Goin to the Pictures

Before I start, I've still only got 2 followers and one of those was me pretending to be my wife (not in a weird way)...so actually I've really only got the Incredible Mr Ford. Thanks for sticking in there fella. I've been on other people's blogs and they have dozens of followers so what's going on. Rich and Mr Black, I think it's just you two out there so I will keep it up for us. How do the professionals do it? The set-up instructions talked about monetizing my Blog and adding adverts that earn me money every time one of the readers click on the advert. A nice thought but I think it would cheapen my efforts and it requires lots of followers. I don't want to monetize the Blog but some more hits and followers would be good for my faltering e-ego. Does anyone have any ideas? Other blogs seem to be focused on one subject and attract hits based on subject matter. Perhaps mine is too varied. They say that you should write about what you know so maybe I should write about music all the time. At least you two (Fordy and Bri) will read it anyway and you both like music, but I don't want to restrict myself.

I'm writing this from our brand new iMac. Very sexy it is too. iTunes works much quicker and downloads the CDs in a jiffy. Why don't I get the album artwork each time? One of you must know the answer. Garageband is a great application too. I think I will be the next Aphex Twin and make millions from the comfort of the batcave.

Tracey and I were thinking of going to the pictures tonight but there's nothing on. Well, there is, but we've already seen Harry Potter, Julie and Julia and The Ugly Truth. The latter is very funny, by the way, in case you haven't seen it although Gerrard Butler's American accent is awful. Anyway, it got me thinking about films I've enjoyed over the years so here's a few recommendations:

Big Night; a story of the owners of an Italian restaurant that serves excellent food but few customers. It stars Minnie Driver, Ian Holme and a few other's you'll recognize but it's one of those films that you never forget, for the right reasons.

Trainspotting; still a brilliant film (and even better soundtrack).

Notting Hill; I love Hugh Grant films. I don't know why. He plays the same character in everything he's in but I can watch them over and over again. Is this a guilty pleasure or does anyone else like them too? Perhaps it's the scripts. I don't know.

Hi Fidelity; the story of a record store owner so I was hooked before I saw it. Lot's of great tunes including the Beta Band and a great performance by Jack Black.

24 Hour Party People; this is the story of Factory Records and the Hacienda. It has a cameo from Mark E. Smith and has Steve Coogan playing the infuriating Anthony Wilson.

Gregory's Girl; I remember seeing it in the cinema when I was a kid and enjoying it and then watching it years later on the TV and finding it brilliantly funny.

300; I love the fact that this heroic Greek king has a Scottish accent. Maybe it's because it sounds more aggressive than an American one.

Angel Heart; Rich and I watched this with Morgan Bath at University and I loved it, especially the twist at the end. I wonder what Morgan is doing now. 

About a Boy; another Hugh Grant film but one with a Badly Drawn Boy soundtrack. 

As Good As It Gets; Jack Nicholson at his best playing a crabbit old guy and his growing relationship with his gay neighbour who he can't stand, and the waitress at his favourite cafe.

Kelly's Heroes; the best war movie ever with Donald Sutherland playing a hippy driver of a Sherman tank.

So I Married An Axe Murderer; one of my favourite movies, particularly the scenes with the Scottish father. One of the only acceptable Scottish accents from someone who doesn't normally have one that I have ever heard.

Meet Joe Black; strange but wonderful.

OK, that should keep you going for a while.

Quick update on the Big Read top 100, I finished Pride and Prejudice and started on War and Peace. It's 1000 pages of very very small text so I should be at it for a long time. Need to stick at it though because I want to be able to say I've read it one day. Jane Austin's novel was good but the style of writing took a few pages to get used to. I'll have to see the movie now that I've read it. I never used to like period dramas but I think I'll make an exception.

OK, back to downloading The Fall into iTunes.