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Comfort Films Podcast

185 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago - ★★★★★ - 5 ratings

In this bi-weekly podcast John and Georgia Macey talk about the mac and cheese of movies - comfort films. From feel-good classics to quirky choices that stretch the definition of comfort, they're the movies we keep watching over and over.

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Episodes

Comfort Films 110: Beetlejuice (1988)

March 25, 2024 03:14 - 1 hour - 159 MB

It's showtime! The second film in our celebration of cinematic sandworms is Tim Burton's 1988 horror comedy Beetlejuice. John and Georgia hit the dunes of Saturn by way of East Corinth, Vermont, to dig up the ghost with the most. We talk about Michael Keaton's career-defining performance as the titular unhinged bioexorcist, the stellar on-camera practical effects and Oscar-winning makeup, the comedic talents of the all-star cast (including the incomparable Catherine O'Hara, whose Delia Deetz...

Comfort Films 109: Tremors (1990)

March 10, 2024 02:43 - 1 hour - 170 MB

To begin Sandworm Appreciation Month (in honor of the release of Dune Part Two), John and Georgia burrow deep into the desert earth of Perfection, Nevada to explore the 1990 cult classic Tremors, starring Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, and the graboids. Tremors plays like Jaws set in the desert (the original title of the film was actually Land Sharks!), and we relish in the fact that the film is comprised solely of practical effects. We're talking matte paintings, miniatures, hand puppets, mechanic...

Comfort Films 108: Sense and Sensibility (1995)

February 23, 2024 09:00 - 2 hours - 335 MB

For the second episode of our Jane Austen adaptations month, we welcome first-time guest and world class soprano Jessica Sandidge to discuss her top comfort pick, Sense and Sensibility! This film was Emma Thompson's first feature screenplay writing credit, and it sparkles with Jane Austen's signature wit and wisdom. It was also Ang Lee's first studio directing credit, and his detailed, rich visual style is evident in every frame. Jessica draws on her deep knowledge of music to discuss Patric...

Comfort Films 107: Emma (2020)

February 12, 2024 02:49 - 1 hour - 229 MB

It's February, and love, as always, is in the air this month. So we're celebrating movie love with a duo of Jane Austen adaptations! First up is the Autumn de Wilde feature film directorial debut Emma. De Wilde perfectly marries Eleanor Catton's excellent screenplay adaptation of Austen's novel with her own exceptionally rich visual style to create a film that is both perfectly period and surprisingly modern. From the collaborative use of color in the production design and costume, to the ma...

Comfort Films 106: Crimson Peak (2015)

January 28, 2024 21:57 - 1 hour - 213 MB

In this second pick for our Gothic Romance month, we discuss the stylish and evocative Guillermo Del Toro film Crimson Peak. This movie is Del Toro's homage to the great literature and film in the genre, including Hitchcock's Rebecca, Jane Eyre, The Mysteries of Udolpho, The Monk, and the work of Mario Bava. Del Toro also brings in some of his own obsessions like insects and ghosts to put his distinctive stamp on the genre, honoring its tropes in some ways and subverting them in others to br...

Comfort Films 105: Rebecca (1940)

January 14, 2024 04:28 - 1 hour - 260 MB

Welcome to season 3! We're kicking off this season with a couple of episodes on our favorite films from the Gothic Romance genre, and who better to start us off than the master of the macabre, Alfred Hitchcock? Rebecca, starring Joan Fontaine and Sir Laurence Olivier, was Hitchcock's first film made in the US and his only Best Picture winner. The film also earned an Oscar for cinematographer George Barnes, whose talents with light, shadow, and camera movement created the moody atmosphere th...

Comfort Films 104: How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)

December 25, 2023 09:35 - 39 minutes - 90.5 MB

For our closing episode of season 2, we are revisiting our annual tradition of talking about a much-beloved holiday special from our youth. This year, it's Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, the classic cartoon that was a holiday staple in both our homes. We discuss the partnership between Looney Tunes animation great Chuck Jones and Ted Geisel, AKA Dr. Seuss, translating the fantastical and imaginative world of Seuss into the medium of moving images, the story behind the now-classi...

