Dear Movies, I Love You: Episode Summary – "Casey & Millie’s Most Romantic Movies Ever"

Release Date: February 11, 2025
Hosts: Millie De Chirico and Casey O'Brien
Podcast Network: Exactly Right

Introduction

In this heartfelt and engaging episode of Dear Movies, I Love You, hosts Millie De Chirico and Casey O'Brien delve into the realm of romantic cinema. They explore their most cherished romantic films, share personal anecdotes, and engage in playful banter, all while treating movies as beloved romantic partners. This episode is a must-listen for film enthusiasts seeking both classic and unconventional takes on romance.

Film Diary: Recent Movie Experiences

Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom

Timestamp: [04:27]
Millie revisits the controversial and intense film Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom by Pier Paolo Pasolini. She praises its artistic boldness despite its disturbing content.

Millie De Chirico: "I saw it again because it was playing at my local movie theater... it is literally one of the hardest but most interesting films I've ever seen."

Casey acknowledges its notoriety, placing it among the top five most infamous films of all time.

Two Moon Junction

Timestamp: [09:10]
Millie introduces Two Moon Junction, an 1988 erotic thriller directed by Zalman King. She reminisces about her film club's fascination with the genre and highlights Sherilyn Fenn's captivating performance.

Millie De Chirico: "This movie is so insane... it's so good and funny and weird and corny and amazing."

Anora

Timestamp: [12:44]
Casey shares his experience watching Anora, a film directed by Sean Baker. He describes it as a fun and uplifting watch, countering expectations of tragedy.

Casey O'Brien: "I had a great time. More people should see it."

Truly, Madly, Deeply

Timestamp: [13:23]
Casey discusses Truly, Madly, Deeply, a 1990 film starring Alan Rickman and Juliet Stevenson. He commends its emotional depth and recounts his five-star rating on Letterboxd.

Casey O'Brien: "I was just very deeply moved by that film. More people should see it."

Romeo and Michelle's High School Reunion

Timestamp: [13:43]
Casey reflects on Romeo and Michelle's High School Reunion, a 1997 comedy featuring Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow. He appreciates its portrayal of friendship and lighthearted romance.

Casey O'Brien: "It's a really great girl friendship gal pal friendship movie. And it's very sweet."

Exploring Romantic Themes in Movies

Defining Romance in Cinema

Timestamp: [21:33]
Millie articulates her perspective on what makes a movie romantic, emphasizing the themes of longing and two people against the world.

Millie De Chirico: "Number one is longing. So wanting to be with someone or a character that wants to be with someone but can't."

Casey echoes these sentiments, highlighting the importance of tension and uncertainty in romantic narratives.

Casey O'Brien: "The movie needs to make me feel like they really might not end up together."

Personal Reflections on Romance

Millie and Casey share personal anecdotes about how romantic films have influenced their perceptions of love and relationships. Millie admits her secret love for romance despite her earlier tough exterior.

Millie De Chirico: "I've gone on record so much on my previous podcast... I actually secretly loved romance."

Casey concurs, acknowledging how movie portrayals of romance set unrealistic expectations.

Casey O'Brien: "I think how I thought romance was supposed to go was very much based on movie romance, which real life is not like that, sadly."

Casey Crush: Romantic Movie Quiz

Millie introduces a fun and challenging segment titled Casey Crush, where she provides synopses of romantic films containing the word "love," and Casey attempts to name them.

1. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Timestamp: [56:49]
Millie describes the dark satire starring George C. Scott and Peter Sellers.

Millie De Chirico: "A rogue US general triggers a nuclear crisis."

Casey O'Brien: "Dr. Strangelove. Or how I Learned to Love the Atomic bomb."

Millie confirms Casey's correct guess at [57:00].

2. Only Lovers Left Alive

Timestamp: [57:54]
Millie presents a synopsis of Jim Jarmusch's hypnotic romance about vampire lovers.

Millie De Chirico: "Two centuries old vampire lovers who are reuniting in a decaying world."

Casey O'Brien: "Only Lovers Left Alive."

Millie again verifies the correct answer at [58:17].

3. Mad Love

Timestamp: [59:33]
Millie challenges Casey with a synopsis of a chilling horror tale featuring Peter Lorre.

Millie De Chirico: "A brilliant but deranged surgeon becomes obsessively infatuated with an actress."

Casey O'Brien: "Mad Love."

Millie congratulates Casey on his correct answer at [59:58].

4. The Loveless

Timestamp: [61:17]
Millie describes a stylish neo-noir film about a motorcycle gang, marking Willem Dafoe's first film role.

Millie De Chirico: "A motorcycle gang drifting through a small Southern town."

Casey O'Brien: "The Loveless."

Millie confirms Casey's accuracy at [61:44].

5. [Unanswered Synopsis]

Timestamp: [61:59]
Millie provides the final movie synopsis, leaving it unresolved in the transcript. However, based on context, it's likely another classic romantic film with "love" in the title.

Note: In the transcript provided, the fifth synopsis appears to include an incorrect title reference, leading to ambiguity. For the purpose of this summary, the fifth movie remains unnamed.

Employee Picks: Recommended Romantic Movies

Tampopo

Timestamp: [65:32]
Casey recommends Tampopo, a 1985 Japanese film directed by Juzo Itami. While primarily a culinary movie, it weaves in sweet romantic subplots.

Casey O'Brien: "It's more about the love affair with Japanese cuisine, but there's really sweet romances between a few different characters."

Millie praises the choice, highlighting its unique blend of humor and romance.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Millie and Casey wrap up the episode by encouraging listeners to explore both classic and nuanced romantic films. They reiterate the importance of longing and the complexities of love in cinema, urging fans to seek out the timeless stories they've discussed.

Millie De Chirico: "If you've not seen any of those movies, especially the older ones that we mentioned, you should really seek them out."

Casey O'Brien: "We’re both two mushes. I hope you enjoyed our deep dive into romantic movies."

They also invite listeners to engage with them via email and social media for movie recommendations and discussions.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Millie on Salo:
  [05:03] "I have to watch this as an adult and process it at a higher level."

• Casey on Truly, Madly, Deeply:
  [13:36] "I just had a great time... I was deeply moved by that film."

• Millie on Defining Romance:
  [21:33] "Number one is longing... Number two is two people against the world."

• Casey on Romantic Tension:
  [25:13] "I think the movie needs to make me feel like they really might not end up together."

• Millie on Hampering Romantic Nostalgia:
  [23:51] "They have such a finite amount of time to be around each other... it's just this beautiful, tender, restrained film about unfulfilled desire."

• Millie on Only Lovers Left Alive:
  [58:31] "I love it more now than I ever have... I loved it so much, I bought the first book in the series."

Final Thoughts

"Casey & Millie’s Most Romantic Movies Ever" offers a deep, nuanced exploration of romance in cinema. Through thoughtful discussions and engaging segments, Millie and Casey share their love for both classic and offbeat romantic films, providing listeners with a rich tapestry of cinematic love stories to cherish and explore.

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