Dear Movies, I Love You – Episode Summary: "The Academy Awards and Millie & Casey’s Favorite Movies of 2024"
Release Date: February 25, 2025
Hosts: Millie De Chirico & Casey O'Brien
Network: iHeartPodcasts via Exactly Right podcast network
Instagram: @dearmoviesiloveyou
1. Episode Introduction [02:07 - 04:20]
Millie and Casey kick off the episode with enthusiasm, outlining the main topics:
- Film Diary: Recent movies they've watched.
- Academy Awards Discussion: Insights and interactions with Oscar betting pools.
- Favorite Movies of 2024: Personal favorites that may or may not align with Oscar nominees.
- Millie Awards: An inaugural segment where they create and distribute unique movie awards based on fun categories.
Notable Quote:
Casey: "We are doing a very exciting and timely episode. Today we're talking about, you know, Academy awards stuff."
2. Film Diary [09:06 - 07:43]
a. "The Room Next Door" by Pedro Almodóvar [09:06 - 10:57]
Millie shares her admiration for Pedro Almodóvar's latest film, highlighting its intense narrative and vibrant aesthetics.
Notable Quotes:
Millie: "It's exactly as you said, amazing women, like, amazing, like middle-aged women... incredible colors." [09:22]
b. "Ask Anybody" by Liz Perchell [11:07 - 14:28]
Millie discusses this art project focused on preserving and contextualizing gay adult films from the 60s to early 90s, praising its historical significance and creative presentation.
Notable Quote:
Millie: "It's an amazing piece of film... it's put together in such a fascinating way." [11:07]
c. "Nosferatu" Rewatch [14:28 - 19:01]
Both hosts revisit the classic horror film, sharing polarized opinions. Millie appreciates the emotional depth, while Casey critiques certain character portrayals.
Notable Quotes:
Millie: "I felt based on Letterboxd, of course. And I was like, am I the only person that likes this?" [15:02]
Casey: "I didn't like how shrouded in darkness Nosferatu was." [15:46]
3. Discussion on Bradley Cooper’s New Movie [05:22 - 08:44]
Millie and Casey delve into the intriguing aspects of Bradley Cooper’s upcoming project, "Is This Thing On?", where Cooper takes on multiple roles including director, producer, and B-camera operator. They express curiosity and confusion over his multitasking approach.
Notable Quotes:
Casey: "He's operating more of the less important camera... it's really interesting." [06:56]
Millie: "It just seems bizarre to do it that way." [08:41]
4. Academy Awards Conversation [23:17 - 37:05]
The hosts explore their evolving relationships with the Oscars:
-
Millie’s Perspective: Initially indifferent, Millie’s interest spikes when notable films like "Moonlight" or "Parasite" receive nominations. However, her enthusiasm wanes annually unless exceptional films catch her attention.
Notable Quote:
Millie: "Sometimes you have to consult your most boring movie friends." [72:16] -
Casey’s Perspective: As a cinephile, Casey remains engaged with Oscar nominations, valuing them as indicators of mainstream cinematic excellence, despite occasional disagreements with choices.
Notable Quote:
Casey: "I sincerely still care about what is nominated because that is the most visible representation of what is considered a good movie by the masses." [26:45]
Key Insights:
- Diversity in Nominations: Both hosts express a desire for greater representation, especially Asian films and original storytelling.
- Critique of Biopics: They critique the tendency of the Academy to favor biographical films and performances that mimic real-life personas over original characters.
5. Favorite Movies of 2024 [37:05 - 53:48]
a. Millie’s Top Three Favorite Movies:
-
"The Last Show Girl" by Giacopo Coppola [45:22 - 50:10]
Praised for Pamela Anderson’s authentic performance and Jamie Lee Curtis’s stellar role, Millie lauds the film’s tender exploration of aging entertainers in Las Vegas.Notable Quote:
Millie: "It's very tender... Jamie Lee Curtis is fantastic in this movie." [46:42] -
"Challengers" by Luca Guadagnino [42:40 - 43:28]
Celebrated for its stylish depiction of upper-class tennis culture and its focus on female empowerment. -
"A Better Man" featuring Robbie Williams [64:43 - 65:49]
Recognizes Robbie Williams’s surprising and entertaining role as an animated monkey, highlighting his career reclamation.
b. Casey’s Top Three Favorite Movies:
-
"I Saw the TV Glow" by Jane Shane Brun [50:17 - 53:48]
An emotionally impactful film about obsession with a canceled TV show, praised for its originality and representation of trans issues.Notable Quote:
Casey: "It's really disturbing and unsettling and incredible." [76:53] -
"In a Violent Nature" by Chris Nash [41:14 - 42:06]
A horror film likened to a meditative Jason Voorhees, appreciated for its slow pacing and realistic approach.Notable Quote:
Casey: "It's really slow and meditative and it follows this killer... but it's scary." [41:30] -
"The People's Joker" by Vera Drew [43:44 - 44:17]
A unique parody of the Joker, noted for its comedic approach and trans-inspired storytelling.Notable Quote:
Casey: "It's like a parody of the Joker that WB, I don't think loves, but she's a really interesting filmmaker." [44:15]
6. Millie Awards [53:48 - 64:22]
Introducing their proprietary "Millie Awards," Millie and Casey create whimsical categories to honor films of the year.
