Some might call this selling out – but hey who cares MSN webcast Oasis live in Paris the other morning. It was actually an acoustic set by Noel and Gem – and it kicked ass.
How great is this songlist?
Its Good to Be Free
Talk Tonight
Fade away
Cast No Shadow
Importance of Being Idle
Listen Up
Half the World Away
Wonderwall
Whatever
Slide Away
Strawberry Fields Forever
Dont Look Back in Anger
Married with Children
You can still watch video of the concert here – I fully recommend it!
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Oasis Live in Paris - ROCK!
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Kennedys
Ive just been watching an excellent doco on the Kennedy's - Jack Bobby and Teddy specifically.
Naturally im a big Kennedy fan, theyre what everyone in politics wants to be. Amazing orators, who do the work to match.
Teddy is kind of the forgotten one (he didnt get shot!), he replaced Jack as Senator for Massachusetts in 1962 (when Jack became President) and is now the longest serving senator and I had forgotten about his greatest speech ever - and its right up there with Jack's innauguration address. So here is my favourite Kennedy line, its taken from Teddy's concession speech when Jimmy Carter defeated him in 1980 for the Democratic nomination (Reagan of course won the election proper anyway):
Naturally im a big Kennedy fan, theyre what everyone in politics wants to be. Amazing orators, who do the work to match.
Teddy is kind of the forgotten one (he didnt get shot!), he replaced Jack as Senator for Massachusetts in 1962 (when Jack became President) and is now the longest serving senator and I had forgotten about his greatest speech ever - and its right up there with Jack's innauguration address. So here is my favourite Kennedy line, its taken from Teddy's concession speech when Jimmy Carter defeated him in 1980 for the Democratic nomination (Reagan of course won the election proper anyway):
For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
The Hollow Men
I spent most of today sitting at Oriental Beach reading my photocopied version of Nicky Hagar's new book - The Hollow Men. The book is based on emails leaked from the National Party from late 2003 right through to August 2006.
Hagar (who is from Levin originally) isnt held in high regard - he has tended to exagerate in the past, and is pretty big on conspiracies (eg he was convinced the SIS were spying on the Maori Party - they werent and why would they??). So I was a little sceptical when I heard he was behind the highly anticipated Brash Email book.
But Hagar largely sticks to the facts in this latest outing - he does go off on the odd tangent, but largely he hasnt blown anything too far out of proportion.
There are some absolutely explosive parts to this book, and with the benefit of hindsight, its clear that Brash was sacked last week in advance of this. But maybe because I am in the environment which these emails were written, but some parts which are obviously meant to shock - didnt.
Things that shocked me:
Brash is a lier: He still says that he has only met the Exclusive Brethren once (August 05), when his diary and emails he wrote show he met them as early as December 2004, and was frequently meeting them. He and his whole campaign team knew exactly what the EB had planned and had signed off the pamphlets.
National were prepared to lie about their policies: Realising their policy to increase the age of eligibility for Superannuation (to cut down the numbers on it - making tax cuts a bit more affordable) would piss everyone over 60 off, Brash said "we should just keep that hidden, even possibly lie about it."
Essentially National were looking to avoid talking about anything but preferential treatment for Maori, and tax cuts.
Big big money: We've known for years that the National Party uses Trust funds to launder donations by well known business people - who dont want it known they support National (even though everyone assumes they do anyway). One donor that stood out for me though was one who gave $1m - but is friends with us. Btw the name of the Levin Trust used to launder money locally is Electoral Holdings Ltd.
Dodgy Big Money: Getting donations is fine. Getting donations in return for policies - not fine, in fact illegal. Insurance providers giving money so long as ACC is privatised again. hmmmm.
Things that didnt really shock me but probably will for other people:
Crosby/Textor involvement: Everyone could just tell this as soon as the Orewa Speech was delivered. C/T are an Aussie firm who specialise in running right wing negative campaigns- they are reknowned for their push polling (ringing people and asking a leading question to sow a seed in their mind - eg Would you still support Marian Hobbs if you found out she was a lesbian? - now thats not true, and there is no evidence to suggest that, but a seed is sown).
Orewa was a deliberate ploy: This wasnt an innocent speech that struck a chord, the book shows that Brash was advised to only use half facts, and misleading statistics - which he did.
