Pop This!

Summary   "I have adventured it and found nothing but sugar and violence." We continue working our way through the list of Oscar nominated films and watch Poor Things . Also discussed: For All Mankind , Mary Shelley's Frankenstein , and the music of Allison Russell.      Show notes: Is Poor Things the Best We Can Do for Female Sexuality Onscreen? (Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture) Recommendations: L...

Summary   "I can't trust someone if I can't put an animal's head on them." This week we are discussing the intriguing, haunting Anatomy of a Fall, and pondering its Oscar chances. Also discussed: low-brow chocolate,  American Symphony , and Gracie's Gold's new memoir Outofshapeworthlessloser .     Show notes: Meet Messi: The Canine Breakout of 'Anatomy of a Fall' Who Trained for 2 Months for His S...

Summary   "Everyone should feel like the star of their own life." This week we take a deep breath and dive into Nyad, a biographical sports drama film about swimmer Diana  Nyad 's multiple attempts to swim from Cuba to Florida. Also discussed:  The Greatest Night in Pop , Tracy Chapman at the Grammys, and Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé.     Show notes: Tracy Chapman - Talkin' About A Revolution (O...

Summary   "I'm interested in people's messes." After nine years of talking about movies, we've finally seen the perfect rom-com, and it's called Rye Lane. Watch it now! Also discussed: Taylor Swift and Super Bowl LVIII, Reservation Dogs , and Little Women .     Show notes: Japan wants everyone to know: Taylor Swift will make it in time for the Super Bowl (AP News)   Recommendations: Lisa: New York...

Summary   "Bruce, go to bed." This week we're talking about Michelle Yeoh and her new Netflix show The Brothers Sun. Also discussed: Nyad , Anne of Green Gables , and eating cheesecake for dinner.     Show notes: The hair theory is real (lipsandlattes on TikTok)   Recommendations: Lisa & Andrea G.: Nyad (sports biopic on Netflix)   Andrea W.: Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maude Montgomery (audioboo...

Summary   "She'd do anything for attention." This week we're pretty divided over our feelings about the "vibes forward" movie Saltburn . Also discussed: Jane Austin, The Brothers Sun, and Marie Kondo'ing your underwear collection.    Show notes: Is Saltburn the Most Divisive Film of the Year? (The Guardian)   Recommendations: Lisa:  True Detective (TV) Andrea G.:  The Brothers Sun (TV) Andrea W.:...

Summary   "Merry Skrillmas." This week we are joined by audiomaker, musician, writer, perfromer, quantum physicist, egg enthusiast, and aspiring boba influencer Martin Zaltz Austwick to talk about Gwyneth Paltrow's 1998 rom-com/sci-fi drama Sliding Doors. Also discussed: the idea of extending Christmas by creating another festive holiday in January.*   *Please note that we did not realize Jan. 15...

Summary   We are thrilled to welcome Helen Zaltzman of  The Allusionist as our guest this week to talk about the not-so-thrilling movie  Duets . Also discussed: happy post-apocalypse stories, science fiction rom-coms, and Phantom of the Paradise .      Show notes: The Allusionist    Phantom of the Paradise (movie trailer) Gratituitous Karaoke Moment - feat. Scott Michael Foster & Esther Povitsky -...

Summary   "We're basically the same." This week we get the ball rolling on Oscar season with Todd Haynes's extraordinary new film  May December . Also discussed: Mary Kay Letourneau, '90s tabloid culture, and the 1971 movie The Go-Between .   Show notes: The Go Between soundtrack (YouTube)   May December director Todd Haynes breaking down Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore's pivotal mirror scenes...

Summary   We're talking about our favourite and not-so-favourite pop culture of 2023, including a lengthy discussion about overdogs, and Ryan Reynolds.     Show notes: Pop This's favourite things from 2023: Past Lives (film) The Bear (Season 2) (TV) Bottoms (film)  Fleishman Is In Trouble (TV) Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 11) (TV) Somebody Somewhere (TV) Deadloch (TV)  I Have Nothing (TV) Swarm (T...

Summary   We embark upon year 9 of our annual holiday fight over Love Actually vs. The Holiday and are joined by an extra-special guest: Sam Clements of The Holiday Season podcast. He tells us about talking to Jude Law, corresponding with Nancy Meyers, why Myles shouldn't be written out of the story, and so much more!     Show notes: The Holiday Season (Sam's podcast) The Love of Cinema (Sam's oth...

Summary: "Best Christmas ever." Steven Schelling is our guest this week for Brandy Norwood and Heather Graham's new Christmas movie and he makes the case that this is indeed not the Best. Christmas. Ever! Also discussed: The Artful Dodger , The Bear Season 2, and the viability of work athleisure attire.   Show notes:   Brandy - Let It Snow (From Best Christmas Ever On Netflix) (YouTube)   Recommen...

Summary:   "Give me your saddest most tragic Christmas." The holiday season is off to a shaky start as we finally get around to watching Reese Witherspoon's holiday rom-com Four Christmases. Also discussed: intuitive eating,  The Sorrows of Others , and Lyndsay Sung's new baking book Plantcakes .     Show notes:   Reese Witherspoon Hated Vince Vaughn So Much She Refused to Film A 'Four Christmases...

