Steven Soderbergh & Erin Brockovich (2000) featuring The Softies

Summary

Episode Summary: "Dear Movies, I Love You" – Steven Soderbergh & Erin Brockovich (2000) Featuring The Softies

Release Date: March 18, 2025
Hosts: Millie Decherico and Casey O'Brien
Guests: Rose Melberg and Jen Spraja of The Softies

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1. Introduction

The episode kicks off with hosts Millie Decherico and Casey O'Brien warmly welcoming listeners to "Dear Movies, I Love You." They set the stage for an engaging discussion centered around the 25th anniversary of the film "Erin Brockovich" and delve into the multifaceted career of director Steven Soderbergh. Additionally, they introduce special guests Rose Melberg and Jen Spraja of The Softies, who contribute their unique insights into punk-inspired cinema.

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2. Film Diary

The hosts begin by sharing updates from their "Film Diary," a segment where they discuss recent movies they've watched.

• Millie's Picks:

  • "Secretary" (2002): Millie revisits this film for the third time, deepening her appreciation beyond its initial titillation factor to recognize it as a complex love story exploring mental health and coping mechanisms.
    Quote: "It's about a complicated love story and mental health…" (09:15).

• Casey's Picks:

  • "Blade" (1998): Casey describes his first-time viewing experience, highlighting Wesley Snipes' portrayal of Blade as both goofy and serious, leading to a mixed but ultimately enjoyable reaction.
    Quote: "He holds your hand." (12:09)
  • "The Brutalist": Casey shares his thoughts on this long-form movie about a brutalist architect navigating post-WWII America, praising its score and acting while critiquing its second half for being too on-the-nose.
    Quote: "It's a long movie, but it's worth watching." (14:40)

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3. Main Discussion: Erin Brockovich & Steven Soderbergh

Anniversary Celebration: Millie and Casey commemorate the 25th anniversary of "Erin Brockovich," highlighting its release on March 14, 2000. They express excitement over the film's enduring impact and discuss its recent success at the Oscars, noting its unexpected sweep of major awards.

• Oscar Success:
  • Quote: "The settlement they got for Hinckley was $333 million..." (20:14)
  • Millie expresses surprise and admiration for the film's Best Picture win, linking it to personal connections with the subject matter and the film’s heartfelt storytelling.

Steven Soderbergh's Career: The conversation shifts to Steven Soderbergh's innovative approaches in filmmaking, including pioneering simultaneous theater and cable releases and experimenting with digital and smartphone filming techniques.

• Innovative Techniques:

  • Quote: "He shot several films on an iPhone that are like, excellent films…" (34:34)

• Personal Anecdotes:

  • Millie shares her connection to Soderbergh through her friendship with his brother, adding a personal layer to their discussion.
    Quote: "I've been friends with his brother for over a decade..." (45:16)

• Evolution as a Director:

  • The hosts debate Soderbergh's transition from indie films to more mainstream projects, reflecting on his versatility and relentless creativity.
    Quote: "He's making incredible art every day." (43:37)

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4. Guest Interview: The Softies

Special guests Rose Melberg and Jen Spraja of The Softies join the conversation to discuss their deep-rooted connection to punk-inspired movies.

• Areas of Expertise:

  • Rose: "Rock and Roll High School" – Rose recounts her transformative experience watching the film at 13, which ignited her passion for punk music and inspired her musical career.
    Quote: "This is what I want my life to be." (54:25)

  • Jen: "The Fabulous Stains" – Jen shares how the movie influenced her band's ethos, emphasizing themes of inclusivity and the raw, unpolished spirit of punk.
    Quote: "They feel like real life to me." (68:47)

• Personal Reflections:

  • The Softies discuss the authenticity and enduring relevance of their chosen films, drawing parallels between their music careers and the rebellious, DIY spirit portrayed onscreen.
    Rose: "We just have to sort of rehearse on our own and hope that it sounds okay on stage." (68:47)

• Interactive Moments:

  • The hosts and guests engage in playful banter, including dramatic readings and discussions about iconic movie lines, enhancing the episode's dynamic and relatable atmosphere.

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5. Film Advice Section

Listener Jackie writes in with a thoughtful critique of Wes Anderson's recent films, questioning whether they've lost the heartfelt essence of his earlier works.

• Jackie's Gripe:

  • Quote: "Does Wes Anderson need to be stopped?" (78:00)
  • Jackie feels that Anderson's focus on form and set design has overshadowed the emotional core that made his earlier movies resonate.

• Hosts' Responses:

  • Casey empathizes, sharing his own evolving relationship with Anderson's films, noting how initial loves like "Rushmore" and "The Royal Tenenbaums" set high expectations for subsequent works. Quote: "It's a normal part of your relationship with a director." (81:44)

  • Millie adds that artists naturally evolve, which can sometimes alienate long-time fans but is essential for their growth. Quote: "Artists in a nutshell... they have to evolve." (85:57)

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6. Recommendations

• Millie's Pick:

  • "Che" (Two-Part Film by Steven Soderbergh): Millie recommends this extensive biographical film about Che Guevara, praising Benicio Del Toro's performance and the film's historical depth.
    Quote: "It's historical. You'll enjoy it." (87:47)

• Casey's Pick:

  • "The Informant" (2009): Casey highly recommends this comedy-drama starring Matt Damon as a quirky whistleblower, highlighting its entertainment value and engaging performances.
    Quote: "It's incredibly fun and a good Midwest Iowa movie." (89:24)

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7. Conclusion

Millie and Casey wrap up the episode by encouraging listeners to engage with them on social media, participate in future Instagram Lives, and submit their own film-related inquiries for advice segments. They thank Rose Melberg and Jen Spraja of The Softies for their heartfelt contributions and express excitement for future episodes.

• Final Notes:
  • Quote: "Thank you Softies for joining us today. It's just amazing." (93:11)
  • Hosts remind listeners to follow them on Instagram and Letterboxd for updates and additional content.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Millie Decherico: "It's about a complicated love story and mental health…" (09:15)
• Casey O'Brien: "He holds your hand." (12:09)
• Rose Melberg: "We just have to sort of rehearse on our own and hope that it sounds okay on stage." (68:47)
• Casey O'Brien: "It's a normal part of your relationship with a director." (81:44)
• Millie Decherico: "Artists in a nutshell... they have to evolve." (85:57)
• Millie Decherico: "It's historical. You'll enjoy it." (87:47)
• Casey O'Brien: "It's incredibly fun and a good Midwest Iowa movie." (89:24)
• Casey O'Brien: "Thank you Softies for joining us today. It's just amazing." (93:11)

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Conclusion

This episode of "Dear Movies, I Love You" offers a rich exploration of "Erin Brockovich" and Steven Soderbergh's influential career, enriched by the passionate insights of The Softies. Through personal anecdotes, thoughtful critiques, and heartfelt recommendations, Millie Decherico and Casey O'Brien craft a compelling narrative that celebrates the enduring power of cinema and its ability to inspire and connect us.

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Follow "Dear Movies, I Love You" on Instagram @dearmoviesiloveyou and join the Exactly Right podcast network for more engaging discussions on film, music, and culture.

Transcript

[Millie Decherico]

This is exactly right.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. Stock up sale is on now, which means you can save big on all your favorite essentials throughout the store. Stock up on participating items and earn four times points to redeem for your discounts on groceries or gas. Now through March 25th. Save by shopping in store or online for participating items from your favorite brands like like Pampers, Dove, Band Aid, Playtex and Premier protein. Offer ends March 25th. Promotions may vary. Restrictions apply. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[Casey O'Brien]

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[Amy Brown]

Hey, it's Amy Brown from the Bobby Bones Show. Join me in supporting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for a chance to win a trip to meet Megan Maroney at the 2025 I Heart Country Festival in Austin, Texas on May 3rd. Hosted by Bobby Bones, we're going to hook you up with tickets, flights, hotel, food credits and a meet and greet with Megan Maroney. Take action now to support St. Jude and help cure childhood cancer, and you're gonna be entered for a chance to win. Visit iheartcountrytrip.com to learn more.

[Millie Decherico]

Case is the place Casey O'Brien how are you, Millie?

[Casey O'Brien]

I'm good. That was an exciting intro. Case is the place. I like that.

[Millie Decherico]

Is that new? New to you? Is that a new way? Yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

I haven't heard that before. Sometimes people call me Case closed. That's something sometimes people will say to me, case closed. Or they'll say quesadilla. Quesadilla.

[Millie Decherico]

I do love that.

[Casey O'Brien]

I do love that queso. You know that I like it when people call me Case, though very few people do. But I like it.

[Millie Decherico]

Patrick used to call you Case.

[Casey O'Brien]

I know. He was one of the few. My former co host of our show Farthouse. My previous podcast, Pal. But yes, doing great. I'm very excited to talk about the movie we're discussing today and just everything surrounding this episode is like, it's just this, this show. This episode is vibrating. It feels like there's so much going on with it. Obviously, we'll start the show by opening up our film diary and Talking about the movies we've most recently watched. And what else are we talking about, Millie?

[Millie Decherico]

Well, we're going to talk about this because it's a 25th anniversary. Literally, like any day. It's the actual 20. Like it was released in March of 2000, this movie. Well, we want to talk about Aaron Brockovich. Steven Soderbergh's Erin Brockovich from Obviously the year 2000, came out on March 14, 2000. When does this episode come out?

[Casey O'Brien]

This is going to come out the 18th, so four days prior. So really right on schedule. We're really locked in.

[Millie Decherico]

We really typed it. We were like, let's do it at 11:59pm so we have that going. We're gonna also just talk about, you know, Steven Soderbergh as a director. You know, he's very popular also. Very interesting. I think I'd love to hear what you think about him as a filmmaker. So, you know, we'll do that.

[Casey O'Brien]

I have thoughts. Sure, I've got thoughts. And then this is a. This is huge.

[Millie Decherico]

Huge.

[Casey O'Brien]

We're doing another segment of my area of expertise where we bring on guests to talk about their movie area of expertise. Today we have, I would describe them as royalty, frankly. We have Rose Melberg and Jen Spraja, AKA the Softies. And they are coming on to talk about their areas of expertise, which are the movies, Rock and Roll, High School with the Ramones and ladies and gentlemen, the fabulous Stains. So that is a really great conversation and it's going to be so fun to talk to them about that stuff, right?

[Millie Decherico]

And if you didn't know, they did the theme song for this damn show. So they are definitely important and family for us. So. Well, stay tuned, everybody. It's gonna be a great episode. You are listening to Dear Movies, I love you.

[Debbie]

Dear Movies, I love you. And I've got to know if you love me too.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yes or no.

