Cinematix Problematix

Kristina Rettig & Erin Maxwell | Cinematix Problematix
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Welcome, fellow cinephiles to Cinematix Problematix - where we make morally shaky excuses to still love films filled with racism, misogyny, objectification, and inappropriate sexualization. Some of these films are like your favorite uncle who you love seeing at Christmas because he makes everything more fun, but then he slips in a super racist comment over dinner and your mom says “Oh, honey, he’s just from a different time.” Movies are time capsules and filmmakers were just doing their best - their most woman and minority-hating best and we’re here to come to their defense. We’ve lost the ability to forgive, so let’s start exercising that muscle with something that brings all of us together. Movies. And Judging things. Possibly hating them. So feel free to laugh and judge with us as we go back to a different time and try to find a way to still love the movies that made us the freaky weirdos we are today. Enjoy the show!

  1. 1H AGO

    Pretty Baby: Pretty Disturbing and Exploitative, Baby

    And today, we are talking about the 1978 Louis Malle film Pretty Baby which tells the story of a 12-year old girl (Violet) who grows up in a brothel who can't seem to wait for the day where her virginity is auctioned-off to the highest depraved bidder. Along the way, she falls in love with a local New Orleans photographer (Bellocq) who frequents the brothel, who eventually returns her affections. Oh, and he's in his 30's in case you were wondering. If that weren't disturbing enough, the film shows Violet kissing grown men, grown men groping and kissing her back, as well as a fully nude Brooke Shields. This is all wrapped in a deceptive arthouse label that does little to suppress our desire to projectile vomit in shock and disgust. The film stars Brooke Shields, Susan Sarandon, Keith Carradine, and has a runtime of 1 hour and 50 minutes. CREDITS Hosted by: Erin Maxwell & Kristina "Krissie" Rettig Edited by: Russ Lichter Theme song by: Spooky Dan

    54 min
  2. The Blind Side: White Saviors, Suburbs, and Sandra Bullock

    APR 4

    The Blind Side: White Saviors, Suburbs, and Sandra Bullock

    And today we’re talking about 2009’s John Lee Hancock film The Blind Side. It tells the inspiring tale of a woman named Leigh Ann Touhey who finds it in her affluent, white no-nonsense heart to take in a homeless black child named Big Mike that she and her family find walking home alone on cold Tennessee night. But obstacles turn into opportunity when she discovers that - despite his dismal grades - he happens to score in the 98th percentile for protective instincts. She then ensures he’s put on the football team where he learns to block, tackle, and love.The Touhey family eventually winds up adopting Mike so he can be an official part of the family which is topped off by him accepting an athletic scholarship to the family’s alma mater, Ol’ Miss. Happily ever after right?? WRONG. If the white savior narrative wasn’t problematic enough, we’ve discovered in recent years that Michael Oher wasn’t actually adopted; he was placed under conservatorship under the guise of adoption that allowed the Touhey family to sell Michael’s story for which he didn’t receive a dime since - under conservatorship - you aren’t really a part of the family and are therefore not entitled to the spoils they collected from his story. Talk about a Blind Side. The film stars Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron, Lilly Collins, Tim McGraw, Jae Head, Kim Dickins, and Kathy Bates, and has a runtime of 2 hours and 9 minutes. CREDITS Hosted by: Kristina “Krissie” Rettig & Erin Maxwell Edited by: Russ Lichter Theme song by: Spooky Dan

    43 min
  3. Tootsie: Gimmicks, Gaslighting, and Faux Feminism

    MAR 20

    Tootsie: Gimmicks, Gaslighting, and Faux Feminism

    And today, we're talking about 1982's Sydney Pollack film Tootsie. It follows unemployed actor Michael Dorsey who decides to impersonate a woman to land a role as a saucy, no-nonsense hospital administrator on a soap opera. In the process, he finds wild success, learns how it feels to be treated like a piece of meat, falls for his co-star, and seduces his friend only to toss her aside while he espouses the virtues of feminism. Is Michael kind of trash? Yes. Is this film hilarious? Also, yes. The film stars Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Terry Garr, and Bill Murray and has a runtime of 1 hour and 56 minutes. CREDITS Hosted by: Erin Maxwell & Kristina “Krissie” Rettig Edited by: Russ Lichter Theme song by: Spooky Dan

    46 min
  4. Crash: More Like a Multi-car Pile-up of Racist Tropes

    MAR 6

    Crash: More Like a Multi-car Pile-up of Racist Tropes

    And today, we’re talking about 2004’s Crash, written and Directed by Canadian Paul Haggis, who seemed to fancy himself the perfect person to examine LA's complex race issue. This won Best Picture over Brokeback Mountian, Good Night and Good Luck, Munich, Capote, mostly because this was before The Academy had minorities it, and it reflected the myopic worldview of old, white male Academy members and how they viewed racism and people of color. But in reality, Crash was a bona fide trainwreck. The film stars Matt Dillon, Thandiwe Newton, Terrence Howard, Michale Pena, Ludacris, Lorenz Tate, Don Cheadle, Sandra Bullock, Brendan Frase, Ryan Phillipe, and many more otherwise talented actors who managed to be the least likeable cast this century. The film has a runtime of 1hr 57 minutes. CREDITS Hosted by: Erin Maxwell & Kristina “Krissie” Rettig Edited by: Russ Lichter Theme song by: Spooky Dan

