Mixed Bag

We're still Demi-sexual here on Mixed Bag, and this time we look at the film infamous for inadvertently leading to the 2022 Oscars Slap: G. I. Jane.

"In response to political pressure from Senator Lillian DeHaven, the U.S. Navy begins a program that would allow for the eventual integration of women into its combat services. The program begins with a single trial candidate, Lieutenant Jordan O’Neil, who is chosen specifically for her femininity. O’Neil enters the grueling Navy SEAL training program under the command of Master Chief John James Urgayle, who unfairly pushes O’Neil until her determination wins his respect." (Sourced from Letterboxd). We talk about whether this film really goes into the true horrors faced by women in the military, what G. I. even means and why all three of us thought that the final scene of this film was implying a surprise gay twist.

Plus, we talk through some of our recent watches: short discussions of The Sheep Detectives, Caterpillar, Cover Up, Magellan, My Cousin Rachel (2017), Battle of the Sexes (2017), Misericordia (2024), True Grit (2010) and Obsession. Jamie and Matt offer their defence of Peter Hujar's Day, while Cass still thinks it is exquisitely boring. In the TV world, we talk Wie is de Mol?, Survivor and Ready Gamer Mum. And Jamie grants Rita Bullwinkel honorary trans status in admiration of her short story series Belly Up.

We continue the Demi Moore miniseries with a movie that made many viewers question their values, and made Cass question where she could get a cool backpack/vest/saddlebag combo. As Letterboxd says: "John Gage offers a down-on-his-luck yuppie husband $1 million for the opportunity to spend the night with the man’s wife." Would you take the money?

We also talk about the Rise of the Golden Idol video game series, music documentaries Little Richard: I Am Everything, It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley and Luther: Never Too Much, Ball of Fire (1941), Julio Torres' Color Theories, Chris Fleming: Live at the Palace, Kimberly Bellflower's John Proctor is the Villain, Saraid de Silva's Amma, Resident Evil 4 and its upcoming movie adaptation. Plus for some reason Jamie delivers a full beat-by-beat recap of Species (1995).

OOOoooooOOOoooOOH! Is it spooky season!? No, it's just time for the second instalment in our Demi Moore series, Demisexual.

"After a young man is murdered, his spirit stays behind to warn his lover of impending danger, with the help of a reluctant psychic" (Letterboxd). We clearly have a lot to say about Sam Wheat and his otherworldly antics. Apologies for the occasional loud storm sounds -- the night after we recorded this, a massive flood came and ruined several of Jamie & Cass's neighbours' homes. We're fine though!

Over in the Pop Corner, we chat The Pitt, James Whale's Universal Monster movies (specifically The Old Dark House (1932) and the iconic queen Ernest Thesiger), In the Mood for Love (2000), The Cell (2000), The Cranes Are Flying (1957), this year's Snapshot Shorts, The Old Cold Hearts Club, Mr. Nobody Against Putin, and new albums from Robyn, Raye, Hilary Duff and Slater.

It's the first instalment of our latest miniseries: DEMISEXUAL. That's right, we're celebrating the life and career of Ms. Demi Moore, starting right here at her first feature film appearance St Elmo's Fire.

Letterboxd has a very long summary for this one, so we'll just say that it's about seven friends in their post-university era, trying to get their lives and love lives together. Also, most of the men should be in jail!!!!!!!

In the Pop Corner, we chat Green Snake (1993), Project Hail Mary, After the Hunt (2025), Stick It (2006), I Swear (2025), the pro-shot of Merrily We Roll Along, a recent concert from the Mountain Goats, and a prolonged discussion of The Drama. We do get into spoiler territory for The Drama at a certain point, so feel free to skip ahead to 32:19 if you want to go in fresh!

"Oh... they're the IRA." – Matt Loveranes, 2026

It's a Cass pick, which means you know it'll either be animated, a musical, or an obscure period piece (shout out Dean Spanley). Today's film is definitely in the third category and comes straight from Year 11 history class.

"Michael Collins plays a crucial role in the establishment of the Irish Free State in the 1920s, but becomes vilified by those hoping to create a completely independent Irish republic," says Letterboxd. Not a word on the smouldering sexual tension between Michael and his bestie Harry Boland? Say it ain't so!

Over in the Pop Corner, we chat Oscars, the book Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson, Two People Exchanging Saliva, the game Book of Hours, Song Sung Blue, Arrival (2016), Woodenhead (2003), Pillion and the graphic novels Witch's Egg (Donya Todd) and Kill Six Billion Demons (Tom Bloom). We also return to our discussions of The Bride and The Testament of Ann Lee, now that more hosts have seen the films. Also, Cass presents some strong evidence to prove that Christopher Luxon is a huge F1 fan (derogatory, on both sides).