Friendly Fire
John Roderick, Adam Pranica and Benjamin Ahr Harrison
A history podcast with a twist: Friendly Fire uses war movies as a point of entry on not only the history of war, but the history of how societies think about war. John Roderick, Adam Pranica and Benjamin Ahr Harrison dissect movies from throughout the history of cinema, talk about film production, pedantic quibbles with costumes and airplanes, and keep you laughing the entire time.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 13, 2019 • 1h 32min
Forrest Gump (1994)
Some films help us reflect on the sins of the past, other films create fictional characters to make the past more digestible. On today's episode Adam, Ben, and John answer every question with "Yes, drill sergeant." while reviewing this 1994 fantasy. This film is available on:Amazon, Apple, and your local librarySupport our show! Next Film: Zero Dark Thirty (2012)Available on: Amazon, Apple, and your local library
Sep 6, 2019 • 1h 13min
Lebanon (2009)
Some war pictures are about hostile territories, some are about the group turmoil, and other movies are about both. On today's episode Adam, Ben, and John cook-off while reviewing this 2009 claustrophobic drama.This film is available on:Amazon, Apple, and your local library.Support our show! Next Film: Forest Gump (1994)Available on: Amazon, Apple, and your local library
Aug 30, 2019 • 1h 14min
The Big Red One (1980)
Can a Jedi, T-Bird, Nerd, and Scientist— under the command of a grizzled WWI Veteran— successfully survive the second world war? On today's episode Adam, Ben, and John get cooked a terrific meal, while reviewing this 1980 memoir.This film is available on:Apple, Amazon, and your local library.Support our show! Next Film: LebanonAvailable on: Amazon, Apple, and your local library.
Aug 23, 2019 • 1h 18min
Outside the Law (2010)
Is this film a story of freedom that was split three ways, or just another glancing look at a past battle, with a new lens? On today's episode Adam, Ben, and John leave sports out of it while reviewing this 2010 drama!This film is available on:Apple, Amazon, and your local library.Support our show! Next Film: The Big Red One (1980)Available on: Apple, Amazon, and your local library.
Aug 16, 2019 • 1h 19min
Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
Does this film demonstrate that non-violence is the key to winning wars, or is this movie just another fun make-believe tale brought to us by Mel "Opus Dei" Gibson? On today's episode Adam, Ben, and John don't know how they're going to live with themselves if they don't stay true to what they believe—while they watch this 2016 biopic.This film is available on:Apple,Amazon, and your local library.Support our show! Next Film: Outside the Law (2010)Available on: Apple, Amazon, and your local library.
Aug 9, 2019 • 1h 21min
The Patriot (2000)
Does this film tell the tale of a freedom-fighting warrior or is this a story about Benjamin Martin's revenge-fueled descent into freedom? On today’s episode Adam, Ben, and John are citizens of an American nation while they review this turn of the millennium fictional drama.This film is available on:Apple, Amazon, and your local library.Support our show! Next Film: Hacksaw Ridge (2016)Available on: Apple, Amazon, and your local library.
Aug 2, 2019 • 1h 29min
The Ottoman Lieutenant (2017)
All the money in the world can't make a lie the truth, and no matter how strong the love story may be, it doesn't change the fact that some governments commit atrocities. On today's episode the time in God's thoughts has come to an end while Adam, Ben, and John review this revisionist drama. This film is available on:Apple, Amazon, and your local library.Support our show! Next Film: The Patriot (2000)Available on: Apple, Amazon, and your local library.
Jul 26, 2019 • 1h 19min
Casualties of War (1989)
Can a Michael J. Fox war movie be as brutal as any other emotion-filled Vietnam picture? Yes, but with its own jungle to navigate. On today’s episode Adam, Ben, and John buck the system while reviewing this 1989 drama.This film is available on:Apple, Amazon and your local library.Support our show! Next Film: The Ottoman Lieutenant (2017)Available on: Apple, Amazon, and your local library.
Jul 19, 2019 • 1h 18min
A Private War (2018)
Marie Colvin's spirit drives this biopic and addresses war in a way that we don't always get in film. On today's episode Adam, Ben, and John couldn't imagine a world in which they didn't review this 2018 drama!This film is available on:Amazon, Apple, and Youtube.Support our show! Next Film: Casualties of War (1989)Available on: Apple, Amazon and your local ibrary.
Jul 12, 2019 • 1h 25min
The Great Escape (1963)
Can a POW film achieve the same highs and lows of a battlefield picture? It can when it's full of cool-guy-allies! On today's episode Adam, Ben, and John devote their energies to reviewing this 1963 adventure with Chuck Bryant from Movie Crush.This film is available on:Amazon, Apple, Youtube, and RokuSupport our show! Next Film: A Private War (2018)Available on: Amazon, Apple, Youtube, and your local ibrary.
