PDA

View Full Version : Comfort films



Thing Fish
15-11-2011, 04:03
I know peoples top films change a lot but there are the comfort films one always puts on when the pants are down.

Here are mine -

Almost famous - great music. Right in my era. I felt an affinity with the lead character.

Pulp fiction - Just the best. Every time you see different stuff.

With Nail and I - Just good quality cinema.

MartinT
15-11-2011, 07:17
I don't repeat view films very often but it's Casablanca for me. Simply the greatest.

Joe
15-11-2011, 09:51
Withnail and I
The Big Lebowski
The Big Sleep
Wayne's World
Clueless

Border Riever
15-11-2011, 09:52
Three that spring to mind would be...

The Cruel Sea..

Carandiru..

The Killing Fields...

MartinT
15-11-2011, 09:55
The Killing Fields...

Ummm. :scratch:

Border Riever
15-11-2011, 10:29
Oops sorry I misread the question...
In fact non of the three above really fit the bill.

MartinT
15-11-2011, 10:38
:lol: I didn't think of The Killing Fields as a comfort film!

Gazjam
15-11-2011, 11:15
The Big Wednesday..

all about value of friendship, loss regret and moving forward.
(and its got Gary Busey smearing himself in butter and diving into an oven...so not all doom n gloom. :))

uplifting.

Rare Bird
15-11-2011, 11:16
What do you mean by comfort films?

MartinT
15-11-2011, 11:30
The Big Wednesday..

Good choice, Gaz.

Alex_UK
16-11-2011, 17:24
Rather oddly, my "comfort film" is Leaving Las Vegas - which, if you don't know, is all about an alcoholic screen writer who loses everything due to his drinking, then goes to Las Vegas to drink himself to death. I think I like it because it always makes me feel I'm not quite that bad. Yet!

Spectral Morn
16-11-2011, 18:20
What do you mean by comfort films?

I assume its a movie that puts a smile on your face, when life is getting you down.



Regards D S D L

Thing Fish
16-11-2011, 18:30
Sorry Andre I missed your post.

Basically as stated above its films that make you forget your woes and help you relax...:)

hifi_dave
16-11-2011, 20:13
Forrest Gump
Driving Miss Daisy
True Grit
You've got mail
Sleepless in Seattle
Fried green onions
Hair spray
Car wash

basically, films that aren't violent or give you anything to worry about.

Roy S
16-11-2011, 20:41
The Apartment - Jack Lemmon & Shirley MacLaine at their very best

Alex_UK
16-11-2011, 20:52
Fried green onions

If you mean Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe... ;) Then I'd have to agree - what a superb film. :)

Forrest Gump and Driving Miss Daisy, too.

hifi_dave
16-11-2011, 21:01
That's the one.

Two more -- Bucket list and what was the one with Jack Nicholson as an OCD writer doing a good deed ?

Once you start thinking about feel good films it's difficult to stop..:)

s70rmp
16-11-2011, 21:01
National Treasure 1 & 2
Transporter 1,2 & 3
RED

are favs for just chilling out with

Alex_UK
16-11-2011, 21:07
what was the one with Jack Nicholson as an OCD writer doing a good deed ?

As Good As It Gets ? If not, that one should be on the list! :)

hifi_dave
16-11-2011, 21:16
As good as it gets - great film.

I used to hate cowboy films as a lad but I now like almost all of John Wayne's output. All except that crappy detective one in London and the Green Beret.

What about The Birdcage with Robin Williams and Mrs Doubtfire ?

So many films, so little time.

Reid Malenfant
16-11-2011, 21:30
The Couch Trip (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094910/), funny as f*ck with Dan Aykroyd & Walter Matthau :eyebrows:

I'd also say Kelly's Heroes (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065938/), might be a war film, but it has a shed load of feel good factor about it... Maybe they are all nuts :D

Woof, woof, woof :eyebrows:

Roy S
16-11-2011, 22:06
American Graffitti

Rare Bird
17-11-2011, 01:10
Sorry Andre I missed your post.

