the apartment (1960) - billy wilder

The Apartment is one of the great Billy Wilder screwball comedies starring Jack Lemmon, and was the follow up to Wilder's  'Some Like It Hot'.  Lemmon plays C.C Baxter, a company drone who falls for Fran Kubelik, the girl operating the lift in his workplace, played by Shirley MacClaine.  Baxter is also being put upon and used by his superiors, as his apartment is conveniently located for affairs to take place.  They pressure him to vacate it in the evenings so they can use it behind their wives backs, and although Baxter is diligent and hard working, he gains promotion due to his apartment's availability.  However, unbeknown to him, his boss, Mr Sheldrake,  is using it to see Miss Kubelik, who is his mistress.  Baxter discovers the truth and Kubelik realises that Sheldrake is just stringing her along, resulting in her taking an overdose in Baxter's apartment.  Luckily for all concerned, she is found by Baxter, bought round by the neighbouring Doctor, and then has to recuperate in the apartment with Baxter looking after her (it's based around Christmas time).  From then on it's a guessing game so see if they will fall for each other and find true love (of course they will).  Both MacLaine and Lemmon are excellent in their roles, and it must have been tough for MacLaine to follow Marilyn Monroe (the love interest in 'Some Like It Hot'), but she manages to achieve it while also being completely different from her in every way.  A classic.

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roy from the it crowd's t shirts

Roy (Chris ODowd) from The IT Crowd (a brilliant series) wears a different t shirt in every episode, which are geeky, stupid, or just plain nonsense (unless you are a geek).  What you need to decipher (or buy them) is a site dedicated to them,  but that would involve levels of geekdom l can only aspire to.
Luckily, there are plenty of people who have reached that level, and there are sites here and here devoted to the very thing.
Enjoy!

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zoolander (2001) - ben stiller

I never fancied watching Zoolander in the past, as l thought it looked to be too 'goofy American humour' (if there's such a thing) but l  had so many people going on to me about how good it is, that l finally crumbled.  I'll be the first to admit that l'm glad l did, as it was much, much funnier than l expected.  That's not to say that l found it hilarious or groundbreaking,  but it certainly had lots of amusing moments, and Ben Stiller was more than believable as an air headed model, who is brainwashed to become an assassin (don't ask).  Featuring lots and lots of cameos (such as the great and good David Bowie), and piss takes a plenty of the fashion industry, l can now see what all the fuss was about (only 11 years too late). I've got my finger on the pulse of all the current trends if you ever need advice about clothes and music.  Just page me.

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at ricky gervais and stephen merchant's real office

At the real life office of Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais.  Photos by Muir Vidler.


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I, partridge - steve coogan

I, Partridge is written 'in character' as if the TV shows such as 'The Day Today' that featured Alan Partridge were genuine, and has some genuinely funny moments that certainly made me chortle.  It got a bit dull towards the end and could maybe have been a bit shorter, but it was a change to read an 'autobiography' such as this. You don't have to be a great fan of Steve Coogan or the Alan Partridge TV shows to benefit from this, as it stands alone as an amusing journey through the land of TV, radio, and celebrity.  It also sheds some light on the 'reality and façade' of stars such as Dale Winton, which were some of the funniest parts.  Top stuff, but still not as good as Tom Baker's autobiography, which is hilarious and moving (a lethal combination).

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the admirable critchen (1957) - lewis gilbert

The Admirable Crichton (known as 'Paradise Lagoon' in the States) stars Kenneth More playing his usual easy going and charming role as the eponymous butler, who, when the family he serves gets shipwrecked on a deserted island for two years, becomes the 'Guv' of the island, with his former betters and masters following his instructions.  He is also about to be married on the island to one of the ladies, until a ship is spotted and they return to England, where the social order is once again established.  It's about equality, class, romance, and the notion that some men are meant to rule (or lead), and it is an old school family film with charm and some humour.  It is based on the J.M Barrie 1902 play, and also on the real life 'Admirable Crichton' (James Crichton - a right clever git and sportsman who l would have hated).  The FPO also pointed out that he is the bases for the butler in Red Dwarf called Kryten, which never occured to me.  Damn!  I hate it if she spots something l hadn't noticed or been aware of!  Divorce!!!!

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little angus young

I know rock stars are usually a lot smaller than you think, but this picture amazed me.  It's Angus Young of AC/DC  signing autographs in Perth, and there is no way l would have visualised him being so small.  The worst thing is, l've even been to see AC/DC a few times back in the day, and although l knew he wasn't tall by any stretch of the imagination (or his backbone), l didn't expect this (or The Spanish Inquisition).
My brain hurts (again).

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puss in boots (2011) - chris miller

The story of Puss in Boots, voiced by Antonio Banderas, before Puss joined the Shrek franchise in Shrek 2, this was really well done, and so much better than Shrek 3.  Maybe slightly too long for my liking, but it also had minor funny cameos, such as the cat that goes "OOoooo", and the cute girl cat was not an annoying distraction, but also funny. Friendship, trust, greed, revenge and golden eggs.  What more do you want?  Why weren't these sort of films out when l was a kid?
Mind you, we had 'The Jungle Book', so it wasn't all bad.

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I want candy (2007) - stephen surjik

A 'so called' British comedy with some well known (in the UK at least) cameos (ie Jimmy Carr and Miranda Hart), I Want Candy was another waste of my precious time.  Two students from Leatherhead film college decide to make a movie.  They change it to a porno, get involved with gangsters, and my will to live started dying out.  This lacked comedy (essential for a comedy movie), tension (important when there are gangsters involved) and  filth (essential if they are meant to be making a porno and the film is crap, as there should be some kind of titillation at least).  It confirms my belief that the more star cameos there are in UK films, the crappier the films become, as if they don't have to try with the script.  I don't know about wanting candy, l wanted carrots shoving in my ears and my eyes gouged out so l didn't have to suffer any more.  Bring on the sweet relief of death if l have to tolerate more of this nonsense.  Thank God l'm not young anymore.

