Colm Currie
Writing things so you don't have to
My Favourite Films of 2014
Yes, it’s that time of year again, when I tell you what were my favourite films from the last 12 months, and you go out to see them, only to discover that none of them are still playing.
In 2014 I surpassed even my wildest expectations by visiting the cinema no fewer than 96 times. This does not mean that I saw 96 different films, as some merited repeat viewings, but I did see 88 unique motion pictures on the big screen. 87 of these trips I made alone, which I’m sure some of you will find strange, but I do not. After all, you can’t talk while the film is on, so I see no reason one should not attend the picture house on one’s own. “That’s still a bit sad,” some of you will be thinking. “He must have no social life,” others among you will have concluded. Well, you’re all wrong. The only negative side effect of my going to the cinema so frequently this year is that I have started deliberately turning up 20 minutes late to all appointments. This is something that I need to address, because in life, there are no trailers.
Anyway, never mind all that now. My favourite films from the year* are listed below. Read More
The US Office: The same, but different
Because I like to stay topical and have my finger firmly on the cultural pulse of the world, I have recently started watching the US remake of The Office, which had been recommended to me by several people. As a British person (which is not how I normally identify, but it is relevant here), I am much more familiar with the original BBC version, written by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. The original is revered as a classic (or a modern classic, depending on what constitutes modern), and I was more than a bit skeptical about the remake. Having seen pilots for US versions of Spaced and The IT Crowd, I saw nothing that would make me want to watch the US Office (I only made it halfway through the Spaced pilot before I had to stop due to how agonising it was to watch). Then again, The Office ran for nine seasons on NBC, whereas neither of the aforementioned pilots was ordered to series (although The IT Crowd is set for another remake, this time with creator Graham Linehan’s involvement, and sitcom guru Bill Lawrence attached, so it will probably be less awful this time). Gervais and Merchant were both involved in the remake of The Office, and I know a few people who are fans of both versions, so based on this, I decided to give it a chance.
Image: BBC/NBC/popsugar.com
Emmy Picks, Predictions, Unsung Heroes & Oh-No-Nos – 2014
It’s that time of year again, gang! The 66th Primetime Emmy Awards are tonight, and I’ve had perhaps hundreds of people asking me if I’ll be announcing my picks, predictions, unsung heroes and oh-no-nos this year. To which the answer is, of course, yes.
Neil Lennon: Farewell to a Hero
Tomorrow I will make the familiar journey to Celtic Park for the first time in several months. While there will be plenty to celebrate, with a new manager, a new season, a new pitch, the unfurling of the league flag, and the return of Fergus McCann, the man who saved the club from bankruptcy in the 1990s, there will be one crucial component missing from the Celtic that I have long known. Having only spent 24 years on this earth, I have seen few people pass through Parkhead’s gates who can rightly be called Celtic legends. Henrik Larsson is one; Neil Lennon is another. Read More
Seven Things I’d Like to See in ‘Better Call Saul’
“Spin-off! Is there any word more thrilling to the human soul? Hi, I’m Troy McClure. You may remember me from such TV spin-offs as Son of Sanford and Son and AfterMannix.” – Troy McClure
As he so often does, Troy McClure makes a good point, almost certainly without realising it. Despite their overwhelming lack of success, there is a great deal of excitement around the concept of spin-offs. A spin-off from a popular TV series is likely to pull in more viewers than a new show with completely original characters, and can retain viewers out of loyalty even if the new series fails to live up to is parent. Television networks and production companies realise this, and the spin-off, along with the reboot, the reimagining and the reunion, have become rather cynical ways to keep going something which has had its time. This is not always the case, of course, but considering this, and the handful of successful spin-offs we could name among a wasteland of failures, we should probably curb our enthusiasm when a new spin-off is in the works, as we are statistically very likely to be disappointed by it.
That said, I’m extremely excited about Better Call Saul, the Breaking Bad spin-off starring Bob Odenkirk as shady lawyer Saul Goodman, scheduled to air early in 2015. Here are some of the things I’m most hoping to see. Read More
Seven Worst Films of 2013
A couple of days ago, I gave you all the information you’d been waiting on the edges of your seats for: my favourite films of 2013. Well, here’s another list for you! One of the pitfalls of going to see 45 films a year is that it’s quite likely you’ll end up seeing some real stinkers. Here are the seven which I felt were the poorest of those I watched in 2013. Read More
Seven Best Films of 2013
As a highly satisfied Cineworld Unlimited member, I saw 45 films at the cinema this year. That might sound like a lot, but I know of several people who saw more than twice that number, and there were plenty of films I missed in 2013. Here is my quick-capsule review of my seven favourites, with a list of my least-favourites to follow in the next couple of days. Enjoy. Read More
Seven Major Flaws In The Home Alone Franchise I Didn’t Notice When I Was A Kid
It’s been a few years since I’ve seen either of the Home Alone films (they only made two, and don’t try to tell me otherwise, or you’ll undo all of my therapists’ good work (and yes, that apostrophe is in the correct place)), but I’ve watched both during this festive season. They’re still fantastic, of course, but due to my being a bit older than I was when I last saw them, I’ve found several rather major flaws in the plots.
Obviously, the initial premise of the first film is slightly implausible (spoilers follow, in case you’re one of the four people who haven’t seen the films). Family go on holiday for Christmas, leave son behind. Mum finds it very difficult to get back, while Dad doesn’t seem too fussed. Son thinks he has made his family disappear, but also isn’t overly fussed. Meanwhile, two burglars become obsessed with robbing the house and, despite being more powerful than the kid, receive a sound beating. Mum gets back, all’s well that ends well. It’s pretty unlikely, but we suspend our disbelief on the basis that the film is brilliant. However, I’ve spotted several further questions that seem to remain unanswered (many of them concerning the second film), just to ruin your Christmas.
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Breaking Bad: How Does Walt Win?
Before you read on, I should once again tell you (since I don’t want to receive any death threats) that this contains spoilers up to and including the most recent Breaking Bad episode, Granite State. If you’re not up to speed and don’t wish to have the show spoiled for you, you continue reading at your own risk. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Read More
Colm Currie 