Basically as stated above its films that make you forget your woes and help you relax...:)

Any of the 'Carry on' films with Sid James or my fav Norman wisdom film: 'Early Bird'

Thing Fish
17-11-2011, 01:19
Any of the 'Carry on' films with Sid James or my fav Norman wisdom film: 'Early Bird'

I'll go with you on the carry on films..:)

Not seen Early bird though.

chris@panteg
17-11-2011, 08:42
What do you mean by comfort films?

Make you feel better when on a downer !

Withnail and I

Casablanca

Life of Brian

hifi_dave
17-11-2011, 11:26
Any of the 'Carry on' films with Sid James or my fav Norman wisdom film: 'Early Bird'

Definitely any Carry On film, except the last 2or 3 which were too rude for my taste and just not funny.

Did I mention 'Margaret Nolan' ?..:drool:

jazzpiano
17-11-2011, 19:57
In no particular order:
- Whisky Galore (aka Tight Little Island)
- Schultze Gets the Blues
- After Life
- The Station Agent
- American Splendor
- The Bad Sleep Well
- Moon
- My Darling Clementine
- Two-Lane Blacktop

~Barry

Covenant
17-11-2011, 20:47
Crocodile Dundee
Jingle all the Way (at xmas)
The Party (If the opening scene doesn't make you laugh then you haven't got a funny bone in your body http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_JWywDqgRs

Dominic Harper
17-11-2011, 20:58
My list, not Dom's


Marley and Me
Sleepless in Seattle
Big
Sorcerers Apprentice
The Happening
Kickass
PAUL
Shaun of the dead
Inventions of Lying
Mrs Doubtfire
Jumanji
Toys
Three men and a baby
101 Dalmations

The list is endless

Natalie;)

Roy S
17-11-2011, 21:09
Barry, I don't know anyone else who likes (or has even heard of) Two Lane Blacktop! (Performance and image, that's what it's all about.)

Any of National Lampoon's Vacation series, particularly the seasonal one

Reid Malenfant
17-11-2011, 21:10
My list, not Dom's
The Happening

The list is endless

Natalie;)
:scratch: Not watched it yet but have it on BD... I'm curious, how is mankind wiped out by trees etc a feelgood film? :confused:

Actually don't go there as it might spoil the film, apparently it hasn't got a whole lot of redeeming features :lol:

A lot of the othere I tend to agree with :cool:

tannoy man
17-11-2011, 21:16
The Grapes of wrath
The Wanderers
The Hudsucker Proxi
Grosse Pointe Blank
Thunderbolt & Lightfoot
Into The Wild
Hi Fidelity
The Big Lebowski
Its a Mad Mad Mad Mad World
And anything with James Stewart

Reid Malenfant
17-11-2011, 21:22
Into The Wild
Is that the one directed by Sean Penn & staring Emile Hirsch?

If so I agree, superb film, watched it recently for the second time & it had the same emotional impact of the first!

Live free, if only...

Alex_UK
17-11-2011, 21:24
Barry, I don't know anyone else who likes (or has even heard of) Two Lane Blacktop! (Performance and image, that's what it's all about.)

Me! I've got it on DVD and love it - but then I am into US motors, and it is a bit of a cult classic. :)

:hotrod:

tannoy man
17-11-2011, 21:29
Is that the one directed by Sean Penn & staring Emile Hirsch?

If so I agree, superb film, watched it recently for the second time & it had the same emotional impact of the first!

Live free, if only...

True story, Humbled me;)

Dominic Harper
17-11-2011, 21:31
:scratch: Not watched it yet but have it on BD... I'm curious, how is mankind wiped out by trees etc a feelgood film? :confused:

Actually don't go there as it might spoil the film, apparently it hasn't got a whole lot of redeeming features :lol:

A lot of the othere I tend to agree with :cool:

Watch the bloody thing and then you'll know :lol:. it's feel good at the end, but as you haven't watched it yet, I don't want to give it away. Funny thing is Dom just said the same :lol:

Natalie;)

tannoy man
17-11-2011, 21:37
I forgot
OH BROTHER, where art thou?

Reid Malenfant
17-11-2011, 21:40
True story, Humbled me;)
Indeed, they always appear to be better :)

My last post on this one (http://theartofsound.net/forum/showpost.php?p=261911&postcount=501)

Thing Fish
17-11-2011, 22:18
Frank Capra - Its a wonderful life...:)

MartinT
18-11-2011, 09:10
Actually don't go there as it might spoil the film, apparently it hasn't got a whole lot of redeeming features :lol:

It does manage to create a good atmosphere of hidden peril. However, I agree that I couldn't call it a comfort film.