Things that surprised me:
Level of ACT Party and Backbone Club involvement in positioning Brash for the leadership: These are the people behind the policies of the 80s and 90s which drove NZ into the ground. These people are sooo far extreme right that they even said he shouldnt acknowledge their help as that would lose support. Essentially it was a coup run from outside the party.
Too many know it alls: Brash had like 5 - 10 advisors all giving him different perspectives. No wonder he was dithering. The PM has one key advisor - sure she has others and people outside that she uses as guages basically. You cant have 10 people telling you how to operate you need one clear direction.
Brash got too tired doing visits two days a week: Not up to it basically - the PM does two regional days and then Sat and Sun in Akld - full days of visits and pressing the flesh - thats the job.
Things that Hagar trys to make an issue of which I dont think are:
Framing the debate: Its stupid to think there isnt a concentrated communications strategy prepared around issues. Framing is basically about positioning what you say and how you present it. (eg recently the latest unemployment figures came out - they were up slightly from 3.6% to 3.8% - the govt would say "Unemployment remains the lowest in the OECD and around the lowest rates for 20 years" the opposition would say "Unemployment is beginning ro rise this is an indication the economy is slowing - govt is bad").
Key Lines: Hagar trys to suggest its sinnister that their media staff were preparing what the lines are that they are running on a given issue. No thats their job - they provide good lines for MPs to say. This is the best way of getting the right thing to say out to your whole team, so theyre all singing from the same songsheet - otherwise its chaos!
Brash had a deliberate visit strategy to meet with big business: Well duh. Of course you have a visit strategy - again if there is no plan or system you have chaos, and you wont maximise the time you have available.
I do wonder how someone outside the system would react to this book. I was shocked at their willingness to just lie about their policies - people dont like asset sales so we wont mention it.
I can say with hand on heart that when it comes to actual policy, we are up front. We learnt in 1987 (where the manifesto was released - after the election) that misleading and bullshitting doesnt work (Labour got deservedly smashed in 1990), which is why this govt has had what is almost a motto - Under-promise and Over-deliver. Its better to promise a bit and give people a lot, than promise a lot and give nothing.
National come out of this looking deceitful, and misleading, whether it does any damage outside of the Wellington beltway remains to be seen.
Hagar (who is from Levin originally) isnt held in high regard - he has tended to exagerate in the past, and is pretty big on conspiracies (eg he was convinced the SIS were spying on the Maori Party - they werent and why would they??). So I was a little sceptical when I heard he was behind the highly anticipated Brash Email book.
But Hagar largely sticks to the facts in this latest outing - he does go off on the odd tangent, but largely he hasnt blown anything too far out of proportion.
There are some absolutely explosive parts to this book, and with the benefit of hindsight, its clear that Brash was sacked last week in advance of this. But maybe because I am in the environment which these emails were written, but some parts which are obviously meant to shock - didnt.
Things that shocked me:
Brash is a lier: He still says that he has only met the Exclusive Brethren once (August 05), when his diary and emails he wrote show he met them as early as December 2004, and was frequently meeting them. He and his whole campaign team knew exactly what the EB had planned and had signed off the pamphlets.
National were prepared to lie about their policies: Realising their policy to increase the age of eligibility for Superannuation (to cut down the numbers on it - making tax cuts a bit more affordable) would piss everyone over 60 off, Brash said "we should just keep that hidden, even possibly lie about it."
Essentially National were looking to avoid talking about anything but preferential treatment for Maori, and tax cuts.
Big big money: We've known for years that the National Party uses Trust funds to launder donations by well known business people - who dont want it known they support National (even though everyone assumes they do anyway). One donor that stood out for me though was one who gave $1m - but is friends with us. Btw the name of the Levin Trust used to launder money locally is Electoral Holdings Ltd.
Dodgy Big Money: Getting donations is fine. Getting donations in return for policies - not fine, in fact illegal. Insurance providers giving money so long as ACC is privatised again. hmmmm.
