Father’s Day: A GoodTrash Time with Pops

Welcome back to Finding the GoodTrash! And what better time to find some GoodTrash than Father’s Day. I’m going to highlight five movies that are perfect to watch with your dad on Father’s Day. Now, this comes from a guy who can no longer sit down with his dad on Father’s Day. And as I think about these movies I begin to see them in a new light. There’s one movie on this list that I used to watch with my dad quite often, and when I recently rewatched it, I felt a connection. It was one of his favorite movies, and as the images flashed on the screen I was reminded of all the times he would watch it and he would laugh and quote it. So, on this Father’s Day, I ask that you connect with your dad (if that is an option) somehow – by phone or in person if you can – and tell him you love him and appreciate him. Even if you didn’t have a dad, your mom was probably filling both of those roles or you may have had a mentor – a teacher, a coach, a pastor, a neighbor, or another family member – who filled that role, and if that’s the case then let them know what they mean to you. Now, sorry for all of the schmaltz, let’s get into it.

I’m picking movies from different genres and times. I hope that you find most of these entries fun. We’ve got action, mystery, adventure, it’s perfect for that person we call Dad!

Father’s Day GoodTrash

5. Days of Thunder: Tony Scott’s 1990 racing movie is a lot of things. Mostly, its a victim of being a late ’80s/early ’90s movie. The score is terrible, and its about NASCAR. So, on the surface this seems to be a weird choice, I know. However, this is a bro-y movie. The humor, the action, the story – this is totally a movie to watch with dad. The questions of masculinity, being too tough to go to a hospital, and learning to be open with people are all themes that are presented in Days of Thunder. Plus, there is a father/son dynamic that comes into play between Harry and Cole, played by Robert Duvall and Tom Cruise respectively. Plus, you get some great Michael Rooker and John C. Reilly and Cary Elwes show up. It’s not a good movie, but it is a fun popcorn movie to watch with pops.

4. The Fugitive: Look, it is  what it is. This is the movie I referenced in my opening up there. My dad LOVED The Fugitive. So, it certainly has a soft spot in my heart. And for the most part, I feel like it holds up well. It does have some issues both aesthetically and narratively. However, Tommy Lee Jones and Harrison Ford are both on. They make magic happen in this movie. Jones gets some great lines to work with and Ford puts forth a strong performance. And while there isn’t a father/son dynamic at play, this is still a movie about avenging family and providing justice. Plus, I think it pairs nicely with my next selection, and if you don’t agree…

3. Catch Me if You Can: Tom Hanks is America’s dad. I think everyone can agree with this. He seems like a great guy, and he is a wonderful actor. You couple that with the never ageing Leonardo DiCaprio who we saw grow up on the big screen, and you get a perfect father/son story. I think Catch Me if You Can is a sorely underrated film. I love it. It is one of my favorite Spielberg movies. Hanks and DiCaprio have a great dynamic at play. The story is moving, funny, a bit schmaltzy, and overall interesting. The story of a kid who couldn’t face the reality of his crumbling home life goes on the run and becomes one of the greatest con men of all time. Then, he enters into a bizarre father/son relationship with the FBI agent who has spent years trying to catch him. It’s an absurd story that is based on true events which reinforces the idea that the truth can be stranger than fiction. The settings are as colorful as the cast and the music is brilliant. I highly recommend checking this out with Pops.

2. Back to the Future: I nearly went with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade here, and honestly it would work just as well and maybe even better. But, the idea of going back in time and seeing your Dad as a youth hits me a lot harder nowadays. My dad told me so many stories about his youth and the trouble that he got into, but there is still a lot about my dad that I don’t know. To be able to go back to the 1950s and see my Dad as a young man is something that greatly appeals to me. And its something that really works about Back to the Future because it allows us to see these individuals that we know as our authoritarian parents in a vastly different light. It exposes them for who they are, the ideals they once stood for, and it makes allows us to connect with them to see them as real people with real experiences, rather than Rule Makers Who Don’t Get Us. Plus, it’s a stupid fun movie.

1. Jurassic Park: When I glanced over at my DVD shelf while trying to decide what to put on this list, I saw the spine for this film, and I knew it would be number one. Jurassic Park holds a special place in my heart, because I saw it in theaters with my dad. Also, dinosaurs. When I was a kid, obviously I identified most with Timmy and Lex. But, as I’ve gotten older, and have married and am living this crazy thing called life, I’ve had to come to terms with the idea of parenthood. I do want kids, but there is always this nagging fear of whether I’ll be good enough for them. And now, at the cusp of 30, I identify more with Alan Grant. While I don’t have the same disdain for kids, I do worry if I’m prepared to raise them. Jurassic Park is a masterpiece in my eyes. The thematic weight that Spielberg brings to  this movie about dinosaurs is unheard of. It is a movie that I’ll always go back to. One that inspired me as a kid, one that speaks to me as an adult, and one that will bring my family together when I get to sit down and show it to my children someday.

Alright, well there you have it friends. Five great movies that you can watch with Dad on Father’s Day. So, until next time, keep having those conversations with family and friends because that’s what this whole thing is about.