[Debbie]

Check the box.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah. Welcome, welcome, welcome to Dear Movies. I love you. I am one of your hosts, Millie Decherico.

[Casey O'Brien]

I am your other host, Casey O'Brien.

[Millie Decherico]

And this is a podcast for people who are in a very, very deep, long term LTR with film.

[Casey O'Brien]

Sexual, sexual, emotional, spiritual.

[Millie Decherico]

But yeah, I think this episode is going to be fun because we've got a lot of cool things coming up. We have a good topic to talk about. It's probably not good to talk about the Oscars, right? Because we should. We talk about.

[Casey O'Brien]

Well, there's a few weeks removed, but I think we can, you know, I think the Oscars at the time of this recording, they happened last night. I hope you all won your Oscar pools. I hope we were helpful in that case, you know, helping people win some money at their respective Oscar parties. No, I mean, it was thrilling that Honora won so many Academy Awards. I mean, we talked about that on our Oscars episode. How there are some years where you just kind of feel like you have a personal relationship with these movies. And these, like, underdog movies don't always win at the Oscars. And sometimes they do. And last night they did. And it was really cool for Sean Baker to win Best Director. It was really cool for Mikey Madison to win Best Actor Actress and for an order to win Best Picture, so. It's thrilling. It's thrilling though.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah. Eddie was best editing. I mean, like, honestly, I gotta admit, I'm fucking shocked. Like, not. No disrespect to Sean Baker, obviously, I'm a huge fan. I'm a follower of him on Instagram. Okay. But I. I'm shocked because you're right. We talked about this in the Oscars episode. It doesn't happen often. Every so often you get some crazy, like, anomaly, like a parasite or a moonlight or an aura or something where it's like, it brings me in. Right. Obviously, like we talked about, I'm not in every year. Like, in some years it's fucking green Book. And then other years, this fucking crazy, awesome, cheap independent movie like that is about sex work and is like made by an actual cool group of people, like, actually cool. I mean, Mikey Madison, thanks sex workers in her speech. I mean, this is like, you know, it's like an amazing thing that happened because I'm just like.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie Decherico]

I mean, it feels like kind of one of us in a weird way.

[Casey O'Brien]

Totally.

[Millie Decherico]

And like, subject wise, I couldn't believe it won Best Picture, like cast and crew, the whole thing. I'm thrilled. I'm thrilled by it, so.

[Casey O'Brien]

Me too. I mean, it feels like. And this is no dig at the movie whatsoever because I think it's an incredible movie. But you could totally see this movie just getting dumped on Hulu in like July randomly and people not knowing, picking, picking up on it. But it's like so exciting that this one struck a chord with people and then it won Best Picture and I think deservedly so.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

And, yeah, it's just thrilling. I mean, it's awesome. I don't know what else to say about it.

[Millie Decherico]

No. Yeah. To me, I felt like there was like a moment of watching the Oscars, which I watch. I turned them on eventually. At first, I was like, again, I was doing like, I'm too based for the Oscars. Even though there's a couple of things that I would, I would want to watch. But like, yeah, I turned it on at some point and then I was like, when they did like the James Bond like tribute thing, I was like, this is why I think it's so crazy that Anora won because of this like this other Oscar y pomp and circumstance. Like you know, the fucking Oscar patter and like, you know that stuff. It's like the standard Oscar stuff. And then you're like, oh yeah. Then this cool movie. Wonderful. So that's awesome. Yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

But I want to hear about what is going on in your film diary. Show me your diary. Let me read your diary, Millie Creak.

[Millie Decherico]

That's thousand year old paper being thumbed through.

[Casey O'Brien]

It's like the book of the Dead.

[Debbie]

Evil Dead.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah, it is. It's like there's a face in it on the COVID Okay, so my film diary is so fucked this week. Actually, it's not. It's actually not too bad. It's only two movies.

[Casey O'Brien]

Okay, that's good.

[Millie Decherico]

They're both like sort of old. First of all, I rewatched the 2002 film Secretary.

[Casey O'Brien]

Starring James Spader, Maggie Gyllenhaal.

[Millie Decherico]

That's right. I don't think I need to tell you. I don't need to tell you what it's about. Just Google it. Google Secretary 2002 and you will find out everything you need to know. It's.

[Casey O'Brien]

It's kinky.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah. So yeah, it's a movie about kink. Right. Or about S and M relationship perhaps. Like very interesting stuff. I mean, I watched it for the podcast. The last podcast I did, I watched it when it came out. So this is technically my third time. And I feel pretty much the same way that I felt when I rewatched it for. I saw what you did. I just. It was on. I started watching it. I was like, oh yeah, this is like a complicated. Like the story is a lot deeper, I think, than I thought when I first saw it. When I first saw it, I think I was just getting off on the titillation factor of, you know, whatever the sexual component. Right. But then now I see it more as like a kind of complicated love story. And it's about like, you know, mental health and the ways that people cope with, you know, their lives and stuff. So I don't know. I mean, it's just more textured and I'm glad that I rewatched it again. And then I watched for first time. Watch, Dude, I watched Blade.

[Casey O'Brien]

Blade 1998. Love Blade, starring huge Blade head.

[Millie Decherico]

Well, this looks types. You're a Blade head.

[Casey O'Brien]

I love Blade.

[Millie Decherico]

Do you really?

[Casey O'Brien]

Blade is so fucking good.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yes. Blade and Blade two are so good. I think Blade two is directed by Guillermo del Toro. Blade rules.

[Rose Melberg]

I.

[Millie Decherico]

You know what's so funny about it? It's like, there's so much mythology around Blade and specifically Wesley Snipes as Blade. Right. I thought the movie was great. It is funny how the thing that I had heard, you know, because I had heard about, you know, sort of the, like, the ways in which people talk about the character of Blade and how Wesley Snipes plays the character. Right? And I was like, yeah. I mean, he's. It's a little goofy, but it works. You know what I'm saying? Like, his. Oh, yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

I mean, it takes itself very seriously, I think. And so, I don't know, like. Yeah, it is a little. I guess you could say it's a little goofy, but I.

[Millie Decherico]

Did you not think it was a little goofy that he, like, talks? Yeah, like, his whole, like.

[Casey O'Brien]

Oh, it's very goofy.

[Millie Decherico]

His banter. His Blade banter answer.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yes. His bance, as they say on Love Island.

[Millie Decherico]

The British version, you mean? Not. Could not be the American.

[Casey O'Brien]

The British version. Not the. I don't. I. I only really acknowledge the British version.

[Millie Decherico]

Oh, you. What are you, like, into the office? The only British office?

[Casey O'Brien]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I'm not like that. I think I have a whole theory. I just. I. I know enough American dum dums. I don't need to watch them on tv. But, like, Amer. Like, UK dum dums, it's kind of charming for some reason. There's, like a distance there. So.

[Millie Decherico]

Listen, I've watched so many seasons of Naked Attraction that I'm like, I. Americans suck. Like, yeah, a British dum dum is a great American person. Does that make sense?

[Casey O'Brien]

Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yes, yes, yes, yes. Totally.

[Millie Decherico]

Anyway. Well, you know, I like the Blade banter. Like, when I first was like, oh, this is. This is funny. He just talks like. I thought, you know, he. I thought he was going to be more like a John Wick kind of guy, where he just, like, says the bare minimum in a very menacing voice. Like this.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie Decherico]

But he. He talks you through it, Blade, if you know what I mean.

[Casey O'Brien]

He. He holds your hand.

[Millie Decherico]

Anyway, it was fun, though. It was fun. It was fucking fun to watch.

[Casey O'Brien]

Well, I'm excited For you. I'm excited for you to watch Blade 2. Thrilling. This is thrilling. Yes. Okay. I watched one movie this week. It's a long movie, and it's a little movie called the Brutalist. I watched the Brutalist, and I have a lot of thoughts. Have you seen it?

[Millie Decherico]

No, I haven't.

[Casey O'Brien]

Okay, well, I'm not gonna spoil anything for you here. The Brutalist is about a brutalist architect who comes to America after World War II and kind of has to. He's, like, honored and celebrated in Europe, but, like, he comes to America with nothing. And he's played by Adrian Brody. And last night he won an Academy Award for this movie. And the score, one, which it should have. The score is excellent in this movie.

[Millie Decherico]

And I think Adrian Brody.

[Casey O'Brien]

Oh, the eye roll. The thing. It's really well acted. And there are things I really liked about this movie. I think it has a lot to say about beauty and elegance and who gets to control that. Who gets to. Gets to have access to beauty and elegance. And why do you always have to collaborate with the ultra wealthy in order to create great works of beauty? Why does that always have to happen? And sort of the painful process of that? I think that's all really interesting. You know, that's like something I'm very fascinated with.

[Millie Decherico]

That's a good question.

[Casey O'Brien]

Now. Yeah. Now this movie, I feel like everyone's like, the second half sucks, and I wouldn't go that far. But this movie does not know how to land the plane. And some things happen in this movie where I'm like, yes, I understand this is what you're saying, but you're kind of hitting the nail on the head a little too hard. You know, it's a little too on the nose. And this isn't a spoiler, but I think sometimes movies like to use drug addiction as sort of a shortcut for this guy's having a hard time.

[Millie Decherico]

Yes.

[Casey O'Brien]

You know, and it sort of cheapens it a little bit.

[Millie Decherico]

Sure.

[Casey O'Brien]

And so that happens in this movie and you're kind of like, I don't know. I feel like the central message of what it. Or what it was trying to say in the beginning of the movie and for most of the movie is interesting enough that it didn't need to incorporate those elements. But there are some really beautiful scenes and moments that really moved me. And so I do think it's worth watching. And I will say I was never bored watching it. And it's like three and a half hours long, so it does move along in a good way. But I just don't think it quite landed the plane, as I said earlier.

[Millie Decherico]

So are you a fan of brutal architecture?

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah, I guess I am.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

I like that kind of look. I think that's cool. I think. I wouldn't say I'm like an architecture head. I don't really know.

[Millie Decherico]

You lived in LA for 19 years, you know shit about architecture. Come on.

[Casey O'Brien]

Well, I guess I do. I know you know some stuff. I went on an architecture tour downtown and it was fun and. But yeah, I think brutalist architecture is kind of awe inspiring in a way and interesting and thought provoking and I feel like buildings made nowadays look like shit.

[Millie Decherico]

Totally.

[Casey O'Brien]

You know, there's like a. I didn't make this up, but people are like, in 20 years there's not going to be any vintage clothing because all the clothing we're making now is shitty, you know, and badly made, so. And I sort of feel that way about buildings where it's like, God, 50 years from now, what are going to be the great buildings of our time that were built now? None.

