On this episode of The Kulturecast, Mike White, Father Malone, and Chris Stachiw wrangle with The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972), a shaggy, mythic Western brought to life—or perhaps strangled—by director John Huston and star Paul Newman. The trio digs into John Milius's wild, operatic script, packed with larger-than-life frontier chaos, and asks whether Huston's revisionist instincts and Newman's laid-back performance undercut the film's outlaw poetry. It's a strange, lurching ride through the West that might leave you pondering how history gets whitewashed, lionized, or laughed off entirely.

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Booby traps, RC cars, and ‘90s suburban chaos — this week, we’re rewinding to Remote (1993), the Home Alone-adjacent adventure you probably forgot you loved. Join us as we dig into its offbeat charm, childhood wish fulfillment, and where it fits in the golden age of kid-powered cinema.

For more Kulturecast episodes and podcasts guaranteed to be your new favorite audio obsession, check out Weirding Way Media at weirdingwaymedia.com.

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This week on The Kulturecast, we unpack The Brutalist — a visually arresting, emotionally layered film that blends architecture, identity, and postwar displacement. We dive into its moody aesthetics, deliberate pacing, and the story it builds, brick by brick.

For more Kulturecast episodes and podcasts guaranteed to be your new favorite audio obsession, check out Weirding Way Media at weirdingwaymedia.com.

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Have you ever heard of the healing power of laughter? 

Mike White March wraps with the scene of the cinematic crime with Patch Adams (1998), a film that weaponizes red noses and sentimentality in equal measure. Chris Stachiw and Mike White welcome guest co-host Mark Begley to dissect this "based-on-a-true-story" heartwarmer, in which Robin Williams plays a medical student who believes laughter is the best medicine—even if it means violating every hospital policy in the book. 

From groan-worthy gags to emotional manipulation set to a soaring score, the trio digs into what works, what absolutely doesn’t, and why this film somehow became a cultural touchstone. Bring tissues… and maybe some antacid.

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Mike White March limps across the finish line with Man of the Year (2006), a film that asks: what if a late-night comedian accidentally became president due to a voting machine glitch? Cullen Gallagher joins Chris Stachiw and Mike White to unpack Barry Levinson’s bizarre genre mash-up that starts as political satire, swerves into romantic drama, and crashes into full-blown techno thriller. Robin Williams stars as a Jon Stewart-esque figure who suddenly finds himself in the Oval Office—not because of charisma, but because of...a software bug?

It’s a premise that felt far-fetched in 2006 and now feels like a documentary from an alternate universe. From clunky tone shifts to baffling plot twists, the trio digs into what Man of the Year was trying to say—and why it fails so spectacularly.

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Mike White March keeps the pain train rolling with License to Wed (2007), a so-called romantic comedy that tests the limits of both love and audience patience. Chris Stachiw and Mike White are once again joined by screenwriter and podcaster Richard Hatem to dissect this cringeworthy concoction, in which Robin Williams plays a meddling minister who puts an engaged couple (Mandy Moore and John Krasinski) through a series of increasingly bizarre and invasive "premarital challenges."

From robot babies to relationship sabotage, License to Wed feels less like a comedy and more like a cry for help. Is this Williams at his most unhinged, or is the film simply cursed from the altar on down? The trio dives into the chaos to find out—so say a prayer and press play.

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Mike White March rolls on, dragging Chris Stachiw deeper into the depths of Robin Williams' cinematic misfires! This time, RV (2006) sputters into the spotlight—a Barry Sonnenfeld-directed road trip comedy that desperately wants to be National Lampoon’s Vacation but barely makes it out of the driveway. Williams stars as a workaholic dad who drags his reluctant family on an RV adventure, only to find himself locked in a battle against sewage mishaps, corporate deadlines, and the ever-affable Jeff Daniels. Screenwriter Richard Hatem joins Mike and Chris to break down the film’s chaotic energy, mismatched humor, and whether RV deserves to be parked in the junkyard of bad Robin Williams flicks. Buckle up—it’s going to be a bumpy ride!

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Mike White March returns, bringing another round of cinematic torment to Kulturecast host Chris Stachiw! This year, Mike has chosen a particularly perplexing path: a deep dive into the lesser films of Robin Williams. First up is Jack (1996), Francis Ford Coppola’s baffling blend of schmaltz and existential horror. Williams stars as a 10-year-old boy trapped in the body of a 40-year-old man, desperately trying to navigate schoolyard politics while grappling with the inevitability of his rapidly approaching mortality. Is it a heartwarming coming-of-age tale or a nightmare disguised as family-friendly whimsy? Tune in as Chris and Mike attempt to make sense of this oddity, one awkward life lesson at a time.

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