MartinT
18-11-2011, 09:11
Now Monsters is a feel-good film of the highest order.

Macca
18-11-2011, 13:26
Star Wars (any)
Get Shorty
Jackie Brown
Back to the Future

to name a few...

griffo104
18-11-2011, 14:16
for me the htree comfort films I tend to watch to cheer myself up and switch of and just enjoy are :

Animal House
the Blues Brothers
Trading Places

considering I'm not a fan of comedies (love sitcoms but comedy films for some reason) and the fact I tend to watch a lot of serious stuff the 3 films above are something I enjoy immensley and I've no idea how many times I've watched them (it's lots though)

jazzpiano
18-11-2011, 19:32
Hi Roy,
Yeah...Two-Lane is probably the one movie I love and have no understanding of why. I just like the visuals, ESPECIALLY the car sounds, and the overall effect of the vibe. It's therapeutic in some weird sense. Not much happens really, but you don't care. Just turn the lights off late at night, watch it with little discussion, and see how you feel when it's done.

Best,
Barry :interesting:

Reid Malenfant
18-11-2011, 19:39
Subway by Eric Serra... The man (Christopher Lambert) lives his dream, forms the pop band & finally gets the girl (Isabelle Adjani :drool:) but unfortunately eats lead right at the end :(

Damn good film though ;) Fantastic score by Eric Serra to :cool:

Roy S
18-11-2011, 19:39
and then of course there's 'Vanishing Point' (Dodge Challenger V '55 Chevy - tough call)

Reid Malenfant
18-11-2011, 19:41
Ah, Barry Newman, yep that's a real classic :) Superb film to, pity about the bulldozers :doh:

Roy S
18-11-2011, 19:49
...or is it? (hums 'twighlight zone' music)

Thing Fish
18-11-2011, 20:30
I remember being ill when I was a kid and lying on the sofa watching the old black and white version of 'Moby Dick' Stiring stuff.

Call me Ishmael...

hifi_dave
18-11-2011, 21:35
I remember being ill when I was a kid and lying on the sofa watching the old black and white version of 'Moby Dick' Stiring stuff.

Call me Ishmael...

Must collect my new specs from Vision Express because I thought you'd written "string stuff"..

Spectral Morn
18-11-2011, 21:42
Definitely any Carry On film, except the last 2or 3 which were too rude for my taste and just not funny.

Did I mention 'Margaret Nolan' ?..:drool:


Not heard of her but googling her name brings up some interesting photos ;)


Regards D S D L

Spectral Morn
18-11-2011, 21:45
If you mean Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe... ;) Then I'd have to agree - what a superb film. :)



Wonderful film :)



Regards D S D L

Beechwoods
18-11-2011, 22:05
For me, any Woody Allen film before he got too serious, but 'Love & Death' in particular. And which one was it? Broadway Danny Rose? With the kid in a marching band playing the cello. That was me :)

Alex_UK
18-11-2011, 23:15
and then of course there's 'Vanishing Point' (Dodge Challenger V '55 Chevy - tough call)

Or Bullit, of course... who could choose between a '68 Fastback Mustang and a '68 Charger...? I'd just take Jacqueline Bisset instead! ;)

Roy S
18-11-2011, 23:36
'70 Challenger I think Alex ('General Lee' was a Charger) I'll take my Anorak off now and return it safely to it's peg...

Alex_UK
19-11-2011, 00:03
'70 Challenger I think Alex ('General Lee' was a Charger) I'll take my Anorak off now and return it safely to it's peg...