Comfort Films 103: Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

December 16, 2023 01:21 - 55 minutes - 127 MB

Happy Holidays from Comfort Films! We're starting off the holiday season with two unparalleled classics that originated in 1946, Miracle on 34th Street and John's mom, Eileen Macey, who is joining us for her second appearance and our second Mom for the Holidays episode. It's a first-time watch for John and Eileen, as they join veteran Miracle on 34th Street viewer Georgia to discuss how unbelievably modern and surprisingly feminist this film is, the amazing performances--including Edmund Gwe...

Comfort Films 102: Interview with Writer/Director/Composer John Harrison

December 08, 2023 19:59 - 54 minutes - 125 MB

In this special episode, John and Georgia spoke with writer, director, producer, composer, actor and all-around fine, upstanding Pennsylvanian, John Harrison. We discuss his 2023 novel, Passing Through Veils, which combines elements of gothic horror and modern thriller for an atmospheric, eerie, and suspenseful Shirley Jackson-meets-Alfred Hitchcock read. Mr. Harrison also shares insights and stories from his film and television career, his many experiences with bringing anthology horror to ...

Comfort Films 101: Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

December 02, 2023 07:35 - 1 hour - 66.3 MB

In this last episode of our Robin Williams month, we talk about Mrs. Doubtfire, which just turned 30, and features a highly characteristic Williams performance full of energy, quickfire improvisation, and an excellent mix of humor and heart. We talk about our different reactions to this film as adults (noticing a lot more of the dirty jokes and sympathizing more with Miranda than Daniel), strong connections to other films about dads faced with new responsibilities, the surprisingly non-villa...

Comfort Films 100: The Birdcage (1996)

November 18, 2023 09:21 - 2 hours - 300 MB

It's our 100th episode!! To celebrate, we welcome back one of our earliest guests, the great Kate Duffy, to discuss a film that has been our number one requested comfort film over the course of the show. We talk about the incredible Nathan Lane and his unforgettable breakout role as Albert/Starina, how the film deals with irony around conservative family values, the restrained hysteria of Robin Williams's Armand and how it relates to male anxiety, the advancements (and sometimes, lack thereo...

Comfort Films 99: Popeye (1980)

November 11, 2023 01:05 - 1 hour - 195 MB

Shiver me timbers and blow me down! Comfort Films Podcast is dropping anchor in Sweethaven to start a month of celebrating Robin Williams films! In this first episode of the series, we're joined by guest Jenn Riedell for a surreal trip down memory lane as we discuss this buried treasure of a musical, directed by Robert Altman and scripted by Jules Feiffer. Featuring Robin Williams in his first lead role in film, Popeye is also a vehicle for a magical soundtrack of songs from 70s pop star Har...

Comfort Films 98: The Amusement Park (1975)

November 03, 2023 16:23 - 1 hour - 178 MB

“The grotesque has never really affected or frightened me. I guess it’s real-life stuff that frightens me much more.”  (George A. Romero)   In this special bonus horror episode, John and Georgia are pleased to welcome Ryan Carr, artist in residence at the George A. Romero Foundation, to discuss The Amusement Park, a recently rediscovered and restored Romero film that takes a unique and terrifying look at the true horrors that await us all as we age and enter our final years.  Ryan is curre...

Comfort Films 97: The Dark Half (1993)

November 01, 2023 07:23 - 1 hour - 209 MB

For the fourth week of our horror film series, we're looking at another collaboration between masters of horror George A. Romero and Stephen King, The Dark Half. This film explores the Jekyll and Hyde story through a seemingly mild-mannered writer and his dark side (Timothy Hutton in a dual role), an unborn twin who takes form to wreak vengeance on those who have tried to silence him. We discuss the excellent screenplay, faithfully adapted by George Romero from Stephen King's novel; Hutton's...