Things that didnt really shock me but probably will for other people:
Crosby/Textor involvement: Everyone could just tell this as soon as the Orewa Speech was delivered. C/T are an Aussie firm who specialise in running right wing negative campaigns- they are reknowned for their push polling (ringing people and asking a leading question to sow a seed in their mind - eg Would you still support Marian Hobbs if you found out she was a lesbian? - now thats not true, and there is no evidence to suggest that, but a seed is sown).
Orewa was a deliberate ploy: This wasnt an innocent speech that struck a chord, the book shows that Brash was advised to only use half facts, and misleading statistics - which he did.
Things that surprised me:
Level of ACT Party and Backbone Club involvement in positioning Brash for the leadership: These are the people behind the policies of the 80s and 90s which drove NZ into the ground. These people are sooo far extreme right that they even said he shouldnt acknowledge their help as that would lose support. Essentially it was a coup run from outside the party.
Too many know it alls: Brash had like 5 - 10 advisors all giving him different perspectives. No wonder he was dithering. The PM has one key advisor - sure she has others and people outside that she uses as guages basically. You cant have 10 people telling you how to operate you need one clear direction.
Brash got too tired doing visits two days a week: Not up to it basically - the PM does two regional days and then Sat and Sun in Akld - full days of visits and pressing the flesh - thats the job.
Things that Hagar trys to make an issue of which I dont think are:
Framing the debate: Its stupid to think there isnt a concentrated communications strategy prepared around issues. Framing is basically about positioning what you say and how you present it. (eg recently the latest unemployment figures came out - they were up slightly from 3.6% to 3.8% - the govt would say "Unemployment remains the lowest in the OECD and around the lowest rates for 20 years" the opposition would say "Unemployment is beginning ro rise this is an indication the economy is slowing - govt is bad").
Key Lines: Hagar trys to suggest its sinnister that their media staff were preparing what the lines are that they are running on a given issue. No thats their job - they provide good lines for MPs to say. This is the best way of getting the right thing to say out to your whole team, so theyre all singing from the same songsheet - otherwise its chaos!
Brash had a deliberate visit strategy to meet with big business: Well duh. Of course you have a visit strategy - again if there is no plan or system you have chaos, and you wont maximise the time you have available.
I do wonder how someone outside the system would react to this book. I was shocked at their willingness to just lie about their policies - people dont like asset sales so we wont mention it.
I can say with hand on heart that when it comes to actual policy, we are up front. We learnt in 1987 (where the manifesto was released - after the election) that misleading and bullshitting doesnt work (Labour got deservedly smashed in 1990), which is why this govt has had what is almost a motto - Under-promise and Over-deliver. Its better to promise a bit and give people a lot, than promise a lot and give nothing.
National come out of this looking deceitful, and misleading, whether it does any damage outside of the Wellington beltway remains to be seen.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Getting back at the scammers
I often get sent those scam emails from Nigeria and what not - basically looking for cash.
A site has been launched in the UK where basically they detail the scams and pranks they pull on the scammers. Its funny stuff, they get them to send pictures of themselves doing stupid things - holding stupid signs etc (pictured) in order to get the cash.
Here are a couple of my favourites - This one where they convince the scammer that they are running an art gallery and are looking for ethnic art - which they will pay hundreds of thousands for.
And this one - where in order to get a "donation" they convince the scammer to join their church - The Church of the Holy Tattooed Saint. Of course to join the church (and get the dosh) you have to get the official Tattoo done...........
If you've ever been hit with spam and these stupid scams, you'll get a kick out of this.
Monday, November 20, 2006
I'm just a cleaner
This is from today's Herald. A guy tried to rob the Broadway branch of the National Bank in Palmerston North on Friday.
After closing on Friday he tied up the last remaining staff member and demanded she open the vault for him. Reasonable plan to this point, except - she was the cleaner.
The cleaner just laughed at him and said - "I can't open the vault. I'm just the cleaner!"
Bank robbers are almost always dumb, I cant think of a single case where they havent stuffed it up, or at least got caught.
The "robber" fled the scene - with nothing. Awesome.
After closing on Friday he tied up the last remaining staff member and demanded she open the vault for him. Reasonable plan to this point, except - she was the cleaner.
The cleaner just laughed at him and said - "I can't open the vault. I'm just the cleaner!"
Bank robbers are almost always dumb, I cant think of a single case where they havent stuffed it up, or at least got caught.
