Heart Of Podness

We're back to musicals as we look at Bill Condon's 2006 adaptation of Dreamgirls - the movie that won Jennifer Hudson an Oscar and asked us to believe Beyoncé was a bad singer.  Join in as we discuss the cultural imprint of American Idol, the film's use of non-diagetic music, the Master Cleanse, and Jamie Foxx's game show Beat Shazam.  Plus: Why did David Geffen block so many attempts to make this movie? Why is John Lithgow's wig so terrible? Is The Greatest Showman any good? And, most importantly, can Will identify a single iconic girl group song?  Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe!  Next week: I Married a Witch (1942)  NOTE: Our guest had some technical difficulties this week. We've done our best to salvage the audio, but his contributions are a little muffled. We'll be back on track next week.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-love-the-love/message

We return to the work of director Robert Zemeckis this week as we look at the 1984 comedy-adventure-romance, Romancing the Stone!  Join in as we talk about Kathleen Turner's fight for the role of Joan Wilder, the tragically short career of writer Diane Thomas, avoiding the damsel cliché, the film's incredibly weird trailer, and the short-lived reality show Fire Me Please.  Plus: What exactly happened to Joan's brother-in-law? What does it mean to romance a stone? What's going on with Egypt in Wonder Woman 1984? And, most importantly, is Will going to see this as an opportunity for lots of Back to the Future talk?  Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe!  Next week: Dreamgirls (2006) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-love-the-love/message

It's time for another modernized monster as we look at Dracula 2000, a movie that is cool in a way that was only possible between The Matrix and 9/11.  Join in as we discuss Judas Iscariot, bicycle face, leech flicking, and a lot of questions about vampire sex.  Plus: Why was this movie released at Christmas? Is Dracula Untold part of the Dark Universe? Is Dracula trying to adopt Mary or bang her? And, most importantly, why didn't anyone tell us this movie was good?!?  Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe!  Next week: Romancing the Stone (1984) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-love-the-love/message

We've seen a lot of bad teachers in movies, but the predatory and/or neglectful ones in Raja Gosnell's 1999 rom com Never Been Kissed clearly take the cake.  Join in as we discuss our own first kisses, being the new kid, Drew Barrymore's tumultuous 90s, and wearing a skirt as a top.  Plus: Does this movie explain the death of print media? Are there multiple undercover reporters at this school? Why would anyone care about Josie's article? And, most importantly, is this just a worse Ma?  Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe!  Next week: Dracula 2000 (2000) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-love-the-love/message

The release date for this movie's sequel is less predictable than the title character's malicious glee, so we've thrown up our hands and decided to put out an episode on Will Gluck's 2018 adaptation of Peter Rabbit whenever we feel like it.  Join in as we discuss our experience seeing this movie in a theater, the Sony hack, James Corden, and Gluck's 2014 "cool Annie."  Plus: Why is this movie so violent? Is Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway ever going to come out? Where do the rabbits get their clothes? And, most importantly, is Peter trying to bang Rose Byrne?  Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe!  Next week: Never Been Kissed (1999) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-love-the-love/message

We're kicking off the summer movie season like it's 1999 with the first big release of that May - Stephen Sommers's take on The Mummy, starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz.  Join in as we discuss the hottest movie monsters, alternate plans for this movie, Medjai incompetence, and, naturally, Atlantis: The Lost Empire.  Plus: Is the xenomorph sexy? Where was the frog plague? Should we feel bad for Imhotep? And, most importantly, is The Mummy the greatest movie ever made?  Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe!  Next week: Peter Rabbit (2018) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-love-the-love/message

At long last, we're digging into the surprisingly robust teen terminal illness romance genre with a look at 2017's The Space Between Us, about a boy born on Mars who's in love with an Earth girl.  Join in as we discuss standout examples of the genre, bad future computer designs, gravity acting, and the movie's calamitous box office.  Plus: How did Gardner's mom allow herself to become pregnant? What is the Teen Choice Award eligibility window? How did Gardner and Tulsa meet? And is Gary Oldman the protagonist of this movie?  Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe!  Next week: The Mummy (1999) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-love-the-love/message

The Oscars are finally here, which means it's time for Will and Marc's annual evaluation of the romantic believability of this year's Best Picture slate!  Join in as we discuss our love of Minari star Alan Kim, typecasting in The Father, "poor Sara," and a typically disappointing Best Original Song category.  Plus: How many cats are there in Soul? Who is the lead of Judas and the Black Messiah? Would Tenet work best as a ballet? And, most importantly, is this our most believable slate of Best Picture romances ever?  Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe!  Next week: The Space Between Us (2017) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-love-the-love/message

We return to the work of We Love the Love all-star Renee Zellweger for the movie that won her her Oscar: Anthony Minghella's 2003 Civil War romance Cold Mountain, based on the novel by Charles Frazier.  Join in as we discuss a ridiculously star-studded cast, the movie's notorious budget woes, the Battle of the Crater, Ruby Tuesday, and the many lies of Madison Cawthorn.  Plus: What's happening in that sex scene? How did editor Walter Murch revolutionize the film industry with this movie? How has there not been a film adaptation of Operation? And is it possible to make a thoughtful movie with a Confederate hero?  Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe!  Next week: 2021 Oscars Extravaganza!!! ------------------------------------------ Links to Best Picture nominees on streaming platforms: The Father (rental) Judas and the Black Messiah (rental) Mank (Netflix) Minari (rental) Nomadland (Hulu) Promising Young Woman (rental) Sound of Metal (Amazon Prime Video) The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netf