Comfort Films 96: Carrie (1976)

October 24, 2023 07:50 - 1 hour - 248 MB

Was your high school prom an absolute nightmare? Carrie White can relate and then some! For the third week in our horror series, we dive into the film adaptation of Stephen King's spectacularly tragic tale, Carrie - which not only was King's first published novel, but also his first book to be adapted into a film! In this episode, Georgia and John discuss how Brian De Palma and George Lucas shared casting calls for Carrie and Star Wars, the split screen editing and cinematography choices, Pi...

Comfort Films 95: Creepshow (1982)

October 15, 2023 23:18 - 2 hours - 309 MB

What do you get when you mix together the finest in horror comics, short stories, film, and cake? The classic 1982 film Creepshow, written by the master of horror Stephen King and directed by George A. Romero, the brains behind modern-day zombie lore. For our second Halloween month selection, John and Georgia give an in-depth analysis of the six gory tales that comprise Creepshow's anthology and share personal memories of their first viewings of the film as kids. We talk Stephen King the au...

Comfort Films 94: Night of the Living Dead (1968)

October 07, 2023 00:49 - 1 hour - 210 MB

Did you know that a group of self-taught filmmakers from Pennsylvania, whose only training were the commercials they created themselves, are responsible for redefining the horror genre as we know it today? John and Georgia take a bite out of Night of the Living Dead, the classic 1968 George A. Romero film, celebrating its 55th anniversary this week, that formally established the rules for zombies, without even using the word "zombie"! We talk independent filmmaking, the inspirations for Nigh...

Comfort Films 93: The Raid: Redemption (2011)

September 30, 2023 05:25 - 1 hour - 193 MB

In this last episode of our martial arts film month, we welcome guest Frank Bonanno as we shift our focus from Hong Kong to Indonesia with Gareth Evans's bone-crunching film The Raid: Redemption. We discuss the many types of martial arts featured in the film - most notably, pencak silat, an indigenous class of martial arts from Indonesia, the speed, style, and innovation of the cinematography, the mixing of survival horror video game and slasher horror conventions that make this a unique act...

Comfort Films 92: Mr. Nice Guy (1997)

September 22, 2023 23:45 - 1 hour - 266 MB

For the second of our three martial arts episodes, we welcome back the always brilliant Chris Witty (who guested on our Goodfellas episode) to discuss Mr. Nice Guy and all other things Jackie Chan! We talk about Jackie Chan's boundless energy and all-around talent as a martial artist, acrobatic stunt pro, and comedy genius; the influence of silent film stars Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd, comedy greats the Marx Brothers, and dance legend Gene Kelly on the movies of Jackie Chan; Sammo Hung, ...

Comfort Films 91: Enter the Dragon (1973)

September 15, 2023 06:07 - 1 hour - 199 MB

This week we're kicking off a martial arts movie month with the film that's widely recognized as the genre founder, at least where Western audiences are concerned, Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon. We talk about Bruce Lee's ability to extol philosophy through action, his unequaled power and mastery of kung fu, the story's many similarities to the James Bond film structure, the excellent stunt team which included legends Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan, stellar supporting performances from black belts...

Comfort Films 90: Breaking Away (1979)

September 04, 2023 07:35 - 1 hour - 178 MB

For the final week of our Spectator Sports month, we discuss Peter Yates's Breaking Away, which combines a sweet and funny coming-of-age comedy, a class-struggle drama, and a fantastic underdog sports film. We discuss the real-life origins of Steve Tesich's Oscar-winning screenplay, the film debut of character actor Daniel Stern and his niche as the lovable loser, the family chemistry of Barbara Barrie, Paul Dooley, and Dennis Christopher, Dennis Quaid's bitter and heartbreaking former quart...

