Out in the digital created world of film podcasts, Fear and Loathing in Cinema sets itself apart with its irreverent blend of pop culture critique, nostalgic deep-dives, and a razor-sharp, at times almost uncomfortably candid, dissection of cinematic relics that were once scorned but now, with the benefit of time, seem worthy of a second look. Hosted by a group of unpredictable yet undeniably insightful voices; Bryan Kluger, a media director with a sharp sense of irony of offensive things; Dan Moran, a lawyer who brings an often absurd legal perspective of the film industry and Kevin Costner; Preston Barta, a film critic with a taste for the heart-warmingly obscure branch of cinema; and Chelsea Nicole, a culture critic who digs into the nuances of social dynamics and horror; Fear and Loathing in Cinema Podcast thrives in that rare space between sincere analysis and gut-busting humor.
On Episode #138 of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, five people who still refuse to let their phones listen to them take a deep dive into one of Hollywood’s most prescient nightmares about technology, S1M0NE, or Simone for those of us who haven’t updated our operating systems since 2002.
Most of you don’t remember this movie. In fact, most of the hosts didn’t either. Only Bryan, the resident cinephile and self-appointed defender of forgotten early-2000s curiosities, had actually seen it before. Dan, Chelsea, Preston, and returning champion of cinematic editing Kristi Shimek were venturing into uncharted Pacino territory, the kind where Al plays a frustrated filmmaker so tired of temperamental actors that he builds one from code. Yes, long before AI influencers and digital pop stars, Andrew Niccol (of Gattaca and The Truman Show fame) imagined a world where an artificial actress named Simone could outshine her flesh-and-blood peers.
The film is a satire that has aged like a fine dystopian wine. It's part sci-fi, part industry exposé, and entirely too relevant now that Hollywood’s latest digital darling, Tilly Norwood, is “acting” in films, walking red carpets, and giving interviews to late-night hosts who nod at her pixelated charm. It’s funny until you realize we’re living it.
The conversation on Fear and Loathing in Cinema oscillates between hilarity and existential dread, laughter at Pacino’s maniacal devotion to his creation, and quiet horror at how eerily predictive Niccol’s world turned out to be. It’s the kind of discussion that makes you question not only celebrity culture but also whether your co-hosts are actually real.
So tune in to Episode #138, available everywhere you still have a pulse and a questionable digital footprint.
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WRITTEN BY:
BRYAN KLUGER
BRYAN KLUGER, A SEASONED VOICE IN THE REALM OF ENTERTAINMENT CRITICISM, HAS CONTRIBUTED TO A WIDE ARRAY OF PUBLICATIONS INCLUDING ARTS+CULTURE MAGAZINE, HIGH DEF DIGEST, BOOMSTICK COMICS, AND HOUSING WIRE MAGAZINE, AMONG OTHERS.
HIS INSIGHTS ARE ALSO CAPTURED THROUGH HIS PODCASTS; MY BLOODY PODCAST AND FEAR AND LOATHING IN CINEMA PODCAST; WHICH LISTENERS CAN ENJOY ACROSS A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS.
IN ADDITION TO HIS WRITTEN WORK, KLUGER BRINGS HIS EXPERTISE TO THE AIRWAVES, HOSTING TWO LIVE RADIO SHOWS EACH WEEK: SOUNDTRAXXX RADIO ON WEDNESDAYS AND THE ENTERTAINMENT ANSWER ON SUNDAYS. HIS MULTIFACETED APPROACH TO MEDIA AND CULTURE OFFERS A UNIQUE, IMMERSIVE PERSPECTIVE FOR THOSE WHO SEEK BOTH DEPTH AND ENTERTAINMENT.
