The Goods: A Film Podcast

The Iron Giant (1999) - Brad Bird-thday vibe

It's an extra special episode of The Goods as Dan and Brian celebrate Dan's birthday with an in-person private screening and episode recording. Join as they revisit the 1999 animated classic, The Iron Giant, directed and co-written by Brad Bird. Dan discusses his long-thriving fascination (borderline obsession) with animation, and Brian notes the film's connections to Bird's later works. They discuss the film's and WB Animation's sad commercial fate, the cold war aesthetics, and the film's director's cut/Signature Edition.
Music credits:
RetroFuture Clean by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4277-retrofuture-cleanLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Tokyo Drifter (1966) feat. Will - Japanecdotes

Dan's brother Will phones in from Japan to discuss the outrageous B-movie Tokyo Drifter. Dan, Brian, and Will discuss the film's off-kilter storytelling and low-budget roots, breaking down both the stylistic chutzpah and thematic underbelly of the cult-hit Yakuza flick. Will revels in the film's "bombastic" visuals and dark humor, while Brian and Dan draw comparisons to some previous Goods selections. The three play a round of "Does It Make Sense?" (as a spinoff to our signature "Is It Good?"). Lastly, the group discusses the director's follow-up, Branded to Kill, and Will shares a couple of stories from life in Japan.
Music credits:
RetroFuture Clean by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4277-retrofuture-cleanLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Tourist Trap (1998) - Sliding scale of Stork villainy

Nothing spells summer fun quite like a road trip, and Brian has brought a Wonderful World of Disney TV movie on the topic that left an indelible impression on him as a youngster. Join as he recounts his journey to rediscover this movie while Dan shares his love of star Daniel Stern. Dan and Brian rank names for doofy toolbag characters and call into question some of the movie's scattershot storytelling. When all is said and done, does Tourist Trap live up to the legend it held in Brian's childhood memory?
Music credits:
RetroFuture Clean by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4277-retrofuture-cleanLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

American Graffiti (1973) - Kiss a duck, marble head

Summer is in the air, so Dan and Brian revisit the influential teen comedy American Graffiti, written and directed by a pre-Star Wars George Lucas. Join as they revel in the rock 'n' roll soundtrack, the wacky '60s slang, Terry the Toad's McLovin parallels, and a climactic drag race. Dan shares his own breakup drama, while Brian waxes nostalgic on Laverne and Shirley.
Does this blast from the past hit that coming-of-age sweet spot for Dan? Is Brian able to overcome his dislike of hangout movies? And is there any sense to be made for the film's bananas sequel? Meet us on Paradise Road and find out.
Music credits:
RetroFuture Clean by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4277-retrofuture-cleanLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

My Octopus Teacher (2020) - Manic pixie dream cephalopod

Netflix dominated the Oscars this year, so Dan and Brian sat down to review one of the streamer's winners: My Octopus Teacher, the winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Join as they celebrate the glorious footage and break down Craig Foster's mid-life crisis. Brian gives his definition of "dad music," and Dan shares a relevant Werner Herzog insight.
Music credits:
RetroFuture Clean by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4277-retrofuture-cleanLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

It Happened One Night (1934) - The love bus

Oscar season came late in 2021, but Dan and Brian are using the occasion to revisit a classic Best Picture winner. Join as they consider the bus-bound romantic comedy that swept the Academy Awards 87 years ago. Brian hypothesizes a Bugs Bunny origin story, Dan suggests some heavy duty script revisions, and they both brainstorm better titles considering the movie takes place over many nights.
Music credits:
RetroFuture Clean by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4277-retrofuture-cleanLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Now You See Me 1 & 2 (2013/2016) - Now we've seen them

Elaborate illusions! Fake identities! Bad CGI! It's what magic is all about. Join as Dan and Brian review the 2013 magician heist thriller and its more comedic 2016 sequel, which has 100% more Lizzy Caplan quips (always a good thing in Dan's eyes). Brian shares his 8-year brewing curiosity with these movies as he and Dan try to pull a rabbit out of an ever-growing pile of twists and misdirection. Join as they admire the remarkably deep cast, list similarities to The Prestige, and pigeonhole Dave Franco in their favorite roles.
Music credits:
RetroFuture Clean by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4277-retrofuture-cleanLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995) - You ooze, you lose

Dan and Brian dive deep into nostalgia for one of their first pop culture loves: Power Rangers. Join as they fondly remember must-see daycare TV, profess formative young love for the Pink Ranger, and realize that Tommy is kind of a jerk. Then, they review the franchise's 1995 feature film and enjoy the campy Ivan Ooze fun but reckon with some dire CGI. Will rose-colored nostalgia win out, or should this film stay buried for 6000 years?
Music credits:
RetroFuture Clean by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4277-retrofuture-cleanLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/