The "robber" fled the scene - with nothing. Awesome.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Butter Boys
North Shore band The Checks, who opened for REM in New Plymouth last year and Oasis in Australia have just finished recording theirdebut album. These guys are probably one of the first New Zealand bands whose CD I would actually buy.
The Checks were spotted by the editor of NME when he was out here for NZ Music Month a year or so ago. NME then took them on their New Music Tour in 2005 - which was being advertised while I was in the UK, which was quite surreal as we had used the Checks to open our 2005 Congress a week before I had left.
Ed the lead singer has incredible stage pressence - of the Mick Jagger kind, I rate them pretty highly.
Check out a sample of the new single Butter Boys at their MySpace page here. What You Heard is also worth a listen (pretty sure its there) this is probably their best single at the moment.
The Checks were spotted by the editor of NME when he was out here for NZ Music Month a year or so ago. NME then took them on their New Music Tour in 2005 - which was being advertised while I was in the UK, which was quite surreal as we had used the Checks to open our 2005 Congress a week before I had left.
Ed the lead singer has incredible stage pressence - of the Mick Jagger kind, I rate them pretty highly.
Check out a sample of the new single Butter Boys at their MySpace page here. What You Heard is also worth a listen (pretty sure its there) this is probably their best single at the moment.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
The Apocalypse will be catered
At the moment - Wellington is undergoing a major disaster practice. The situation is that Petone has been hit by a 7.8 scale earthquake. Operations are being run out of the Beehive bunker, known as the National Response Centre, and when I walked past the entrance I couldnt help but laugh that their catering trolley from Bellamys had been left outside. So dont worry when disaster strikes - Bellamys will be on hand with their concrete-muffins and disgraceful sandwiches!
In other news - Al Gore was in town yesterday, well Auckland at least and presented his slide show on global warming. Even though everyone present had seen it before it was still apparently very entertaining. The right wing are running the line that Gore is just a self-promoter who is deliberately misleading. (unlike the man they all voted for in the US?).
The stadium issue is still bubbling away. Former All Black Ian Jones summed it up well last night on Sky's Re:Union show. "This is a chance to completely re think the way Rugby is presented, we could have parades down Queen St, street theatre - have a real party atmosphere before the game begins and then carry on through the night at all the clubs and bars close by. Its a no-brainer."
Sir Ron Scott (the guy who organised the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games) has backed the new stadium also saying that this is a chance for Auckland to have an accessible venue, that not only hosts Rugby and Cricket, but like Wellington will host concerts, conferences and trade shows. Unfortunately Auckland seems divided on the issue and at this point seem to be against it - Talkback host Leighton Smith said it would encourage "lowlifes and unsophisticated types" to hang around the central city - eh?
Russell Brown has written a great piece on the Stadium issue here. Its worth a read.
In other news - Al Gore was in town yesterday, well Auckland at least and presented his slide show on global warming. Even though everyone present had seen it before it was still apparently very entertaining. The right wing are running the line that Gore is just a self-promoter who is deliberately misleading. (unlike the man they all voted for in the US?).
The stadium issue is still bubbling away. Former All Black Ian Jones summed it up well last night on Sky's Re:Union show. "This is a chance to completely re think the way Rugby is presented, we could have parades down Queen St, street theatre - have a real party atmosphere before the game begins and then carry on through the night at all the clubs and bars close by. Its a no-brainer."
Sir Ron Scott (the guy who organised the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games) has backed the new stadium also saying that this is a chance for Auckland to have an accessible venue, that not only hosts Rugby and Cricket, but like Wellington will host concerts, conferences and trade shows. Unfortunately Auckland seems divided on the issue and at this point seem to be against it - Talkback host Leighton Smith said it would encourage "lowlifes and unsophisticated types" to hang around the central city - eh?
Russell Brown has written a great piece on the Stadium issue here. Its worth a read.
Borat bashed
Apparently Sasha Baron-Cohen or Borat was punched repeatedly in the face on the streets of New York after after telling a stranger that he would like to have sex with his clothes. Baron-Cohen had to be saved by his friend and House actor - Hugh Laurie.
Wrong time and place I guess!
Wrong time and place I guess!
