Explore every episode of the podcast Confessions of a Closet Romantic
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romantic Replay: Grateful for Love | 02 May 2025 | 00:27:23 | |
After losing my sweet senior dog this week, I find myself mired in waves of grief, but in between, also feeling grateful for love: human, animal, loving relationships in all of their forms and however they come into our lives. The love of an animal is a very special experience, and my heart goes out to other pet guardians who may be experiencing anticipatory grief of their own. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Dying for Sex | 18 Apr 2025 | 00:35:07 | |
It's hard to describe how sexy, funny yet heartbreaking this mini series is. Based on real-life best friends Molly and Nikki, who created a podcast about Molly's sexual adventures while in hospice, it's one woman's story of healing, emotional fulfillment and discovering who she is as a romantic and sexual being. It's also a comical, heartfelt, life-affirming look at the deep bonds and love shared between female friends. (CW: explicit descriptions of kink and sex, reference to childhood SA) "I want to feel everything for as long as I can." The full cast and crew of Dying for Sex. "The show taught me so much about what sex could be...” Variety interviews Dying for Sex co-showrunners Kim Rosenstock and Elizabeth Meriwether. "Love isn’t just doing what you think is best for someone, whether or not they want it. It’s learning how they want to be loved and loving them that way." Awesome interview with Dying for Sex co-showrunner Kim Rosenstock. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Spellbound: Practical Magic/The Love Witch | 02 Nov 2024 | 00:32:26 | |
It's the season: bring on the witchy energy. These movies could be called dark romcoms, because they center romantic love in their plots, and they're often funny, but it's a corrupted or disappointing love, with witches as the main characters scrambling to find their power and the right sorcery for success, illegal illicit or otherwise. On the way to making us laugh or cry, these movies explore some fairly serious themes around domestic violence, sexual consent, cultural conditioning, emotional abuse and how the patriarchy often strives to minimize and control women's innate power. You will definitely laugh, too. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| The Romance Spectrum: The Kiss Quotient/The Bride Test/Doc Martin | 08 Apr 2021 | 00:24:29 | |
Human beings exist on a spectrum of diversity and differences, and romances that reflect that are touching my heart lately. The widest range of life experiences represented in stories can only be a good thing. Being seen and accepted, not treated as an exception, is inspiring. It's all part of the flow of life. I call Michael, the hero of The Kiss Quotient, a cinnamon roll in this episode and realized not everyone's familiar with the character labels of Romancelandia. There are so many I still don't know :) A cinnamon roll hero is the sweetest, kindest, most supportive, all around nicest person to a heroine. Here's a great roundup of books featuring cinnamon roll heroes. The Bride Test audiobook. Have I mentioned how much I love it? It's narrated by Emily Woo Zeller. She has won awards. I would follow that voice anywhere. Michael is described as looking like a particular K-drama heartthrob in The Kiss Quotient. If you haven't watched these, they're like a romance/soap opera combo. Netflix has a ton and wow, they're addictive. I used to work in book publishing, so I'm currently gobbling up the K-drama Romance Is a Bonus Book. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Intimate Worlds: You've Got Mail/Love Lettering | 25 Mar 2021 | 00:23:23 | |
Some of my favorite romantic stories create intimate worlds where true, vulnerable, heartfelt things can be said--and done. Sometimes it takes half the story to get there, sometimes it takes most of the story, but it's always worth the wait for that magic moment when characters finally bare their hearts. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Romantic Longing: 500 Days of Summer/La La Land | 11 Mar 2021 | 00:20:41 | |
Unrequited love, "the timing's wrong" coupling, enemies to friends, friends to lovers, and then sometimes back to friends. What are these relationships about? Does chemistry even need a category? Some unforgettable romantic movies pin down that bittersweet, undeniable connection. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Choose Your Own Trope Adventure | 25 Feb 2021 | 00:23:39 | |
