comfort movies

miller's crossing

bullitt

ENBB did you know that in some countries Empire Records was called "Rock and Fun"?

AH - how could I have forgotten some kind of wonderful? I should count withnail too I think.

It turns out that I have a lot of comfort movies.

Sunny I did not know that but from now on that's what I'm going to call it. That's great - ha!

well i think movies are just kind of comforting. i mean unless you're watching like The Piano Teacher or something.

The Great Escape, even though it's shown every Christmas anyway. I suppose that it's a comfort because the plot is so familiar, also so many great lines ("I can see... really I can!" trips over James Garner). And while on a Pleasence tip, Fantastic Voyage, and also You Only Live Twice (OK then, that's two - and a half - Bond movies in my list).

Ok - I can't believe I didn't think of this until now but Waiting for Guffman.

The Italian Job (original version), which I'd forgotten about despite it being here on the shelf next to me. And it may not exactly be a movie, more of a documentary, but I used to watch ABBA: The Movie over and over.

I just recently realized that whenever I feel really down I feel like watching "The Thin Red Line" oddly enough. Not for the plot but the general sound, look, and ambience of it.

-- ryan, Monday, July 7, 2008 12:58 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Link

malick in general make sense - theres something v calming abt the contemplative qualities of his movies

i dont have any comfort movies that ill go so far as to put on but def if i stumble across them on tv i can get into it. awsome 80s comedies back to the future ferris bueller fletch and all sorts of spy/thriller type shit. i have a feeling in a few years time i will have seen the bourne movies 1mx

North By Northwest

Joy Luck Club, Muriel's Wedding, Ryan's Daughter - weepy shit like dat

Usually, this is what I use DVDs of TV shows for... Simpsons, Joy of Painting, et al.

But Wet Hot American Summer is one I can always put in and half watch.

It'll always be a new film. I really dislike rewatching films - when there is so much potential greatness (or rubbish) out there. I was in a bit of a funk a few weeks ago, went to see Mongol, and it cheered me up more than any rewatching of Zoolander would.

Cool Hand Luke

less than zero

Dude, Where's My Car?. I got it as a birthday present when I was 21 or 22, and I've watched it at least 10 times ever since. That movie has whole microcosm in it.

As for older movies, I guess this kind of a cliche, but It's a Wonderful World. They show it on Finnish telly every Christmas, and I've tried to watch it every year since I was 15, though I have missed a few times. I still cry every time I see it. This is basically the most Christmassy thing I do every year, because I don't have family Christmas or anything.

Oh, and Totoro, yes, absolutely! One of the most calm and soothing movies ever, it's bound to put you in a more peaceful state of mind.

you mean Its a Wonderful Life, right?

Yeah, that one, sorry about the typo.

this has been an interesting thread for me, how readily I can scan thru these lists and quickly identify those movies that tend to have a pleasant narcotic effect, and others that I disqualify because for one reason or another they induce/recall some sort of anxiety for me. Not sure why for many of them, though.

but

Clueless
Groundhog Day
Beverly Hills Cop
Any Harry Potter film

-- musically, Monday, 7 July 2008 17:21 (1 hour ago) Link

OTM

oh yeah, Less Than Zero, too!

Less than zero is so bad it's good but is actually so bad that I really kind of wish they would remake it and I don't say that about many movies. Sorry if that didn't make any sense. Too much caffeine. Argh.

miller's crossing

-- omar little, Monday, July 7, 2008 2:29 PM (57 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

yesss

Wow, nobody else's are even in the same genre, or same half of the last century, as mine. The only films I find endlessly rewatchable and comforting are musicals: Fred and Ginger, Gene Kelly and Judy Garland in "Summer Stock," and all the Busby Berkeley stuff, esp. "The Gang's All Here." Chorines waving bananas = comfort!

it is b/c you are special

Solaris

ohwhoa i can't believe i forgot to say, and no one else has said:

Bladerunner

Stand By Me

if i didn't, i should have said When Harry Met Sally (all time)

and still my best friend's wedding. it's like a vacation every time

hannah & her sisters

the great escape

any classic "up all night" movie like dazed & confused (noticed a lot of ppl chose that one)

definitely empire strikes back.
beneath the planet of the apes.
i think 28 days later is becoming this kind of movie for me.

Zorro (1975)

okay you know what, i don't think it was zorro 1975. i think it was the 1940 movie.
the one that was on the disney channel "late" (that is, later than my normal bedtime as a 3-5 year old).

Behind Enemy Lines

basically any of the bond movies except OHMSS and CR

most of the dirty harries

i'm more of a tv show person when i feel like this. Arrested Development, sometimes Chappelle.

movies: Bourne, Casino Royale (2007), Oldboy, Big Lebowski, Do the Right Thing ('til near the end if i'm too bummed), Fellowship of the Ring (up 'til they leave Rivendell), Bladerunner, 40 Year Old Virgin can be good, but sometimes strike the wrong chord.

Spielberg (CE3K, Raiders). And the first Star Wars (1977).

tommy boy

Fame
Quiz Show
Together

the station agent

DIE HARD

and Wonder Boys

― milo z, Monday, July 7, 2008 1:13 PM (2 months ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

^^ and out of sight

Empire Records
Withnail & I
Grosse Pointe Blank

... I'm more a TV show person to though, so I'll more readily get out the Simpsons or Goodies box set or something.

Igby Goes Down
Any film of Jane Austen novel
Chariots of Fire

Depends what I want... uplifting, romantic happy ending, or just to have a bloody good bawl.

Local Hero
The Princess Bride
The Maltese Falcon

Almost Famous, Mean Girls, Clueless

mean girls OTm i might put it on now

I think a comfort movie has to be a movie that you don't get bored of in the middle so....

An American Tale
A Brave Little Toaster

I wanted to say The Big Blue (le grand bleu) but I've only seen it once and I probably would get bored in the middle.
I'm gonna watch Life Aquatic for a second time this weekend and hopefully it wont put me to sleep, because at one time it was my favorite movie (even then I watched it in halves).

and my little sister watches Empire Records over and over with different friends. I blame myself for suggesting it to her.

!!!

Now I really want to watch Brave Little Toaster. It's been years...

Moneyball

is every baseball movie a comfort movie? we just got bad news bears, everybody wants some! and moneyball

His Girl Friday
The Maltese Falcon
Cluny Brown
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeosie
Tootsie
Manhattan Murder Mystery
Frances Ha

xp baseball is definitely the "comfort movie" of sports