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Friday, November 10, 2006
Waterfront vs Eden Park
People are hilarious, NZ will be hosting the third biggest event in the world in 2011, and people dont want to spend any money on it.
Basically we are having to come up with a stadium that can hold 60 000 people for the major games.
The options are do up Eden Park or build something brand new and better on the waterfront. (Essentially what Wellinton did when Athletic Park was ditched).
Now normally the corporate sector would contribute to this - but not in NZ, basically they're too greedy. So when the organisers came to the government - the government asked, why on earth would you upgrade a venue in a residential area that has absolutely no parking, and is difficult to get to, when you could spend a bit more and have something world class, next to all the bars, clubs etc and Britomart (the suburban rail hub station) and has 30 000 car parks within a 15 minute walk.
This is why the government has come out in favour of the Waterfront "Stadium New Zealand" option over Eden Park.
As for people complaining that the govt should be spending more on health and education than this. The Rugby World Cup is going to be worth close to $3billion to NZ, the Cricket world Cup $1billion - think of how the Olympics put Sydney on the map - this is about national identity, and saying to the world we can hold world class events. I say have some pride in NZ, if the NZ economy is doing well, then government will be able to afford more joint operations, and money for schools etc.
This is about taking New Zealand to the next level. As Mike Moore once said - "Singapore is the size of Lake Taupo. Think about it."
Herald story - pictures and video
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Dems in da hizzay
Yes Ive been planning that headline for sometime!
The US are in the middle of their mid-term elections today and the Democrats have won back control of the House, and at this stage it looks like they could scrape through in the Senate.
This is great news, and sets things up perfectly for 2008. CNN has the up to date details.
For those of a less politics-is-everything mindset, the Senate is the upper house and the House of Representatives is the lower house of congress, basically they are a check on the President - as anything he wants to do, has to pass through both houses. Essentially this lops his bollocks off - Bush will have to work with the Democrats to get anything done.
But on the flipside, if the Democrats are seen to do nothing in the next two years - winning the white house in 08 could be difficult, but its all there for them to do.
The US are in the middle of their mid-term elections today and the Democrats have won back control of the House, and at this stage it looks like they could scrape through in the Senate.
This is great news, and sets things up perfectly for 2008. CNN has the up to date details.
For those of a less politics-is-everything mindset, the Senate is the upper house and the House of Representatives is the lower house of congress, basically they are a check on the President - as anything he wants to do, has to pass through both houses. Essentially this lops his bollocks off - Bush will have to work with the Democrats to get anything done.
But on the flipside, if the Democrats are seen to do nothing in the next two years - winning the white house in 08 could be difficult, but its all there for them to do.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Some new links
Thought I should just draw attention to the new links i have added in the navigation bar.
Laurie David is a well known Climate Change activist, her background is actually in comedy with HBO, she also produced An Inconvenient Truth, and is of course married to one of my favourite commedians - Larry David. Laurie is also leading the Virtual March on Washington, which you can join at the next link down (world class segue there).
The next is Landcare Research's innovate CarboNZero site - you can work out how much emmissions you make, and then you can buy carbon credits to neutralise your emmissions (basically you invest in the forests they are planting in Marlborough).
Other links Ive added are to Zack Exley's blog - Zack was one of the people behind MoveOn.org, and I dinner and quite a few beers at a smokey pub with him while in the UK. I grabbed so many ideas from Zack in terms of online campaigning - many of which we implemented here, he also contributes to the Huffington Post and Daily Kos (leading Democrat Blogs).
I'll continue adding sites as I find them, whether they be a bit of fun (This is a Local Shop), plain nuts (Ceiling Cat), or have a serious message.
Do check them out.
Laurie David is a well known Climate Change activist, her background is actually in comedy with HBO, she also produced An Inconvenient Truth, and is of course married to one of my favourite commedians - Larry David. Laurie is also leading the Virtual March on Washington, which you can join at the next link down (world class segue there).
The next is Landcare Research's innovate CarboNZero site - you can work out how much emmissions you make, and then you can buy carbon credits to neutralise your emmissions (basically you invest in the forests they are planting in Marlborough).