Most romance makes me feel warm, optimistic and hopeful. But sometimes hot and kinky is what you need. A touch of BDSM. Sex with an alien. The wild fantasies of some contemporary romances practically catch fire on the page. And sometimes non-fancy hot sex with good communication and a considerate fictional character who appeals to you does the trick. It's risk-free, shame-free pretend in this episode, in any flavor you want. Vanilla? I'm here to support it all. Savor You from the Fusion series by Kristen Proby. This whole series is on fire, especially in audiobook. An Indecent Proposal from the O'Malleys series by Katee Robert. Haven't read the whole series yet, but oh I'm going to get to it. If you like your romances hot and spicy with a bit of kink, Katee Robert is your one-stop shop. Best Man with Benefits, by Samanthe Beck, part of the Wedding Dare series. This series is hot, hot, hot. There wasn't enough space, but I'm in love with the hot hockey hunks with hearts of gold in the Chicago Rebels series by Kate Meader. Unmissable for professional-sports hero trope lovers! If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Love, Sex and Romance - After 40 Edition | 11 Feb 2021 | 00:27:23 | |
I've been having fun reading a ton of contemporary romances featuring buff young things getting it on. But it's time to get real: which means ageless love, with plenty of imperfection, wisdom and fun thrown in. It's romance full of humor, honesty, acceptance and kindness. The sexiest combo I know. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Tardy to the Alpha Party: Fifty Shades/Crazy Rich Asians | 28 Jan 2021 | 00:24:42 | |
It's all about the alpha male today. Because he likes it that way, and dammit, makes me like it too. Plus, nobody ties a sexier Windsor knot than Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| The New Ton: Bridgerton & Sanditon | 14 Jan 2021 | 00:27:45 | |
Who knew that Empire-waist dresses, waistcoats, cravats and women discovering their own power could be so sexy? Well, fans of Regency romance know. It's all about the debs and the Dukes in this episode. These two shows are the place to start your new, fresh, modern costume drama love affair. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| The Comfort of Corny Romance | 31 Dec 2020 | 00:24:00 | |
Nothing wrong with indulging in slightly corny and comforting romantic movies. I talk about a bunch of my favorites in this episode, chock full of cheese (the tasty romantic kind). If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| A Cozy, Humorous Holiday: Little Women/The Family Stone | 17 Dec 2020 | 00:19:21 | |
The March and Stone families give us the cozy, faithful and often funny holiday we all need this year. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Grand Romantic Gestures & the Little Things | 03 Dec 2020 | 00:17:43 | |
This episode is about one of my favorite romantic tropes of all time: the grand--or small but meaningful--romantic gesture. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Quick Take: Challengers | 18 Oct 2024 | 00:17:22 | |
It took me a long time to check out this sport romance, but to say I was knocked over by this inventive, dramatic, erotic story is an understatement. It's about a threesome, a love triangle, sport prodigies, early promise, the pursuit of excellence, the thrill and disappointments of growing up, playing the game of life and love, sex as the game and the game being mostly about sex. How to explain? You just need to experience it. A guide to the films of Luca Guadagnino. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Tale of Woe: the Heartbreak and Happiness of Jane Eyre | 19 Nov 2020 | 00:24:33 | |
In this episode I talk about one of the best filmed versions of the classic novel Jane Eyre: the 2011 romantic movie with Michael Fassbender and Mia Wasikowska. In my humble opinion, ahem. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Chilly, Twisted Love: Rebecca | 05 Nov 2020 | 00:14:01 | |
In this episode, I talk about the classic romantic suspense novel Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and the sexy 2020 Netflix adaptation. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Can't Stop Extra: the Gutsy Rom-Com The Duchess | 30 Oct 2020 | 00:10:29 | |
In this episode, I talk about the hilarious, often crude new Netflix rom-com series The Duchess starring comedian/actress/writer Katherine Ryan. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Come for the Suspense, Stay for the Romance: Death Comes to Pemberley & The Scapegoat | 29 Oct 2020 | 00:21:32 | |
If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Slightly Scary Romance: The Woman in White | 22 Oct 2020 | 00:13:58 | |
In this episode I talk about the visually stunning 2018 miniseries The Woman in White, a creepy romantic mystery perfect for Halloween. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Romantic Rewinds and Binges: Outlander/A Discovery of Witches | 15 Oct 2020 | 00:23:33 | |
In this episode I talk about my latest binges and obsessive romance rewinds, Outlander and A Discovery of Witches, and try to answer the question: am I going nuts? If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Can't Stop Extra: Unrequited Love, Sherlock Style | 09 Oct 2020 | 00:09:14 | |