[Millie Decherico]

None of them. Because they're all going to be like apartment buildings with like Chipotle's on the bottom of them and shit.

[Casey O'Brien]

Exactly. So.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah, yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

No, but the Brutalist is the thing. I wanted to watch it this week because I felt like for some reason I was like, after the Oscars, I'm going to have feel no desire to watch it after that. So I have to watch it in anticipation of the Oscars.

[Millie Decherico]

Well, good. You did. You did your due diligence. I didn't.

[Casey O'Brien]

I had my. I did my. What did they say? I ate my broccoli. It was a little bit of like a broccoli movie where I'm like, I need to watch this for. For my health, I guess. And it was made for $10 million and I feel like they really squeezed every single penny out of that movie. And yeah, that's what I gotta say about the Brutalist. All right, well, let's move on to our main discussion. Let's close the film diary. Close it, Millie. Date it, period at the end of your sentence and lock it up.

[Millie Decherico]

I exploded it Foreign.

[Jen Spraja]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. Stock up sale is on now, which means you can save big on all your favorite essentials throughout the store. Stock up on participating items and earn four times points to redeem for your discounts on groceries or gas. Now through March 25th. Saved by shopping in store or online for participating items from your favorite brands like Pampers, Dove, Band Aid, Playtex and Premier protein. Offer ends March 25th. Promotions may vary. Restrictions apply. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details.

[Amy Brown]

Hey, it's Amy Brown from the Bobby Bones Show. Join me in supporting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for a chance to win a trip to meet Megan Maroney at the 2025 I Heart Country Festival in Austin, Texas on May 3rd. Hosted by Bobby Bones. We're going to hook you up with tickets, flights, hotel, food credits and a meet and greet with Megan Maroney. Take action now to support St. Jude and help cure childhood cancer. And you're going to be entered for a chance to win. Visit iheartcountrytrip.com to learn more.

[Casey O'Brien]

All right, moving on to our main discussion, Aaron Brockovich, Steven Soderbergh, like you said, it's the 25th anniversary of when this movie came out, which is sort of astounding to me. I think something that was kind of crazy watching this movie when it came out. Maybe this is a stupid thing to say, but when it came out, Julia Roberts had been around for a while, and so it kind of felt like, oh, she's hitting like her late career kind of. Or it felt like that at the time.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

That's not, that's not my opinion, but it sort of felt like that how people were talking about her.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

You know, and then watching this movie, I was like, this is a baby. On screen. She's 33 years old. She looks fabulous. She's never looked better and so that was just sort of a funny. Like, I'd never seen it before. So watching it, I was kind of, like, thinking about how it was when that movie came out 25 years ago and kind of reassessing it.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah, reminiscing. So give it. Give us, like, a rundown of what Aaron Brockvich is about for people who haven't seen it.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah, so we're gonna get in. Don't worry. We're gonna get into the Steven Soderbergh stuff, but let's just jump right into the Erin Brockovich of it all. So Erin Brockovich is based on a real person and her name is Erin Brockovich, and she's only seven years older than Julia Roberts, which is sort of interesting that you'd make a movie about someone like, essentially your same age. Yeah. But she was a down on her luck, single mother of three. And she takes a job as a paralegal with the law firm Masri and Vitito. And she works as an assistant to Ed Masri, played by the wonderful Albert Finney. And while she's going through some records, she uncovers that the utility company Pacific Gas and Electric, they are responsible for contaminating the drinking water of the small town of Hinkley, California. And they contaminate it with something called hexavalent chromium. And basically all these people in this town get sick. A lot of them get cancer. But because of her gumption, because of her hard work and no nonsense attitude, she and Ed Masri put together a lawsuit against PG&E. And, you know, a lot of this movie is putting that lawsuit together, getting the inhabitants of Hinckley to testify, all while having three fucking kids with their fathers not involved with their lives at all. I think different fathers, but I can't remember exactly but. Or like, two of them are from the same dad or. Anyways, she's. She's balancing a lot of stuff all at once. And. Yeah, that is Aaron Brockovich.

[Millie Decherico]

Well, and I have to also say Ed Masary is played by the great actor Albert Finney, who is one of my favorite actors, because he was. You know, I loved him in his, like, early period when he was doing, like. Yeah, like British New Waves. Yeah. And like, Saturday Night, Sunday Morning was one of my favorite movies ever. You should all see that movie, by the way. But anyway, he's great in that movie, too.

[Casey O'Brien]

Oh, he's amazing. Yeah. Just on that note about Albert Finney, the. Their relate. I mean, the. The whole. The center of this movie is really the relationship between Julia Roberts And Albert Finney, their characters, Aaron Brockovich and Ed Masary, and the screenwriter Susanna Grant said this about the movie. Structurally, it's a love story. It's not a romantic love story, obviously, but it's interpersonal love story. And you really feel that when you watch this movie that it's like these two, like, really. They fight a lot, but they, like, love each other. And the reason. And the reason that. Because this is one of those things where Ed Masri could have been. It's like, a lot of hard work to, like, put this shit together. And it's, like, optional. They could be like, let's just not fucking pursue this. This might end up getting none of the inhabitants of Hinckley any money. But because of Aaron Brockovich and Ed Masri's relationship, they push forward and get it done. And the settlement they got for Hinckley was $333 million, which is the largest settlement ever paid in a direct action lawsuit in the United States. So this was, like, a very historic case, and it was just because of this woman and Ed Masary putting this all together. And, yeah, it was an incredible. It's an incredible movie. I loved it so much. How do you feel about Julia Roberts? What's your relationship with her? Okay, first of all, what.

[Millie Decherico]

You know that Julia Roberts is literally from my neck of the woods?

[Casey O'Brien]

I didn't know that. I didn't know that.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah, she's from Smyrna. That's, like, up the road from me. That's technically Cobb County. That's the county where I'm from. That's the county where the Atlanta Braves play now. So.

[Casey O'Brien]

Okay, okay.

[Millie Decherico]

You think I.

[Casey O'Brien]

Sometimes when I ask Millie a question and I don't know the answer to it, she gets pissed off and yells at me.

[Millie Decherico]

Oh, that is for dramatic effect, Casey. You think my fucking day lives or dies on whether or not you knew that I lived near a town that Roberts is from?

[Casey O'Brien]

Well, I thought you were gonna pull a knife on me when I asked you if you knew what salute your shorts is.

[Millie Decherico]

Well, that is stupid because you sat in front of, like, me on a podcast for how many years?

[Casey O'Brien]

You're right.

[Millie Decherico]

And I talked about salute your shorts. Well, and, like, gotta be. Gotta be real. You know who also I'm a big fan of is her brother, Eric Roberts. Now, come on.

[Casey O'Brien]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, Absolutely.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

Talented family.

[Millie Decherico]

Talented family. But they're, you know, they're Georgia peeps, so I. I feel like I got skin in the game whether or not I want to or not.

[Casey O'Brien]

Right?

[Millie Decherico]

With Julia Roberts, I actually love her. I think that as like a super famous global movie star, she's pretty good. Do you know what I'm saying? Like, she's not irritating. She's very chill to me, I think she's completely charming and seems normal. I know that sounds weird to say. She seems like kind of like you can imagine her like being in the world where. Yeah, I can't imagine some other others, some very, very high profile actors and actresses. You know, I. I heard an interview.

[Casey O'Brien]

With her recently where she was talking about how she posted a picture of her and Emma Roberts at like Julia Roberts's house. And they were like having coffee or something. It was like a very casual photo and she just posted it like on her Instagram or stuff, something. And Julia Roberts was talking about how as soon as she posted it, everyone was like, julia, you look like shit. God, what's wrong? You need to put on some makeup. You look like shit. And they're saying horrible stuff to her. And Julia Roberts was basically saying, like, now I'm an older woman now and I don't really care what people think, but can you imagine if you were a young person receiving that kind of evil commentary on your Instagram page? She's like, it's tough out there for these young actors. And I don't know, I thought that was like a very sweet sentiment. And you don't really hear like that high profile of a celebrity talk about social media or like interacting with social media. And so I found it very refreshing and it made me like her even more.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah, yeah, she's totally likable. And maybe I'm saying, maybe I'm making the equation that because she is from Georgia, she's likable or something. Like where I'm like, oh, she's from the South. Like, she just seems kind of like, you know, like, how crazy can you actually be? I mean, you could be Southern crazy, which we all are, but it's also like, you can't. There's always gonna be some sort of root that's down in the ground. I feel like if you're from the south, and I think that about a lot of Southern celebrities, by the way, not just her. I think most, most people who are famous, who are from the south have, like I said, a root or two down in the ground. All of this is to say, like her. I gotta tell you about Erin Brockovich. Generally, Erin Brockovich to me seems like a movie that is, as a Julia Roberts movie is the one that brings the folks together in My life. But I think even beyond everybody likes Erin Brockovich, like people of all different stations in life. Right. Like, it doesn't matter who you are. Like, most people can come together on the fact that they think that Erin Brockovich is a good movie. I feel like. I don't know if you think that's true.

[Casey O'Brien]

Well, I think that is true because, you know, like, and this is not to disparage any of these movies. Like, these are movies I like, like Notting Hill, My Best Friend's Wedding and Julia Roberts is very funny and charming in those movies. But I think what happens with those movies, which happens a lot, is like, they're kind of labeled as women's movies, you know. And so I feel like Erin Brockovich, though, is like utilizing the charm and sass that she has in those movies and portrayed in those movies, but is elevating it slightly to a like, Oscar nominated film, you know. And so I think it allows there to be a larger audience of people who would gravitate towards that movie that maybe they didn't like, wouldn't gravitate towards, like Mystic Pizza or like, yeah, My Best Friend's Wedding, you know.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

But this movie is, you know, speaking of the Oscars, you know, it's fun that Honora just won because not that Erin Brockovich is similar to Honora in any way, but they're both human movies with comedy in them.

[Millie Decherico]

Yes.

[Casey O'Brien]

And that type of movie, I just feel like we aren't getting enough of those now where they're, you know, like mid budget dramas. That type. This type of film, like an Erin Brockovich is like, I miss there. We should have like 20 of these a year. It feels like, you know, and it just, it kind of made me like miss a different era of the film industry a little bit.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah. So that was. That was some thoughts I had when I was watching it this time.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah, I totally agree. I also think if it may be so bold, they should give an Oscar to the best facial hair in movies.

[Casey O'Brien]

Okay, well, then I just, I don't think this movie would have won that Oscar because, you know, it would have won I. When Aaron Eckhart and I had not seen this movie before. When Aaron Eckhart appeared on screen, I scream because he has like, it looks like a fake Gotian. He is playing a biker, Erin Brockovich's next door neighbor and eventual love interest. But I was like, Aaron Eckhart, he looked so like. You have kind of an idea of what Aaron Eckhart looks like. You know, he's kind of like a I don't know if preppier or more professional business kind of looking guy.