Summary:   "I'm so full from dinner." This week we're talking about the buddy comedy we didn't know we needed: Quiz Lady , starring Sanda Oh and Awkwafina. Also discussed: secret emergency phrases, Jeoprady! , and Lisa's history of journaling.       Show notes:   Awkwafina is Nora From Queens... and Now a Wax Figure!    Carlos Hernandez Fisher's episode in the Jeoprady archive   Recommendations: A...

Summary:   "I'm a cowboy, you're a dancer. I'm a Pisces, you're a Cancer." This week Morgan Brayton joins us to talk about Carolyn Taylor's figure skating docu-comedy  I Have Nothing . Also discussed: Blue Eye Samurai, the Brother Twelve cult, and KISS's final tour.      Show notes:   Carolyn Taylor and Mae Martin's "I Have Nothing" music video (YouTube)   Katarina Witt (GDR) - 1988 Calgary, Figur...

Summary:   "Emotional truffle pig." This week we are talking about the show we think everyone needs to see, maybe even multiple times:  Deadloch . Also discussed: Quiz Lady , the new memoir from Britney Spears, and Cynara's new zinc saucier invention.      Show notes:   Cynara on Tiktok   Recommendations: Andrea G.:  Quiz Lady (movie)  Andrea W.: The Woman in Me by Britney Spears (audiobook) Cynar...

Summary:   "Kiss and cry." This week we talk about one of Lisa's all-time favourite movies: The Way We Were . Also discussed: Skate Canada International 2023, new music from Gary Beals, and lapel literacy.      Show notes:   Every movie referenced/watched in Gilmore Girls (including quotes) (Letterboxed)   Barbra Streisand on The Way We Were and Her Fight to Get It Right (Vanity Fair)   Recommenda...

Summary:   "Tote bag era." This week everyone's favourite guest star Cynara Geissler joins us to talk about Taylor Swift's Eras Tour concert film. Also discussed: What We Do In The Shadows , Lupin and winterizing our wardrobes.      Show notes:     Cynara on TikTok   Recommendations: Andrea G.:  " My Delirious Trip to the Heart of Swiftiedom " by Taffy Brodesser-Akner (New York Times)   Andrea W.:...

Summary:   "Do I look like some kind of monster?" This week we get in the spirit of the season by watching the hit horror film Barbarian and coming to terms with the fact that basements and Airbnb will never be the same. Also discussed: a secret X-Files episode, T he Texas Chainsaw Massacre , and the new Indigo Girls documentary.     Show notes:   Don English on social media   These scary movies r...

Summary:   "All the best people have bad chests and bone diseases. It's all frightfully romantic." This week we talk about an infamous murder and intense teenage friendship in the film  Heavenly Creatures . Also discussed: malls as retirement villas, Alex Cuba, and the clothing label Esprit.   Show notes:   " I was guilty. I did my time': Anne Perry, the novelist whose past caught up with her (The...

Summary:   "Who needs a prince charming when you can be your own hero?" This week Sidney from Warriors Bards 'N Brews joins us to talk about one of their favourite films, Ever After: A Cinderella Story . Also discussed: coupon TikTok, Heavenly Creatures , and the enduring power of the "Mummer's Dance."     Show notes:   Bad Photo Good Food (Sidney's food Instagram)   Mummer's Dance by Loreena McKe...

Summary:   "More like Thanks-taking." This week we watch a star-studded Thanksgiving movie that for some reason no one has ever heard of called  What's Cooking?  Also discussed: The Morning Show , #VIFF2023, and some exciting upcoming fall events.   Show notes:   ' What's Cooking?' Simmers in Los Angeles Melting Pot (LA Times)   Recommendations: Andrea G.:  VIFF (film festival); specifically The B...

Summary:   "You don't care about feminism. Your favorite show is Entourage!" We invite Chloe from Warriors Bards 'n Brews to talk about the horror-action-teen-sex-comedy Bottoms . Also discussed:  Theatre Camp , Debby Friday's Polaris-winning album Good Luck , and the possibility that Lisa might not like pizza.     Show notes:   Warriors Bards 'n Brews (podcast)   Chloe Krause Photography   Chloe...

Summary:   "It isn't art until someone says it is." We re-visit the Julia Roberts 2003 period drama  Mona Lisa Smile but still can't quite figure out what it's supposed to be about. Also discussed: Rumor Has It , The Legend of Billie Jean , and How Did This Get Made: The Secret .      Show notes:   How Did This Get Made - EP 211 - The Secret (podcast)   The Legend of Billie Jean (movie)   Dominic...

Summary:   "Thanks to Barbie, all problems of feminism have been solved." Summer has passed and we're still talking about that Barbie movie, but this time, journalist Michelle Cyca joins us to give us her thoughts. Also discussed: Red Shoe Diaries, Tom Cruise, and new music from Hannah Georgas.     Show notes:   Red Shoe Diaries: rewatching a 90s' 'classic (Den of Geek)   Michelle Cyca   Recommend...