Comfort Films 89: Happy Gilmore (1996)

August 23, 2023 06:34 - 1 hour - 178 MB

Do you love Bob Barker? Well, then do we have a great episode for you! For the third week of our spectator sports month, we hit the green with everyone's favorite angry hockey player turned golfer, Happy Gilmore. We discuss how this comedy is also a solid sports film with the story structure to prove it, Christopher McDonald's incredible villain Shooter McGavin, Carl Weathers's hilarious yet heartfelt one-handed golf pro Chubbs, Caddyshack parallels and Burt Reynolds connections, our own per...

Comfort Films 89: Happy Gilmore

August 23, 2023 06:34 - 1 hour - 178 MB

Do you love Bob Barker? Well, then do we have a great episode for you! For the third week of our spectator sports month, we hit the green with everyone's favorite angry hockey player turned golfer, Happy Gilmore. We discuss how this comedy is also a solid sports film with the story structure to prove it, Christopher McDonald's incredible villain Shooter McGavin, Carl Weathers's hilarious yet heartfelt one-handed golf pro Chubbs, Caddyshack parallels and Burt Reynolds connections, our own pe...

Comfort Films 88: A League of Their Own (1992)

August 16, 2023 03:02 - 1 hour - 189 MB

Georgia and John take the field to talk about one of their all-time favorite baseball films, Penny Marshall's A League of Their Own. We discuss the documentary on the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) that inspired the film; the fiery sibling rivalry between Geena Davis's Dottie and Lori Petty's Kit; Megan Cavanaugh's screen debut as the unforgettable underdog Marla Hooch; the war's lasting effect on gender roles; Tom Hanks's unique role reversal as the disgusting yet ...

Comfort Films 87: Talladega Nights (2006)

August 10, 2023 03:05 - 1 hour - 203 MB

Get ready to shake and bake with special guests Christina and Mac Hare from World of Horror Podcast as we talk a blue streak about the hilarious and heartfelt 2006 Adam McKay/Will Ferrell comedy, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.  We explore how a film this funny manages to lampoon with love, we praise the many brilliant performances that elevate the movie above simple comedy (with special emphasis on Gary Cole, Jane Lynch, and our universal MVP John C. Reilly), we dive into Cal a...

Comfort Films 86: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966)

August 03, 2023 07:44 - 1 hour - 215 MB

Georgia and John finish out their month of westerns hanging loose from the noose with the iconic Sergio Leone-directed spaghetti western The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, as they tag along with Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach in their ruthless search across the westernmost front of the Civil War for $200,000 in Confederate gold. We discuss all aspects of this landmark film: casting, cinematography, the indelible Ennio Morricone score, Sergio Leone's directing style that combine...

Comfort Films 85: Shane (1953)

July 27, 2023 07:47 - 1 hour - 182 MB

For the third week of our westerns month, we're discussing another early 50s classic, Shane. This movie has it all - family drama, good versus evil (with plenty of gray area to explore), a coming-of-age story, beautiful western scenery, history, and plenty of suspense. We also discuss the unforgettable performances from Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, Van Heflin, and Jack Palance among others, the costume design of Edith Head, George Stevens's great attention to detail, Loyal Griggs's award-winning ...

Comfort Films 84: High Noon (1952)

July 19, 2023 06:29 - 1 hour - 159 MB

In this second film of our Westerns month, we talk about another classic film that both defines and subverts the genre, High Noon, starring Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Lloyd Bridges, Katy Jurado, and the unknown yet soon-to-be staple western bad guy, Lee Van Cleef. We discuss the masterful use of the clock to build suspense, the many excuses (both good and bad) of the townspeople who refuse to help Will Kane, the juxtaposition of Mrs. Ramirez and Amy--the two women in Will's life, the stark an...