[Millie Decherico]

Casey, he's craggy hot. Do you. Were you not around when we talked about Aaron talking craggy hot?

[Casey O'Brien]

Yes, I was. I don't know. I was there for craggy hot conversations. I'm not sure if I was there specifically for the Aaron Eckhart, but I was just, like, so thrown off by his appearance. And I kept saying to my wife Trisha while we were watching it, every time he was on screen, I was like, I hate the way he looks. And it made it hard for me to cause, like, to me, Julia Roberts looks so hot in this movie. She looks. Her outfits are fabulous. I just think she looks incredible. And to have her. And I think Aaron Eckhart is like a very attractive man, but the way they styled him, I was just. I was horrified beyond comprehension. And I just was like, that is the one ding I give to this movie.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah. There are a couple of times where you catch a side profile shot of him and it's like, oh, he has his chops glued on. Like they were glued on by the makeup department. And you can totally see the line of separation there. It doesn't look natural. The rounded edges of his fucking chops. His sideburns are insane. Yeah.

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Amy Brown]

Hey, it's Amy Brown from the Bobby Bones Show. Join me in supporting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for a chance to win a trip to meet Megan Maroney at the 2025 I Heart Country Festival in Austin, Texas on May 3rd. Hosted by Bobby Bones. We're going to hook you up with tickets, flights, hotel, food credits, and a meet and greet with Megan Maroney. Take action now to support St. Jude and help cure childhood cancer. And you're going to be entered for a chance to win. Visit iheartcountrytrip.com to learn more.

[Rose Melberg]

Hi, this is Debbie, your blinds.com design consultant. Oh, wow, A real person.

[Millie Decherico]

Yep.

[Rose Melberg]

I'm here to Help you with everything from selecting the perfect window treatments to. Well, I've got a complicated project. No problem. We make the complex simple, and I can even help schedule a professional measure and install.

[Casey O'Brien]

I didn't realize you did that.

[Rose Melberg]

Yeah, we can also send you samples fast and free.

[Debbie]

Wow.

[Rose Melberg]

I mean, I always thought I needed a designer to come to my home.

[Millie Decherico]

But scheduling's always a nightmare.

[Rose Melberg]

Not with blinds dot com. We're on your schedule. And there's no haggling, no pressure, no hidden fees either.

[Debbie]

Hmm.

[Rose Melberg]

I just might have to do more. Oh, okay. Whatever you need. How about you tell me what you had in mind? Okay, then. So the first room we're looking at.

[Millie Decherico]

Is for guests coming.

[Rose Melberg]

Blinds.com has covered over 25 million windows, all backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Shopblinds.com now and save up to 45% site wide rules and restrictions may apply.

[Millie Decherico]

Let's talk about. Yes, let's talk about the man you want to talk about. Steven Soderbergh.

[Casey O'Brien]

I. Let's talk about Steven Soderbergh. When did you first, you know, come to understand. Know of the name Steven Soderbergh? Well, he directed Aaron Brockovich, obviously.

[Millie Decherico]

But I can tell you exactly when it was if you just give me five seconds to look up the. The actual year that this happened. Hold on, please. So, yeah, no, I know exactly when I found out who Steven Silverberg was, because I fucking remember the year. My friend Brett Rakstraw, one of my great friends from my teen and 20s and 30s, and I'm still friends with him, even though we were supposed to go out to lunch the other day, and we both canceled, and now we haven't rebooked, which.

[Casey O'Brien]

Oh, might be the end of the friendship.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah, I don't say that, but I was kind of feeling it. Brett Rickstrah, my buddy, was like, dude, you gotta come over and watch this crazy movie I saw called Schizopolis. And it was in, like, 1996 when he said this to me.

[Casey O'Brien]

Wow.

[Millie Decherico]

Maybe 1997. It might have been, but, you know. But that's when I first figured out who he was. And I was like, this movie is so fucking crazy and weird and fun.

[Casey O'Brien]

I have not seen Schizopolis.

[Millie Decherico]

What?

[Casey O'Brien]

But I have not seen it. I got to. But his breakout movie was Sex, Lies, and Videotape, which came out in 1989. And he won the Palma d'or at the Cannes Film Festival, which is, like, the highest honor a film can really get. Honora also won the Palmeador but, you know, he kind of has. To me, in my mind, he has sort of two separate careers.

[Millie Decherico]

Sure.

[Casey O'Brien]

He has, like, the 90s and early 2000s, when he was like. I wouldn't say like a Hollywood director, but a lot of his movies were nominated for Academy Awards. And he did movies like Ocean's Eleven, Erin Brockovich, out of Sight, Traffic, and, like, Traffic and Aaron Brockovich were both nominated, I believe, for best Picture in the same year. Or he was nominated for best director for both of those movies in the same year. And so he was kind of like, not a Hollywood guy, but maybe a more artsy or mainstream guy working within the Hollywood system. But then I feel like around 2005. Ish. The thing about Steven Soderbergh is that he is a innovative director in terms of how a movie gets made and released. He made a movie in 2005 called Bubble, which I have not seen this movie, but it was one of the first, if not the first movie that was released in theaters and on cable on the exact same day. So it was released for home viewing audiences and the theater on the exact same day, which is pretty revolutionary thinking. And then, you know, the development of better digital cameras and the camera on the iPhone. He's shot several films on an iPhone that are like, excellent films, like the movie Unsane or 2019's High Flying Bird. All those are excellent movies. And he shot them on an iPhone. But like, movies like Magic Mike, he shot himself. He was the camera operator cinematographer. And like, he just doesn't feel like he needs those. He just kind of breaks down film to its barest parts, you know, and, yeah, he's kind of a wild man. Am I missing anything that describes who he is as a person?

[Millie Decherico]

I think he did a great job. So my kind of entry to him was. Cause he was like. When out of Sight came out in 1998, that was. I was in film school and everybody was talking about it. Everybody was talking about out of Sight. Yeah. Everybody was like, oh, my God, it's sexy, it's cool. It's George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez.

[Casey O'Brien]

And what year did that come out? 1998.

[Millie Decherico]

98.

[Casey O'Brien]

8 98. Okay.

[Millie Decherico]

And so I was. So this was like. To me, I had always assumed, and because I think with Sex Lives and videotape and because of Schizopoulos, I kind of saw him as like, indie director. Right. In a weird way.

[Casey O'Brien]

Sure.

[Millie Decherico]

And even though as the. As the 90s wore on and obviously in the 2000s, he became more of a, you know, was doing A lot more commercial stuff. And then by the time, like, Ocean's Eleven came out, I was kind of like, whoa. Like, this guy that I saw as like, a film schooly kind of name is now directing this, like, ensemble cast of extremely famous people. And what do I think about that? But here's the thing about the Ocean's Eleven movies. And I will. I defend the Ocean's Eleven movies. I think they're really entertaining.

[Casey O'Brien]

You don't have to defend them against me. Millie. I love.

[Millie Decherico]

I'm sure. I figured we were gonna be sympatico about the ocean's 11 movies, especially the.

[Casey O'Brien]

First one I adore. But I liked all 11, 12 and 13.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah. Yeah. I thought they were great. And like, you know, theoretically, I was definitely my phase, as we call. We call our phase. Like, what your film school Annoying. Like, yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

You don't like anything mainstream. If it has anything. A whiff of, you know, commercial ness to it, we hate it.

[Millie Decherico]

You're, like, too based for, like, rom coms and you're watching, like, yeah. You know, Salo and Cannibal Apocalypse and.

[Casey O'Brien]

You know, just like, Cannibal Holocaust.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

Difficult film. Art house films are the only movies we watch, you know?

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah. So I. But I. I was in my shithead stage, my shithead phase, and I still was like, yo, these oceans alone movies fucking hit, like, commercial. As they are, as popular as they are, I still love them. Even though they are such. Oh, my God, such time capsules of a look. Right? Because they all kind of look like smash mouth videos and Brad Pitt's outfits. These, like, shiny shark skin, silvery. I mean, vom. They're so early, early 2000s. It's like.

[Casey O'Brien]

Well, you know, that is just. Quick tangent there. That is one of the criticisms of Steven Soderbergh because he is filming his own movies. A lot of his movies have this gold look to them. And the ocean's 11, and you see it in, like, Magic Mike as well. A lot of his movies kind of have that look, which some people think is kind of bad and. But I think it looks cool. Ocean's Eleven definitely is a time capsule.

[Millie Decherico]

Well, and like. Yeah, and then, of course. But he just takes these other, like, incredible swings in these, like, really fun directions. Like behind the Candelabra. I mean, what the.

[Casey O'Brien]

Oh, I forgot about behind the Candelabra.

[Millie Decherico]

I was.

[Casey O'Brien]

He's incredibly prolific.

[Millie Decherico]

I was obsessed with that. When it came out, I was like, what a cool thing to do between, like, Magic Mike and, you know, like, this kind of Stuff like, I like, Magic Mike came out in 2012, and behind the Camel Candelabra came out on HBO in, like, 2013. And I was like, this guy's my favorite dude. Like, this guy's just making all the hits that I like.

[Casey O'Brien]

Totally. So I think I. I think he's a really interesting in the way that he approaches film because he's not very precious, you know? You comparing him to someone like David Fincher, who, like, directed Seven and Fight Club and stuff, who's known for being a meticulous perfectionist. Like, Steven Soderbergh is not a perfectionist. He's like, okay, got it. We're good. Moving on. And they've talked about how, like, with some of his movies, he'll edit while he's filming, and the movie will be edited by the time the movie. Like, the day the movie is done filming. Like, he just knows exactly what he wants and doesn't really worry about all the extra outside noise and just gets down to brass tacks. And he just. He makes movies at an incredible clip. There are probably, like, 10 movies I've, like, never heard of that he's made, you know? So I find him incredibly inspiring. And I think it just goes to show that, like, you can make a really great movie with just an iPhone.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

Really, you can. Steven Soderbergh did it several times over.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah. Hey, and talk about an aura. Sean Baker did that, too, so.

[Casey O'Brien]

He did.

[Millie Decherico]

But I want to. I want to say two things about Steven Soderbergh before we wrap this up. Number one, my favorite thing that he does is actually when he lists out all of the movies, TV shows, and books that he consumes.

[Casey O'Brien]

This made me like him a hundred times more.

[Millie Decherico]

Me, too. Me too.

[Casey O'Brien]

He writes down everything he has watched. Yeah. Television shows and, like, consumed. Like you said, Books. Everything. And we aligned on several TV shows.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

One of which was Below Deck. Have you ever seen that show? A reality TV show?

