It's time for Jamie's Personal Pick, and you know she's gonna choose a big ol' Dyke Drama. Some Sapphic Cinema. A Movie for Muff-Divers. So she's chosen a movie about one of the world's gayest sports, roller derby, featuring a pre-transition Elliot Page and bi-con Alia Shawkat and... NO LESBIAN CHARACTERS!?!? 😱😱😱 Can it be true?!?!? In Bodeen, Texas, an indie-rock loving misfit finds a way of dealing with her small-town misery after she discovers a roller derby league in nearby Austin. (Sourced from Letterboxd). Join the team as they grapple with this egregious display of lez erasure. In Pop Corner they also discuss Hamnet (Maggie O'Farrell), Over The Garden Wall, Lily Allen's West End Girl and Elliot Page's own Pageboy.

It's spooooooky season so it's time for the Foe of the Podcast, Mike Bryant, to arise from his crypt once again and bless the pod with another scary feature that is mixed in quality. This time around, we're travelling just a decade ago to Goosebumps (2015) starring Jack Black, based on R. L. Stine's children's horror novel series of the same name. After moving to a small town, Zach Cooper finds a silver lining when he meets next door neighbor Hannah, the daughter of bestselling Goosebumps series author R.L. Stine. When Zach unintentionally unleashes real monsters from their manuscripts and they begin to terrorize the town, it’s suddenly up to Stine, Zach and Hannah to get all of them back in the books where they belong. (Sourced from Letterboxd) Will this Jumanji imitator be more Jumanji (1995) than Jumanji (2017)? Will Zach, Hannah and Champ ever find meaningful character development and most important of all, what is YOUR favourite Goosebumps book? All this and more with the terrific Mike and a bumper Pop Corner as we haven't caught up in ages. Happy Halloween Baghags and may your treats be well mixed with all sorts of sweets!

We cap off Tissue Box Office with a film where the tragic death is of not a long-haired brunette, but a short-haired blond! And also, he's a dog. A newly married couple, in the process of starting a family, learn many of life’s important lessons from their trouble-loving retriever, Marley. Packed with plenty of laughs to lighten the load, the film explores the highs and lows of marriage, maturity and confronting one’s own mortality, as seen through the lens of family life with a dog. (Sourced from Letterboxd) Over in the Pop Corner, we talk about One Battle After Another, Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery, Prime Minister, Spettacolo! (2017), Marwencol (2010), Pavements, When We Were Trans by Kit Heyam, Corpses, Fools and Monsters by Willow Maclay and Caden Gardner and this new album by some lady called "Tailor Swiffed" that people are listening to for some reason (Cass wrote this).

We are Jamie-obsessed on this next installation of Tissue Box Office, to the extent where everyone keeps accidentally renaming Ryan Gosling's character after our beloved cohost. While it's clear the whole Mixed Bag trio are bona fide Gos-heads, what do they think about the film that launched a million teen girl crushes? An epic love story centered around an older man who reads aloud to a woman with Alzheimer’s. From a faded notebook, the old man’s words bring to life the story about a couple who is separated by World War II, and is then passionately reunited, seven years later, after they have taken different paths. (Sourced from Letterboxd). Plus, in Pop Corner we talk Gloria (1980), A Dream of a Woman by Casey Plett, Dear Zachary (2008), Survivor: Australia vs. the World, Splitsville and the 2025 Emmy Awards.

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/

We're joined by Museum Enthusiast and Night at the Museum superfan Renée Iosefa to discuss the second (and best) Night at the Museum film. We've been trying to get Renée on the pod for ages but this woman is always booked and busy, so we're excited to find a time to talk "the greatest film trilogy of all time". Hapless museum night watchman Larry Daley must help his living, breathing exhibit friends out of a pickle now that they’ve been transferred to the archives at the Smithsonian Institution. Larry’s (mis)adventures this time include close encounters with Amelia Earhart, Abe Lincoln and Ivan the Terrible. (Sourced from Letterboxd). Pop corner kernels this ep include The Funeral Parade of Roses, The Company of Strangers, Expelled!, Adults, Lorde's new album Virgin, Heretic and the Handmaid's Tale. Honour Renée's presence by visiting your local museum today, and support us at ko-fi.com/mixedbag.