Sorry - I meant the black '68 Charger in Bullitt - the badies car - agree it was defo a Challenger in Vanishing Point - got them all on DVD, so I'll see your anorak, and raise you a cagoule and Thermos flask! ;)

(And don't get me started on the Duke Boys! :lol:)

French Connection is another fab car chase movie, too. :)

Roy S
19-11-2011, 00:23
Ah the Thermos, keeps hot things hot & cold things cold, I keep two cups of coffee and a choc ice in mine

pjdowns
20-07-2013, 15:07
I know the is an old thread, but thought I'd post anyway :)

For me it's got to be;

Back to the Future Trilogy
The Secret Of My Success
Pulp Fiction
RED
Rocky (All 6 films)
Ronin
Airplane & Airplane II
The Naked Gun Trilogy

Probably a few more but can't think of them at the moment :)

Barry
20-07-2013, 20:38
For me, any Woody Allen film before he got too serious, but 'Love & Death' in particular. And which one was it? Broadway Danny Rose? With the kid in a marching band playing the cello. That was me :)

Don't forget 'The Purple Rose of Cairo'.

Comfort films? Well for me they would be:

Love Actually
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Notting Hill

Brief Encounter

To Have and Have Not
Casablanca
Key Largo
The Big Sleep

Mediterraneo
The World's Fastest Indian

Driving Miss Daisy
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café

The Indiana Jones tetrology

Rear Window
North by North West

Kind Hearts and Coronets
The Lady Killers
The Man in the White Suit

The Railway Children

Smoke

Vanishing Point

The Conversation

The Dualists

Some Like it Hot
It's a Wonderful Life

Watership Down

Anything by Wallace and Gromit



I'm sure there are many others, but they have slipped my mind. Sentimental old fart aren't I?

synsei
20-07-2013, 20:47
Fried Green Tomatoes is a wonderful film, one of my all time faves in fact. I must buy the book sometime as I have heard that it is even better than the film ;)

pjdowns
20-07-2013, 22:16
Love Actually
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Notting Hill
The Indiana Jones trilogy
The Lady Killers
Watership Down
Anything by Wallace and Gromit


I knew there were some that I'd missed off the list and these are all on there too, great films.

Barry
21-07-2013, 12:58
Don't worry I missed a few myself:

Amelie
American Beauty
Barbarella
The Blues Brothers (and The Blues Brothers 2000)
The Bucket List
Chariots of Fire
Cider House Rules
Dark Star
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Diva
Doctor Strangelove
Doctor Zhivago
Do-deska Den
The English Patient
Entrapment
The Fabulous Baker Boys
Farenheit 451
High Fidelity
Ice Cold in Alex
The Iron Giant
Jabberwocky
Last Orders
Lost Horizon
Memoirs of a Geisha
Monty Python's The Life of Brian
Pan's Labyrinth
Papillon
The Quiet American
Remains of the Day
Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Sheltering Sky
The Sting
Sir Henry at Rawlinson's End
Solaris (Tarkovsky's 1972 version)
Whale Rider

pjdowns
21-07-2013, 14:22
American Beauty
The Blues Brothers
The Bucket List
Entrapment
The Sting

I'd agree with these :)

MartinT
24-07-2013, 08:36
Brief Encounter

To Have and Have Not
Casablanca
Key Largo
The Big Sleep

North by North West

Quality, Barry.

pjdowns
26-07-2013, 14:42
A few to add to the list;

About A Boy
American President (Effectively the prequel to the excellent 'West Wing')
Antz
Arthur (Dudley Moore version, the new one is pretty dire!)
Bad Boys I & II
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Brewster's Millions (Richard Pryor version)
Cars
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
City Of Angels
Days Of Thunder
The Devil Wears Prada
Doc Hollywood
Entrapment
Every Which Way But Loose (and Any Which Way You Can)
Fast And Furious (all)
Friends With Benefits
Get Shorty
The Goonies
Groundhog Day
Heaven Can Wait
Herbie (all films)
Home Alone & II
Hooper
Human Traffic
Hysteria: The Def Leppard Story
It's Complicated
Keeping Mum
Kindergarten Cop
Life Of Pi
Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels (I know this wouldn't be everyones choice for a 'comfort' film)
Miss Congeniality & II
Monster's Inc.
Monty Python (everything)
Music & Lyrics
A Night At The Roxbury
Pink Panther (everything with Peter Sellers)
Plans Trains & Automobiles
Pretty Woman
Pulp Fiction (I know this wouldn't be everyones choice for a 'comfort film)
The Pursuit Of Happyness
Road Trip
The Rock
The Secret Of My Success
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
Short Circuit (& II)
Shrek (all films)
Smokey & The Bandit (first two)
Snatch (I know this wouldn't be everyones choice for a 'comfort' film)
The Sound Of Music
Superman (I - III)
There's Something About Mary
Toy Story (all)
Top Gun
Turner & Hooch
Twins
The Ugly Truth
Uncle Buck
The Whole Nine Yards
Wimbledon
48 Hrs.
Another 48 Hrs.
The 51st State

Macca
26-07-2013, 17:07
Flash Gordon! Top comfort film.