[Millie Decherico]

I'm gonna be like, what are you, a dumbass? Of course I seen Below Deck. I'm a Bravo. Like a Vanderpump. How could you not see Below Deck if you're in a Vanderpump?

[Casey O'Brien]

Hell, yeah.

[Millie Decherico]

He was in the Vanderpump too, though, right? Didn't.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yes, he was. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He watches it all.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah. Oh, no, I love that.

[Casey O'Brien]

No, he's incredible.

[Millie Decherico]

I feel like more directors and general famous people should do that. Like, I wanna see a rolling list of the shit that you watch and you read. I wanna know that you read. You gotta Tell me if you read. And not just that, but tell me the books that you read. I don't care what they are. Just list everything, make a document, and then publish it. So we know. That's what I want.

[Casey O'Brien]

I think that just shows how intelligent he is and confident he is, because it's like, oh, yeah, this is everything I watch. And it's like multiple seasons of Below Deck this year. And it's like someone who is maybe self conscious about their intelligence or how that came across as an artist, you know, wouldn't put that out for everybody to see. But that's what makes him so great. He's just like, this is. It's. You know, he's not a pretentious guy, but he's still making incredible art every day. So.

[Millie Decherico]

So there's that. And then the second thing I will say about Steven Soderbergh is that I'm. I've been friends with his brother for like, over a decade.

[Casey O'Brien]

Oh.

[Millie Decherico]

Or more.

[Casey O'Brien]

What?

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah. And I don't know. I don't think Charlie's listening. I don't. I don't know. Probably not, but we have never talked about that.

[Casey O'Brien]

Interesting. You never talked about that his brother is Steven?

[Millie Decherico]

Yes. I guess I just don't feel like I. I mean. Okay, let's get serious. He probably knows that I know who he is because I fucking worked at TCM for 20 years. I worked in the film. I do a film podcast. There's an awareness. I wrote a paper about Magic Mike for grad school. He knows that I know podcast about. Yes. He knows that I know his brother, but it just doesn't. I don't know. I think it's me. I think I'm the. I don't want to be that fucker that's like, oh, really? Brother Sin. Because I like my friend. I like my friend.

[Casey O'Brien]

Well, that's the thing. You don't want your friend, under any. Want them to think, under any circumstances, are you just friends with them because of their relation to a movie director? Well, you know, so I can understand why you wouldn't have brought it up before.

[Millie Decherico]

Well, and that's the thing is that, like, I was. I would be friends with him obviously, if this wasn't the case. Like, I met him because he was, like, dating a friend of mine, like, a long, long time ago. So I met him organically here in Atlanta. So it's that thing where I'm like, well, then, yeah, of course. Then there's this other thing that you've got going. Like, what? You know, like, sure, I know about that. But I don't want that to be.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah, you know, that's not a basis for a friendship either. Oh, your brother's cool, but let's hang out.

[Millie Decherico]

But it's kind of like the opposite. Is like, normally when. I mean, maybe I shouldn't generalize, but do you find that, like, if you have a friend who is in the orbit of a famous person in some way, usually that famous person is not. Becomes, like, not cool in some way. Like, I'm like, oh, like, my friend dated whomever. I'm gonna say, like, Albert Finney. And then it's like, all the stories you would hear is like, oh, Albert Finney, like, farts in the grocery store and then walks away out of the aisle. Like, it's always like, a story where somebody, you know is in a vicinity of a famous person, and then the story is like, makes them look like a dumbass or it makes them look like an asshole. This is the first time, one of the only times where I'm like, oh, no, the famous person is actually so awesome and cool and interesting and, like, yeah, you know, it's hard, you know, to not want to talk about him, I suppose, but I don't. So.

[Casey O'Brien]

Interesting. Interesting.

[Millie Decherico]

Well, so anyway, I put it all out there. Now.

[Casey O'Brien]

It's out there, baby. I'm glad you did. That's fascinating. I'm, like, mulling that over. Well, it says here that Steven Soderbergh was born in Atlanta. So another root down. Famous person. Wonderful. Well, I've said all I need to say about Steven Soderbergh.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah, I've said too much. So there we go.

[Casey O'Brien]

You said too much. Once again, we both revealed probably too much by ourselves, but that's okay. Okay. But that's it. That's our. That was our little convo about Erin Brockovich and Steven Soderbergh. Oh, Millie. We're back again with another installment of My Area of Expertise. And, like, we queued up at the top of the show. We've got huge guests. Huge.

[Millie Decherico]

The best.

[Casey O'Brien]

The Softies. The best. Sincerely, I don't want to. I don't want to geek. I've talked to them several times during this process of them doing our theme song. And I don't want to geek out too much, but they are sincerely one of my favorite bands, and I don't think they quite get that.

[Millie Decherico]

And they don't know how many times that I've personally cried to the It's Love album. Yeah, they don't know that.

[Casey O'Brien]

And they don't get it, and I don't want them to get it because I would frighten them, frankly. But we have the amazing. And, you know, outside, these two have, like, amazing music careers outside of the Softies as well. That's, like, what makes them so incredible. But we have the amazing Rose Melberg and Jen Spraggia, the Softies, on to talk about their area of expertise. And here's our little chat with them right now.

[Millie Decherico]

So it is a very, very, very special day here on Dear Movies, I Love youe. We have been waiting for this moment for five episodes. Six. We're very new, by the way.

[Casey O'Brien]

Six episodes. But it feels like we've been waiting years for this.

[Millie Decherico]

Well, I've been waiting actual years. More on that later. Yes, but we. Our guests today are just. This is just such an unreal moment for me because I've been a fan of these gals for so, so, so fucking long. And we asked them many, many moons ago to record the theme for our podcast, and they so graciously said yes, and it came out 20,000 times better than I could have ever expected it. And they're not only so sweet for doing that, but they're just, like, great people, like, kindred spirits. I feel like I've been friends with them for ever and ever and ever. But our guests today are here to talk about a very important area of their expertise, which I am so excited to talk with them. But please welcome our guests. It's the Softies, Rose Belberg and Jan Spraja.

[Debbie]

Hi, y'all.

[Rose Melberg]

Hello.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yay. Oh, my gosh. This is so thrilling. I think, you know, we. I. I've told you guys this before, but when we were coming up with just sort of like, how we wanted this show to be, we were talking about inspiration for kind of the vibe of how we wanted this whole podcast to feel. And I brought up independently. I was like, you know, I want this to feel like the Softies. And I was like, do you know that band Millie? And she was like, I'm looking at you like, I'm gonna kill you. You're a fucking idiot. But this podcast is nearly over because you said that to me. And so. But then it was like. But it was exciting because Millie was like, yes, I absolutely. Like, that's exactly how I want this podcast to feel. And I was like, whoa. And you were like, they've listened to. I saw what you did. And I was like, you think they do the theme song? And it was like, oh, my God, wouldn't that be amazing? And Then it actually happened, and now you guys are on the show. I mean, it's just all incredible. It just feels so kismet.

[Debbie]

It was such a thrill. All of it is such a thrill. We're such fans of. We were such fans of I Saw what yout did and of Millie, just the most awesome gal. And I can't even believe we're doing this. This is a dream for us too. Like, you know, we're Gen X. Solid Gen X. So, like, all there was to do was watch movies when we were young. So our relationship to movies is so kind of sacred and cool and specific. So Millie and Danielle always spoke to that. And here we are on this beautiful brand new podcast. So honored. Thank you so much.

[Millie Decherico]

Oh, my God. Of course. Like, so do y'all do a lot of podcasts as a band? Like, do you go on other people's podcasts a lot or.

[Debbie]

No.

[Millie Decherico]

Just. No.

[Debbie]

We're very expensive. We did a few interviews when the new album came out, but, you know, nothing that's, like, special interest to, like, things that we care about. Which is so cool because I was talking to Jen about doing this, and I was like, we gotta remember this podcast is about movies, not about us. So, like, let's talk about the movies and try not to talk about ourselves too much.

[Millie Decherico]

No, but that's the thing about.

[Casey O'Brien]

It is about. Yeah, yeah.

[Millie Decherico]

Movies are about us. Right?

[Debbie]

So it's true.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah. So you guys kind of brought us two movies, two different movies for your areas of expertise. Can you tell us what those are? I mean, we've alluded to them already, but what are those movies?

[Debbie]

So. So it was kind of cool when we were thinking about what is our area of expertise. Obviously it's these movies for us. We each have one. But it's very similar in when and how we came across them and the effect that they had on us. And these are really like the movies that made us punks.

[Millie Decherico]

Yes.

[Debbie]

These are the movies that caused, like, a really fundamental shift in who we were when we saw these movies. So for me, Rose.

[Casey O'Brien]

That'S good radio etiquette.

[Debbie]

Thank you. Thank you for the eyeless world of the Internet listening. So the movie is Rock and Roll High School.

[Millie Decherico]

Yes.

[Debbie]

Applause, applause. And the lead up to it is that. Okay, so my relationship to punk at that time, I was 12, 13 years old around then, and my mom and her friends kind of dabbled in punk, and so they were also really into new waves. So I was super into new wave. I thought, like, this is my thing. But the thing that gave me a really fucked up perspective on punk was that my mom made us watch the movie Suburbia. Right?

[Millie Decherico]

The original Suburbia, right?

[Debbie]

Yeah. So this would have been like 84. And we went to her friend's house and her friend had rented it. Because back then you'd rent a movie and you'd get all your friends to come over because, you know, it was complicated and expensive to rent movies. And not everybody had a VCR anyway. A bunch of us kids and the adults watched this movie. And I was kind of scarred. I was like, this is what punk is. So I thought that's what all punks were like. I thought they lived in squats, Little kids were getting killed, dogs were getting shot. Like, I was like, this is what punk music is about. No, thanks. I'm a new waiver, so I kind of.

[Casey O'Brien]

It also feels very dirty. I feel like that movie feels like. It's like, being a punk, you have to be disgusting. You have to be okay with, like, cohabitating with rats. Exactly.

[Debbie]

You have to have a rat on your shoulder. I was like, I don't want any part of that. But, like, my mom and my sister had gone to see the Ramones. Like, they were really into it already, but I didn't get it yet. I was very young, and then we were at a babysitter's house in Nevada City, and she rented a VCR, as one does in 1984, and rented a couple of movies. And Rock and Roll High School was one of them. And I. It's hard to even find the words to describe what happened to me that first time that I watched it. It's the first time I felt so into a band. I thought my mind and body were gonna explode. Like, sorry, Rick Springfield, not anymore, dude. I think it was like, this is what punk is to me. It's stupid, it's funny, it's irreverent, it's cool, it's tough. And I got it. I just. It was like something clicked in me, and I was like, this is what I want my life to be. I had a very healthy disdain for authority by this point already. And I was like, yes, I also want to blow up my school. Yes, I also want to set, you know, things on fire. And also, I want music to be my whole life, and I don't care about anything else. And so it spoke to that. But I was so young, you know, I was just freshly 13. So I was like, I don't even know how to make sense of this. And then there was also that what are these crazy feelings I'm feeling about this singer? Like, what's going on? It's like my sexual awakening was like this, you know, seven foot tall, gentle giant. Gentle, freaky punk giant.