Yes, Baguettes, it's the long-awaited NOBBSISODE. You know him, you love(?) him, it's Albert Nobbs. We're not using the official film synopsis for this one because it's <i>problematic</i> so here's our summary: Albert Nobbs is a trans man who works at a swanky hotel in late 19th century Ireland. He meets another trans man who is out there thriving with a wife he loves and decides to acquire a wife of his own. Things go badly. Pop corner kernels this week include the Tony Awards, Devil's Plan season 2, The Count of Monte Cristo, ~gay cinema~ including Princess Cyd, Coyote Ugly and Water Lilies, Sabrina Carpenter's Manchild and its music video, the new cast of Traitors US, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and Overcompensating. Dang we watch a lot of stuff.

VRRRRRRRMMMMMPHHH! Do you hear that?! It's another JetBag: Emergency Landing! And this time, we're shifting from the plane to the plain because 90% of this film is set in an airport! Carry-On (2024) was a surprise hit at the end of last year by our Mixed Bag king, Jaume Collet-Serra (Non-Stop, Jungle Cruise) and starring Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman. But now that the hype has died down, is the movie any good? An airport security officer races to outsmart a mysterious traveler forcing him to let a dangerous item slip onto a Christmas Eve flight. (Sourced from Letterboxd)  When will Juno 2/Jupiter happen? Is Jason ever going to take off that dirty cap? And what was UP with that one car sequence with Danielle Deadwyler?! All this and more in our latest plane movie episode ✈️

Our final foray into Joliewood as we help ourselves to a tasty snack. Evelyn Salt can make a flamethrower out of office equipment; should she be renamed MacGirlver? As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt swore an oath to duty, honor and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a Russian defector accuses her of being a Russian sleeper spy. She goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture, protect her husband, and stay one step ahead of her colleagues at the CIA. Her efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: “Who is Salt?” (Source: Letterboxd.) Who is Salt indeed? It's the question on everyone's lips. Plus in this episode's Pop Corner we help ourselves to Batman Returns, The Wedding Banquet, Not for Broadcast, Rimworld, Several People are Typing and the upcoming Tony Awards and film festival season.

THAT IS NOT MY SON! Clint Eastwood made... a feminist movie that says ACAB!? Maybe? But it also says, "shame, fools, there's still 47 minutes to go and you thought it was nearly over." Los Angeles, 1928. When single mother Christine Collins leaves for work, her son vanishes without a trace. Five months later, the police reunite mother and son. But when Christine suspects that the boy returned to her isn’t her child, her quest for truth exposes a world of corruption. (Sourced from Letterboxd). The penultimate episode of Joliewood, in which your hosts gift Angelina a new title: the world's most committed actress.

It's the birth of Brangelina, today we're covering Doug Liman's Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005) starring Angelina Jolie and some man. After five (or six) years of vanilla-wedded bliss, ordinary suburbanites John and Jane Smith are stuck in a huge rut. Unbeknownst to each other, they are both coolly lethal, highly-paid assassins working for rival organisations. When they discover they’re each other’s next target, their secret lives collide in a spicy, explosive mix of wicked comedy, pent-up passion, nonstop action and high-tech weaponry. (Sourced from Letterboxd) Will Jolie cement her movie star status as Jane Smith? How does one join her all-female spy agency? Who wants to hang out with Vince Vaughn (especially now he's come out as a Trump supporter) and why are there so many threads completely abandoned in this movie?! Join the sultry, action-packed world of the Smiths. 

