shrek is Coming…and a Donkey MovieStaff Picks Drea - Kinds of Kindness Alonso - Tuesday Ify - Speed Racer Alonso on Go Fact Yourself See Alonso at the Academy Museum w/Justin Simien on 6/29 Alonso on The Flop House Follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram With Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Ify Nwadiwe Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Comedian Erin Foley joins the gang to take a look back at the best lesbian neo-noir 1996 has to offer…which is also probably the best of all of those things that any year has to offer. The first movie directed by the Wachowskis, Bound gets more intriguing as time marches on. And now it also has has 4K Blu-Ray restoration from Criterion. Then we take a hotline call from a listener wondering about what movies we might remake from a different directorial perspective. What’s Good Alonso - Swiffers Drea - Jenny Nicholson rabbithole (here’s that Hallmark video Alonso mentions) Erin - WNBA All-Star Weekend in Arizona Ify - Beer League Hockey (w/ comedians) ITIDIC Sony Buys Alamo DrafthouseAMC Has Its Best Weekend of 2024Megalopolis Finds a Distributor – LionsgateStaff Picks Alonso - Big Boys Drea - Janet Planet, Thelma Ify - Thelma Erin - Billy Elliot Erin's long-running women's sports podcast is Herlights Alonso’s Upcoming Events w/Hollywood Pride: Johnny Guitar at The Frida Cinema, 6/22/24 All About Eve at the Egyptian, 6/25/24 (w/ Ben Mankiewicz) Bound 4K restoration at the Egyptian, 6/26/24 Signing and discussion w/Justin Simien at the Academy Museum, 6/29/24 Follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram With Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Ify Nwadiwe Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

What happens when a Spanish director adapts an American graphic novel into a dialogue-free animated film? Laughter, tears, and an Oscar nomination, apparently. Sierra Katow joins us to get into this conversation (which we've carefully cordoned off with warnings and chapter markers to avoid any big spoilers)! Then everyone shares some animated films that delivered adult-level gut-punch moments. What’s Good Alonso - Cannon Films Promo Reel 1986 Sierra - Children of Blood and Bone Ify - Indie creators at Summer Games Fest ITIDIC Warner Bros to Premiere a Fully-Animated Looney Tunes Movie This Week‘Terrifier’ Actor Cast as Steamboat Willie in Upcoming Horror Film ‘Screamboat’Lacey Chabert and Brennan Elliot Making 10th Movie Together This Fall (on Hallmark)Staff Picks Alonso - Earth Girls Are Easy (and also Palace) Sierra - Fantasia Ify - Antz Get your own “Tap the Sign” sign, hand-lettered design by Producer Marissa, to proclaim your commitment to PhYSiCAL MeDiA! Alonso's Plugs: Alonso on Bullseye The Flop House: Boat Trip The Film Library: A Kanopy Podcast Free with Ads: The Opposite of Sex Follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram With Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Ify Nwadiwe Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

From Pamela Adlon (her feature debut as a director!) and comedy pals Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau, the comedy Babes is expanding this week across US theaters. We are joined by director (and mom) Trish Sie (Players, PitchPerfect 3) to talk about the film, which may or may not be anything like Bridesmaids. Then the gang will pitch some movies about personal experiences which the movies rarely get quite right. What’s Good Drea - Davey and Jonesie’s Locker Trish - Terrible, Thanks for Asking Ify - In his Cure era Alonso’s Book covered in PEOPLE ITIDIC Deadpool & Wolverine Enters the Popcorn Bucket ConversationStreamers Roll Out “Pride Month” CollectionsCriterionHuluMaxNetflixParamount+PrimeThe Infamous Glasgow Willy Wonka Experience is Now an Internet MusicalStaff Picks Drea - Ghostlight Trish - The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Ify - Mrs. Doubtfire Check out Trish’s new On Cue Podcast Follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram With Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Ify Nwadiwe Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Our friend Maria Lewis joins us from Australia once again, this time to break down George Miller’s highly anticipated follow-up to FURY ROAD (that’s also a prequel to FURY ROAD). Then we answer a hotline call about “stereotypical” characters that don’t rub us the wrong way for some reason. What’s Good Alonso - TIME Magazine issue from his birthday Drea - “digital pebbling” Maria - the healing power of friendship Ify - Being in Ohio ITIDIC The Next “Benoit Blanc Mystery” Has Its TitlePalme d’Or Announced - And It’s 5 in a Row for NEONGuy Branum talking about Baron Harkonnen on FEELING SEEN Staff Picks Alonso - Butcher Baker Nightmare Maker Drea - Patty Cake$ Maria - After the Party Ify - Emma. Maria’s latest books: Mockingbird: Strike Out: A Marvel: Heroines Novel Assassin's Creed Mirage: Daughter of No One The Graveyard Shift Follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram With Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Ify Nwadiwe Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