Comfort Films 83: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

July 08, 2023 05:57 - 1 hour - 261 MB

This week, Martin from Film vs. Film Podcast joins us as we kick off a month of westerns with the movie that totally changed the genre, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford as the title characters. We talk about the perfectly balanced William Goldman screenplay that is equally hilarious and tragic, the exceptional director-cinematographer team-up of George Roy Hill and Conrad Hall, the iconic pairing of Newman and Redford that makes this film as much a ...

Comfort Films 82: The Karate Kid Part II (1986)

July 01, 2023 01:14 - 1 hour - 186 MB

For our fifth and final episode of the School's Out for Summer series, we're taking a long summer vacation with The Karate Kid Part II. Snatched from the certain doom of a summer in Fresno, Daniel accompanies his mentor Mr. Miyagi to Okinawa, where they face off with a new set of enemies, Sato and his sharply dressed nephew Chozen. We talk about our memories of seeing this film (and reading the novelization) as kids, the surprisingly deep meditations on family and loss, the 50s mania of the ...

Comfort Films 81: Adventureland (2009)

June 25, 2023 05:56 - 1 hour - 208 MB

It's the fourth week of our School's Out for Summer series, and it's time to stop messing around and get a summer job. In this episode, we discuss Adventureland (2009), starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, and the always pitch-perfect Martin Starr as hapless and occasionally hopeless amusement park employees. We talk about our own summer job experiences as unemployable humanities students, writer/director Greg Mottola's excellent script, the film's amazing indie 80s soundtrack, the per...

Comfort Films 80: Tommy Boy

June 19, 2023 03:04 - 1 hour - 221 MB

Holy Schnikes! For the third week in our School’s Out series, we’re celebrating dads and grads as we take to the road with the 1995 Chris Farley/David Spade comedy Tommy Boy, the only movie we can think of where you’re actually rooting for a nepo baby.  Farley’s Tommy is fresh out of college with a D+ in history, and he teams up with Spade’s Richard to launch the Callahan brake pads division and save Tommy’s family business.  We talk favorite SNL alumni, the perfect comedic chemistry between...

Comfort Films 80: Tommy Boy (1995)

June 19, 2023 03:04 - 1 hour - 221 MB

Holy Schnikes! For the third week in our School’s Out series, we’re celebrating dads and grads as we take to the road with the 1995 Chris Farley/David Spade comedy Tommy Boy, the only movie we can think of where you’re actually rooting for a nepo baby.  Farley’s Tommy is fresh out of college with a D+ in history, and he teams up with Spade’s Richard to launch the Callahan brake pads division and save Tommy’s family business.  We talk favorite SNL alumni, the perfect comedic chemistry between...

Comfort Films 79: Wet Hot American Summer (2001)

June 12, 2023 08:03 - 1 hour - 108 MB

In this second week of School's Out for Summer month, we're going to summer camp with our guest Etta Goodridge! Directed by David Wain, written by Wain and Michael Showalter, and featuring many other members of MTV's The State sketch comedy series, Wet Hot American Summer has become a cult classic, with a huge cast of actors that have gone on to become major stars, including Bradley Cooper, Amy Poehler, Paul Rudd, Christopher Meloni, and Elizabeth Banks. We discuss our own experiences with c...

Comfort Films 78: Dazed and Confused (1993)

June 07, 2023 06:42 - 1 hour - 173 MB

School's out for summer! That's our theme for this month, and we're kicking it off with the 1993 cult classic Dazed and Confused, traveling back to the last day of school in a Texas town in 1976. We discuss the film's incredible soundtrack, which gives the story its structure and mood and opened us up to a whole lot of new old music when the film came out. We also talk about the stacked cast of mostly unknowns who have since become household names (especially Matthew McConaughey, whose portr...

Comfort Films 78: Dazed and Confused

June 07, 2023 06:42 - 1 hour - 173 MB

School's out for summer! That's our theme for this month, and we're kicking it off with the 1993 cult classic Dazed and Confused, traveling back to the last day of school in a Texas town in 1976. We discuss the film's incredible soundtrack, which gives the story its structure and mood and opened us up to a whole lot of new old music when the film came out. We also talk about the stacked cast of mostly unknowns who have since become household names (especially Matthew McConaughey, whose port...

