Cinebuds

There isn’t a single formula for becoming a global superstar. But there are a lot of different ingredients that could potentially go into it. While Dolly Parton’s particular mixture went heavy on music, her time on screen took her to a level only a select few reach.When news of her death started to spread, Dori and Kpolly didn’t hesitate to upend their schedule for a chance to dive into the more visual aspect of Parton’s remarkable life: the television appearances and movie stardom that helped her achieve icon status.Reportedly, her first time on screen was The Cas Walker Farm and Home Hour on local TV in Knoxville at the age of 10. Our discussion doesn’t go back quite that far, focusing instead on Parton’s time in the national spotlight that started on The Porter Wagoner Show in 1967 and eventually extended to appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, as well as big-screen triumphs like 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias.In Dori and Kpolly’s conversation, you’ll hear how the iconic 9 to 5 theme song started with literal fingernail-tapping, how she found so many ways to make a positive impact on people’s lives, and even how she played a role in bringing Kpolly and his wife together.#####Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Garage Doors.

When your last installment pulled in three separate Spider-Men (Spider-Mans?) and five different villains from across seven previous movies — plus a Sorcerer Supreme and the near-collapse of the universe itself — it’s almost impossible for a franchise to get even bigger.So the minds behind Spider-Man: Brand New Day did something that’s simply unheard of in the realm of superhero movies: They got small.OK, we admit that’s a relative comparison. This episode still focuses on a film that contains the return of a fully hulked-out Hulk, a slightly toned down Punisher and at least brief appearances from several classic Spider-Man villains (plus one main antagonist who will go unnamed for spoilery reasons).But in this era of neverending escalation and audiences whose interest lowers as the stakes supposedly get higher, it was still refreshing to watch someone pull on a mask and have the struggle you care most about happen internally.That’s arguably the driving force behind the droves of people who have already seen Spider-Man: Brand New Day — more than $2 billion worth worldwide as of this writing — and one of the major reasons our hosts gave it a rare 10-star rating (rare because we don’t actually rate movies on a scale).This was a legitimate tear-jerker, whether you spilled them over Peter’s painful isolation or his quietly desperate pining for friends who had long since moved on or the brief appearance of the consistently wonderful Marisa Tomei or the other thing we will not spoil here. That emotional depth balanced the energy and fun we’ve come to expect from New York’s favorite web-slinger, making us believe these superheroes (and their genre) just might have some life left in them.#####Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Garage Doors.

We heard from a few Spotify users who didn't receive the correct audio for this episode, so we uploaded and republished it in an effort to correct the issues. Apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused.#####Boiling down a person’s nearly 91 years on the planet into 94 minutes is a tremendous feat. But what about when that person is someone your entire audience has, in a matter of speaking, invited into their homes for decades? Someone they already feel like they know and, more importantly, love?Directors Steve Farr and Michael Vollmann didn’t just take on that impossible task; they sought it out.What eventually became the Ueck documentary started back in 2023 at the pair’s production company, September Club, as they searched for an idea that was Milwaukee down to its core — something they could film here and would give back to the community in some way. The first name that came up? Bob Uecker.Farr, who joined us for this episode of Cinebuds, had worked with the Baseball Hall-of-Famer a few years prior and reached out to see if the idea could turn into something more. That led to an epic lunch — nearly five hours long, according to Farr — where Uecker regaled the directors with stories, clearly signaling that he was on board with the project.Filming began a few months later and continued for a couple years, culminating with the premiere of Ueck at the Milwaukee Film Festival this past April and the theatrical release that starts this Friday at select Marcus locations before hitting more theaters in early August (more details are available on the documentary's website).In this episode, Farr shares even more behind-the-scenes details about how the film went from brainstorm to big screens, what it was like working with a legend in the last years of his life and the unexpected things waiting for audiences — even the biggest fans of Uecker — when they catch Ueck in theaters.#####Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Garage Doors.

Brrr, it’s cold out there! ❄️ On this episode, Dori and Kpolly lean into the freezing Wisconsin temperatures by discussing their favorite harsh winter movies. Forget the cozy blankets; for the full experience, the hosts suggest cracking a window while you watch these "could be worse" cinematic picks.The duo dives into bone-chilling thrillers like A Simple Plan and the iconic horror of The Shining. You’ll hear fun facts about Jack Nicholson’s pre-filming cheese sandwich diet, the 60 doors destroyed for the "Here's Johnny" scene, and the 900 tons of salt used for snow. They also explore the snowy landscapes of Fargo, the alien terror of The Thing, and the unusual quest in Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter.If the frostbite is getting to be too much, Dori offers a brief reprieve with the quaint charm of The Holiday, while Christopher brings the laughs with the horror-comedy Werewolves Within. From the ice planet Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back — featuring the Norwegian mountain ski team as extras — to Liam Neeson battling wolves in The Gray, this episode covers it all.Grab some matzo ball soup, huddle close to your speakers, and join the misery as we celebrate the best of winter cinema!#####Cinebuds is sponsored by Joe Wilde Garage Door Company.