In this extra episode, I talk about one of my favorite tiny romantic moments in the clever detective drama Sherlock. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| All the Words Romance/Before Sunrise, Before Sunset & Destination Wedding | 01 Oct 2020 | 00:19:15 | |
In this episode, I talk about some of the wordiest rom coms ever, and why I can't get enough of these romances. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Can't Stop Extra: The Last Tycoon/The Matt Bomer Experience | 25 Sep 2020 | 00:09:28 | |
In this extra episode, I continue talking about the actor Matt Bomer, because I can't get enough of his performance in The Last Tycoon. Someone, rescue me… If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| The Grabby Kiss/Becoming Jane | 18 Sep 2020 | 00:17:07 | |
In this episode I talk about some of my favorite visual romantic tropes— like a grab and a kiss and passion in the woods, used so well in the movie Becoming Jane. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Faith in Love: Nobody Wants This | 05 Oct 2024 | 00:23:47 | |
Mismatched family cultures, personal values and beliefs: most romantic couples can relate. The sexy atheist and the hot rabbi at the center of this funny and often deep and touching fish out of water romcom dodge devastating zingers, doubtful friends, meddling families, sarcastic siblings, and a culture that just doesn't want one of them, but their sparkling chemistry and faith in each other always manages to get them through. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Chemical Hearts: Back to Senior Year | 04 Sep 2020 | 00:16:46 | |
I'm revisiting the romantic ups and downs of senior year on this episode with the help of a fantastic new movie called Chemical Hearts. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Goodbye Romance Shame/Mr Malcolm's List | 01 Sep 2020 | 00:10:15 | |
I'm finally saying goodbye to shame about loving romance, and talking about the book Mr. Malcolm's List. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Romcom Parody: They Came Together/Isn't It Romantic | 06 Sep 2024 | 00:33:31 | |
(I'm taking a little break over the next few weeks because my sweetie is coming to visit! See you in October). If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Romantic Replay: Cyrano | 23 Aug 2024 | 00:37:31 | |
I've been feeling a bit under the weather, while also preparing for my sweetie's upcoming visit (a much longer visit this time), and my heart's full of romance and thoughts about when we first fell in love. So it's the perfect time to replay my episode about Cyrano, Joe Wright's lush romantic musical version of the classic Cyrano de Bergerac story. Every gorgeous musical phrase and motif by Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National, and lyric by The National lead singer Matt Berninger and his partner, Carin Besser, embodies the yearning thrill and desperate longing of falling deeply in love with someone. A couple of years on, I still cry when I hear this score and watch Peter Dinklage's face express the pain and exhilaration of romantic love. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| All the Single Ladies: Love and Independence | 09 Aug 2024 | 00:37:29 | |
Being single — whether it's a temporary identity or permanent — is valid life choice, but it doesn't often feel that way in our society. Living a romantic life can mean being part of a couple, and also includes being unpartnered, child free, parenting a pet, and falling in love with yourself. Some brave real life artists and fictional characters of the 19th and early 20th century managed to create this type of life, and while you shouldn't need to be a courageous soul to pull it off, these romantic stories and movies about their lives are encouragement to live our lives out loud. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Romance Replay: How to Build a Sex Room | 26 Jul 2024 | 00:18:29 | |
The 4th anniversary of the show is coming up, and I have learned so much about myself and my desires while making this podcast. I appreciate every listener, and also feel so grateful for the journey I've been on, taking a closer look at some of the best romances in books and on screen. So I'm replaying an episode from my 2nd anniversary that celebrates connection and sexual desires, and creating space for them. Even if it's a tiny corner of your heart, finding room for pleasure and passions is some of the most important interior decorating you'll ever do. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Hot Romcom Mamas: The Idea of You/Mother of the Bride/A Family Affair | 12 Jul 2024 | 00:29:17 | |