Comfort Films 77: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

May 31, 2023 03:02 - 1 hour - 187 MB

For the final week of our ani-MAY-tion month, we spring into the action with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. We discuss the landmark animation, which combines CGI and hand-drawn animation along with color offset, giving the film a totally unique comic book look. We also talk about the enormous comic contributions of Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, and Jack Kirby, the excitement of meeting a Spider-Man (or several) with a completely new backstory, the genre mashup, the always funky and fabulous Nic...

Comfort Films 77: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

May 31, 2023 03:02 - 1 hour - 187 MB

For the final week of our ani-MAY-tion month, we spring into the action with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. We discuss the landmark animation, which combines CGI and hand-drawn animation along with color offset, giving the film a totally unique comic book look. We also talk about the enormous comic contributions of Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, and Jack Kirby, the excitement of meeting a Spider-Man (or several) with a completely new backstory, the genre mashup, the always funky and fabulous Ni...

Comfort Films 76: Fantastic Mr. Fox

May 21, 2023 04:25 - 1 hour - 58.8 MB

For the third week of our aniMAYtion month, we take a look at Wes Anderson's stop-motion adaptation of the Roald Dahl children's book Fantastic Mr. Fox. We discuss Anderson's practical and playful approach to recording dialogue and sound for the film, the script (penned by Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach, at Dahl's home!) which creatively expands on Dahl's original story by framing Mr. Fox as another version of a vulpine Robin Hood, the crafty and creative use of puppets and miniatures in sto...

Comfort Films 76: Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

May 21, 2023 04:25 - 1 hour - 58.8 MB

For the third week of our aniMAYtion month, we take a look at Wes Anderson's stop-motion adaptation of the Roald Dahl children's book Fantastic Mr. Fox. We discuss Anderson's practical and playful approach to recording dialogue and sound for the film, the script (penned by Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach, at Dahl's home!) which creatively expands on Dahl's original story by framing Mr. Fox as another version of a vulpine Robin Hood, the crafty and creative use of puppets and miniatures in sto...

Comfort Films 75: Howl's Moving Castle

May 14, 2023 09:23 - 1 hour - 66.3 MB

For this second week of our AniMAYtion month, we're taking a look at one of our favorites from Studio Ghibli, Howl's Moving Castle (English dubbed). We talk aesthetics, from steampunk fairy tale to Dark Academia to Steve Martin, Howl as superhero, the freedom of living in disguise, the corrupting power of magic, Hayao Miyazaki's boundlessly creative yet realistically cinematic style, Joe Hisaishi's perfect musical score, and themes of greed, vanity, and the uselessness of war. It's a discuss...

Comfort Films 75: Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

May 14, 2023 09:23 - 1 hour - 66.3 MB

For this second week of our AniMAYtion month, we're taking a look at one of our favorites from Studio Ghibli, Howl's Moving Castle (English dubbed). We talk aesthetics, from steampunk fairy tale to Dark Academia to Steve Martin, Howl as superhero, the freedom of living in disguise, the corrupting power of magic, Hayao Miyazaki's boundlessly creative yet realistically cinematic style, Joe Hisaishi's perfect musical score, and themes of greed, vanity, and the uselessness of war. It's a discuss...

Comfort Films 74: Robin Hood (1973)

May 06, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 191 MB

We're back, and for May we'll be tackling ani-MAY-ted movies (and making that joke many times)! In the first episode of this four-part series, we welcome special guest Stewart Boyles, co-host of the unofficial MCU podcast, Welcome to Level 7, who has named 1973 2D hand-drawn Disney classic Robin Hood as his number one comfort pick. We go on a nostalgia trip together, discussing the ways this film shaped our socio-political views, how it's a perfect precursor to the madcap redneck action come...