The latest (and second) film from director Jane Schoenbrun is a glimpse into the void, into the ‘90s, and into a whole lot more – it all depends on how you’re watching. We’re joined by MaxFilm producer (and now host of the new show, Primer), Christian Dueñas to see it all. Then, we have a fast and loose movie quiz about…Justice! What’s Good Alonso - Jenny Nicholson’s 4-Hour Deep Dive into the Star Wars Hotel’s Failure Drea - clocking the perfect mileage Christian - “Sex Vampire” playlist and the artist Filmmaker Ify - Postal Service/Death Cab concert ITIDIC Cannes First “Hit” Is the Unexpected Emilia PerezYorgos Lanthimos Has Already Set His NEXT Next movie at Focus#MaxFilmontheCroisette Staff Picks Drea - Hit Man Alonso - Little Darlings Christian - Skinamarink Ify - Detective Pikachu Subscribe to PRIMER, new from Maximum Fun! Follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram With Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Ify Nwadiwe Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

David Leitch, the director of Atomic Blonde, Bullet Train, and Hobbs & Shaw, got his Hollywood start as a stunt man. Now he’s coming full circle, making an action/comedy/romance about that stunt life, with a pair of Oscar-nominated Barbenheimer love interests at the center. And we’ve got filmmaker April Wright, director of Stuntwomen: The Untold Story, here to offer an insider’s perspective! What’s Good Alonso - The Circle April - Taurus World Stunt Awards Drea - new Doctor Who with Jinx Monsoon ITIDIC George Clooney to Make His Broadway Debut in Good Night and Good Luck AdaptationArt Directors Guild Suspends Their Training ProgramB Movie Legend Roger Corman Has Died at 98Staff Picks Alonso - Stunt Rock April - Dolemite Is My Name Drea - Birds of Prey You can watch April’s movie Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story on all of Alonso’s streaming services, and even some others! Follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram With Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Ify Nwadiwe Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Luca Guadagnino’s latest film (and biggest to date) has been the talk of cinema circles since its release. Whether it’s causing a thirst for threesomes, a craving for churros, or a burning desire to pick up a racket, folks have been talking about it, and now we are too, with help from LAFCA President and critic Robert Abele! Then we’ll hear a lot more about Alonso’s forthcoming book, HOLLYWOOD PRIDE, out soon on May 14! What’s Good Alonso - Justin Chang winning a Pulitzer Prize Drea - PRF Facial in Vegas Robert - LA Lemons galore and making food with them Ify - Warhammer Cafe in Monrovia ITIDIC Slamdance Is Moving to Los Angeles!Vin Diesel’s Riddick Sequel Will Begin Filming This FallMcDonald’s Happy Meal Toys Are Revealing MCU SpoilersVin Diesel Street Sharks Demo (as referenced by Ify) Tennis player Andrea Petkovic’s review in The Guardian (referenced by Robert) ***Order a signed copy of Alonso’s book from Book Soup*** Staff Picks Drea - The Idea of You Alonso - Egoist Robert - Whatever is on Criterion 24/7! (also: Evil Does Not Exist) Ify - Dial M for Murder Get your Physical Media Sign for tapping! Art by Producer Marissa…tap at will! Follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram With Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Ify Nwadiwe Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Writer/director (and Chicago native) Minhal Baig’s newest film centers around Malik and Eric, two young kids going through the things young kids go through, with the added complications of life in the Cabrini Green housing projects of the ‘90s. Robert Daniels (another Chicagoan) is here to help us talk through it. Then, a Hall of Excellence update and a Hotline letter that inspires a plethora of short film recommendations! What’s Good Alonso - Support socks Drea - Bentonville lineup announced Robert - belated birthday dinner at Italian Village Ify - big wooden sword ITIDIC Jennifer Aniston Producing a 9 to 5 RemakeMessi is Getting His Own TV Show to Premiere at CannesHollywood Sacrificing Massive Profits through Racial InequalityCruising Electric (1980) Yearbook short Staff Picks Drea - I Saw the TV Glow Alonso - Our Song Robert - Mr. Thank You Ify - The Great Debaters Get your Physical Media Sign for tapping! Art by Producer Marissa…tap at will! Follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram With Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Ify Nwadiwe Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Studio Ghibli’s GKIDS has a new film out about a little girl who just wants her mom to cook her a really specific dinner. If that sounds like not quite enough for a movie to be about, then you haven’t seen CHICKEN FOR LINDA! We’ve got returning guest, film critic Carlos Aguilar, on to join the conversation, and we’re even pitching some childhood memories of our own that could become future features. What’s Good Alonso - Cap’n Crunch Cinnamon Crunch Drea - Reusable skincare masks Carlos - Long Beach flea market Ify - Matthew Lillard’s D&D whiskey (Quest’s End), ren faire costume ITIDIC Participant Media closing up shopTarantino Is Scrapping ‘The Movie Critic’ as his “10th and final film”The Academy’s New Rules Staff Picks Alonso - Uncropped Drea - The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed Carlos - I Like Movies Ify - Baby Reindeer Follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram With Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Ify Nwadiwe Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

