Comfort And Joy
1984 Directed by Bill Forsyth
Synopsis
Alan Bird is getting nothing he wants this Christmas.
Radio host Alan Bird witnesses how an icecream van is attacked and destroyed by angry competitors. This leads him into the struggle between two Italian families over the icecream market of Glasgow.
Popular reviews
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Firstly, I apologise to people who like this sadly underseen film.
It's not a bad film as my rating may suggest. But it's really not for me, and out of the 290 movies I've logged on Letterboxd over the last six months or so, only one has annoyed me more (annoyed as opposed to frustrated or upset). And as with Bridesmaids I watched Comfort & Joy with high expectations: slightly hesitant ones, but expectations nonetheless.Come to think of it, I'm not sure I've ever liked Bill Paterson much, but he is a good choice to play a local radio DJ, Alan Bird. Whilst Bird is heartbroken, he is fundamentally content with his lot, his work and his location; he's not…
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The quirky story of Glaswegian local DJ Dickie Bird (Bill Paterson) who, after being dumped by his eccentric kleptomaniac girlfriend, stumbles across an icecream war in the run up to Christmas.
There's a superb score from Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits accompanying Bill Forsyth's splendid direction. Look out too for the gorgeous CP Grogan.
I watch this every Christmas. Who needs 'It's A Wonderful Life' eh?
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Still weird and wonderful. Whenever my Christmas gets shitty, I know Dickie Bird will be there for me.
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Not quite as amazing as Bill Forsyth's previous film, Local Hero, but a terrific follow-up nonetheless. Forsyth is an absolute master of subtle comedy. Highly recommended viewing (especially during the holidays).
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+ I had wanted to make a movie about an ice cream van turf war when I heard of this and it did a great job at it
+ Some fun characters. Scottish accents, stupid mobsters and french girls
+ The breakup plot at the beginning was quite touching
+ Some good visual gags. I always find them clever.
+ I liked the vague news stories about pandas and violence in the middle east to try and keep it timeless
- Some of the writing is like an English teacher wrote it. Mainly the protagonist's friend who felt too fake and boringly chummy.
- Two unnecessary fantasy dreams
- for a movie about a guy who works in radio and a van that plays music all day, the soundtrack was disapointing
Recent reviews
More-
Firstly, I apologise to people who like this sadly underseen film.
It's not a bad film as my rating may suggest. But it's really not for me, and out of the 290 movies I've logged on Letterboxd over the last six months or so, only one has annoyed me more (annoyed as opposed to frustrated or upset). And as with Bridesmaids I watched Comfort & Joy with high expectations: slightly hesitant ones, but expectations nonetheless.Come to think of it, I'm not sure I've ever liked Bill Paterson much, but he is a good choice to play a local radio DJ, Alan Bird. Whilst Bird is heartbroken, he is fundamentally content with his lot, his work and his location; he's not…
-
The quirky story of Glaswegian local DJ Dickie Bird (Bill Paterson) who, after being dumped by his eccentric kleptomaniac girlfriend, stumbles across an icecream war in the run up to Christmas.
There's a superb score from Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits accompanying Bill Forsyth's splendid direction. Look out too for the gorgeous CP Grogan.
I watch this every Christmas. Who needs 'It's A Wonderful Life' eh?
-
This has all the usual Bill Forsyth charm, but it is really lacking something as I was kinda bored for most of it.
When I heard it was influenced by real life glasgow ice cream wars, I was very interested, but that interest didn't last.
-
Not quite as amazing as Bill Forsyth's previous film, Local Hero, but a terrific follow-up nonetheless. Forsyth is an absolute master of subtle comedy. Highly recommended viewing (especially during the holidays).
-
+ I had wanted to make a movie about an ice cream van turf war when I heard of this and it did a great job at it
+ Some fun characters. Scottish accents, stupid mobsters and french girls
+ The breakup plot at the beginning was quite touching
+ Some good visual gags. I always find them clever.
+ I liked the vague news stories about pandas and violence in the middle east to try and keep it timeless
- Some of the writing is like an English teacher wrote it. Mainly the protagonist's friend who felt too fake and boringly chummy.
- Two unnecessary fantasy dreams
- for a movie about a guy who works in radio and a van that plays music all day, the soundtrack was disapointing -
Still weird and wonderful. Whenever my Christmas gets shitty, I know Dickie Bird will be there for me.