    1h 6m
  5. Tropic Thunder: Simple Jack and RDJ Pretending to Be Black

    FEB 22

    Tropic Thunder: Simple Jack and RDJ Pretending to Be Black

    Released in 2008, Tropic Thunder is what happens when Hollywood decides the best way to mock its own ego is to crank it up to deeply unhinged levels. Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr. lead the chaos as pampered actors filming a Vietnam epic who accidentally stumble into a real war zone, forcing them to confront the one thing they fear most: reality. Downey’s Oscar-nominated turn as a method actor who refuses to break character became instant comedy legend, while Brandon T. Jackson, Nick Nolte, and a scene-stealing Tom Cruise pile on the insanity. It’s bold, hilarious, and merciless in its satire, aiming for fame, ego, and the absurd lengths actors go for “authenticity.” But nearly two decades later, some of its most infamous jokes come with an uncomfortable edge, reminding audiences that satire and offensiveness have always walked a very fine line. Runtime: 1 hour, 47 minutes. CREDITS Hosted by: Kristina “Krissie” Rettig & Erin Maxwell Edited by: Russ Lichter Theme song by: Spooky Dan

    48 min
  6. Saturday Night Fever: Disco Moves and Dangerous Dudes

    FEB 6

    Saturday Night Fever: Disco Moves and Dangerous Dudes

    And today, we’re talking about John Badham’s gritty 1977 disco classic Saturday Night Fever. It follows the life of Tony Manero - a handsome yet emotionally immature young man who lives at home, but escapes the shadow of his disapproving parents by going to the 2001 Odyssey club every weekend where he is King of the Disco. He convinces a headstrong, ambitious girl from his neighborhood - Stephanie - to be his dance partner at the disco contest to prove that he’s not just a screw up and actually has something to give back to the world. And learns a little bit about sophistication and potential along the way. All the while, he hangs out with his frankly terrible friends who revel in racism, sexual assault, and violence which unfortunately rubs off on him, too. All to an iconic soundtrack from the Bee Gees which made all of this horrific behavior much easier to dance to. The film stars John Travolta, Karen Lynn Gorney, Joseph Cali, Barry Miller, Paul Pape, Donna Pescow, and Julie Bravaso, and has a runtime of 1hour 59 minutes. CREDITS Hosted by: Erin Maxwell & Kristina “Krissie” Rettig Edited by: Russ Lichter Theme song by: Spooky Dan

    1h 5m
  7. Fatal Attraction: Betrayal, Boiled Bunnies, and Hubbies Behaving Badly

    JAN 23

    Fatal Attraction: Betrayal, Boiled Bunnies, and Hubbies Behaving Badly

    And today, we're covering Adrian Lyne's iconic 1987 film Fatal Attraction. It follows Dan Gallagher - a successful lawyer and happily married man who thinks he can have a casual, "discrete" weekend affair with the sexually independent book editor Alex Forrest. What Dan does NOT realize is that Alex is, shall we say, a bit more attached than he is. Her obsession escalates to stalking, violence, and one poor boiled bunny. As a result, the audience is basically begged to side with Dan even though he abdicates responsibility for his transgression and never fully takes responsibility. So, who is the villain here? Let's discuss! The film stars Glenn Close, Michael Douglas, and Anne Archer and has a runtime of 1 hour and 59 minutes.

    56 min
  8. Cruel Intentions: Sex, Sleazy Bets, and Some Step-Sibling Incest

    12/31/2025

    Cruel Intentions: Sex, Sleazy Bets, and Some Step-Sibling Incest

    Today we’re diving into Cruel Intentions (1999), the teen remake of Dangerous Liaisons where rich French sociopaths are reimagined as extremely horny Manhattan step-siblings. Katherine and Sebastian pass the time manipulating classmates, wrecking reputations, and placing elaborate sex bets that would make the high school headmaster clutch his pearls. What follows is a glossy parade of betrayal, broken hearts, and moral rot served with peak ’90s fashion, prestige casting, and a movie that’s way too chill about homophobia, sexual assault, deciding who's redeemable, and who gets Sebastian's car. The film stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillipe, Reese Witherspoon, Selma Blair, Joshua Jackson, Christine Baranski, Sean Patrick Thomas, and Swoosie Kurtz, and has a run time of 1hr and 37 minutes. CREDITS Hosted by: Erin Maxwell & Kristina “Krissie” Rettig Edited by: Russ Lichter Theme song & intro video by: Spooky Dan

    1h 4m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Welcome, fellow cinephiles to Cinematix Problematix - where we make morally shaky excuses to still love films filled with racism, misogyny, objectification, and inappropriate sexualization. Some of these films are like your favorite uncle who you love seeing at Christmas because he makes everything more fun, but then he slips in a super racist comment over dinner and your mom says “Oh, honey, he’s just from a different time.” Movies are time capsules and filmmakers were just doing their best - their most woman and minority-hating best and we’re here to come to their defense. We’ve lost the ability to forgive, so let’s start exercising that muscle with something that brings all of us together. Movies. And Judging things. Possibly hating them. So feel free to laugh and judge with us as we go back to a different time and try to find a way to still love the movies that made us the freaky weirdos we are today. Enjoy the show!

Information

  • Creator
    Kristina Rettig & Erin Maxwell | Cinematix Problematix
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025, Cinematix Problematix. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Cinematix Problematix

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