We're tipping our many hats and wishing a "Happy Easter" to everyone we see in 1948's Easter Parade, starring Judy Garland and Fred Astaire.  Join in as we discuss hotel detectives, early celebrity crushes, Astaire's return from retirement, and real-life Easter parades.  Plus: Why are there so few Easter movies? How can Hannah not tell left from right? What's the deal with that waiter? And why do people think it's okay to give animals as pets?  Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe!  Next week: Cold Mountain (2003) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-love-the-love/message

We're jumping back to the (13)70s for Brian Helgelund's 2001 sports comedy, A Knight's Tale!  Join in as we discuss the movie's use of anachronism, pop soundtracks, Medieval Times, and our favorite cinematic farts.  Plus: How did pasta play a key role in this movie? Why did its marketing trigger a class-action lawsuit? Does Rufus Sewell have resting evil face? And is William magically drawn to the letter J?  Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe!  Next week: Easter Parade (1948) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-love-the-love/message

In anticipation of next week's Godzilla vs Kong, Will and Marc are looking back to the source, investigating the romance of the original feature starring the eighth wonder of the world.  Join in as they discuss the Legendary MonsterVerse, Fay Wray's iconic scream, Willis O'Brien's groundbreaking special effects, and the film's troubled racial politics.  Plus: How autobiographical is this movie? What happened to the first girl we see sacrificed to Kong? And, most importantly of all, was it really beauty that killed the beast?  Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe!  Next week: A Knight's Tale (2001) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-love-the-love/message

We're tackling a listener suggestion this week as we look at the romance between Dudley Moore and Liza Minelli in Steve Gordon's 1981 comedy hit Arthur!  Join in as we talk about depictions of alcoholism, bad shoplifting outfits, the future of interior design, and John Gielgud's Oscar-winning performance as Hobson.  Plus: Is Liza an EGOT? How many people has Susan's dad killed? Is Contact the ultimate science class movie? And what exactly does happen when you get caught between the moon and New York City?  Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe!  Next week: King Kong (1933) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-love-the-love/message

You should probably listen to this episode on 2x speed just to get a feeling for what it's like to watch Howard Hawks's 1940 screwball romance His Girl Friday, starring Cary Grant and Marc's third cousin, Rosalind Russell!  Join in as we discuss justifications for murder, The Front Page, Kalloch's iconic costume designs, comic sneezes, and the dark age of journalism.  Plus: How does His Girl Friday compare to other screwball comedies? How did Russell fix her underwritten character? Do all newspapers have thieves on payroll? And what's Molly Molloy's deal, anyway?  Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe!  Next week: Arthur (1981) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-love-the-love/message

This week's lovers are made of wax, because we're looking at the love of Shawn Levy's 2006 family comedy Night at the Museum.  Join in as we discuss medieval medicine, confusing language rules, Eragon, and the challenges of adapting Dungeons and Dragons.  Plus: What do mummies really sound like? Why is Owen Wilson uncredited? And, most importantly, is wax Teddy racist? Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe!  Next week: His Girl Friday (1940) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-love-the-love/message

We're headed to Jamaica (and back and forth several times) to look at the wish-fulfillment romance of How Stella Got Her Groove Back.  Join in as we talk about Angela Bassett, age gaps, the female gaze, and the torrid real-life basis for this movie.  Plus: Do Stella and Winston have anything in common? Why was Shrek added to the National Film Registry? Should Victor Garber have played Winston? And, most importantly, was Stella's groove ever missing in the first place?  Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe!  Next week: Night at the Museum (2006) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-love-the-love/message

This week we're looking at the oldest surviving film by a Black director, Oscar Micheaux's 1920 silent feature Within Our Gates - available to stream free on YouTube thanks to the Library of Congress!  Join in as we discuss Micheaux's career, star Evelyn Preer, unusual credits, Scrooge McDuck, and post-World War I immigration law.  Plus: what happened to the movie's original intertitles? How did Thomas Edison accidentally help create Hollywood? How has Larry not been caught cheating at cards sooner? And what exactly is Conrad's job?  Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe!  Next week: How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-love-the-love/message

Everything you need to know about the protagonist of this week's movie can be found in the Academy Award-winning title song - it's Shaft! Join in as we discuss pioneering director Gordon Parks, the debut of Richard Roundtree, and a surprisingly positive portrayal of a gay bartender! Plus: How did casting a Black man as Shaft change the narrative? What do elevator operators do all day? And, most importantly, is it true that no one understands Shaft but his woman? Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe! Next week: Within Our Gates (1920) - available on YouTube courtesy of the Library of Congress!

We're looking at a romantically tumultuous wedding weekend in Malcolm D. Lee's 1999 debut, The Best Man.  Join in as we discuss late 90s fashion, ill-advised autobiography, Terryology, teen disease romances, and TV's handling of Covid-19 (and HBO Max's Locked Down).  Plus: Why is everyone in this movie so hot? Did Lance get married on gameday? Why would Robin accept that proposal? And is marriage really a cure to promiscuity?  Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe!  Next week: Shaft (1971) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-love-the-love/message

This week, Marc and our guest introduce Will to the world of Lifetime original movies with 2020's Pool Boy Nightmare, which is about exactly what it sounds like.  Join in as we talk about our favorite pool scenes, the best (least bad?) performances in the movie, a terrible sound mix, an unreasonable boss, and, obviously the Dark Universe.  Plus: Are brunettes evil? When does a pool boy become a pool man? And, most importantly of all, is Adam even hot?  Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe!  Next week: The Best Man (1999) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/we-love-the-love/message