The Goods: A Film Podcast

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009) - Darren Shan-ecdotes

In honor of Circus Month, Dan and Brian revisit the maligned and forgotten teen film, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant. Join as they ponder the long tail of post-Harry Potter and post-Twilight franchise attempts sourced from young adult books, the glorious weirdness of titular freak show, the utter blandness of Darren Shan, the incomprehensible plot, and the film's various other highs and lows. Opinions are mixed, and Dan has some proposed rewrites, but history is made during the Is It Good section.
Music credits:
RetroFuture Clean by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4277-retrofuture-cleanLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The Elephant Man (1980) - Prostheses galore

Circus Month continues with yet another spin on the setting. This time we watch and discuss the David Lynch-helmed The Elephant Man. Join as they discuss the film's biopic trappings, the ethical ramifications of "freak shows," the effective sound design, Lynch's love of dual-sided themes, and, of course, the creepy carnival music.
Music credits:
RetroFuture Clean by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4277-retrofuture-cleanLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The Circus (1928) - Monkeys are funny

For the next act of Circus Month, Dan brings a foundational film: The Circus by Charlie Chaplin. Join as Dan and Brian consider the ethics and entertainment value of live animals on film. They discuss Chaplin's acclaim and backstory, Brian's past depictions of The Tramp, and the episodic nature of slapstick film. But mostly they revel in the monkeys.
Music credits:
RetroFuture Clean by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4277-retrofuture-cleanLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The Greatest Showman (2017) - Hanging with the freaks

Join as Dan and Brian embark on their second-ever theme month. First up is the blockbuster biopic musical of PT Barnum. Brian shares his academic history studying Barnum... and the film's plentiful historical inaccuracy. Dan revels in Hugh Jackman's charm but bemoans the overstuffed screenplay. Do the film's charms outweigh its flaws? Join us at the Big Top and find out. It's Circus Month!
Music credits:
RetroFuture Clean by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4277-retrofuture-cleanLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Paper Towns (2015) - The fault in our eyebrows

Adaptations are tricky. Dan brings one from one of his favorite books, Paper Towns by John Green, and reflects on that author's role in his life. Join as Dan parses the thematic structure of the book and Brian pitches the film structure of "the crowded hour" to depict the quintessential Dan film. Together, they debate the merit of Cara Delevingne as Margo Roth Spiegelman and the improvised banter of the supporting cast. What a treacherous thing to believe that a podcast is more than a podcast.
Music credits:
RetroFuture Clean by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4277-retrofuture-cleanLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T (1953) - I want my organdy snood

Join the hosts of The Goods as they a dive into the dreamlike Seussian curio, The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. Brian expresses his longstanding admiration for film's set and costume design as Dan sings the praises of August Zabladowski. From the wild dungeon ride to the "Do-Mi-Do Duds" to the apocalyptic ending, Dan and Brian find themselves celebrating as often as scratching their chins. So why wasn't it a hit? And, more importantly, Is It Good?
Music credits:
RetroFuture Clean by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4277-retrofuture-cleanLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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/