[Millie Decherico]

I love it.

[Debbie]

Kind of ugly in the most beautiful way. And like, I. I had never loved Like a Rock Star more than how I fell for Joey Ramon. Just the cool.

[Rose Melberg]

He looks like a poem.

[Debbie]

Yeah. As Riff Randall says, he looks like a poem.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah. I loved it. Like, the Ramones, like, they were presented as like, a band to have a crush on. Like a boy band in Rockwell High School.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Debbie]

Because when she asks, when she's standing in line and she's competing with Angel Dust, their number one groupie, for first in line that she's. Even though they're fighting, angel says, so which one do you like which is such a boy band thing, you know?

[Casey O'Brien]

Yes.

[Debbie]

Everybody has to pick their favorite.

[Casey O'Brien]

And then Joe Millie's going through that right now.

[Debbie]

I know.

[Millie Decherico]

Oh, my gosh. Don't even start. Don't even start.

[Debbie]

Which K pop band?

[Millie Decherico]

The only one I know. Bts. You know, I'm trying to think of who my Joey Ramon is. I suppose it's Suga, Right. He seems like the most punk out of all of them. Really.

[Debbie]

Well, the coolest thing. One of the coolest things about the movie was, well, I related to Riff, the main character, Riff Randall, who's their number one fan, and she's written a song for them. She's a songwriter. She's like, I'm not a groupie. I'm a songwriter.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah.

[Debbie]

And that's what really resonated with me is like, I don't want to be a groupie. I don't want to just be a fan. I want to be a part of it. You know, at that point, it was just starting to really set in how much I really wanted to be in a band and learn to play something. And her taking it kind of seriously, like, I'm not a groupie. And, you know, I had just recently read I'm with the Band. And as a woman who loved music, I was like, ew, is this what I have to do to be a part of it?

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah.

[Debbie]

But that movie just showed me, first of all, anyone can play three chords. And it's just more about the attitude, obviously, like, and because what they had was just their coolness just oozed out of their tiny tight jeans, like, all of it. And that Riff wanted to be so much more. And I was like, I relate to that. I want to be Riff Randall, I want to blow up my school. I want to write songs for the Ramones. I want to, you know, go backstage at the show and talk to them as equals.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

Eat pizza with them.

[Debbie]

Oh, my God. Riff Ramble, Rock and Roller. Oh, my God. And I. I quote this movie probably daily. You know, like, you showed us a.

[Casey O'Brien]

VHS copy prior to recording. Should be in a museum.

[Debbie]

It looks fabulous. Because, Casey, what I didn't tell you is not only is this the copy that my mom bought me in 1985, that's probably been played a thousand times. In 1995, when I was living in Portland, Mary Warrenov, who plays Ms. Togar, Obviously famous Mary Warnoff. And she had just put out her memoir called Swimming Underground. And so I went to her book signing in Portland in 95, and I brought this VHS copy for her to sign. And it signed, if you look.

[Casey O'Brien]

Oh.

[Debbie]

And when I handed it to her, and I was like, hi, I was wondering if you'll sign this. And she said, oh, my favorite movie.

[Millie Decherico]

I love it.

[Casey O'Brien]

God, that's so cool. You met her, too. That's so cool. Yeah. I feel like Rock and Roll High School and, like, Mary Warrenoff, I feel like they do show a different type of punk than, like, you would see in, like, suburbia, you know? And it's like, you don't have to be, like, Nazi skinhead adjacent to be punk, you know, it's like. And it doesn't have to be this, like, violent, horrifying thing. You can still be punk without all of that, you know, there's also the.

[Debbie]

Funny thing because, like, Rock and Roll High School was filmed in, like, 1979. So not all the punks looked like punks. You know, A lot of people just kind of looked like jocks or weird preppies or whatever because the look hadn't quite fully formed. And there's that scene or multiple scenes when people are arriving at the big concert, which is actually cool because director Alan Arkish is the door guy in the movie. I don't know if you know that.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah, yeah.

[Debbie]

So he's the one who's checking everyone's IDs and stuff like that. But there's this beautiful feeling of inclusivity because, you know, like, when the mouse wants to come in, and because there's a scene where Ms. Togar is showing the effects of rock and roll music on mice, and they explode when she turns it up loud. Gross. But then a giant mouse comes to the concert, and Alan Arkish says, sorry, man, we can't let any mice in. They've been exploding, you know, and the mouse takes out a pair of over the ear headphones, like, you know, ear protectors. And he's like, oh, okay, cool. You can come on in. And so I'm like, that's so inclusive. Like, they're letting in the mice. They're letting in the nerds, you know? Riff's best friend, Kate Rambeau. Total nerd. It felt like anyone could come to a Ramones concert. You didn't have to be flea with a rat on your shoulder. You did it. You didn't have to have a mohawk. You could be a dork if you look at that crowd. So dorky.

[Millie Decherico]

Well, that's the thing about the Ramones, that. That's why they're my. My favorite punk band, because they weren't. They were just sort of like, in. They loved, like, I don't know, pop music, and they're. They were like, in. They. They all just had a very simple kind of look, and it wasn't. They didn't project tough. To me, they projected like, the quintessential, like, music nerd, kind of like goofball. Like, it wasn't threatening at all. And I just loved that.

[Casey O'Brien]

Well, I also want to get into Jen's movie. Ladies and gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains. Jen, what's kind of your history with this movie? And did it have sort of a similar influence on you in the way that rock and roll high school did for Rose?

[Rose Melberg]

It really did. I saw it the first time on Night Flight when I was 14.

[Casey O'Brien]

Hell, yeah.

[Rose Melberg]

And night flight.

[Millie Decherico]

Amazing.

[Rose Melberg]

Night flight, night fl. Their show. And it was like three or four hours long. It would start at 8pm and then they'd play the entire thing all over again at midnight. So if you saw something cool, you could see it again later if you stayed up late enough.

[Millie Decherico]

I want to explain. Night Flight, it was kind of like the coolest little showcase for cool, awesome people who loved art and punk and weird movies and stuff. And it used to just come on tv, like, late at night, and it was like. And now, I mean, they're still around. I think the people that created it have revamped it and they have, like, a streaming service and everything. But, like, when you were, like, in the 80s, I was really young, so I, you know, I wasn't, like, obviously a teenager in that, like, I'm a punk teenager kind of way. But it really, like, shaped me like, early on in terms of, like, stuff that you. I would like today. Right?

[Rose Melberg]

Yeah. So, yeah, you could see, like, the Pink Floyd Movie and then there'd be like interviews with other people or like weird, like cartoons thrown in and stuff. Yeah, it was kind of like a zine. Like a weird.

[Millie Decherico]

It was exactly. It was like a zine that's like a visual z.

[Rose Melberg]

Whatever video zine. So. But I, I, I saw it and I, I just, I can't even describe how it just hit me, you know, across the face, like over the head. It was when it, but when it ended and they play that like, video, weird fake video part at the end, I ran into my bedroom and I grabbed my guitar that I had just gotten, that I hadn't really learned how to play yet. And I just jumped up and down on my bed with my guitar and I just, I wanted to do that so bad. I was just so excited.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah, that was like that movie. I wrote about this movie when we did the TCM Underground book. And it was crazy because I was just doing so much research about it and sort of how it was made. And like, the actresses being like actually teenagers, like, they were not like 30 year olds being 15 or 16. They were actually 15 and 16 or younger, which I think is so fascinating. And it was like, you know, actresses that are like, famous, like Laura Dern and, you know, Diane Lane, who are. And they were actually hanging out with like members of the Clash and the Sex Pistols. So it was just like this feeling of, oh, here are these, like, young. Like kind of my dream at their age was to hang out with people in punk bands. Right. You just talked about that Rose hanging out with the Ramones. And here was this movie that was basically that, you know.

[Rose Melberg]

Yeah, they're just trying to get out of their town and, you know, hitch a ride and get out of there and be a band and it's just insane. It's just my favorite movie.

[Millie Decherico]

How in, like, what way do you think, like. Cause, you know, in the movie, basically the, the Fabulous Stains are a group of girls that are from this, I don't know, shitty little industrial town in the northeast. And they hate where they live and it's economically fucked there. And so they just kind of start a punk, man. And they're not perfect, but that's kind of not the point. You know what I mean? And they're just kind of playing music and just like. And you know, it ends up being a lot.

[Debbie]

It sounds familiar.

[Millie Decherico]

I know, I know, I know. But, but it's like. So was it like when you were, when you saw this movie on Nightflight when you were younger, were you like, oh, they can, like, they could just start a band without even being, like, technically good, you know what I mean? Like, was that something that inspired you as a young person who's, like, getting into music or.

[Rose Melberg]

Yeah, it was cool that they. They didn't even have that many rehearsals down. They just, like. She just saw a way to get out, and they just packed up a huge, like, trunk with old clothes. That was their equipment that brought their one bass, their one guitar, and a huge old steamer trunk of vintage sweaters and, like, gone on a bus and left town and then figured it out. And then I loved that. Through the movie, they get tighter. Like, they're. They're scary shows where they don't know what they're doing. That is their practice. And it's just like. That feels like real life to me.

[Debbie]

That's the story of the softies right there. Yeah.

[Rose Melberg]

Because we never. We can never rehearse together. So we just have to sort of rehearse on our own and hope that when we get together it sounds okay on stage. So it's so punk. Because we just don't, like. We've never had the resources to, like, dial it in. Like. Like a band that has, like, you know, money behind them or whatever. It's just.

[Millie Decherico]

Right.

[Debbie]

I was gonna say Jen quotes this movie constantly.

[Rose Melberg]

I can't help it.

[Debbie]

She knows the whole movie by heart. It's so annoying. It's so funny how often we can find an appropriate quote from that movie.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah, I had one of my. This is so embarrassing. I can't even believe I'm about to say this, but one of my early, like, blogs on the end of my early blog blogging days on the Internet, it was so lame. I was, you know, early blogger on the Internet. That is so awful. But it was. It's actually kind of true. The name of my blog was called Nobody in the Shithole Gets Me.

[Debbie]

Oh, my God.