I'm child free but Anne Hathaway, Brooke Shields and Nicole Kidman are the hottest of hot mamas in these romcoms, and make motherhood look like living your best life on steroids. It's a difficult enough job without worrying if you qualify for the MILF label like these ladies do, and sure, they're guilty of mothering while sexy and gorgeous. But these actresses of a certain age playing mothers of a certain age taking a chance on hot lovers and age-gap romance also act out the real challenges of showing up for yourself, your desires and those you love, at any age. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Romance Replay: LGBTQ Love | 28 Jun 2024 | 00:22:05 | |
Let's close out Pride Month with a replay of my episode about two amazing LGBTQ screen romances: the romantic drama Supernova, and the gleeful musical about teen love, The Prom. Prepare for snotty crying, then bopping in your chair. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Girl Crush: Bottoms/Booksmart/The Half of It | 14 Jun 2024 | 00:37:04 | |
Hey romance friends! Let's celebrate Pride Month with a trio of smart, funny, quirky movies about queer girl crushes on high school classmates. Classmates to lovers is one of the most popular romantic tropes ever, and these movies have quite the unique take on those beats. The friendships are deep and full of love, the romantic explorations are hot, sexy, and heartfelt and the kisses are swoon-worthy. High school can be an exciting, and scary time for figuring out your desires and identity, but these young women navigate it all like the survivors they are. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Monster Love: The Substance/Your Monster | 04 Apr 2025 | 00:26:08 | |
I'm a true gore-phobe, but I was blown away by these unforgettable movies, and their amazing (and bloody) revenge moments. One is an intense, atmospheric Frankenstein horror story, the other a joyously funny Beauty and the Beast-inspired monster romcom with wit, hot monster sex and plenty of emotion. Different as they are, they're both about women coming into their own and reclaiming their power to scare away the monsters lurking everywhere, just waiting to tell them how imperfectly perfect they are. "While it may feel like a cautionary tale for our times, the horrors at the heart of “The Substance” have been with us for many years, and the issues the movie uncovers are so much more than skin deep." It got mixed reviews, maybe it wasn't perfect, but I absolutely adored Your Monster. I'm going to agree with the reviewer on Rotten Tomatoes who said it's a "wickedly delightful genre mashup." If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| The Romantic Awakening of Don Jon | 31 May 2024 | 00:30:46 | |
A romcom where a main character is addicted to porn? That's just the beginning of this amazing character study, written, directed by and starring Joseph Gordon Levitt. Jon is a difficult man to admire: he's a dishonest womanizer, marinated in heteronormative culture and toxic masculinity. Then two women cross his path and change it —one to his detriment (Scarlett Johansson as Barbara) and one to his betterment (Julianne Moore as Esther). Esther provides the mirror to Jon's behavior, and despite being at least 20 years older than he is, she's sexy, wise, and grounded and manages to wear down his defenses. This is slowburn romance with a gorgeous pay off. Or even if you don’t fancy yourself an “artist” per sé, this is me giving you the go-ahead to jump in anyway. Part of the spirit here has always been not to worry too much, and just give it a try." If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Quick Take: Bridgerton Season 3 | 17 May 2024 | 00:20:36 | |
It's been a couple of years, a hot minute since we spent time with the Bridgerton and Featherington families. If this was real life, every single woman in the Ton would now be a confirmed spinster, but fortunately, in this glittering romantic period costume drama world, we resume the story as the wallflower Penelope Featherington finally gets the romance she has dreamed of. The second part of Season 3 airs on Netflix next month — how in the Regency world will this friends to lovers trope play out? I'm here for it all. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Love and Taylor Swift | 03 May 2024 | 00:33:58 | |
Romance friends! I'm celebrating my 100th episode this week with an indulgent deep dive into the tear-stained emotion, blind love and delicious word play in Taylor Swift songs. My romance friend Mariah, a Swiftie from way back, returns to the show so we can gush together over the passion, the heartbreak, the artistry, the tiny exquisite emotional universe that is every Taylor Swift song (almost 250 released, and counting). If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Serial Romantic: This is Me Now: a Love Story | 19 Apr 2024 | 00:25:33 | |