Categories & Winners:
-
Best Movie to Take Your Dad To:
Winner: A Complete Unknown
Millie shares a personal anecdote about watching this film with her father, highlighting its historical depth.Quote:
Millie: "A Complete Unknown was the movie that triggered it... that's my award." [55:22] -
Best Movie to Go to After a Breakup:
Winner: Furiosa
Chosen for its empowering protagonist and action-packed narrative.Quote:
Millie: "You need to see the goddess Furiosa just wipe out a bunch of people with her arm gun." [57:03] -
Best Movie to Impress Your Cinephile Crush:
Winner: Love Lies Bleeding
Celebrated as a stylistic gay love story with fantastical elements, perfect for impressing a film enthusiast.Quote:
Millie: "It's a gay love story... really stylistic, like kind of fantastical." [57:58] -
Best Horror Movie:
Winner: Lisa Frankenstein
Millie praises Cole Sprouse’s charming performance as a zombie boyfriend.Quote:
Millie: "He was my shitty little vampire." [59:57] -
Best Sequel of the Year:
Winner: Dune 2
Celebrated for continuing the epic saga with compelling performances and production.Quote:
Millie: "Timothée Chalamet does not take himself too seriously. He's got... he's a fun, charming guy." [60:55] -
Best Hot Person Made Ugly:
Winner: Beetlejuice featuring Michael Keaton
An unconventional choice honoring the transformation of a beloved character.Quote:
Millie: "Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice... didn't see that one coming." [63:30] -
Best Career Reclamation Movie:
Winner: A Better Man featuring Robbie Williams
Recognizes Robbie’s reinvention through an animated and humorous role.Quote:
Millie: "Robbie Williams as the animated monkey of himself... he's great." [65:08] -
Best Glen Powell Movie:
Winner: Twisters [67:06 - 69:47]
Awarded humorously for Glen Powell’s consistent yet limited film roles.Quote:
Millie: "I just popped out because my mom saw twisters and 40x." [69:38]
Notable Interaction:
Casey: "Congratulations, Furiosa, for winning best movie to go after a break." [57:09]
Millie: "I think it's okay to give awards to Demi Moore for just being good at being an actress." [36:03]
7. Advice Section: Oscar Pools [70:28 - 73:42]
Responding to a listener's question about participating in Oscar pools, Millie and Casey offer their strategies:
-
Casey’s Strategy: Emphasizes research and staying informed about industry buzz, focusing on what’s politically likely to win rather than personal preferences.
Notable Quote:
Casey: "You have to think objectively about what movies are most likely to win." [71:16] -
Millie’s Strategy: Suggests consulting uninformed friends to gauge popular opinions, leveraging their lack of bias to obtain candid insights.
Notable Quote:
Millie: "Sometimes you have to consult your most boring movie friends." [72:16]
8. Closing Remarks [75:09 - 80:46]
Millie and Casey wrap up the episode by encouraging listeners to engage via email or voicemail for future advice and recommendations. They also highlight their social media presence and upcoming video content.
Notable Quotes:
Millie: "Watch Incident. That's my recommendation." [73:28]
Casey: "Thank you, Millie, for awarding all these films with the Millie Awards." [80:02]
Highlights & Insights:
- Authentic Engagement: Millie and Casey maintain an authentic and personable rapport, blending humor with insightful film critique.
- Championing Diversity: Both hosts advocate for greater diversity and originality in film nominations, expressing frustration with repetitive biopics.
- Personal Connections: Their discussions often intertwine personal experiences, enhancing the relatability of their recommendations and critiques.
- Creative Segments: The introduction of the "Millie Awards" adds a unique and entertaining layer to the episode, allowing them to showcase their favorite films in a playful manner.
Conclusion:
In this episode of "Dear Movies, I Love You," Millie and Casey provide a comprehensive and engaging exploration of the Academy Awards landscape, intertwined with personal film diaries and unique award segments. Their candid discussions offer listeners both entertainment and thoughtful film perspectives, making the episode a must-listen for cinephiles eager to navigate the intricacies of 2024’s cinematic offerings.