Other links Ive added are to Zack Exley's blog - Zack was one of the people behind MoveOn.org, and I dinner and quite a few beers at a smokey pub with him while in the UK. I grabbed so many ideas from Zack in terms of online campaigning - many of which we implemented here, he also contributes to the Huffington Post and Daily Kos (leading Democrat Blogs).
I'll continue adding sites as I find them, whether they be a bit of fun (This is a Local Shop), plain nuts (Ceiling Cat), or have a serious message.
Do check them out.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Time for bold action
I was in Levin at the weekend, and the NZ Film Festival has reached there (as it always does) so I took the old man to see Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth at his suggestion.
In all there were only around 5 or 6 empty seats in theatre - which gives me hope. Climate Change has been all the rage this week - this screening was framed by the release of the Stern Report in Britain - which backs Gore up, and the NZ Labour conference where Helen set out her vision on the issue as follows:
Oh and Brash says he's still not sure there really is an issue. Winner.
In all there were only around 5 or 6 empty seats in theatre - which gives me hope. Climate Change has been all the rage this week - this screening was framed by the release of the Stern Report in Britain - which backs Gore up, and the NZ Labour conference where Helen set out her vision on the issue as follows:
I believe it’s time to be bold in this area.
Why shouldn’t New Zealand aim to be the first country which is truly sustainable? Not by sacrificing our living standards, but by being smart and determined.
We can now move to develop more renewable energy, biofuels, public transport alternatives, and minimise, if not eliminate, waste to landfills.
We could aim to be carbon neutral.
I believe that sustainability will be a core value in 21st century social democracy.
· I want New Zealand to be in the vanguard of making it happen – for our own sakes, and for the sake of our planet.
· I want sustainability to be central to New Zealand’s unique national identity.
And fostering our unique national identity is central to the purpose of our government, and to my purpose in being in politics.
Our country is special, and our people are special.
Oh and Brash says he's still not sure there really is an issue. Winner.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Save the africans!
Earlier this year Bob Geldoff turned up in NZ to criticise us for not giving enough to africa in aid - ignorring the fact that we're running East Timor and the Soloman Islands with Aussie - and a whole province in Afghanistan on our own! No we're doing nothing!
Well fellow Time MAN of the year and in my opinion - tosspot, Bono, who with Geldoff have been leading the Make Poverty History campaign, has been caught out being a tad hypocritical.
U2, despite having extensive tax breaks in Ireland has moved their business to the Netherlands to avoid paying tax. At the same time Bono was lobbying Mary McAleese (president of ireland) to give more money to africa in aid.
Now, Bono, how do you think the Irish govt gets money to give away in aid? How can you criticise a government for not spending enough - when you deliberately avoid paying the tax that would be spent on aid!
Wanker!
STORY HERE
Well fellow Time MAN of the year and in my opinion - tosspot, Bono, who with Geldoff have been leading the Make Poverty History campaign, has been caught out being a tad hypocritical.
U2, despite having extensive tax breaks in Ireland has moved their business to the Netherlands to avoid paying tax. At the same time Bono was lobbying Mary McAleese (president of ireland) to give more money to africa in aid.
Now, Bono, how do you think the Irish govt gets money to give away in aid? How can you criticise a government for not spending enough - when you deliberately avoid paying the tax that would be spent on aid!
Wanker!
STORY HERE
100 Greatest Films? ahh no
Total Film magazine have produced a special edition 100 Greatest Movies of All Time issue
The top 10 is a disgrace frankly, below are some highlights and the top 50 films.
