Movies (and TV I guess) that are mostly auditory
February 26, 2023 2:49 PM Subscribe
I will have a lot of time coming up where I won't be able to focus much on a screen (just the occasional glance), but would like to enjoy movies (primarily) and TV shows (secondarily) that are mostly dialog / sound-driven while I do somewhat mindless tasks.
I already have a TON of podcasts and audio books queued up, so those aren't a good answer for this.
Two examples that come to mind from the world of television are Seinfeld and Cunk on Earth, both of which are fairly enjoyable just from listening to the audio.
I already have a TON of podcasts and audio books queued up, so those aren't a good answer for this.
Two examples that come to mind from the world of television are Seinfeld and Cunk on Earth, both of which are fairly enjoyable just from listening to the audio.
Letterkenny
posted by BrashTech at 3:30 PM on February 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by BrashTech at 3:30 PM on February 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
Feels like the perfect time for My Dinner with André, which is just 2 guys sitting at a dinner table, talking.
posted by BlahLaLa at 3:34 PM on February 26, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by BlahLaLa at 3:34 PM on February 26, 2023 [4 favorites]
If you can find it, James Burke’s Connections might fit the bill.
posted by Silvery Fish at 3:39 PM on February 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Silvery Fish at 3:39 PM on February 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
When Harry Met Sally is fairly easy to follow through just audio, even if you haven't seen it before.
posted by edencosmic at 3:40 PM on February 26, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by edencosmic at 3:40 PM on February 26, 2023 [3 favorites]
Operas!
posted by matildaben at 4:10 PM on February 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by matildaben at 4:10 PM on February 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
Something you might want to try is descriptive audio. This is a separate audio track designed for low-vision or even blind people. Along with the normal dialog, sound effects, and score, you get a narrated description of what's going on - at least enough to follow the show.
posted by Hatashran at 4:23 PM on February 26, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by Hatashran at 4:23 PM on February 26, 2023 [6 favorites]
I watched most of Gilmore Girls while crocheting a giant baby blanket- the sets and characters are mostly the same throughout the show and the dialog is the main appeal.
posted by MadamM at 4:27 PM on February 26, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by MadamM at 4:27 PM on February 26, 2023 [7 favorites]
Many of the movies I immediately thought of, perhaps not surprisingly, were originally plays:
Talk Radio
Frost/Nixon
The Designated Mourner
12 Angry Men
Also Richard Linklater’s “Before” trilogy; Hal Hartley movies
posted by staggernation at 4:30 PM on February 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
Talk Radio
Frost/Nixon
The Designated Mourner
12 Angry Men
Also Richard Linklater’s “Before” trilogy; Hal Hartley movies
posted by staggernation at 4:30 PM on February 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
How about Lucifer? Tom Ellis and Lauren Germain are great. And Season Two: Ella. My God (sorry Dad!) Ella's name is literally LA. I just love the interplay between these characters.
posted by SPrintF at 4:35 PM on February 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by SPrintF at 4:35 PM on February 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
Reality courtroom shows?
posted by calgirl at 4:41 PM on February 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by calgirl at 4:41 PM on February 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
Signal is all audio with some visual cues.
The Vast of Night has some really evocative audio and is sort of focused on a radio recording of something mysterious happening in a small town in the '50s.
In Treatment is pretty good and is told almost entirely through dialogue.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 5:33 PM on February 26, 2023
The Vast of Night has some really evocative audio and is sort of focused on a radio recording of something mysterious happening in a small town in the '50s.
In Treatment is pretty good and is told almost entirely through dialogue.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 5:33 PM on February 26, 2023
Another movie that was a play first, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 5:53 PM on February 26, 2023
posted by Lawn Beaver at 5:53 PM on February 26, 2023
As the spouse of a blind person, +1 for the suggestion for audio description.
Netflix originals have consistently well done audio description ("well done" meaning "very well-scripted to it's simultaneously unobtrusive but sufficiently informative"). The Audio Description Project maintains an up-to-date but charmingly Web 1.0 listing of shows and movies with AD across various networks and streaming platforms.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 5:59 PM on February 26, 2023 [4 favorites]
Netflix originals have consistently well done audio description ("well done" meaning "very well-scripted to it's simultaneously unobtrusive but sufficiently informative"). The Audio Description Project maintains an up-to-date but charmingly Web 1.0 listing of shows and movies with AD across various networks and streaming platforms.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 5:59 PM on February 26, 2023 [4 favorites]
Derek Jarman's Blue is...exclusively auditory!
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:14 PM on February 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:14 PM on February 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
Old Perry Mason episodes. Hardly anything is "visual only" in the show, and I think most of what is going on can be figured out just by listening.