We’ve seen the Sasquatch(es)! We head into the woods to talk wild animal actors, convincing bigfoot suits, bodily functions, and the legend of Sasquatch itself, with comedian and writer Joey Clift. Then, a new set of HALL OF EXCELLENCE nominations, this time for best non-speaking performance! What’s Good Alonso - It Was Vulgar and It Was Beautiful by Jack Lowery Drea - wool dryer balls Joey - Furiosa and Garfield coming out on the same day Ify - Mammoth, moving, and some Warhammer inclusivity stuff ITIDIC At CinemaCon, NATO CEO Warns Studios Against Relying on BlockbustersAt Coachella, Will Smith Makes a Surprise Appearance to sing ‘Men in Black’Staff Picks Drea - Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter Alonso - Pom Poko (also callback to Hundreds of Beavers) Joey - Fancy Dance Ify - Monkey Man Get your own “Tap the Sign” sign, hand-lettered design by Producer Marissa, to proclaim your commitment to PhYSiCAL MeDiA! Follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram With Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Ify Nwadiwe Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Vera Drew’s very personal, exceedingly irreverent, and definitely unauthorized THE PEOPLE’S JOKER got its TIFF premiere in 2022, but has been fighting a path to (legally) be shown in theaters ever since. That fight is finally over, and THE PEOPLE’S JOKER can be seen by the people…though certain folks seem to be forming their opinions on the movie sight-unseen. We get into the film, plus pitch our own “Code 17” movies (and yes, we’ll explain what that means!). What’s Good Alonso - American Genre Film Archive, and their 15th Anniversary series at USC Drea - Midwesterners of NCAA Women’s Basketball All-Tournament Team Ify - “I’m into fountain pens now” ITIDIC David Lynch Wants to Make An Animated Movie for the whole familyFrancis Ford Coppola Screened His Self-Funded Epic to Studios…So Who’s Buying?Disney Sets (and Re-Sets) a Ton of Movie Release Dates Through 2026Staff PIcks Alonso - Two for the Road Drea - Rotting in the Sun Ify - Between Two Ferns: The Movie Call the Hotline! maximumfun.org/hotline Follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram With Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Ify Nwadiwe Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

