Mixed Bag

"Oh... they're the IRA." – Matt Loveranes, 2026 It's a Cass pick, which means you know it'll either be animated, a musical, or an obscure period piece (shout out Dean Spanley). Today's film is definitely in the third category and comes straight from Year 11 history class. "Michael Collins plays a crucial role in the establishment of the Irish Free State in the 1920s, but becomes vilified by those hoping to create a completely independent Irish republic," says Letterboxd. Not a word on the smouldering sexual tension between Michael and his bestie Harry Boland? Say it ain't so! Over in the Pop Corner, we chat Oscars, the book Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson, Two People Exchanging Saliva, the game Book of Hours, Song Sung Blue, Arrival (2016), Woodenhead (2003), Pillion and the graphic novels Witch's Egg (Donya Todd) and Kill Six Billion Demons (Tom Bloom). We also return to our discussions of The Bride and The Testament of Ann Lee, now that more hosts have seen the films. Also, Cass presents some strong evidence to prove that Christopher Luxon is a huge F1 fan (derogatory, on both sides).

It's a totemic film for Jamie, who has been working on her Katharine Hepburn impression since childhood. But truly, how many times can someone say "You old poop!" with a straight face? We (attempt) to keep a tally. For Norman and Ethel Thayer, this summer on golden pond is filled with conflict and resolution. When their daughter Chelsea arrives, the family is forced to renew the bonds of love and overcome the generational friction that has existed for years. (Sourced from Letterboxd). Over in the Pop Corner, (the Poop Corner??) we talk about: Bitter Karella's Moonflow, Francesca de Tores' Saltblood, the Godzilla-themed short films Coming Out and Gigi, the Joker as trans icon, a brand new Georges Méliès short film??, Blue Moon, the YouTube channel Musora, Bad Bunny at the Superbowl, a new Lana Del Rey single and of course Wuthering Heights after our much-hyped fundraiser viewing. If you're listening to this and you didn't see Once Upon A Time in Homowood, sorry to say you missed out – but you still have time to catch Matt's other Fringe show, Tolerance which is on this week!

We're back for our first real episode of 2026! We saw the Big Blue Boys again and let me tell you those returns are diminishing. In the wake of the devastating war against the RDA and the loss of their eldest son, Jake Sully and Neytiri face a new threat on Pandora: the Ash People, a violent and power-hungry Na’vi tribe led by the ruthless Varang. Jake’s family must fight for their survival and the future of Pandora in a conflict that pushes them to their emotional and physical limits. (Sourced from Letterboxd). Over in a bumper post-summer Pop Corner, we talk the video game Kinophobia, the short stories of Ursula K LeGuin, The Apartment (1960), Opening Night (1974), the Nebula original show Scav, *pant*, Hamnet (the book - movie discussion next ep!), Alison Rumfitt's Tell Me I'm Worthless, *pant*, the Odyssey, Some Of My Best Friends Are... (1971), *breathless inhale*, Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua (Two Worlds), Jay Kelly, Hedda, West Side Story (2021), Elio, Nickel Boys (2024), Roofman, Blithe Spirit (1945), *last desperate gulp of air*, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You.

"You there, boy, what day is it?" "Why, it's Mixedmas, sir!" Celebrate the festive season with the most of Mixed of all Mixed films, Mixed Nuts! We're joined, as is tradition, by the Ghost of Christmas Pod, Lucas Neal. Letterboxd describes this simply as "The events of a crisis hotline business on one crazy night during the Christmas holidays." It's a French farce with a lot more suicide jokes than you'd expect for a Christmas film, we can tell you that much. Over in the Pop Corner, we chat Wake Up Dead Man and Wicked: For Good, plus shout outs to Castration Movie, Herculine by Grace Byron, the video game Is This Seat Taken?, Stranger Things, Die My Love and Train Dreams.

Cass worked a full 16-hour day the day before recording this pod so she worried she would fall asleep on mic. Instead, she decided to let herself be fuelled by hatred as she brings one of her least favourite movies to the pod for her personal pick. Matt's a fan, Cass is a foe, but at least all three hosts can agree that the film looks good. Anomalisa is a stop-motion animated film written by Charlie Kaufman about a man who sees everyone else in the world as having the same face and voice. When he meets Lisa, who appears to be the only exception, he is instantly besotted. We'd love to hear your takes on Anomalisa - message us on Instagram or email mixedbagcontact@gmail.com if you love this film, hate it, or have anything else you want to share! Also, in Pop Corner we talk about Miss Major Speaks, the films of Lynne Ramsay, Stress Positions, the YouTube show Interior Motives, the podcast Three Bean Salad, The History of Sound, and Rosalía's album Lux.

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 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.

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.

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!

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.

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 ✈️

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.