As if we’d end this season with anything else but this! It’s a treat of an episode as we all get to experience the 1998 romcom classic You’ve Got Mail. This is Jess’s first watch and Jaleh’s fifty-millionth, so it’s OG Hart Chicks. That means we have all the takes, especially about 90s tech, New York real estate, and peak Steve Zahn. We always want it to be you so badly, dear hearts.

Artwork by jstnmbrwn

References:

Bellafante, Ginia. “‘You’ve Got Mail’ Was the Last Great New York Rom-Com.” The New York Times, December 16, 2023, sec. New York. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/16/nyregion/youve-got-mail-anniversary.html.

You’ve Got Mail. Comedy, Drama, Romance. Warner Bros., 1998.

“You’ve Got Mail.” In Wikipedia, May 17, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=You%27ve_Got_Mail&oldid=1224333886.

“You’ve Got Mail Takes Place in a ‘Little Shop Around the Corner.’” Accessed May 26, 2024. https://offscreen.com/view/youve_got_mail.

The time has come, dear hearts! We’re about to embark on an amazing journey that’s years in the making, but we have to start with the original, 1940’s The Shop Around The Corner. We talk about how Jimmy Stewart continues to be the best, the wildly dark turn of the subplot, and the number of times the word Matuschek is spoken (hint: a ton). Smoke candy and listen to cigarettes with us, whether in Budapest or your favorite Midwest city.

Artwork by jstnmbrwn

References:

“Dark Eyes (Russian Song).” In Wikipedia, May 7, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dark_Eyes_(Russian_song)&oldid=1222737503.

Sanjek, David. “The Shop Around The Corner – Senses of Cinema,” September 21, 2013. https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2009/cteq/shop-around-the-corner/.

The Shop Around the Corner. Comedy, Drama, Romance. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), 1940.

“The Shop Around the Corner.” In Wikipedia, May 15, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Shop_Around_the_Corner&oldid=1223977882.

This week, everything hits different as we travel from Missouri to FLORIDA for the 2024 remake-in-name-only of Road House. Jess can’t seem to shake it off how she feels about Jake Gyllenhaal’s face, but thankfully Jaleh can tolerate it. Plus, we’re not sorry about the Hart of Dixie references we make, and we are in love with Jessica Williams (as should all of you). Stay stay stay, dear hearts, as we deliver the kind of episode you know all too well.

Artwork by jstnmbrwn

References:

Quinn, John. “Road House Explores What It Means to Be a Hyper-Masculine Hardman in the 21st Century,” n.d.

Road House. Action, Thriller. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Silver Pictures, 2024.

“Road House (2024 Film).” In Wikipedia, May 1, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Road_House_(2024_film)&oldid=1221754745.

“The Road House Remake Is Actually a Great Time.” Accessed May 5, 2024. https://jacobin.com/2024/03/road-house-gyllenhaal-film-review.

We are absolutely crazy for Swayze as we leap off the flaming roof and back in time to 1989’s “cult” classic Road House. OG Dear Hearts will know this one lives near and dear to our Bluebellian hearts, and it was an experience from its 80s start to its I-brought-a-bear-to-a-gun-fight finish. To quote our favorite red plaid clad bartender (not bouncer), just watch the damn movie.

Artwork by jsntmbrwn

References: 

Road House. Action, Thriller. Silver Pictures, Star Partners II Ltd., 1989.

“Road House (1989 Film).” In Wikipedia, April 27, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Road_House_(1989_film)&oldid=1221080094.

Sharpe, Lynn. “What Happened To The Cast Of Road House 1989 After The Movie.” ScreenRant, March 26, 2024. https://screenrant.com/what-happened-road-house-1989-cast-actors/.

Hello, People of Dear Hearts! This week, perhaps we’ll find the answer to the question Why Did This Get Made? while discussing 2010’s Let Me In, the American remake of Let The Right One In. We dive into the obvious-ness of it all while creating the phrase trickle-down bullyism and mentioning Richard Jenkins by full name only. There are half the Twilight references, but twice the rants. Eat Virginia with us, dear hearts.

Artwork by jstnmbrwn

References: 

Christensen, Kyle. “Drinking and Disappearing: Vampiric Orality and Age As Challenging the Youthful Male Gaze in Let Me In: Women’s Studies in Communication.” Women’s Studies in Communication 43, no. 2 (May 2020): 202–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/07491409.2020.1737288.

Let Me In. Drama, Fantasy, Horror. Overture Films, Exclusive Media Group, Hammer Films, 2010.

“Let Me In (Film).” In Wikipedia, April 14, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Let_Me_In_(film)&oldid=1218811667#Visual_effects.

“New Queer Horror Film and Television.” Accessed April 11, 2024. https://eds-p-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.umsl.edu/eds/ebookviewer/ebook?sid=6974dce6-402a-411b-879a-fbbff1127708%40redis&vid=0&format=EB.

Troy, Maria Holmgren. “Dealing with the Uncanny? Cultural Adaptation in Matt Reeves’s Vampire Movie Let Me In.” American Studies in Scandinavia 48, no. 1 (March 1, 2016): 25–41. https://doi.org/10.22439/asca.v48i1.5359.

