Binderama60for60

Movies and Television

You might think I’m phoning this one in, but this is some pretty pithy pith! Choosing your favorite this or best that is not easy or perfect or consistent. Plus, it takes some serious time suck! I feel better, more self-aware and assertive, so the next time someone asks, “Hey Doug, what’s your favorite movie of all time?” I’ll pull out the bracket below, or better yet the PowerPoint slide, and explain. They’ll probably change seats.

Righteous Filler Part 1 of ? covers movies and TV. In later posts, I’ll delve into music (be warned: I am not a audiophile), books (not really a bibliophile either) and miscellany (more my jam). And of course, I know this invites you to judge me through your own tastes and sensibilities. I really don’t care. Otherwise I wouldn’t do this.

The Best Movies

I started with 100s of titles to consider and culled them down to 64 for a little March Madness bracket action. Much to ponder, with questions like: Would I watch this instead of that? Does it hold up over time and should that matter? What were the circumstances surrounding my first screening? How many times have I seen it? (I’ve seen “Back to the Future” and “Fast Times…” anywhere between 25 and 725 times, but neither came out on top.)

There’s also the matter of wanting to include a variety of directors, genres and periods. As you’ll deduce, I am not a huge fan of fantasy, sci-fi or a even “a bit of the old ultra-violence.” Had to get some Capra, Rob Reiner, Spielberg, the Coens and Levinson in here but couldn’t make room for Wes Anderson. I’ve never actually seen a Kurosawa film, or a Varniere or a Jodorowsky or a Reifenstahl (one of those names is made up).

I tried to include more westerns, but found little room. I included a Chaplin, for sentimental reasons, but choosing between “City Lights” and “The Gold Rush” was excruciating (don’t get me started on “The Kid”). No doubt, this is a guy’s list, a guy who hasn’t stepped foot in a movie theater since “Skyfall.”

Anyway, and as I suspected, my favorite film of all time is “The Godfather II.” It has everything I want for entertainment: it’s epic and sprawling and darkly human, and it weaves a flawless tale across generations. I also adore the runner-up “The Sting.” It’s so clever and well-acted and directed. It’s also an example of how the circumstances surrounding a first viewing can affect one’s judgment: I was 7 years old on a night out with my big brothers. Takes me back every time I rewatch it, which is somewhere between 10 and 310 times, maybe more.

Bonus: Best 80s Movie/Music Montages

I love the montage moments. This section came about trying to fit “She’s Having a Baby” into this post. It’s a good movie but it’s got the one montage that still gets me misty every time. Kate Bush to boot.

So, to move this post along quickly, without a whole lot of dialogue but with a lot of fast-cut action, stoked by some seriously rad synthesized power-pop, I herewith attempt the ultimate 80s movie montage montage:

1. Rocky runs through the streets of Philly
2. Fighter jets swarm past camera, buzz control tower
3. 80s dance break: five very diverse, middle-class white teenage boat-rockers dance in a high school library
4. Rocky hits racks of dead meat, can see his own breath
5. Maverick croons to lady boss, Goose plays wingman
6. Two impeccably well-dressed detectives cruise the inexplicably empty streets of Miami
7. Rich man buys nice things for prostitute
8. Nice pretty boy masters the Crane Kick to defeat mean pretty boy
9. Water splashes down on half-naked silhouette reclining in chair, for some reason
10. Three teen truants visit Chicago landmarks on a weekday, one stares deeply at a Seurat
11. Dance break: Camp counselor trains camper half his age to mambo
12. Dance break bonus: two Chicago cops in tight shorts skate around Key West, somehow attracting multiples of hot women
13. Recent immigrant takes bubble bath, snorts mound of cocaine, marries Michelle Pfeiffer
14. Four very diverse white teenagers marvel at makeover of psycho girl, the jock gets feelings
15. Man compliments woman on her beaver, man offers to help her with it
16. Goose and Mav high-five
17. 80s dance break: Kids just want to cut loose, foot loose, everybody everybody cut foot loose
18. Rocky runs up steps
19. Iceman serves, Mav glistens, Goose glistens, they all glisten
20. Rocky reaches top of steps, celebrates, no one is awake yet

The Best TV Shows

I’ll cop to this: These days our big-ass TV is blaring HGTV and Food Network at least 50% of the time. There’s no football as I write this, but still.

I grew up in a TV household. I think we had four back in the 70s, including two black-and-whites, one of which resided in a retro sleek console from the 50s. Every Saturday night I was notorious for falling asleep on the floor in front of the family TV, somewhere between “M*A*S*H,” “All in the Family,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Bob Newhart” and “The Carol Burnett Show.” I still fall asleep in front of the television, but it’s not considered precious like back in the day.

For this exercise, I limited the fodder to full, multi-season series (with a few exceptions), eschewing one-offs, mini-series and documentaries. There are some streamers in here, but not many; it takes me a while to fall in love with characters and story. Though I am inclined to get hooked on a few streamers, I simply don’t have the time or patience. I’m too busy building these inane brackets.

As with movies, some tough decisions were made, a few of which were a surprise to me. And yeah, Frazier wins. Just plain good and smart, strong on character development, writing, direction, storylines and the best TV dog ever, Eddie. Yes, it jumped the shark now and again (e.g., Frazier Day) but it found its way, and it still holds up.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Not really, but yeah. Go on. Can you hand me the remote?

I know what you’re thinking: When will Doug be sharing with the world more of his opinions, likes and dislikes? Hit SUBSCRIBE in the left column and you’ll be the first to know!