(Or, if you prefer, "a specially selected blog"):
The 50 For 50 Summer Film Festival (sound the trumpets!).
Yes, that's right - I am finally ready to pull the trigger on what may be the biggest fool's errand in the history of this blog. Namely, listing (and writing something about) my favorite 50 films.
Why am I calling it a "Summer Film Festival?" I'm glad you asked.
In the summer of 1979, I took a summer course at the local community college on the History of Film, and it was there that I saw - for the first time - some of the greatest films in the history of cinema: "The Birth of a Nation," "Metropolis," "Citizen Kane," "The Bicycle Thief," "The African Queen," "Hiroshima, Mon Amour..." The professor, whose name escapes me but was from Czechoslovakia, was a really interesting guy who had strong opinions on just about every film ever made. As a matter of fact, he showed us "African Queen" as an example of what he hated in the cinema - namely, action movies. I can only imagine, if he is still with us today, what he would think of stuff like "Knight and Day."
And in the summer of 1980, the local independent television station (which is now a Fox affiliate) ran the first of their own summer film festivals, and it was that summer that I saw - for the first time - such classics as "High Sierra," "The Caine Mutiny," "The Apartment," "Red River," and "Some Like It Hot."
Since then, I've always associated summer with movie-going, even if they do save most of the Oscar contenders for the fall.
This was a lot harder than I expected, and I'll probably change my mind numerous times during the whole exercise. But I'm holding myself to the list I've got right now, even if "Inception" turns out to be the greatest Christopher Nolan film ever made.
Stay tuned!
Showing posts with label 50 for 50. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 50 for 50. Show all posts
Monday, June 28, 2010
Friday, June 04, 2010
50 for 50: Jackson and Warren
It’s been a while since I’ve tried one of these, but as I believe I said earlier, I’m trying to stretch the 50th birthday celebration over an entire year. Why, just last week, I celebrated by having an endoscopy and colonoscopy – on the same day! How many people can say that?
But in any event – I could easily come up with 50 each for both of these artists, two of my main men, but they’ve been inextricably linked in my mind ever since Bruce Springsteen’s speech inducting Jackson into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For those who don’t remember:
"The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson, they gave us California as paradise and Jackson Browne gave us Paradise Lost. Now I always imagine, what if Brian Wilson, long after he'd taken a bite of that orange the serpent offered to him, what if he married that nice girl in Caroline No, I always figured that she was pregnant anyway, and what if he moved into the valley and had two sons? One of them would have looked and sounded just like Jackson Browne. Cain, of course, would have been Jackson's brother in arms, Warren Zevon. We love ya, Warren. But, Jackson to me, Jackson was always the tempered voice of Abel. Toiling in the vineyards, here to bear the earthly burdens, confronting the impossibility of love, here to do his father's work. Jackson's work was really California pop gospel."
So – and this one was hard, and I could change my mind within 10 minutes – here are the Top 50 songs by Jackson Browne and Warren Zevon, split right down the middle – 25 each.