We’re deep in Hoa-Hoa-Hoa season (iykyk), and we couldn’t let it pass without leaping from overpasses into the Swedish vampire film Let The Right One In. We brought our resident horror expert Jamie back for this couplet, so you know it’ll be a great dive into practical effects, the bleakness of the early 80s, and how all vampire movies technically suck. Put your heavier sweater over your light sweater and keep out of the pool, dear hearts.

Artwork by jstnmbrwn

References:

Crofts, Penny, and Honni van Rijswijk. “‘What Kept You So Long?’: Bullying’s Gray Zone and The Vampire’s Transgressive Justice in Let the Right One In.” Law, Culture and the Humanities 11, no. 2 (June 1, 2015): 248–69. https://doi.org/10.1177/1743872111435189.

Låt Den Rätte Komma In. Drama, Fantasy, Horror. EFTI, Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige, Filmpool Nord, 2008.

“Let the Right One In (Film).” In Wikipedia, March 1, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Let_the_Right_One_In_(film)&oldid=1211312720.

Tyree, J. M. “Warm-Blooded: True Blood and Let the Right One In.” Film Quarterly 63, no. 2 (2009): 31–37. https://doi.org/10.1525/fq.2009.63.2.31.

“Vampire Films Around the World – McFarland.” Accessed April 7, 2024. https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/vampire-films-around-the-world/.

It’s LL’s world and we’re just living in it this week as we base jump into 2006’s Last Holiday starring true royalty Queen Latifah. We get into the Americanness of it all, as is our way, and we definitely don’t go off about late stage capitalism or the healthcare system. We also talk about what we would and would not do with three weeks to live. Make a roux with us, dear hearts! Maybe Burt Reynolds wants some gumbo.

Artwork by jstnmbrwn

References:

Ebert, Roger. “Last Holiday Movie Review & Film Summary (2006) | Roger Ebert.” https://www.rogerebert.com/. Accessed March 24, 2024. https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/last-holiday-2006.

Last Holiday. Comedy, Drama, Romance. Last Holiday Productions, Paramount Pictures, ImageMovers, 2006.

“Last Holiday.” Accessed November 3, 2024. https://variety.com/2006/film/reviews/last-holiday-2-1200519436/.

“Last Holiday (2006 Film).” In Wikipedia, March 24, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Last_Holiday_(2006_film)&oldid=1215275445.

Negra, Diane. “Exile, return, and new economy subjectivity in Last Holiday.” In Old and New Media after Katrina, pp. 131-147. New York: Palgrave Macmillan US, 2010.

Parasecoli, Fabio. “A taste of Louisiana: Mainstreaming Blackness through food in the princess and the frog.” Journal of African American Studies 14 (2010): 450-468.

Journey back to the past (or like 30 miles outside of London) with us as we discuss 1950’s Last Holiday, starring a once and future Jedi Knight. This is a morbid one, so you know Jess is excited for all the comas… and then death. We go into why this is the original White Lotus, and we literally can’t stop talking about how they don’t make movies like this anymore. Dip your bread in some milk and hang in the lobby, dear hearts. We strike at 5!

Artwork by jstnmbrwn

References:

“Alec Guinness.” In Wikipedia, March 16, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alec_Guinness&oldid=1214035938.

Last Holiday. Comedy, Drama, Romance. Watergate Films, 1950.

“Last Holiday (1950 Film).” In Wikipedia, March 14, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Last_Holiday_(1950_film)&oldid=1213700378.

Same red, white, and blue Minis, but different country! This week, we’re back in the US to rant and rave about the 2003 very light remake of The Italian Job, a film near and dear to Jaleh’s heart. We get nostalgic about DVD rental shops, Napster, and the summer blockbuster while our heist team heists their way to victory and Edward Norton gorges on delicious scenery. Crack the Worthington 2000 with us, dear hearts, and enjoy the fast and furious ride!

Artwork by jstnmbrwn

References:

Bankston, Douglas. “A Golden Fleecing.” American Cinematographer 84, no. 6 (June 2003): 58–67.

Chiarella, Tom. “JASON STATHAM, FOR YOUR AMUSEMENT. (Cover Story).” Esquire, June 2015.

“F. Gary Gray.” In Wikipedia, February 7, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=F._Gary_Gray&oldid=1204653319.

Kura, Kabiru Maitama. “How Can Leader(s) Contribute to Success? A Case Study of the Italian Job (2003).” Industrial and Organizational Science Journal 1, no. 1 (August 8, 2023): 14–18.

Soukup, Charles. “Techno-Scopophilia: The Semiotics of Technological Pleasure in Film.” Critical Studies in Media Communication 26, no. 1 (March 2005): 19–35.

The Italian Job. Action, Crime, Thriller. Paramount Pictures, De Line Pictures, Mestiere Cinema, 2003.

“The Italian Job (2003 Film).” In Wikipedia, February 18, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Italian_Job_(2003_film)&oldid=1208714985.

Allo, guvnahs! We’re across the pond to drive our Minis through the British cult classic, 1969’s The Italian Job (not to be confused with The Italian Jobby). We talk cinematography, Quincy Jones, the eternal oldness of Michael Caine, and occasionally we use a terrible accent to do so. Hang on a minute, dear hearts. We have a great idea – listen in while we yakkety sax our way to victory.

Artwork by jstnmbrwn

References:

“The Italian Job.” In Wikipedia, September 28, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Italian_Job&oldid=1248296380.

“The Italian Job (1969) – IMDb.” Accessed October 15, 2024. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064505/.