Mixed Bag

60 - Basic Instinct

A police detective is in charge of the investigation of a brutal murder, in which a beautiful and seductive woman could be involved.

It's the lurid, erotic neo-noir Basic Instinct.

Dropped in 1922, this box office smash made Sharon Stone into a star and perpetuated some pretty tired and problematic gay and bisexual narratives. Likes are you've heard about THE scene but is the film itself any good?

Join Matt, Cass and James for the second of their personal picks and see if this is sizzling or simply snooze.

59 - The Phantom of the Opera

Here's there... the Phantom of the Opera! (2004)

🌹🥀

When camp bat-nipple director Joel Schumacher joined forces with the exceedingly OTT Andrew Lloyd Webber, it should've been a match made in heaven. And yet, The 2004 version of Phantom of the Opera is in some camps despised and most definitely mixed. What about Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum didn't do it for audiences? And can the combined forces of Simon Callow, Ciaran Hinds and Minnie Driver lift this charisma vaccuum?

Join us as we resume our personal picks and find out why this movie resonated with James as a young 'un and if it still weaved its magic in 2021 on him, Matt and Cass...

58 - Hocus Pocus

Whether you're wrapping up your Halloween and emerging from your candy slumber or set to celebrate it tonight, Halloween reaches far and wide and the spooky season has got to Mixed Bag.

That's why we've popped on the 1993 children's classic Hocus Pocus, directed by Kenny Ortega, who joined the third-timers for directors on Mixed Bag. Not a great accomplishment but we love having you here, Kenny!

After 300 years of slumber, three sister witches are accidentally resurrected in Salem on Halloween night, and it is up to three kids and their newfound feline friend to put an end to the witches’ reign of terror once and for all.

Join hosts Cassandra, Matthew and James as they meet the Sanderson sisters (played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy) and discover whether this film is a trick or treat and, more importantly, why is this children's film so goddamn horny?!

 

57 - A Dangerous Method

Folks, we have reached our final night... with Knightley.

The film that spawned this miniseries, the feature presentation that makes most use of Keira Knightley's... advantages. Namely, one. Her chin.

David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method.

You may have seen the infamous clip featuring body horror levels of chin acting (link here if you haven't) but how does the film stack up?

Seduced by the challenge of an impossible case, the driven Dr. Carl Jung takes the unbalanced yet beautiful Sabina Spielrein as his patient. Jung’s weapon is the method of his master, the renowned Sigmund Freud. Both men fall under Sabina’s spell.

Join us the for final Five Nights with Knightley and be sure to hear our definitive chin ranking in Chins and Outs.

Note: We discuss the latest James Bond, No Time To Die in this episode. Timecodes:

6:11 Bond Spoilers Start

22:03 Bond Spoilers finish.

 

56 - The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

Hello Boys!

It's time to get Sugar Plum Sweet and dive into the magical world of The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018). Our penultimate night with Knightley and our most recent Keira flick, Nutcracker4Realms is adapted from the 1892 two-act ballet which has some of the sickest classical earworms you've ever come across.

Will the trio find Keira's Sugar Plum Fairy sumptuous or sickly sweet and do chins still hold sway in these realms? Tune in to find out.

55 - The Duchess

Announcing the return of Mixed Bag!

It's been quite some time since we last spoke but fear not listener, we are resuming our Five Nights with Knightley with our third entry, the epitome of Keira's period films, The Duchess!

What's it about? A duchess of course! But other than that? God we had no clue. But little did we know that they film is covertly part of the glorious gay agenda! That's right, the best kept secret, bisexuality courses through this films veins, happy bisexuality awareness week y'all!

Find out all about this little surprise that won an Academy Award for Costume Design. Was it just gowns, beautiful gowns is or there gold in this here film? 

54 - Pirates 2 - Dead Man’s Chest with Patrick Barnes

ARRR!!

You liver lilies didn't think we'd cover the canon of Keira without investigating her most famous franchise did you?

This week we're joined by esteemed cat lover and fellow podcaster Patrick Barnes who, until now, has never seen a Pirates of the Caribbean film.

Did we want to spend seven minutes in Heaven in Davy Jones' locker or is this just one terrible beastie as bad as the dreaded kraken?! Join Matt, Cass, James and Patrick as we head into the franchise that was building a Cinematic Universe just as Marvel was coming onto the scene.

Catch Patrick's podcast The Worst Game of All Time on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

What film featuring Keira and her chin will imbibe for our third night with Knightley?

NOTE: This was recorded before New Zealand's latest lockdown so we ain't breaking no rules. 

53 - Anna Karenina

Our latest season 'Five Nights of Knightley' commences with the third and final Joe Wright and Keira Knightley reunion, Anna Karenina (2012).

It's cold in Wellington but it's nothing compared to Russia, let's hope that Anna wraps up warm, dodges scandal and avoids those trains!

But when handsome Vronsky (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) stares at her from across the room, who can resist? He's certainly far more dashing from boring husband Karenin (Jude Law). Will Anna give herself to temptation and enjoy the greatest happiness?

Join Matt, Cass and James as they discuss the Chins and Outs of Keira's career and whether these five nights are well spent.

52 - Clue w Mike Bryant

Mike Bryant brings his new discovered classic, Clue back from 1985 for us all to revel in its exceeding foolishness. Based on the board game of the same name or Cluedo depending on where you're from, Clue follows a star studded cast who try to determine who killed Mr. Boddy and why.

We have a tiny recorded issue with this episode with it being accidentally recorded from a laptop instead of a microphone. It doesn't sound awful but you might notice a bit more background noise.

Thanks so much to Mike for being such a wonderful guest, you can follow him at @onehatmadder on Instagram and Twitter.

Next time our Keira Knightley Season begins, but what will the first Five Nights of Knightley be?

51 - Spirit Stallion of the Cimarron

The hosts make a startling discovery. One of their own has a deep connection the titular equine and knows the Bryan Adams songs by heart. But is this 2002 tale too simplistic and boring or is it a little seen masterpiece?

Join us for the iconic episode of Spirit Stallion of the Cimarron.