not sport | Wait until next year

May 13, 2014

You Like Potato – Matters of taste from Woody Allen to Céline Dion

In Woody Allen’s Manhattan the protagonist Issac Davis talks into a tape recorder, listing what he believes makes life worth living. It is a key scene and a clever device. The list gives us an insight into Davis’ personality, his motivations, his desires:

“Why is life worth living? It’s a very good question. There are certain things I guess that make it worthwhile. Like what…okay…For me, I would say… what, Groucho Marx, to name one thing…and Willie Mays…and the second movement of the Jupiter Symphony…and Louis Armstrong, recording of Potato Head Blues…Swedish movies, naturally… Sentimental Education by Flaubert…Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra…those incredible Apples and Pears by Cezanne…the crabs at Sam Wo’s…Tracy’s face…” Read the rest of this entry »

4 Comments

Video | April 19, 2014

Saturday Night Movie: The Battle for Britain’s Breakfast

A documentary about the early days of breakfast television might not immediately sound that promising. But this is excellent, and has quite the tale to tell. Sure, it ticks a few nostalgia boxes for those of us who were up early in the 1980s, but it also is a telling case study of how the same mistakes can be made again and again, that boardroom shenanigans can destroy the best intentions and the fine line between being considered a creative genius and creating a flop.

And if you find this enjoyable, then do check out the book “Morning Glory: A History of British Breakfast Television” by Ian Jones – a brilliant read that fills in a lot of the gaps, and also takes the story into the early 2000s…

Video | March 22, 2014

Saturday Night Movie: The Man who Fought the Planners – The Story of Ian Nairn

An excellent documentary, and an excellent entry point to Ian Nairn – after watching this you’ll probably find yourself trawling YouTube for more original footage. Here was a man who fought against the destruction of old towns, yet did not consider himself a conservationist. A man who railed against the follies of town planners, but who could appreciate decent modern architecture. This programme also harks back to a time when TV could just be a passionate, articulate and informed person speaking to camera without any gimmicks, and could still be compelling and vital.

2 Comments

March 19, 2014

The Road to Erith Pier

The other Sunday seemed to be the first proper warm day of the year. A day without coats and without regrets about not wearing coats. A day when you can sit indoors, but will feel the guilt creep over you as you see the sun outside, the weather you’ve been waiting for through those months of damp and cold and wind. You feel compelled to go out. Read the rest of this entry »

8 Comments

Video | March 5, 2014

Taking Chances

A new Sharon Van Etten track, a taster for her new album Are We There, due for release in late May. Her previous album Tramp is one of my favourite albums of the last few years. Van Etten can clearly write great songs, but can also create a mood. It is a kind of nebulous concept, but her songs have this feel that you just don’t hear elsewhere, sort of smoky, monochrome, but also heartfelt. Rough around the edges without just sounding a bit baggy. Read the rest of this entry »

Category: not sport

Video | April 19, 2014

Video | March 22, 2014

Video | March 5, 2014