50. Lawyers in Love (Jackson)
49. Gorilla, You’re A Desperado (Warren)
48. The Night Inside Me (Jackson)
47. Looking East (Jackson)
46. Shaky Town (Jackson)
45. Prison Grove (Warren)
44. Let Nothing Come Between You (Warren)
43. The Road and the Sky (Jackson)
42. Boom Boom Mancini (Warren)
41. Love Needs A Heart (Jackson)
40. Genius (Warren)
39. Splendid Isolation (Warren)
38. My Stunning Mystery Companion (Jackson)
37. Play It All Night Long (Warren)
36. Too Many Angels (Jackson)
35. Disorder in the House (Warren)
34. Ain’t That Pretty At All (Warren)
33. I Am A Patriot (Jackson)
32. For America (Jackson)
31. My Shit’s Fucked Up (Warren)
30. For A Dancer (Jackson)
29. Mohammed’s Radio (Warren)
28. The Naked Ride Home (Jackson)
27. Doctor My Eyes (Jackson)
26. Porcelain Monkey (Warren)
25. Keep Me In Your Heart (Warren)
24. Finishing Touches (Warren)
23. Before the Deluge (Jackson)
22. Fountain of Sorrow (Jackson)
21. Werewolves of London (Warren)
20. Sentimental Hygiene (Warren)
19. Alive in the World (Jackson)
18. Back in the High Life Again (Warren)
17. Detox Mansion (Warren)
16. The Load Out/Stay (Jackson)
15. For Everyman (Jackson)
14. Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner (Warren)
13. Redneck Friend (Jackson)
12. The Indifference of Heaven (Warren)
11. The Pretender (Jackson)
10. My Ride’s Here (Warren)
9. Sky Blue and Black (Jackson)
8. Your Bright Baby Blues (Jackson)
7. Carmelita (Warren)
6. Late for the Sky (Jackson)
5. Desperados Under the Eaves (Warren)
4. In the Shape of a Heart (Jackson)
3. I Was In the House When the House Burned Down (Warren)
2. Lawyers, Guns and Money (Warren)
1. Running on Empty (Jackson)
But in any event – I could easily come up with 50 each for both of these artists, two of my main men, but they’ve been inextricably linked in my mind ever since Bruce Springsteen’s speech inducting Jackson into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For those who don’t remember:
"The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson, they gave us California as paradise and Jackson Browne gave us Paradise Lost. Now I always imagine, what if Brian Wilson, long after he'd taken a bite of that orange the serpent offered to him, what if he married that nice girl in Caroline No, I always figured that she was pregnant anyway, and what if he moved into the valley and had two sons? One of them would have looked and sounded just like Jackson Browne. Cain, of course, would have been Jackson's brother in arms, Warren Zevon. We love ya, Warren. But, Jackson to me, Jackson was always the tempered voice of Abel. Toiling in the vineyards, here to bear the earthly burdens, confronting the impossibility of love, here to do his father's work. Jackson's work was really California pop gospel."
So – and this one was hard, and I could change my mind within 10 minutes – here are the Top 50 songs by Jackson Browne and Warren Zevon, split right down the middle – 25 each.
50. Lawyers in Love (Jackson)
49. Gorilla, You’re A Desperado (Warren)
48. The Night Inside Me (Jackson)
47. Looking East (Jackson)
46. Shaky Town (Jackson)
45. Prison Grove (Warren)
44. Let Nothing Come Between You (Warren)
43. The Road and the Sky (Jackson)
42. Boom Boom Mancini (Warren)
41. Love Needs A Heart (Jackson)
40. Genius (Warren)
39. Splendid Isolation (Warren)
38. My Stunning Mystery Companion (Jackson)
37. Play It All Night Long (Warren)
36. Too Many Angels (Jackson)
35. Disorder in the House (Warren)
34. Ain’t That Pretty At All (Warren)
33. I Am A Patriot (Jackson)
32. For America (Jackson)
31. My Shit’s Fucked Up (Warren)
30. For A Dancer (Jackson)
29. Mohammed’s Radio (Warren)
28. The Naked Ride Home (Jackson)
27. Doctor My Eyes (Jackson)
26. Porcelain Monkey (Warren)
25. Keep Me In Your Heart (Warren)
24. Finishing Touches (Warren)
23. Before the Deluge (Jackson)
22. Fountain of Sorrow (Jackson)
21. Werewolves of London (Warren)
20. Sentimental Hygiene (Warren)
19. Alive in the World (Jackson)
18. Back in the High Life Again (Warren)
17. Detox Mansion (Warren)
16. The Load Out/Stay (Jackson)
15. For Everyman (Jackson)
14. Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner (Warren)
13. Redneck Friend (Jackson)
12. The Indifference of Heaven (Warren)
11. The Pretender (Jackson)
10. My Ride’s Here (Warren)
9. Sky Blue and Black (Jackson)
8. Your Bright Baby Blues (Jackson)
7. Carmelita (Warren)
6. Late for the Sky (Jackson)
5. Desperados Under the Eaves (Warren)
4. In the Shape of a Heart (Jackson)
3. I Was In the House When the House Burned Down (Warren)
2. Lawyers, Guns and Money (Warren)
1. Running on Empty (Jackson)
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
50 for 50 update
As can be discerned from the lack of substantive posts this week, it's kind of a busy week at work.
