Confessions of a Closet Romantic

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1322830/open_sms] (Had a great time on my road trip, got back – and I've been sick ever since. This year has been one endless struggle bus ride, and there's room for more, so hop on :) Materialists seems to be a polarizing movie that isn't quite a romcom, isn't quite a straight up romantic drama, while ending happily, making it one of the most interesting hybrid stories I've seen in a while. Dakota Johnson is incredible as Lucy, a smart but cynical matchmaker who treats her clients as commodities – and threatens to do the same with her ex-boyfriend until she realizes his love for her survived their terrible break up, and her honest admission that she's somewhat shallow when it comes to choosing romantic partners. When she finally decides to make a romantic choice that isn't based on statistics, shrewd calculations or dating math but what's in her heart, that's when her life turns around. And that's what makes this movie deeply romantic to me. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com [https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com/] I change my mind about this trailer [https://youtu.be/4A_kmjtsJ7c?si=CEh7ATIRysWrX61q] – it captures the smart stylish vibe but not nearly all of the ups and downs in mood that make this such a fascinating film. Celine Song talked about her inspiration for writing and directing Materialists in a fascinating interview [https://youtu.be/k-pdK-fM_wE?si=NmAn59eYM3o4CPH-] on BBC World Service. Gold Diggers of 1933 (full movie) is currently on YouTube! [https://youtu.be/TpeN7vdQTk8?si=pFvNJy6B9O2UOiGZ] Oh and I forgot to mention – it stars a young Ginger Rogers too! The best hour and a half you will spend this week. The trailer for Gentlemen Prefer Blondes [https://youtu.be/60CM2-mFJWQ?si=ylXk3zI_Kr3Tb6lN] doesn't tell you much, but what's clear is this Technicolor 1950s movie about two show-stopping showgirls, one in it for love and the other mostly for the diamonds, is such a treat. How to Marry a Millionaire [https://youtu.be/5RkkIjXyOKI?si=bE1zmaIigzTfluUX] stars Lauren Bacall, Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe as a stunning trio of broke but gorgeous roommates who we're supposed to believe have trouble landing super solvent guys who will love and dote on them. I love going down the rabbit hole of the related and gendered variations on the gold digger trope. [https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GoldDigger] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/poppyconfesses] If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening!

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1322830/open_sms] (I'm going on another road trip with my sweetie, traveling parts of historic Route 66, so I'll see you towards the end of the month!) Taylor Swift just announced her fairytale engagement (which was obvious after they appeared on that recent New Heights podcast episode — have two people ever looked more in love?!) so it seemed like the perfect time to replay the episode I recorded a while back with one of my favorite guests and fellow fangirl Mariah, examining our parasocial bestie relationship with Taylor Swift. We squeal, we gush, we analyze, and we had a blast doing it. Taylor Swift's poetry, set to the catchiest melodies, is music made just for me. And I'm sure many of you as well. So the English teacher and the gym teacher are getting hitched, and I couldn't be happier for them. Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/poppyconfesses] If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening!

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1322830/open_sms] This is the year that we're saying goodbye (for now?) to some beloved big and small screen friends. Call it parasocial, call it learning through art, but tuning into these characters and their fictional ups and downs made me feel like I belonged to their charmed worlds in New York City and London, and lives full of fabulous fashion, awesome apartments, cool jobs, chosen family, hot romances — and plenty of drama. I truly feel sad saying goodbye, and I think these flawed yet fitting endings still honor these characters and the relationships we had with them. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com [https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com/] Well this is awfully… upbeat [https://youtu.be/IEqqcJGdjCM?si=VIsWeQXVw4RdwbbY]. I don't want to say that there's a sad undercurrent to the third season that the trailer doesn't quite capture, but... Now I feel wistful for AJLT S1, so here's where we started [https://youtu.be/i_8vpYXzgdg?si=KC4x6lF8p36b76tT], after taking up where they left off. It seems years and years ago. A lengthy take down of all of the "cringe" moments in AJLT. [https://youtu.be/ksP4tBEwL5w?si=_pXlQTC7Ez1RXdTq] I would say cringe is in the eye of the beholder, but I agree with a lot of these. The scene at work is just… unlikely but hilarious. [https://youtu.be/AZr9lYz12jw?si=k0Y87VTBLVp6xYI9] It's the new Bridget, and she's nearly as daffy and delightful as the old one. Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/poppyconfesses] If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening!

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1322830/open_sms] I found these poignant movies on a search for something else, and couldn't take my eyes off either one — they are stunners. Lyrical direction and pacing, spare soundtracks and understated, nuanced performances float gentle light layers of meaning into every scene in each of these stories. They're soulful, profound at times, revealing the struggles and authentic moments of connection in these women's lives. https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com [https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com/] Pamela Anderson is a revelation as The Last Showgirl. [https://youtu.be/hZDs_lLGrTU?si=K0uv7l6Pyqw36hY-] The Lido de Paris [https://www.parisinsidersguide.com/lido-paris.html] that Shelly mentions as the inspiration for Le Razzle Dazzle revue. The modern showgirl wasn’t born in Las Vegas, but she was perfected there.  [https://nevadamagazine.com/issue/winter-2022-2023/21308/] As usual, the dated trailer is trash, so here's one of my favorite scenes from Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her. [https://youtu.be/_5uHK-fVMcY?si=yFNripfuP-z0MomK] Director Rodrigo García has quite the interesting lineage and résumé. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodrigo_García_(director)] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/poppyconfesses] If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening!

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1322830/open_sms] I've been thinking for a long time about the gendered sociocultural accusation of "too much" that's often directed towards women's behavior, especially how they love and connect to others, and how often this theme appears in romantic stories. This episode is the first in a little series I have planned, talking about female characters in romances who are shamed for being "too much," especially in costume dramas and 19th century romantic novel adaptations. Lena Dunham's fantastic new romantic comedy series is the perfect jumping off point to examine the power this accusation still has today. (I say fluffy about 29 times in this episode, but I won't apologize for being too much.) https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com [https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com/] Now this is a good trailer [https://youtu.be/HcrbR6EXynM?si=2M7tYq-ibfR5LXrP]. I'm not one of those Love Actually girls, but I am one of those Notting Hill girls. Lena Dunham on creating the show Too Much. [https://youtu.be/hHgjGNq74sE?si=zUzJ1tZ4o4tLbvKF] A breakdown of one of my favorite scenes in the series. [https://youtu.be/xNcPoF1rLh0?si=taszhaq8WlVFMIor]  And the truly jaw-dropping Megan Stalter interview [https://mashable.com/video/stephen-colbert-megan-stalter-late-show] on Stephen Colbert. Or maybe charmingly chaotic? That wig could have its own talk show. Oh how those corsets, and gender roles, still bind us today. [https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/45731373-too-much] Some of us are born A Bit Much. [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206101599-a-bit-much] Delightful interview with Lyndsay Rush on NPR's Book of the Day. [https://youtu.be/kxKx1m0rvGo?si=oSQ007zArSf3ERqS] Support the show [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/poppyconfesses] If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening!