Friend, fellow critic, and science fiction author Andrew Milne returns to The Goods to discuss two movies about travel to the moon -- the Fritz Lang silent film Woman in the Moon and the James Gray epic Ad Astra. Join as they discuss the romantic pull of space travel, German Expressionism as a mirror of Weimar Republic societal values, Fritz Lang's serial-related pacing issues, the tussle between the exotic and the familiar in depicting novel concepts, James Gray's strange career and reputation,...
Jul 01, 2025•2 hr 20 min•Ep. 236
Dan and Brian watch and discuss the 2012 found footage comedy Project X. Join as they review the found footage fad of the 2000s and 2010s, consider the role of smart phones in documenting and sharing teen memories, discuss their own experiences with epic parties, relive a few of the film's funniest moments, admire its ever-escalating scope, and ponder how the aftermath of a party like this. Dan's movie reviews: http://thegoodsreviews.com/ Subscribe, join the Discord, and find us on Letterboxd: h...
Jun 21, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 235
Dan and Brian dig deep while discussing the 1999 documentary about an aspiring independent filmmaker. Join as they talk through the attempted filming of Northwestern and "Coh-ven," and the various idiosyncrasies and relationships in filmmaker Mark Borchardt's life. As they do so, they ponder what it says about their own creative endeavors and "trying to get all this shit done." Dan's movie reviews: http://thegoodsreviews.com/ Subscribe, join the Discord, and find us on Letterboxd: http://thegood...
Jun 11, 2025•1 hr 51 min•Ep. 234
Dan and Brian revisit the early YouTube comedy troupe Derrick Comedy, discuss a few of their sketches, and then review their feature-length film Mystery Team. Join as they discuss the influence of Upright Citizens Brigade in comedy in the 2010s, admire the film's cast deep with future stars, relive some of their favorite jokes, and debate the film's elegaic, introspective qualities. Dan's movie reviews: http://thegoodsreviews.com/ Subscribe, join the Discord, and find us on Letterboxd: http://th...
May 28, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 233
Dan and Brian welcome their old pal Gargus back on the pod to discuss Dr. Who and the fiftieth anniversary of the famed Genesis of the Daleks serial. Join as they talk through the show's premise and long history, then the context of this six-part, feature-length serial. They parse through why Daleks resonated with people, the Nazi imagery and moral grayness, the memorable Davros, the revered "have I the right?" moment, and its ambiguous ending. Dan's movie reviews: http://thegoodsreviews.com/ Su...
May 21, 2025•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 232
To celebrate Easter, Dan and Brian record an epic episode to discuss an epic film: the Cecil B. DeMille Moses behemoth, The Ten Commandments. They also discuss the DreamWorks animation rendition of the same story. Lastly, they dare to watch the dollar-store knockoff, Prince for Egypt. Dan's movie reviews: http://thegoodsreviews.com/ Subscribe, join the Discord, and find us on Letterboxd: http://thegoodsfilmpodcast.com/...
May 09, 2025•2 hr 10 min•Ep. 231
The Goods welcomes back biblical scholar Gavin McDowell as well as Kevin McDowell, Gavin's father, a lawyer and educator. They discuss Inherit the Wind, the film telling a barely-fictionalized version of the 1925 Scopes trial against a teacher who taught evolution in classrooms. Join as they discuss both the historical and current context of the trial, their own religious practices, instances where truth was stranger than fiction, the definition and dangers of fundamentalism, and other notable c...
Apr 28, 2025•1 hr 57 min•Ep. 230
For their fifth April Fool's Day episode, Dan and Brian welcome back Brian's brother Andrew. They discuss first the anti-slasher film April Fool's Day, then dive deep into Dan and Brian's not-quite-a-film selections of the year: Jenga Club VHS recovered from a trash can by Andrew, plus Dan's series of "Incorporated Enterprise" films made with his marching band buddies in high school. Dan's and Brian's films can be found on The Goods Discord: https://discord.com/invite/R88Y8Umw5G As with every Ap...
Apr 18, 2025•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 229
Huzzah! We've reached 200 episodes! Join as Dan and Brian look back on episodes #151-200 of The Goods: A Film Podcast to reflect on where they've come from and where they're headed, analyze a few numbers, and hand out Goodies -- self-declared awards for both podcast content and movies reviewed. List of films covered and eligible is here: https://thegoodsreviews.com/podcast/200th-episode-spectacular-eligible-films/ Dan's movie reviews: http://thegoodsreviews.com/ Join the Discord to see bonus jac...
Apr 11, 2025•1 hr 54 min•Ep. 228
Dan and Brian review two films about clones, including a rare discussion of a film still in theater. Join as they describe Cinemark's D-Box viewing experience, fondly remember Jansen Panettiere, debate clones as a metaphor, break down Space Trump, and bemoan rat tails. Dan's movie reviews: http://thegoodsreviews.com/ Subscribe, join the Discord, and find us on Letterboxd: http://thegoodsfilmpodcast.com/...
Apr 03, 2025•1 hr 50 min•Ep. 227
Dan and Brian bring DAD MONTH to a close with a look at the Depression-set dramedy that won 10-year-old Tatum O'Neal an Oscar. Join as they discuss other movies about fatherhood, closing thoughts on the theme of parenthood, the film's impressive cinematography and stuntwork, busted old cars, and the enduring charm of Ryan and Tatum's chemistry. Dan's movie reviews: http://thegoodsreviews.com/ Subscribe, join the Discord, and find us on Letterboxd: http://thegoodsfilmpodcast.com/...
Mar 24, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 226
Dan and Brian continue DAD MONTH with a the Norman Jewison/John Williams adaptation of Fiddler on the Roof, a story of a Jewish dad in turn-of-the-century Russia marrying off his daughters. Join as they talk through their own relationships with their dads, their "traditions" and how they define the concept, the notion of "dad music," formative film soundtracks, Jewish identity circa the Russian Revolution, eccentric-sounding Jewish names like Lazar Wolf and Motel, dance walking, and parallels be...
Mar 12, 2025•1 hr 59 min•Ep. 225
Now gather round my possum pals for our epic 200th episode! For the third week of Dad Month, Dan and Brian take a look at Dan's formative favorite the 1995 animated film A Goofy Movie. Join as they consider the film's electric soundtrack, its dynamic characterization of a father-son relationship, the charms of road trip movies, the over-stuffed world it creates, and whether the sequel An Extremely Goofy Movie lives up to the original. If you're ever lonely, stop: you don't have to be, because yo...
Mar 05, 2025•2 hr 25 min•Ep. 224
Dan and Brian continue Dad Month with a look at Bill Cosby's much-maligned 1990 family comedy Ghost Dad. Join as they discuss their favorite pop culture dads, Cosby's career and fall from grace, the lost art of the live-action mid-budget family comedy, tonal whiplash, confusing ghost rules, challenges of omnipotence in storytelling, and Sidney Poitier. Dan's movie reviews: http://thegoodsreviews.com/ Subscribe, join the Discord, and find us on Letterboxd: http://thegoodsfilmpodcast.com/...
Feb 20, 2025•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 223
Dan and Brian kick off DAD MONTH -- a new theme month on films centered around the theme of fatherhood. For the first week, they discuss two films whose titles suggest a head-on reckoning of the topic, and both do so through the lens of adult children caring for elderly ailing dads. Join as they discuss their own dads a bit, "dad movies," comic actors turning dramatic, the link between memory and identity, creepy Kevin Spacey, and their favorite Anthony Hopkins performances. Dan's movie reviews:...
Feb 12, 2025•1 hr 54 min•Ep. 222
It's an EPIC birthday episode to celebrate Brian's 35th. Join Dan and Brian as they discuss a whole range of topics -- birthday traditions, Dumpuary, the Oscars, strange pronunciations, mortality, etc. -- as they review three films Brian saw in theaters for his birthday. First they disucss the Tim Burton fatherhood curiosity, Big Fish. Then they look at the book series and ornately-produced film adaptation, A Series of Unfortunate Events. Lastly, they look at the ostentatious Robert Zemeckis moc...
Feb 07, 2025•2 hr 47 min•Ep. 221
Dan and Brian discover a crossover between "Dan-core" and "Brian-core" with the charming animated/live-action hybrid Enchanted anchored by an outstanding Amy Adams. Join as they discuss the fascinating cast, the careful tonal control between parody and homage, the Time Square set piece, the fading art of hand-drawn Disney animation, and the well-realized thematic arc. Then, they discuss the dumped-to-streaming legacy sequel and the bad rap stepmothers get. Dan's movie reviews: http://thegoodsrev...
Feb 03, 2025•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 220
Dan and Brian review the sci-fi comedy from 1999. Join as they discuss Star Trek and their experience with the franchise, gas station VHSes, the long shadow of Buzz Lightyear, a stacked cast of familiar comedians, the underappreciated Sam Rockwell, goofy catchphrases, Spy Kids graphics, subverted Ripley, and the difficult dance of sci-fi comedy. Dan's movie reviews: http://thegoodsreviews.com/ Subscribe, join the Discord, and find us on Letterboxd: http://thegoodsfilmpodcast.com/...
Jan 27, 2025•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 219
Dan and Brian wrap 2024 and kick off 2025 with one last holiday film, a strange romcom directed by Paul Feig starring Emilia Clarke. Join as they discuss Feig and the underappreciated art of high-budget comedy, Freaks and Geeks, Game of Thrones, strange baby names, British humor, Love Actually, and galaxy-brain twists. Dan's movie reviews: http://thegoodsreviews.com/ Subscribe, join the Discord, and find us on Letterboxd: http://thegoodsfilmpodcast.com/...
Jan 24, 2025•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 218
Dan and Brian are joined (again!) by Nate to discuss Alfred Hitchcock and his beloved 1954 film, Rear Window. Join as they talk through Hitchcock's legacy, the astonishing production design and thematic roundness of Rear Window, the double-edged perfection of Grace Kelly, Hitchcock's anti-mystery narrative elements, and our personal favorite Hitchcock films. Dan's movie reviews: http://thegoodsreviews.com/ Subscribe, join the Discord, and find us on Letterboxd: http://thegoodsfilmpodcast.com/...
Jan 16, 2025•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 217
For the fifth (!) year, Dan and Brian gather to discuss four adaptations of A Christmas Carol. This year, they take a look at episodes from four different TV shows that took on the famous ghost story: The Jetsons, The Real Ghostbusters, Xena: Warrior Princess, and Roseanne. Join as Dan and Brian reflect on traditions at risk of going stale, iceberg charts, unexpected subversions, Googie style, animated spinoffs, Xena's lesbian cult following, Christmas warfare, Roseanne's complicated history, Le...
Jan 06, 2025•2 hr 3 min•Ep. 216
Dan and Brian return with a discussion of the Thanksgiving classic Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Join as they talk about the influence and reputation of John Hughes, Letterboxd's list stats, John Candy's large size and shadow, the curious empathy towards Del, quotable lines and funny moments throughout the film, and how the movie might have changed if it had been set in a time with cell phones. Dan's movie reviews: http://thegoodsreviews.com/ Subscribe, join the Discord, and find us on Letter...
Dec 27, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 215
Dan and Brian are back for another vague matter movie following last week's look at The Substance. This time, it's The Stuff, an '80s satire sci-fi film about delicious white goo. Join as they break down the film's peculiar pacing, colorful cast of characters, strangely specific aphorisms, and legacy within both Hunter recommendations and anarchic practical-effects films. Dan's movie reviews: http://thegoodsreviews.com/ Subscribe, join the Discord, and find us on Letterboxd: http://thegoodsfilmp...
Dec 13, 2024•58 min•Ep. 214
Dan and Brian review the absolutely bananas 2024 horror-satire The Substance. Join as they talk through the film's wild swings and memorable scenes, challenging performances, and comparisons to Coralie Fergeat's debut film Revenge. Dan promised a film that would provoke a strong reaction -- find out just how much Brian agrees. Dan's movie reviews: http://thegoodsreviews.com/ Subscribe, join the Discord, and find us on Letterboxd: http://thegoodsfilmpodcast.com/...
Dec 11, 2024•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 213
Dan and Brian consider the panned Tim Burton first contact film Mars Attacks! and debate its tone, CGI, enormous cast, and overall legacy. They also review a classic of the "government scrambles to contain catastrophe" genre, Dr. Strangelove. Join as Brian and Dan discuss old trading cards, legacy Rotten Tomatoes scores, the greatest football players of all time, how to make cheesy effects watchable long-term, Tom Jones, and hot wife casting. Dan's movie reviews: http://thegoodsreviews.com/ Subs...
Dec 04, 2024•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 212
Dan and Brian conclude their discussion of Ti West's horror trilogy starring Mia Goth with the '80s-flavored MaXXXine. Join as they talk through the strange plot turns and excesses of this final outing, encounter yet another Breaking Bad alum, ponder what the trilogy as a whole means, and where the trilogy could go. Then, they answer "Is It Good?" for all three X movies. Episode title comes from the MaXXXine review by Letterboxd user "moviesrtherapy" Check out Part 1 discussing X and Pearl in ou...
Nov 24, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 211
Dan and Brian pick up their spooky season discussion with part one of a look at the Ti West trilogy of horror films starring Mia Goth. First, they look at the '70s-inspired X, then the Technicolor nightmare of Pearl. Join as they discuss their A24 feelings, the long shadow of Texas Chain Saw Massacre, nudity clauses, old people body horror, Mia Goth's unique performances (she's a star!), and the recurring visual and script motifs across the trilogy. Coming soon: part 2, a discussion of MaXXXine ...
Nov 13, 2024•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 210
Dan and Brian continue spooky season with a look at a Ray Bradbury adaptation by Disney that the conglomerate has tried to wipe all evidence of. Join as they discuss Bradbury's book, the diminishing human attention span, Brian's possible future careers, avoiding annoying 11 year olds, and the film's many Goods connections. Dan's movie reviews: http://thegoodsreviews.com/ Subscribe, join the Discord, and find us on Letterboxd: http://thegoodsfilmpodcast.com/...
Oct 28, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 209
Dan and Brian continue spooky season by correcting a mistake from last year when Dan mistook The Craft for The Faculty. They also continue a now-annual tradition of Dan picking a quippy post-Scream film, here with a Kevin Williamson script. Join as they discuss the film's genre stew, the Robert Rodriguez lineage, Halloween's convoluted timeline, and what, if any, themes emerge from the film. Dan's movie reviews: http://thegoodsreviews.com/ Subscribe, join the Discord, and find us on Letterboxd: ...
Oct 21, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 208
To kick off spooky season, Brian invites the cinematographer for his upcoming student film to look at a '50s low-budget classic and a goofy parody of the style. Join as they discuss Brian's unexpected discovery of TFOS, the nature of camp, dubious teenage actors, the line between affectionate and cynical spoofing, and influences that Brian and Lindsey will bring to their upcoming film. Dan's movie reviews: http://thegoodsreviews.com/ Subscribe, join the Discord, and find us on Letterboxd: http:/...
Oct 17, 2024•1 hr 48 min•Ep. 207