But with the prodding of son #2, I've managed to narrow my "50 for 50" list of films down to the required number. Now I just have to figure out what order to put them in.
That might take a while.
But with the prodding of son #2, I've managed to narrow my "50 for 50" list of films down to the required number. Now I just have to figure out what order to put them in.
That might take a while.
Monday, February 22, 2010
50 for 50: Glorious, Glorious Vinyl
I did this all from memory on my lunch hour, so I'm sure that I've left something off of the list...and I was surprised how hard it was to narrow it down to 50. There's probably 50 more just as good (well, let's say almost as good) lurking in those cabinets.
And yes, I do own a turntable, one that has worked well for over 25 years now.
The 50 Greatest Albums I Own On Vinyl, But Not On CD
50. New York, Lou Reed
49. Drums & Wires, XTC
48. Pure Pop For Now People, Nick Lowe
47. The Blasters
46. Murmur, R.E.M.
45. King's Record Shop, Rosanne Cash
44. Hotel California, The Eagles
43. Live Bullet, Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
42. Squeezing Out Sparks, Graham Parker & the Rumour
41. Off The Wall, Michael Jackson
40. Sign 'O The Times, Prince
39. Entertainment, Gang of Four
38. Talk Talk Talk, Psychedelic Furs
37. Katy Lied, Steely Dan
36. Damn the Torpedoes, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
35. Honky Chateau, Elton John (the first album I bought with my own money)
34. Shoot Out The Lights, Richard and Linda Thompson
33. Excitable Boy, Warren Zevon
32. That's the Way of the World, Earth, Wind & Fire
31. How Will The Wolf Survive?, Los Lobos
30. Let It Be, The Replacements
29. Tonight's the Night, Neil Young
28. Cosmo's Factory, Creedence Clearwater Revival
27. Songs for Swingin' Lovers, Frank Sinatra
26. Dirty Mind, Prince
25. Pretenders
24. Frontier Days, The Del Lords
23. Siren, Roxy Music
22. Los Angeles, X
21. Willie and the Poor Boys, Creedence Clearwater Revival
20. Songs in the Key of Life, Stevie Wonder
19. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Elton John
18. Thriller, Michael Jackson
17. Document, R.E.M.
16. Red Headed Stranger, Willie Nelson
15. Late For The Sky, Jackson Browne
14. The B-52s
13. After the Gold Rush, Neil Young
12. Nebraska, Bruce Springsteen
11. The Basement Tapes, Bob Dylan and The Band
10. Robin Lane and the Chartbusters
9. Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols
8. Every Picture Tells A Story, Rod Stewart
7. Parallel Lines, Blondie
6. Peter Gabriel (third album, "melted face" cover)
5. Rocket to Russia, The Ramones
4. Warren Zevon
3. Purple Rain, Prince
2. Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely
1. Abbey Road, The Beatles
And yes, I do own a turntable, one that has worked well for over 25 years now.