98 Casablanca (should have been higher)
97 Trainspotting (ditto)
96 Stand by Me (ditto)
95 The Usual Suspects (again what is wrong with these people?)
91 Dekalog (yeah you wouldn’t want to miss that one)
83 The Wizard of Oz
82 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
78 The Graduate
71 North by Northwest
69 Sideways (if it was about women, it would have been dismissed as a chick flick)
59 Blue Velvet
56 The Shawshank Redemption
54 Millers Crossing
50 It Happened One Night
49 Pulp Fiction (top 10 easily)
48 Singin’ in the The Rain
47 Blade Runner
46 Nashville
45 Mean Streets
44 Annie Hall
43 Heat
42 One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest
41 The Last Picture Show
40 ET
39 Monty Python and the Holy Grail (bollocks)
38 Badlands
37 Touch of Evil
36 2001: A Space Odyssey
35 A Matter of Life and Death
34 The Searchers (never heard of 35 or 34)
33 Star Wars
32 Les Enfants Du Paradis
31 Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid
30 Reservoir Dogs
29 La Regle Du Jeu (hon hon hon)
28 Raging Bull (should have been a good 10 places higher)
27 Some Like it Hot
26 The Third Man
25 Sunset Boulevard
24 Rear Window
23 The Godfather (top 10)
22 Sunrise
21 Crash (bollocks that that film is the 21st greatest film ever)
20 Apocalypse Now
19 Texas Chainsaw Massacre (oh please – its funny)
18 All About Eve
17 Once Upon a Time in the West
16 The Apartment
15 It’s a Wonderful Life (fair enough)
14 Taxi Driver
13 Manhattan
12 Chinatown
11 Persona (eh?)
10 His Girl Friday (yeah wonderful film….. ??? maybe?)
9 The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (fair enough grouping them - same director/shot all at once, and fair ranking)
8 The Empire Strikes Back (good call)
7 Tokyo Story (Gus and Karen’s fav film – theyre in Japan, so they must like it right?)
6 Citizen Kane (pretentious rubbish)
5 The Godfather Part 2 (good call)
4 Fight Club (it had meatloaf… top 4 I think not)
3 Jaws (fair call)
2 Vertigo (its great but 2nd best film? Hmmm)
1 Goodfellas (I don’t think so)
Just not a great list – no Spike? Full Metal Jacket? Dr Strangelove? Only one Coens film!?!? (54), Platoon? Too many good films for this to be taken seriously I’m afraid!
The top 10 is a disgrace frankly, below are some highlights and the top 50 films.
98 Casablanca (should have been higher)
97 Trainspotting (ditto)
96 Stand by Me (ditto)
95 The Usual Suspects (again what is wrong with these people?)
91 Dekalog (yeah you wouldn’t want to miss that one)
83 The Wizard of Oz
82 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
78 The Graduate
71 North by Northwest
69 Sideways (if it was about women, it would have been dismissed as a chick flick)
59 Blue Velvet
56 The Shawshank Redemption
54 Millers Crossing
50 It Happened One Night
49 Pulp Fiction (top 10 easily)
48 Singin’ in the The Rain
47 Blade Runner
46 Nashville
45 Mean Streets
44 Annie Hall
43 Heat
42 One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest
41 The Last Picture Show
40 ET
39 Monty Python and the Holy Grail (bollocks)
38 Badlands
37 Touch of Evil
36 2001: A Space Odyssey
35 A Matter of Life and Death
34 The Searchers (never heard of 35 or 34)
33 Star Wars
32 Les Enfants Du Paradis
31 Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid
30 Reservoir Dogs
29 La Regle Du Jeu (hon hon hon)
28 Raging Bull (should have been a good 10 places higher)
27 Some Like it Hot
26 The Third Man
25 Sunset Boulevard
24 Rear Window
23 The Godfather (top 10)
22 Sunrise
21 Crash (bollocks that that film is the 21st greatest film ever)
20 Apocalypse Now
19 Texas Chainsaw Massacre (oh please – its funny)
18 All About Eve
17 Once Upon a Time in the West
16 The Apartment
15 It’s a Wonderful Life (fair enough)
14 Taxi Driver
13 Manhattan
12 Chinatown
11 Persona (eh?)
10 His Girl Friday (yeah wonderful film….. ??? maybe?)
9 The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (fair enough grouping them - same director/shot all at once, and fair ranking)
8 The Empire Strikes Back (good call)
7 Tokyo Story (Gus and Karen’s fav film – theyre in Japan, so they must like it right?)
6 Citizen Kane (pretentious rubbish)
5 The Godfather Part 2 (good call)
4 Fight Club (it had meatloaf… top 4 I think not)
3 Jaws (fair call)
2 Vertigo (its great but 2nd best film? Hmmm)
1 Goodfellas (I don’t think so)
Just not a great list – no Spike? Full Metal Jacket? Dr Strangelove? Only one Coens film!?!? (54), Platoon? Too many good films for this to be taken seriously I’m afraid!
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