The second feature from director Rose Glass has been on our watchlist since Sundance…even longer in the case of our guest Mallory O’Meara (Reading Glasses), who had the film’s poster on her wall far before its premiere. Now that we’ve left Arrakis in the rearview, we’ve got our hands free to take on the buff and bloody (and yes, horny) LOVE LIES BLEEDING. What’s Good Drea - graphite chopsticks/improved chopstick game Mallory - Washington Capitals making the NHL playoffs Alonso - The Good Place (finally!) ITIDIC Dev Patel’s AMA Sheds Light on the Challenges of Indie FilmmakingAng Lee Rejects 3D, Saying the Industry Is Not Built For ItThe Billboard Charts May Be BrokenLetterboxd list "Song Lyrics as Titles" Staff Picks Drea - Pain & Gain Alonso - Pumping Iron / Pumping Iron II: The Women Mallory - My Animal Ify - also My Animal malloryomeara.com Follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram With Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Ify Nwadiwe Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

It’s the final episode of Dune Month, aka “How You Dune? Month”...and it’s also the final days of #MaxFunDrive! If you’ve got the means and you’ve been putting it off, please join or upgrade to keep the MaxFilm flowing (much like the spice must flow). Head to maximumfun.org/join. And remember to email a screenshot of your confirmation email to maximumfilm@maximumfun.org to get a Staff Pick from one of the gang! IGN’s Kim Horcher joins us for the grande finale of a truly epic month (and don’t worry, Alonso weighs in too – PS, Pre order the audiobook of Hollywood Pride!) What’s Good Drea - (Righteous fury re: Ify not telling her about) having the best drag queens on Um, Actually Kim - Girls 5 Eva Ify - end of a bicoastal media and event marathon, and esp Liam ITIDIC Late Night With the Devil Directors Explain Their Use of AITitanic Door Sells at auction for over $700kWorld’s First Dragon Ball Theme Park Announced in Saudi ArabiaStaff Picks Drea - La Chimera Kim - surprise anti-pick! Best. Christmas. Ever! Ify - Sicario Kim’s Physical Media Piece Kim’s Dune Bucket Piece Follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram With Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Ify Nwadiwe Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

It’s #MaxFunDrive! Join (or upgrade or boost your existing membership!) to support this show directly at MaximumFun.org/join! Both monthly memberships and one-time annual membership plans are available. Thank you for everything – we couldn’t do this without you! As "Dune Month" (aka "How You Dune? Month") winds toward its climax, a foray into the world of documentary to glimpse the Dune that might have been. But would it have been…good? The Flop House’s Elliott Kalan is our dream guest, and the feeling is mutual! Plus, we pitch some other unmade projects whose true Hollywood stories we’d love to see on screen. What’s Good Drea - A Good Bad Boy: Luke Perry and How a Generation Grew Up by Margaret Wappler Elliott - Pole to Pole with Michael Palin Alonso - making a recipe “wrong” with the right ingredients Ify (probably) meeting Stu IRL ITIDIC Survey Says Millennials and Gen-Z Want Original Movies and TVIn Other Survey News…34% of Adults Would Rather Screen than StreamAmazon False Advertising Lawsuitre: selling digital contentStaff Picks Drea - Snack Shack Elliott - Anvil! The Story of Anvil Alonso - Hundred of Beavers Follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram With Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Ify Nwadiwe Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

This podcast is part of the #MaxFunDrive! If you’d like to help this podcast continue and get great gifts in the process, go to maximumfun.org/join and become a MaxFun Member for as little as $5 a month. You can also upgrade or boost your membership for as little as $1 more a month to help the show out even more and earn gifts and certain levels. It all started with a text from Ify (who else?). Each host has chosen a "horny movie" to discuss with the class. Here's a sneak peek of the first episode, which is all about Drea's pick -- THE HANDMAIDEN (2016). To hear the whole episode, the whole MAXIMUM HORNY! series, and the entire back catalog of MaxFilm and MaxFun bonus content, you gotta be a member! Maximumfun.org/join ! Follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram With Drea Clark Alonso Duralde Ify Nwadiwe Produced by Marissa Flaxbart Sr. Producer Laura Swisher