Comfort Films 74: Robin Hood

May 06, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 191 MB

We're back, and for May we'll be tackling ani-MAY-ted movies (and making that joke many times)! In the first episode of this four-part series, we welcome special guest Stewart Boyles, co-host of the unofficial MCU podcast, Welcome to Level 7, who has named 1973 2D hand-drawn Disney classic Robin Hood as his number one comfort pick. We go on a nostalgia trip together, discussing the ways this film shaped our socio-political views, how it's a perfect precursor to the madcap redneck action come...

Comfort Films 73: The Godfather Part II (1974)

April 01, 2023 06:14 - 1 hour - 109 MB

For the fifth and final episode in our Comfort Crime month, we continue the Corleone family saga with The Godfather Part II, which manages to be both a prequel and a sequel in one.  We talk sibling rivalry, evil clownish buffoon antagonists, Al Pacino's masterful Michael Corleone and his complex game of chess, the tragedy of John Cazale's ignoble yet pathetic Fredo, whether it's possible for a criminal to go legitimate, Lee Strasberg's Hyman Roth and his vicious vengeance, the acceptable cri...

Comfort Films 73: The Godfather Part II

April 01, 2023 06:14 - 1 hour - 109 MB

For the fifth and final episode in our Comfort Crime month, we continue the Corleone family saga with The Godfather Part II, which manages to be both a prequel and a sequel in one.  We talk sibling rivalry, evil clownish buffoon antagonists, Al Pacino's masterful Michael Corleone and his complex game of chess, the tragedy of John Cazale's ignoble yet pathetic Fredo, whether it's possible for a criminal to go legitimate, Lee Strasberg's Hyman Roth and his vicious vengeance, the acceptable cri...

Comfort Films 72: The Godfather

March 24, 2023 21:40 - 1 hour - 107 MB

For the fourth week in our comfort crime series, we go straight to the source with the grandfather of all modern mafia movies, The Godfather. Coincidentally, this is also the 51st anniversary of the release of this landmark film, based on the novel by Mario Puzo and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. We create a new personality test based on the Godfather characters, discuss the anxiety and fear of firing that fueled the production, praise Marlon Brando's acting comeback and the stellar contr...

Comfort Films 72: The Godfather (1972)

March 24, 2023 21:40 - 1 hour - 107 MB

For the fourth week in our comfort crime series, we go straight to the source with the grandfather of all modern mafia movies, The Godfather. Coincidentally, this is also the 51st anniversary of the release of this landmark film, based on the novel by Mario Puzo and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. We create a new personality test based on the Godfather characters, discuss the anxiety and fear of firing that fueled the production, praise Marlon Brando's acting comeback and the stellar contr...

Comfort Films 71: Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

March 19, 2023 07:38 - 1 hour - 175 MB

For the third week in our Comfort Crime Month, we take a trip back to a sweaty August day in 1970s Brooklyn to ride shotgun with Al Pacino and John Cazale on a bank robbery gone very wrong in Sidney Lumet's Oscar-nominated Dog Day Afternoon. We talk about the real-life 1972 robbery that inspired the film, the Gen X/Millennial interest in true crime (a seed probably planted by Unsolved Mysteries), the improvisational rehearsal process that supported and enhanced screenwriter Frank Pierson’s O...

Comfort Films 71: Dog Day Afternoon

March 19, 2023 07:38 - 1 hour - 175 MB

For the third week in our Comfort Crime Month, we take a trip back to a sweaty August day in 1970s Brooklyn to ride shotgun with Al Pacino and John Cazale on a bank robbery gone very wrong in Sidney Lumet's Oscar-nominated Dog Day Afternoon. We talk about the real-life 1972 robbery that inspired the film, the Gen X/Millennial interest in true crime (a seed probably planted by Unsolved Mysteries), the improvisational rehearsal process that supported and enhanced screenwriter Frank Pierson’s O...