I'm a J Lo fangirl from way back, and even though the title of her narrative concept film based on the album of the same name seemed ridiculously self-absorbed, I got completely transported by it anyway, because...J Lo. It's not just the story of her second chance romance with the person she never stopped loving, and has reunited with over the age of 50, it's a story about how she learned to love herself in the intervening years. I was also super invested in the making-of documentary, The Greatest Love Story Never Told. But if I'm being honest, that title gave me the ick too — until I discovered that was what Ben Affleck called the emails and letters written to each other as they were falling in love all over again. And just like that, all was forgiven. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Romance Replay: Second Chance Romance | 05 Apr 2024 | 00:30:27 | |
I have the sweetest hangover that I don't want to get over. My first ever visit with my long-distance sweetie was amazing, he's already gone home, and we're already planning our next visit. I'm exhausted, but in the very best way, so I bring you a replay of my second chance romance episode, which I created a little over a year ago after I got on dating apps for the first time in years, hoping for a love like this. And then Twitter brought us together —once upon a time, it was good for something. Never give up, romance friends! If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Long Distance Romance: Going the Distance/What Happens Later | 22 Mar 2024 | 00:29:29 | |
I'm meeting my LDR sweetie for the first time this week, after more than a year of online dating, and excited doesn't begin to cover it. Humans are spread out all over the globe yet hyper connected, so many of us will experience a long distance romance at some point in our lives. LDRs are thrilling and intensely romantic, but can also leave you open to frustration and pain. A decent lingerie collection, unlimited Skype, solid communication skills, generous use of emojis and regular video sex really helps. The characters in these movies love while distant in either geography or the heart, and their screen journeys have all of the intimacy, affection —and miscommunication and heartache —that's part of loving someone across the miles. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Spirituality and Desire: Black Narcissus | 08 Mar 2024 | 00:46:39 | |
I'm a classic film nut, and there's no better example of overblown, dramatic and romantic Hollywood storytelling than the movie Black Narcissus, starring Deborah Kerr. Based on the 1930s Rumer Godden novel, it’s a story that shows how women throughout history have so often buried themselves in service to others as they sublimate their own feelings and desires — or more likely, find those desires shamed, controlled and punished. So let's celebrate Women's History Month by enjoying stories where women conduct even the tiniest rebellions against the oppression of their true selves. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Think Pink: Barbie Part 2 | 23 Feb 2024 | 00:43:12 | |
In this episode, I'm joined by my romance friend Mariah to gush, giggle, get deep and then frothy again about the Barbie movie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, directed by Greta Gerwig. It was the most mega of mega movie hits last year, now Oscar nominated in many categories, and well deserved. It's been a long time since a movie has made me laugh and think this much, and we just can't stop talking about it. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Hotter Than Ever | 09 Feb 2024 | 00:29:50 | |
My favorite shows, books or movies feature women over the age of 40 finding sensuality, romance and connections of whatever type they desire. Unfortunately, society likes to pretend that women — especially older women —don't have desires. There aren't many examples of sexy fearless aging in Hollywood once you get beyond the Book Club and Nancy Meyers movies, shows like And Just Like That and Grace and Frankie, all of which feature the movie industry stable of "acceptable older actresses." That doesn't stop me from constantly searching for any romantic story featuring not-young, but wise, experienced, sexy women. Erin Keating, host of the Hotter Than Ever podcast, spent her career in TV development and has thoughts about all of this. We dish, get deep, and have fun chatting about what sexy and authentic women's lives look like after a certain age, on screen and off. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Boss in Pink: Barbie | 26 Jan 2024 | 00:27:55 | |
I'm one of the last remaining people on planet earth to see this amazing movie, and it still managed to surprise me, even after all the hype. I love Greta Gerwig, I love her courage in telling a story about feminism and patriarchy using Bazooka pink, candy colors and a beloved, if stereotypical, doll. And I love Barbie even more now after learning about her modern diversity and variations. For a doll that's survived more than 60 years, transformed amid many cultural changes, and is still selling in the millions each year, she remains an inspiration. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Romance Rewind: Love Over 40 | 21 Mar 2025 | 00:27:23 | |