[Rose Melberg]

Oh, my God.

[Millie Decherico]

Because I was just like, it's perfect. Like, nobody in this shit. Because that's like, that line. Still to this day, I use it for things like if I have to, like, fill out a profile for something, I'm like, what's the bio? Nobody in this shithole gets me. Cause that's so true.

[Debbie]

It's so true.

[Millie Decherico]

Right?

[Debbie]

Did you. Did you follow it with. Because we don't put out.

[Millie Decherico]

We don't put out. I mean. Well, that is obviously the last part of it. So I. Yeah, I. I'm so glad that you guys, like, brought this area of Yalls expertise to this because it Is like this very. I feel like it's like, again, this. I don't really know if there's a comp to this right now, but these types of movies were literally, like, everything for Gen X, right? Like, we kind of internalized all these, like, weird music movies, and a lot of times they were like, being made by, like, record company kind of people. Like, I know that's the case with the fabulous dance is like a Lou Adler thing. And, like, I don't know, the fact that they got, like, cool people to work on them. And so, you know, there's like, cool directors, cool bands, cool actors and actresses, and it's just that this thing where you're like, oh, it's just like a music movie from the late 70s, early 80s. And then it just became this flashpoint cultural moment for, like, this entire generation of people.

[Debbie]

And obviously the Staines movie was so proto riot girl. Like, so much of that went on to really carry on.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah.

[Debbie]

I want to do a five second dramatic reading from fabulous Sting.

[Casey O'Brien]

Oh, yes.

[Millie Decherico]

Let's do it.

[Casey O'Brien]

We should incorporate this in the show more often. Millie, dramatic readings. I love this.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah, Come on. Of course.

[Debbie]

You'll know where I'm going, Jen.

[Rose Melberg]

Okay.

[Debbie]

Okay, Here I go. I like your hair.

[Rose Melberg]

Oh, yeah. What else do you like?

[Debbie]

That's it. And scene. Thank you.

[Casey O'Brien]

Oh, fabulous. Wow. Oh, man, that was great.

[Millie Decherico]

Ray Winstone was like, what an accent on point.

[Casey O'Brien]

Oh, my God.

[Debbie]

I know Ray Winstone. Oh, my God. From. You know. Well, my first husband had a real young Ray Winstone vibe.

[Millie Decherico]

Oh, my gosh.

[Debbie]

Like, I understand that character.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

Did you, either of you ever want to do some sort of look like Diane Lane in this movie? Was that ever.

[Rose Melberg]

Yes.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Millie Decherico]

What do you think?

[Rose Melberg]

Well, I've been wanting to have a Halloween costume of that for years, and so I. I'll do it one of these days.

[Debbie]

I cosplayed it for a screening once.

[Casey O'Brien]

Oh, really?

[Debbie]

Send you the photo. It wasn't very good, but I tried.

[Rose Melberg]

I do have a. I do have a tattoo of.

[Debbie]

Jen has a giant tattoo. I have a Corinne Burn.

[Millie Decherico]

Let me see it.

[Debbie]

Yes, she does. Of Corinne Burns.

[Rose Melberg]

I can put a. I'll put a picture in the chat.

[Millie Decherico]

Yes, take a picture of third degree. Put them. Put them in a chat.

[Rose Melberg]

All right.

[Debbie]

It's so good. It's so big.

[Millie Decherico]

Oh, my God. That is amazing. Well, that is definitely your area of expertise. If you got tattoos seriously, that is. You are an expert. I love it.

[Rose Melberg]

Well, the funny thing was, is, like, sure, it's a tattoo. Of Corinne Burns. But then a few years after I got it, I was like, wait, oh, my God, I have a tattoo of Diane Lane on my body. I was just like, what? What did I do? It's so weird.

[Debbie]

Under the Tuscan sun. Come on. No, no.

[Millie Decherico]

Unfair.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yes. Well, thank you both so much for coming on the show to talk about this. This was wonderful and thrilling and I. We should have you guys on again. We'd love to have you on again sometime. This is so great.

[Debbie]

Please.

[Casey O'Brien]

Is there anything you'd like to plug?

[Debbie]

What are we doing?

[Millie Decherico]

Jen, you're in the news a lot, by the way. Not to cut you off, but like, I swear, it's like y'all, when you. Cause you just released like an album pretty recently, and I just kept seeing all of these articles about it and I was like, yes, my room's Reddler.

[Debbie]

We got some flowers. It felt very good.

[Millie Decherico]

Love it.

[Debbie]

But no. Now I want to write a screenplay for the Softies, you know, movie.

[Casey O'Brien]

Ooh.

[Millie Decherico]

Oh, yeah.

[Debbie]

Now I'm inspired to do a music movie about what it's like to be a middle aged woman.

[Millie Decherico]

Oh, my God.

[Debbie]

Can I. Beloved pop band.

[Rose Melberg]

What about our podcast that we were always talking about?

[Debbie]

Daniel, we want to do our own podcast called Softies State of Mind. And we just want people to write in and ask about songs because we have so many songs between, like five records. So we want people to ask about songs and then we just talk about the stories behind the songs. So somebody fund our podcast.

[Millie Decherico]

I got a 401k. I could just cash it out.

[Casey O'Brien]

There you go.

[Debbie]

Hell yeah.

[Millie Decherico]

Very punk sentiment. But there is no future. So why have a 401k? Spend it on your movie and your podcast.

[Casey O'Brien]

I feel like you promised that 401k to invest in multiple projects, so we might want to do some accounting on the numbers on that, Millie.

[Millie Decherico]

Oh, boy. Oh, boy. But yeah, so plug some. Plug away. What's going on? What are you guys working on? What's coming up?

[Debbie]

We're going to play some more shows this year. We've started talking about writing songs again for another record. I personally am the touring guitar player in Bratmobile, so I'll be playing shows with them this summer, which, Millie, I think you need to come out for those shows.

[Millie Decherico]

Oh, my God. Don't even.

[Debbie]

I would love to.

[Millie Decherico]

Please.

[Debbie]

And yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

Oh, my gosh. Well, if everyone should listen to the bed, I made the Softies latest album and listen to every album by the Softies, actually. And yeah, thank you guys so much for being on the Show. This is just.

[Debbie]

We love you both.

[Casey O'Brien]

Thank you so much.

[Debbie]

And congratulations on the new podcast we are having. It's just been such a thrill to listen and to hear it take shape and get to hear you every week again. And it's just. We're so honored to be a part of it.

[Rose Melberg]

So honored.

[Casey O'Brien]

Oh, those wonderful softies. God, they're great. I just. It was so fun. You know, one of the things when we had them, when they agreed to do the theme song to the show, they were like, well, you have to have us as guests. And that was really exciting for them to say that to us. And now they were guests on the show and it was really fun to talk about two movies that I think you. You and I both really love, too. So that was fun.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah, I think we were totally fine with that clause in the contract that said they had to be a guest.

[Casey O'Brien]

I was like, exactly.

[Millie Decherico]

Our lawyer is not going to take that out at all. Yeah, yeah. They're the best, and I'm so glad. And they're family. That's. Like I said, they're family.

[Casey O'Brien]

You know, it's like we're like the Torettos in the Fast and Furious. We're all about family and they're part of the family.

[Millie Decherico]

Don't you dare invoke my fucking favorite film franchise and make me feel like I'm part of it in some way. My heart just skipped a beat is all I'm saying.

[Casey O'Brien]

Well, we're moving on here to our film advice section, where people, you know, write in with if they've got a film gripe that needs to be resolved, if they need recommendations, if they need. If they're having a movie problem in their life, we're here to solve it for you. And we've got a great one here. I think this is an interesting question that's being posed here, so, Millie, please take it away.

[Millie Decherico]

Okay. This is from Jackie, and the title of it is called Film Gripe. Hello, Millie and Casey. I would consider myself to be a Wes Anderson mega fan. I have the Criterion Collection cartoon of Max Fisher smoking a cigarette on a go kart tattooed on my body. That's how serious my love is. The Fantastic Mr. Fox was my go to movie when I was 23 and stoned. I got into his movies in my early 20s, and they deeply, deeply affected me. In hindsight, I think it was probably the very sincere combat combination of intellectualism, ennui, family dysfunction, and symmetry that just hit me, a high school English teacher, in such a way that I felt like his movies helped me to unlock some understanding of the world I've held onto ever since. So here's my gripe. Is it just me or do his recent movies suck? I was so excited to see the French Dispatch and then I watched it and felt bored. Condescended to still, I was incredibly excited when Asteroid City came out. Same reaction. Does Wes Anderson need to be stopped? His most recent long form theatrical releases are so completely without heart and soul, so focused on the form of filmmaking, so obsessed with Andersonian details and set design, and so concerned with metanarrative and philosophical deconstruction that he has totally lost sight of what actually makes his movies great. Lonely people finding their imperfect counterparts in the world. Am I alone in this? I'd love to know your thoughts. Should I give his more recent movies another try, or does this fall in line with the Terminator, Terminator 2 equation and there just isn't a way to go back or forward? I know this is overly wordy, but again, English teacher here. Thanks for reading, Jackie.

[Casey O'Brien]

Wow. Thank you, Jackie, for writing in. Well, a very well written email.

[Millie Decherico]

High fellowship, definitely. Nathan Constitution wrote that.

[Casey O'Brien]

Incredible. This is so interesting because I think I had a similar relationship with Wes Anderson that you have, Jackie, but I'm a little bit older and therefore wiser, so I was obsessed with Rushmore when it came out. Royal Tenenbaums, the Life Aquatic. Oh my God, I was obsessed with all those movies. They hit me emotionally so hard. And then his next couple movies started coming out and Even the fantastic Mr. Fox, I was kind of like, I feel nothing for these movies. The dardajeeling Limited. I was like, oh, I don't feel the same way I did anymore. Why aren't these drumming up the same emotions I had when I first fell in love with Wes Anderson? People still like those movies and think they're good, obviously. And like the Grand Budapest Hotel, when I first saw that, I was kind of like, I'm still not. I don't feel the way I did when Moonrise Kingdom. Same thing. Like, I don't feel the same way I did with Rushmore and the Royal Tenenbaums. But I think what happens is you, like, really fell in love with Wes Anderson's movies and you gave a lot of love to these movies. And I just think after a while, I think you probably would have felt differently if you had seen some of these. Like, if you had seen Asteroid City before any of these other movies, I think you might have had an emotional reaction to them in the same way that you did with the fantastic Mr. Fox. But I just think sometimes that happens when you fall in love with a director and then they don't quite deliver or it feels a little different. I had a similar thing happen to me with Paul Thomas Anderson. When There Will Be Blood came out. I was like, this isn't the same vibe as punch drunk love. I don't like this, you know? So I do think it's a very normal part of your relationship with a director. And I think over time, you will start to love those later works. You just might not have the capacity to love that many movies all at once. Did what I just said. It makes sense, Millie.

