Mixed Bag

We continue on our journey through the wonderful world of weepies with 2002's A Walk to Remember, the sleepover classic beloved by every teen girl who ever said "I can fix him." When the popular, restless Landon Carter is forced to participate in the school drama production, he falls in love with Jamie Sullivan, the daughter of the town’s minister. Jamie has a “to-do” list for her life, as well as a very big secret she must keep from Landon. (Sourced from Letterboxd). This episode we put forth our theory of straight-haired brunette death and the dead sister phenomenon. Plus, pop corner discussion of Baldur's Gate 3, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Detroit: Become Human, Man's Best Friend (Sabrina Carpenter), The Straight Line Was A Lie (The Beths), Jaws (1970) and The Naked Gun.

Let's go to the beach, beach, let's go get away with Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey! Next on our Tissue Box Office list is a classic platonic weepie that somehow has little to no cultural footprint in Aotearoa New Zealand. A privileged rich debutante and a cynical struggling entertainer share a turbulent, but strong childhood friendship over the years. (Sourced from Letterboxd). But before we dive into the beachy waves, we unpack the 2025 NZ International Film Festival in a bumper Pop Corner. Hear our thoughts on Sirât, The Mastermind, Resurrection, Sorry, Baby, A Useful Ghost, Dreams (Sex Love), Blue Moon, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Weed Eaters, Twinless, Little Trouble Girls, Sentimental Value and The Shrouds. Also, hear Matt and Jamie almost come to blows over Freakier Friday, and witness Matt's incessant bullying of The Life of Chuck.

Hankies at the ready, Baguettes, it's time for our new miniseries, TISSUE BOX OFFICE! Today, we discuss the concept of the term 'weepie', what qualifies as a weepie and a classic of the genre, 1970's Love Story. Harvard Law student Oliver Barrett IV and music student Jennifer Cavilleri share a chemistry they cannot deny - and a love they cannot ignore. Despite their opposite backgrounds, the young couple put their hearts on the line for each other. When they marry, Oliver’s wealthy father threatens to disown him. Jenny tries to reconcile the Barrett men, but to no avail. (Sourced from Letterboxd). Is Love Story an absolute cheesefest? Will we weep? And is there any film out there that couldn't be re-titled to 'Til Death?? Pop corner kernels this episode include Sketchbook Coffee on Taranaki St, Downie Express, Wytchwood, Weapons (2025), 20th Century Women (2016), Ethel Cain's Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You and Renee Rapp's Bite Me.

Okay, maybe this one really is episode 150 after all. Regardless, you've been listening to Mixed Bag for 150 years. Feel old yet? Blending lively music and brilliant animation, this sequel to the original ‘Fantasia’ restores ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ and adds seven new shorts. (Sourced from Letterboxd). If you don't love the Rhapsody in Blue sequence, you are probably a philistine and hate cinema and music?? That's what Cass thinks, at least. Pop corner kernels include: Girls and Too Much, Chappell Roan's "The Subway", Friendship (2025), Polyester (1981), Princess Chelsea's Midwinter Ball and Monster (2003). Donate to our Ko-Fi to help us buy nice mics!

So at one point in this episode we say that we should do something special for our 150th episode, which is next... well, actually we miscounted and this is our 150th episode. If you've been with us for all 150, thank you for sticking with us! Today we talk Crash, the infamous race relations film that beat out Brokeback Mountain at the Oscars (a film which will not be featured on Mixed Bag because it is straightforwardly good). We keep accidentally referring to it as Trash in this episode, for good reason. In post-Sept. 11 Los Angeles, tensions erupt when the lives of a Brentwood housewife, her district attorney husband, a Persian shopkeeper, two cops, a pair of carjackers and a Korean couple converge during a 36-hour period. (Sourced from Letterboxd). If you want to support us into our next 150 episodes and beyond, check out our Ko-Fi page where we are ever-fundraising toward Good Microphones. Find us on https://ko-fi.com/mixedbag/