It's time for a very special episode! Our favourite foe, Mike, purchased a Ko-Fi request for an on-mic murder mystery and we were happy to oblige. Matt, Mike and Detective Jamie (daughter of Sherlock Holmes) are all extras in the upcoming sci-fi horror film Blood Red Planet. But when the star, Jacob Stone, is discovered dead in his trailer, our trio must work together to find out who killed him and why! In a feat of transformative acting (i.e. cycling between three different accents) Cass plays every witness in the case. Was it the director? The co-stars? Someone on the crew? Or the sinister craft services manager who Matt, Mike and Jamie are sure has an eyepatch and a hairless cat? This is an original murder mystery written by Cassandra Tse. The format is ripped off shamelessly from the wonderful podcast Solve This Murder. If you liked this episode, donate to our Ko-Fi for more! If you didn't like it, don't worry – we'll be returning to Joliewood next episode. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐A STAR IS BORN, HONEY!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐A major event in Joliewood's history, it's time to crown her. No, it's not her Oscar, it's more important, it's 2001's Lara Croft: Tomb Raider! Orphaned heiress, English aristocrat and intrepid archaeologist, Lara Croft, embarks on a dangerous quest to retrieve the two halves of an ancient artifact which controls time before it falls into the wrong hands. As an extremely rare planetary alignment is about to occur for the first time in 5,000 years, the fearless tomb raider will have to team up with rival adventurers and sworn enemies to collect the pieces, while time is running out. But, in the end, who can harness the archaic talisman’s unlimited power? (Sourced from Letterboxd) First things first, WHERE IS THE MIDRIFF? Surely the iconic Tomb Raider looks features a lil bit of belly as we all know! Well, all will be revealed in this episode. Our hosts have learned many things. Other things we've learned include, Angelina and daddy can do a halfway decent English accent but Daniel Craig can NOT do a serious American accent (Knives Out ham only). Popcorner chats include Tinā, Mickey 17, The Silver Fox Office, Sporcle, Severance, Sturgill Simpson's Sound and Fury, Adolescence, The Giver (Chappell Roan) and Relationships (HAIM).

The Age of Ange is going from gay coded with Hackers to full on lesbian as our bisexual queen Angelina Jolie had her breakout role in Gia (1998) the first TV Film covered on Mixed Bag, based on real life supermodel Gia Carangi. Gia Carangi meteorically rises to modeling fame in the late 1970s but becomes overconsumed by persistent loneliness and drug addiction. (Sourced from Letterboxd) Will this erotic romance be as steamy as it sounds? Who knew Juliet from Lost was her love interest, Linda? Will somebody please explain what a supermodel is to Jamie and when will Faye Dunaway kiss Angelina?! These and a full recap of the Oscars and Lady Gaga's Mayhem, we're fit to bursting with pop culture this ep. So it's time to serve face and get listening Baghags because Joliewood is just getting started.

The Age of Ange returns by going back to the early days of Joliewood, Hackers (1995) where Angelina Jolie broke through with a bob cut and those piercing eyes. Along with his new friends, a teenager who was arrested by the US Secret Service and banned from using a computer for writing a computer virus discovers a plot by a nefarious hacker, but they must use their computer skills to find the evidence while being pursued by the Secret Service and the evil computer genius behind the virus. (Sourced from Letterboxd). Will we see the sparks that caused the marriage between Jonny Lee Miller and Ange in the film where they met? How much did they let the costumier have free reign? Is this the most ridiculous hacking has ever looked and does everyone know that this movie is EXTREMELY QUEER?? All this and more with this barn-burner of an episode of Mixed Bag.

Welcome to the hallowed land of Joliewood! That's right, it's the Age of Ange for the next few weeks as we profile bisexual queen and one of the biggest movie stars of her day, Angelina Jolie! Kicking us off is Jolie's high profile and bid for an Oscar, Maria! Directed by Pablo Larraín and third in the tragic white woman trilogy after Jackie and Spencer. Maria Callas, the world’s greatest opera singer, lives the last days of her life in 1970s Paris, as she confronts her identity and life. Will Jolie be able to live up to the Maria Callas gays (of which she has many stans) expectations? How will Pablo tie the trilogy together? And just how thick are those humongous glasses Ange has got on? Walk the streets of Paris with Jolie, Kodi Smit-McPhee and we as dive into Joliewood and uncover the woman behind the star.