I'd also list The Hill and Glengarry Glenross although I don't know why they comfort me.

I'd also suggest that all Quentin Tarantino films are comfort films.

synsei
26-07-2013, 17:10
Talking of Flash Gordon as we were, an old mate went to see this film at the cinema, at least that was the plan. Instead he found himself in the theatre for a screening of Flesh Gordon, its smutty cousin... "Oh no, it's a Penisaurus!!!" (Only those who've seen it will know what I'm on about) :lol:

Barry
26-07-2013, 18:05
Ah yes, Flesh Gordon - with his side kicks Dale Ardent and Doctor Flexi Jerkoff! :eyebrows:

synsei
26-07-2013, 18:16
Ah yes, Flesh Gordon - with his side kicks Dale Ardent and Doctor Flexi Jerkoff! :eyebrows:

That be it Barry, a fun film as long as one doesn't expect Spielberg-esque production values ;)

Stuart f
26-07-2013, 19:32
Kevin and Perry Go Large, completely harmless, one to watch when you are ill or hungover. The Worlds Fastest Indian, based on real events, good performance from Antony Hopkins, has the feel good factor in abundance.

walpurgis
26-07-2013, 19:38
Has anybody mentioned 'Nobody's Fool'? One of Paul Newman's later films and an absolute cracker. Not well known, but just brilliant!

Oh and I nearly forgot 'The Station Agent', another laid back and beautifully acted movie.

'Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil' also springs to mind.

Barry
26-07-2013, 20:11
Ah yes 'The Station Agent' a lovely bitter-sweet film.

jollyfix
26-07-2013, 21:00
Most comfort films for me tend to be films from my childhood, TV Sunday afternoon films.

the thief of Bagdad
Ivanhoe
Robin hood
A matter of life and death
Sinbad
the crimson pirate

as for more modern films

the worlds fastest indian
Whale rider
Master and commander
and many more, some already mentioned by other members

Gromit
29-07-2013, 16:03
So many to choose from! :)

For me (those which I have at home) a small selection of 'nice' films:

The Railway Children (1970)
Love, Actually
The King & I (or any R & H musical - the songs are always a joy)
My Fair Lady

'Brain in neutral' films:

Dodgeball
Ali G In Da House
Anchorman
Bruce Almighty

pjdowns
29-07-2013, 18:50
I'd also suggest that all Quentin Tarantino films are comfort films.

+1 - great films :)

Barry
29-07-2013, 22:55
Flash Gordon! Top comfort film.

I'd also list The Hill and Glengarry Glenross although I don't know why they comfort me.

I'd also suggest that all Quentin Tarantino films are comfort films.

Really? :scratch: 'Reservoir Dogs', 'Pulp Fiction', 'Kill Bill', .... great if you take comfort in "slasher" movies! :doh:

pjdowns
30-07-2013, 17:10
Really? :scratch: 'Reservoir Dogs', 'Pulp Fiction', 'Kill Bill', .... great if you take comfort in "slasher" movies! :doh:

Yeah they are very much tongue in cheek though if you look at them... well maybe not so much with Reservoir Dogs but certainly with the Kill Bill duo!

Macca
02-08-2013, 08:13
Really? :scratch: 'Reservoir Dogs', 'Pulp Fiction', 'Kill Bill', .... great if you take comfort in "slasher" movies! :doh:

Watch them again. They are far more about hanging out with interesting characters than they are about violence. Take Res Dogs, the vast bulk of the film is about the gangsters hanging out before the robbery, we don't even see the robbery itself, or the infamous ear-slicing (he cuts away to a corner of the warehouse, then cuts back once the deed is done). Pulp Fiction has only five scenes with any violence in them in a two and a half hour film. They are comic books brought to life.

pjdowns
02-08-2013, 14:10
I totally agree with Martin, Quentin Tarantino films are classics :)