[Millie Decherico]

It does. It does make sense. I think it's a good way to counsel Jackie on this very topic. I feel like I have a bitchy. I have a bitchy reason.

[Casey O'Brien]

Okay, go.

[Millie Decherico]

I think it's that he becomes less Texas boy over time and becomes more like, European, artsy fartsy guy.

[Casey O'Brien]

He lost the roots. Yeah, the root. He doesn't have his roots down like Julia Roberts does.

[Millie Decherico]

When he used to wear the clear glasses and he had the, like, spiky hair. And then he grew his hair long and started wearing, like, velveteen suits and shit. I feel like that's the. That's what I'm talking about. Like, there's a difference between him making, like, Texas movies with, like, the damn Wilson brothers and then to what he does now, which is like, more. I don't know, just like they're kind of like pieces of art. Like, they're not like, funny comedy, warm, like, I don't know. And that's whatever. You can move to Paris, I guess. Like, you can. That's fine. You leave your hometown and move to Paris. I'm not begrudging anybody for doing that. Yeah, I don't know why I'm seeing it as maybe an explanation for this, Jackie, but I feel like. I mean, when I was in college, like, I remember when Rushmore came out and the Rushmore bus came into my school, and I actually got on the bus with my stupid radio station college media folks and got to, like, hang out with Wes Anderson. I actually had. There's like a V. Like, what do you call those, like, formats where it was like a camcorder tape. It was tiny. And then he fit it into, like, an adapter, which was a VHS size.

[Casey O'Brien]

A MiniDV.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah, it might have been mini DV, like, very early, like, late 90s digital video, but it was like, I have, like, like an hour and a half worth of footage of Wes Anderson, basically being old Wes Anderson, he had the spiky little hair. He had the nerdy glass. He was. He looked like a nerd. He was wearing the, like, high water pants with the socks and the, you know, creaky new balances. His old style. Right. And I just remember thinking, like, what a cool, fun guy. He kind of like. He, like, for some reason, I think, like, him and Todd Solons, you know, the director Todd Solon, they kind of had, like, the nerdy film guy thing unlocked back then.

[Casey O'Brien]

They did.

[Millie Decherico]

But then again, yeah. I think there was, like a moment where I felt like he style. His own personal style, moved away from that and was becoming more of, like. He started looking like. Like. Like, I don't know, like a caricature of a European art house director or something.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah, totally.

[Millie Decherico]

You know, and I was like, oh, okay. And then that's what I kind of noticed, that the. The films became more stylized, more precious, more world building kind of thing.

[Casey O'Brien]

Angular.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah. So, yeah, I think.

[Casey O'Brien]

But I think this happens sometimes. Like, this kind of happened with me and the Coen brothers too, where I was like, oh, my God, I love Raising Arizona. I love Fargo. And then, like, they keep coming out with movies, and you're like, I don't love these as much. I don't have. And because you had such a high high with those earlier movies, it's like, it's never quite the same. And even a movie that I think is, like a masterpiece now, but when, like, no country for Old Men came out, I was like, this ain't no Fargo. This ain't no Miller's Crossing. You know, it's just. That's just like. It's. Sometimes you want that same high, you know, But I don't know, that's. I'm projecting a lot onto you, Jackie. But that was sort of my similar journey I had with Wes Anderson. And then I let it go. I was like, I can't. I'm gonna hate his movies now. And then once I was let that go, I was able to go back and appreciate them more. I feel like after I'd broken up with him emotionally, I have to say.

[Millie Decherico]

That your observation that his movies are about lonely people finding their imperfect counterparts in the world made my heart flutter. It was so. That's like, such a great way to describe it. And it just instantly made me nostalgic for his older things. Like, you just encapsulated what is missing in your mind, and I just am like, yeah, I miss that too. And I don't know, but you know, this is art and artists in a nutshell is that it's just if they do work long enough, they evolve. And maybe it's not a direction that you're comfortable with, but it's necessary for them in a certain way. I mean.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah. And it might take longer for you to appreciate their new stuff just because you were so invested in the old stuff. I've been there. I've been there.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

To quote Ben Stiller and Heavyweights, I know each and every one of you because I was you.

[Millie Decherico]

True words have never been spoken. Jackie, what an incredible email.

[Casey O'Brien]

Great question.

[Millie Decherico]

I love it.

[Casey O'Brien]

Great question. Great email. Loved it. And if anybody else wants to write in asking, you know, for help, film advice. Dear Movies, at Exactly Right Media, you can send us an email or a voicemail. Just record it on your phone and make sure it's under a minute and that you're in a quiet place. And you can just email that Voice Memo to DearMoviesExactlyRightMedia.com all right, moving on to employees picks. This is our film recommendation section.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

Nelly, what do you got?

[Millie Decherico]

So my employee pick for this episode, because we've just talked about Steven Soderbergh as a director, I'm actually gonna pick Che, his movie.

[Casey O'Brien]

Oh, I actually haven't seen these.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah, his. It's like a double. It's like a part one and a part two. What do you call those? What do you call those types of movies?

[Casey O'Brien]

Part one and a part two. Yeah. A two parter.

[Millie Decherico]

A two parter. A 2 parter. So, yeah, I mean, basically it's his movie that he made about Che Guevara. There's a part one and part two. I think each part is like over two hours long. I enjoyed it. I haven't seen it a while, but I. When it came out, I, I really loved it. And I gotta admit, a lot of it is because I think that Benicio Del Toro is one of the hottest men to ever walk the earth. So there was.

[Casey O'Brien]

Would you call him a craggy, craggy hotel?

[Millie Decherico]

He's a bit cracky hot, but he's like in his own stratosphere.

[Casey O'Brien]

Like, I, I see he's a planet.

[Millie Decherico]

I think he's so goddamn hot, like, and have for years. Shay's a great film. Two parts, like I said. So you have to track him down or else you're not gonna know the story if you don't watch the second part. So it's about like four and a half hours worth of viewing, but it's historical. You'll enjoy it. And Steven Soderbergh's a great filmmaker, as we said. So there you go. My pick.

[Casey O'Brien]

I'm interested. A movie that is kind of not similar to Aaron Brockovich, but feels sort of related. It's kind of about a whistleblower and a company. Is 2009's the Informant. Have you seen this movie?

[Millie Decherico]

No, it's been on my list forever.

[Casey O'Brien]

It's incredible.

[Millie Decherico]

Yeah.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah, it's incredible. I think it might be Matt Damon's best role. Yeah, it came out in 2009. It's very funny. It's about the US government decides to go after an agro business giant in Iowa because they've been doing price fixing and they get evidence. Submitted by vice president turned informant Mark Whitaker, played by Matt Damon. And. And he is a delulu, bizarre man. And he sort of starts to think of himself as like a James Bond type character, but he's like such a nimrod. But he's also incredibly intelligent because he's like. I think he has his doctorate in agricultural sciences or something like that. And it's just such a fascinating character and it's based on a real story. And he does things to, like, get information that are so silly, and he makes decisions that are so crazy. And it's really. It's so funny and delightful. I think I've seen it like three or four times. It's just so much fun. And, yeah, I highly. Right. It's got a lot of, like, comedians in it too, like Pat Oswald and Tom Papa and Melanie Lynskey plays his wife. And I don't know, it's just. It's a great time.

[Millie Decherico]

That's amazing. I'm gonna watch it.

[Casey O'Brien]

Of course you should. It's really, really fun. It's a good, like, Midwestern Iowa movie too. But yeah, that is my pick.

[Millie Decherico]

Very good.

[Casey O'Brien]

Okay, we're at the end of the episode. Can you believe it?

[Millie Decherico]

I can't believe it.

[Casey O'Brien]

Actually.

[Millie Decherico]

I feel like I could do this for another 73 days.

[Casey O'Brien]

Well, I've given all I can. I'm completely out of energy and I can't. I don't want to record anymore.

[Millie Decherico]

Okay, so fair enough.

[Casey O'Brien]

Well, like I already said about sending in film advice, do so at dear [e-mail] email or voicemail.

[Millie Decherico]

Also, follow us on our social media accounts. We are at dearmovies. I love you on Instagram, by the way. We've been doing Instagram lives lately. Yes, we want to do more. I think that the public has spoken and they want us to appear more to make fun of us on Instagram Live. So we'll do it. We'll do it for you.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah, well, in the last one I kind of tried out some director fits. Cause I was kind of trying to get my director look down. I tried on a beret with some more feminine sunglasses and I was ridiculed, I would say. But it was about 50. 50, I would say supported. Ridiculed. So you should definitely check out our Instagram Live. I think you can still watch that live on our Instagram. But yeah, we want to do that more. Cause that was fun and that was fun connecting with everybody and yeah, we'll definitely. But follow us and you'll be able to see that in the future.

[Millie Decherico]

We'll announce it also. We'll announce it better because we just, we did a very soft launch. So like we'll tell you when we're doing a live. At least the week off.

[Casey O'Brien]

Yeah. So but yeah, we'll do a bit, we'll do more of an announcement ahead of time so people can, you know, clear their calendars, get a babysitter, that sort of thing to watch our Instagram lives. If you want to follow us on letterboxd, our handles are Casey Lee O'Brien and Mdechico. Gotta follow us on there. We're, we're good follows I would say, if you want to know what we're watching, how we feel about things.

[Millie Decherico]

That's right.

[Casey O'Brien]

Mostly movies, but yeah, that's it. Millie, thank you for recording another great episode of this fine podcast with me.

[Millie Decherico]

Thanks and yeah, appreciate everybody tuning in. Thank you to the Softies. Thank you to Casey O'Brien.

[Casey O'Brien]

Oh my God. Thank you Softies for joining us today. It's just amazing.

[Millie Decherico]

We'll see you next time.

[Casey O'Brien]

Bye bye.

[Millie Decherico]

This has been an exactly right production hosted by me, Millie de Cherico and produced by my co host, Casey O'Brien.

[Casey O'Brien]

This episode was mixed by Tom Breifocel. Our associate producer is Christina Chamberlain. Our guest booker is Patrick Cotner and our artwork is by Vanessa Lilac.

[Millie Decherico]

Our incredible theme music is by the best band in the entire world, the Softies.

[Casey O'Brien]

Thank you to our executive producers, Karen Kilgariff, Georgia Hardstark, Daniel Kramer and Millie Detroit Jericho.

[Millie Decherico]

We love you.

[Casey O'Brien]

Goodbye.

[Ryan Seacrest]

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