I'm recovering from a nasty flu that has affected my voice, but hope to be back soon, so let's revisit one of my favorite episodes from the past few years. As you know, one of my favorite topics is finding hot sex, love and romance past the age of 40, 50 or even 60 — my sweetie and I have been living this dream for more than two years now and I can tell you, it's glorious. Never give up on your desires! If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Hanukkah Hijinx: Round and Round | 14 Dec 2023 | 00:30:51 | |
It's a holiday miracle: I've finally watched one of the most perfect Hallmark holiday movies I've ever seen, with stellar writing, directing, editing, and acting. The story is heartfelt, it has relatable stakes, it's romantic and touching and funny: everything a holiday movie should be. Not surprisingly, it's inspired by one of my favorite romcoms of all time, Groundhog Day, the original time-loop romance. I rooted for all of the characters, and the central romance, from the first moments of this movie, and also got very very hungry for latkes with applesauce and jelly donuts. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Darkly Funny Connection: Shiva Baby | 30 Nov 2023 | 00:24:20 | |
There's no way to exactly describe the dark and hilarious debut dramedy Shiva Baby except to say: you giggle at what should be sad, feel heartbroken for what should be exciting, become annoyed with the emotional meddling, and end up a ball of stress and tension — until the twists and turns of this darkly comic plot unwind the whole thing, ending with a painfully hysterical moment and heartwarming queer romance in the making. With an emotional roller coaster loaded with relatives and lovers like these, who needs enemies? By the end of the movie, it only proves that laughter is therapy. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Shipboard Romance | 16 Nov 2023 | 00:44:17 | |
How I love a romance set aboard a luxury cruise ship or ocean liner, especially classic movies set on ships in the early to mid 20th-century, a heyday of ocean travel. The coziness, the leather luggage with a separate toiletries case, the cute staterooms and cabins, the service, people dressing for elegant dinner and dancing, the endless ocean views, and falling asleep rocked by waves...of course, in this dream, I'm on the Cunard Line in a massive luxury suite with full balcony, and my sweetie is right by my side as we sail to some exotic location. Shhhhh — don't wake me up. One Way Passage is a 1932 melodrama starring William Powell as an escaped murderer traveling on a ship from Asia to America to face charges. He persuades the detective supervising him to remove his handcuffs so he can flirt with a beautiful woman he’s met on board, played by Kay Francis, who's in the final stages of a fatal illness. She doesn't know about him and he doesn't know about her as they fall in love. Sob. Dodsworth is a romantic drama about mid-life and second chances starring Walter Houston as a Midwest auto manufacturer who sells his lucrative company and sails to Europe for the trip he’s always wanted. Except he’s traveling with his self-centered, shallow wife, brilliantly played by Ruth Chatterton, and his affection for her is fading fast. When she begins having an affair on board right under his nose, he surprises himself by falling in love with a grounded, compassionate, free-spirited American woman also traveling on the ship, played by Mary Astor. Maybe you have to be a certain age, but I absolutely love the satisfying happy ever after in this movie. It was made in 1936 but still feels fresh today. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||
| Gothic Romance: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde/Mary Reilly | 02 Nov 2023 | 00:24:02 | |
It's Halloween week, and time to confess that I'm strangely attracted to Gothic horror stories and creepy "romance," especially the many interpretations of the fascinating classic 19th century novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Each filmmaker and writer present different themes in their Jekyll and Hyde adaptations, from gender and sexual politics, personal ethics and morality, to abusive patriarchal structures and class and power inequities. The original story featured only men, but that hasn't stopped many modern adaptations of the story from featuring women as a romantic plot point and catalyst for Mr. Hyde's deeply disturbing and scary nuances. If you enjoyed this episode, please click share in your podcast app and tell your friends! Thanks for listening! | |||