The 50 Greatest Albums I Own On Vinyl, But Not On CD
50. New York, Lou Reed
49. Drums & Wires, XTC
48. Pure Pop For Now People, Nick Lowe
47. The Blasters
46. Murmur, R.E.M.
45. King's Record Shop, Rosanne Cash
44. Hotel California, The Eagles
43. Live Bullet, Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
42. Squeezing Out Sparks, Graham Parker & the Rumour
41. Off The Wall, Michael Jackson
40. Sign 'O The Times, Prince
39. Entertainment, Gang of Four
38. Talk Talk Talk, Psychedelic Furs
37. Katy Lied, Steely Dan
36. Damn the Torpedoes, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
35. Honky Chateau, Elton John (the first album I bought with my own money)
34. Shoot Out The Lights, Richard and Linda Thompson
33. Excitable Boy, Warren Zevon
32. That's the Way of the World, Earth, Wind & Fire
31. How Will The Wolf Survive?, Los Lobos
30. Let It Be, The Replacements
29. Tonight's the Night, Neil Young
28. Cosmo's Factory, Creedence Clearwater Revival
27. Songs for Swingin' Lovers, Frank Sinatra
26. Dirty Mind, Prince
25. Pretenders
24. Frontier Days, The Del Lords
23. Siren, Roxy Music
22. Los Angeles, X
21. Willie and the Poor Boys, Creedence Clearwater Revival
20. Songs in the Key of Life, Stevie Wonder
19. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Elton John
18. Thriller, Michael Jackson
17. Document, R.E.M.
16. Red Headed Stranger, Willie Nelson
15. Late For The Sky, Jackson Browne
14. The B-52s
13. After the Gold Rush, Neil Young
12. Nebraska, Bruce Springsteen
11. The Basement Tapes, Bob Dylan and The Band
10. Robin Lane and the Chartbusters
9. Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols
8. Every Picture Tells A Story, Rod Stewart
7. Parallel Lines, Blondie
6. Peter Gabriel (third album, "melted face" cover)
5. Rocket to Russia, The Ramones
4. Warren Zevon
3. Purple Rain, Prince
2. Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely
1. Abbey Road, The Beatles
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
50 for 50: The Rolling Stones
The concept is simple: 50 favorites, in the year that I turn 50. Tonight, we're going to start off with a biggie: Rolling Stones songs.
The thing to keep in mind here is that the list might look a bit different on any given day, and certainly the order might change a bit. The top ten, even twenty, is pretty solid. And one thing I can assure you is that the top 3 would never change.
50. Play With Fire
49. Sympathy for the Devil
48. Emotional Rescue
47. Time Waits For No One
46. Mother's Little Helper
45. Respectable
44. Luxury
43. Wild Horses
42. Under My Thumb
41. Can't You Hear Me Knocking
40. Almost Hear You Sigh
39. Biggest Mistake
38. Miss You
37. Dear Doctor
36. Moonlight Mile
35. Rocks Off
34. Some Girls
33. Waiting On A Friend
32. Sittin' On A Fence
31. Monkey Man
30. Let's Spend the Night Together
29. I Just Want To See His Face
28. Starfucker
27. 19th Nervous Breakdown
26. Beast of Burden
25. Start Me Up
24. Street Fighting Man
23. Route 66
22. Paint It, Black
21. Tumbling Dice
20. Casino Boogie
19. Parachute Woman
18. Get Off My Cloud
17. It's Only Rock and Roll (But I Like It)
16. Midnight Rambler
15. Stray Cat Blues
14. Sweet Virginia
13. Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)
12. Shattered
11. No Expectations
10. You Can't Always Get What You Want
9. Rip This Joint
8. Love In Vain
7. Prodigal Son
6. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
5. Brown Sugar
4. Honky Tonk Women
3. Jumpin' Jack Flash
2. Stop Breaking Down
1. Gimme Shelter
I like it, I like it, yes I do...
The thing to keep in mind here is that the list might look a bit different on any given day, and certainly the order might change a bit. The top ten, even twenty, is pretty solid. And one thing I can assure you is that the top 3 would never change.
50. Play With Fire
49. Sympathy for the Devil
48. Emotional Rescue
47. Time Waits For No One
46. Mother's Little Helper
45. Respectable
44. Luxury
43. Wild Horses
42. Under My Thumb
41. Can't You Hear Me Knocking
40. Almost Hear You Sigh
39. Biggest Mistake
38. Miss You
37. Dear Doctor
36. Moonlight Mile
35. Rocks Off
34. Some Girls
33. Waiting On A Friend
32. Sittin' On A Fence
31. Monkey Man
30. Let's Spend the Night Together
29. I Just Want To See His Face
28. Starfucker
27. 19th Nervous Breakdown
26. Beast of Burden
25. Start Me Up
24. Street Fighting Man
23. Route 66
22. Paint It, Black
21. Tumbling Dice
20. Casino Boogie
19. Parachute Woman
18. Get Off My Cloud
17. It's Only Rock and Roll (But I Like It)
16. Midnight Rambler
15. Stray Cat Blues
14. Sweet Virginia
13. Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)
12. Shattered
11. No Expectations
10. You Can't Always Get What You Want
9. Rip This Joint
8. Love In Vain
7. Prodigal Son
6. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
5. Brown Sugar
4. Honky Tonk Women
3. Jumpin' Jack Flash
2. Stop Breaking Down
1. Gimme Shelter
I like it, I like it, yes I do...
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