You could also listen to episodes of radio theater. You can search for "radio theater" to get current stuff, probably delivered as podcasts, or you can download some old episodes at the Old Radio World website
posted by TimHare at 6:28 PM on February 26, 2023
You could also listen to episodes of radio theater. You can search for "radio theater" to get current stuff, probably delivered as podcasts, or you can download some old episodes at the Old Radio World website
posted by TimHare at 6:28 PM on February 26, 2023
I grew up on a steady diet of audio described movies and old-time radio programs. Both of these would suit you fine, I imagine. :)
posted by Alensin at 6:53 PM on February 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Alensin at 6:53 PM on February 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
Person of Interest is pretty good for this. The leads are mostly talking to each other on the phone, so they say everything they're seeing.
posted by blnkfrnk at 8:50 PM on February 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by blnkfrnk at 8:50 PM on February 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
Most Aaron Sorkin shows don't require that you ever look at them because everything is in the dialogue. The West Wing did some cool shots that you might want to watch, but you don't have to.
posted by jacquilynne at 9:19 PM on February 26, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by jacquilynne at 9:19 PM on February 26, 2023 [6 favorites]
Original formula Law and Order might as well be a radio play. I used to call it perfect knitting TV.
posted by praemunire at 9:34 PM on February 26, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by praemunire at 9:34 PM on February 26, 2023 [6 favorites]
+1 for The West Wing. It's what I listen to when I have a migraine and can't look at a screen
posted by matildatakesovertheworld at 10:07 PM on February 26, 2023
posted by matildatakesovertheworld at 10:07 PM on February 26, 2023
Richard Linklater’s Before Trilogy: Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight. I’d say over 90% of each movie is just two characters talking to each other.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 10:26 PM on February 26, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 10:26 PM on February 26, 2023 [3 favorites]
I was going to mention Seinfeld but I see that you already have! I think many of those cozy, familiar '90s sitcoms where the characters are always chatting in the same three or four locations (coffee shop, home, work, etc.) would work. A similar example to Seinfeld would be Frasier, which I have listened to a lot of while doing exercise/chores.
posted by fire, water, earth, air at 11:45 PM on February 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by fire, water, earth, air at 11:45 PM on February 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
Star Trek: The Animated Series feels like it would almost work audio-only.
posted by Pronoiac at 1:17 AM on February 27, 2023
posted by Pronoiac at 1:17 AM on February 27, 2023
So you want something that happens in an enclosed space:
- Musicals, as mentioned above. Actually, the very first episodes of Glee were charming
- Courtroom dramas. I'm partial to old Perry Mason, but Law & Order or movies like the Pelican Brief or Erin Brokovich or Philadelphia would be good as well.
- Movies about movies/TV, where it takes place on a set. Like SportsNight (if you can find it, is great - Aaron Sorkin's best imho).
- Set in one big house, like Gosford Park, the West Wing, the Big Chill, or In the Loop.
posted by nkknkk at 7:53 AM on February 27, 2023
- Musicals, as mentioned above. Actually, the very first episodes of Glee were charming
- Courtroom dramas. I'm partial to old Perry Mason, but Law & Order or movies like the Pelican Brief or Erin Brokovich or Philadelphia would be good as well.
- Movies about movies/TV, where it takes place on a set. Like SportsNight (if you can find it, is great - Aaron Sorkin's best imho).
- Set in one big house, like Gosford Park, the West Wing, the Big Chill, or In the Loop.
posted by nkknkk at 7:53 AM on February 27, 2023
I was happy to discover that Listen to a Movie is still up and running. I can't really vouch for the site or any of its contents, but I know it's been around for years now.
posted by j9ac9k at 8:29 AM on February 27, 2023
posted by j9ac9k at 8:29 AM on February 27, 2023
The Thick of It.
posted by General Malaise at 8:41 AM on February 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by General Malaise at 8:41 AM on February 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
Harvey was a play first, too.
Nthing the "descriptive audio" as well. If you have Netflix, they have a list of titles with that feature.... but I think you have to log in to see the list :/
posted by adekllny at 9:57 AM on February 27, 2023
Nthing the "descriptive audio" as well. If you have Netflix, they have a list of titles with that feature.... but I think you have to log in to see the list :/
posted by adekllny at 9:57 AM on February 27, 2023
Your library may offer access through Libby or Hoopla or another app to numerous audio books and plays.
posted by Theiform at 11:20 AM on February 27, 2023
posted by Theiform at 11:20 AM on February 27, 2023
I volunteer in a warehouse and we almost always have episodes of Law & Order and SVU on in the background. It's surprisingly easy to follow along without seeing the screen - especially if you're familiar with the cadence of the episodes. Plus, there are about 3 billion episodes so you'd be set for life.
posted by Gray Duck at 11:27 AM on February 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Gray Duck at 11:27 AM on February 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
Almost all reality TV is suited for a primarily audio experience. The musical score will cue you to look at the screen. If you missed it, they’ll rehash it after the break.
Jane the Virgin has a narrator to help you if you happened to miss any plot element, and employs flashbacks to refresh your memory. You’ll definitely get a second chance to see something important.
posted by shock muppet at 4:18 PM on February 27, 2023
Jane the Virgin has a narrator to help you if you happened to miss any plot element, and employs flashbacks to refresh your memory. You’ll definitely get a second chance to see something important.
posted by shock muppet at 4:18 PM on February 27, 2023
Dr. Strangelove - An insane American general orders a bombing attack on the Soviet Union, triggering a path to nuclear holocaust that a war room full of politicians and generals frantically tries to stop.
Black & White movie from 1964. It's one of director Stanley Kubrick's best work.
posted by Homer42 at 2:58 PM on February 28, 2023
Black & White movie from 1964. It's one of director Stanley Kubrick's best work.
posted by Homer42 at 2:58 PM on February 28, 2023
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The Thin Man
Desk Set
I’m guessing old movies will serve you better.
posted by Comet Bug at 3:14 PM on February 26, 2023 [1 favorite]