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terry gilliam and his junk

Holly, Terry Gilliam's daughter, has started posting bits and pieces of her fathers junk on her blog.  I say junk, but these are old sketches, animation cells, film scripts etc to do with Monty Python's Flying Circus, Brazil, The Fisher King, and so much more.  She will certainly have plenty to be delving through and exhibiting, so this could go on for quite a while (unless she gets bored of doing it).  If l was to do a blog featuring my fathers stuff, it wouldn't last a day.  An empty bottle of gin, a couple of books and some clothes would just about cover it.  It's a bugger being from the poor, working class side of town (he moans yet again).  Don't get me started on the advantages she has and will have in her life, even if it is through no fault of her own, and she may well be a lovely person.  Jealous?  Too right l am.

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jeremy clarkson is upset about his dog

Jeremy Clarkson has declared Britain to be a nation of 62 million bastards, after he received twitter messages mocking him over the death of his dog.  I don't condone such actions on twitter, but if Clarkson is happy to take the piss and mock other peoples (and countries) weaknesses, disadvantages or basically just be an all round pompous opinionated arse (as if l can talk), he should expect people to have a go and mock him whenever they get the chance, as it will be one of the few chances they get to piss him off, annoy him, or upset him.  Clarkson goes on to complain about the British hating anyone who has a supercar (or is basically successful).  He is missing the point.  If someone has become successful through talent or expertise in some field, and do not behave or pontificate like a  gay hating, same sex marriage, anti abortion southern preacher, they are generally liked, no matter what car they drive.  It's the rich prats who think they are above everyone else and have a superior, pompous attitude (hello Mr Clarkson!), especially to the working class,  that the majority of the public despise.  If you can't take abuse, don't dish it out, and if you don't want people taking the piss about your dogs death on twitter, don't go on twitter to announce it.  I wish he'd piss off out of the country and take his Chipping Norton set with him (or change it into some kind of Peoples Temple set instead) . Some say he is just controversial for the sake of it, to have a laugh and promote the show.  I say he's an absolute twat of the worst kind, and l agree wholeheartedly with Stewart Lee and what he has to say about Top Gear and it's presenters.



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richard o'sullivan (and me) getting old

2009 Photo from the Daily Mail (probably the worst one they could find)

It's a bugger getting old, and sometimes it hits home what an old git you are when you remember shows or records from the past, and realise how long ago they were.  Not just that, but l recently found out that Richard O'Sullivan, who used to be Robin Tripp in Man About The House (1973), and Robin's Nest afterwards, had a stroke in 2003, and lives in the artists retirement home Brinsworth House.  He was in lots of other TV shows and films before Man About The House (including a role as  Cleopatra's brother in the 1963 film), but that is the programme l most associate him with.  I knew he had an relationship with Sally Thomsett (Jo) from the show, and was later with Tessa Wyatt (who famously made Tony Blackburn plead for her return on the radio), but l didn't know he had been ill.  Time waits for no-one and all that garbage, but l wish him well, as, although the shows don't appeal to me now, l liked them a lot when l was younger.

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zig and zag with robin williams

I used to love Zig and Zag when they were on 'The Big Breakfast', and before that, on Irish TV. In fact I have framed newspaper front pages with them on to the left of my computer as l am typing this. I was sorting through crap in the spare room a couple of days ago (still trying to clean it up a bit) when l found a load of old Zig and Zag DVD's that were transferred from video back in the day (amongst loads of old music ones). Because l used to be a sad bastard (OK l'll admit it - l still am), l accumulated loads of appearances of theirs from about 1988 (or1989) until about 1994 or so. I was thinking of putting them up on a separate blog, or on a specific You Tube channel, but l see there are some already up by fellow nerds like myself. I will check them out to see how much is up, and decide if l can be bothered doing it myself, as the main reason for putting them up would be to preserve them on the net somewhere. In the meantime, here they are with Robin Williams, in a clip that was already up.

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the odd couple (1968) - neil simon

An easy going feelgood comedy from 1968, The Odd Couple was originally a Broadway show, and Frank Sinatra was one of the considerations for the film, but after seeing the movie, you can't imagine anyone else playing the roles that Walter Matthau (as Oscar Madison) and Jack Lemmon (as Felix Ungar) made their own (although Art Carney played Felix on Broadway). I know there was also TV series and a follow up film with Matthau and Lemmon reprising their roles, but for me, this is the definitive article, played superbly by Matthau and Lemmon, and with a great supporting cast (including John Fiedler from '12 Angry Men'), unlike  the follow up, which stinks the place out Surstromming style. 
Not much story to the movie though. Felix doesn't turn up for his regular game of cards with the boys at Oscar's house, and they learn that he may have been trying to kill himself as his marriage has broken up. He ends up staying at Oscar's, they get on each others nerves (mainly due to Felix, with his constant cleaning, cooking and aches and pains), but it all works out in the end.
Another American classic, if, like me, you like old movies.

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in and out (1997) - frank oz

As myself and the FPO are still a a bit tired from the big push yesterday for Richmond Bank Holiday, we have been staying in, ignoring the street parties for Lizzie's anniversary, and either dossing about on the computer (mainly the FPO) or watching films (me).
We were certainly a bit behind with 'In and Out', as it was released in 1997, yet neither of us had seen it before. We knew that it was about English Literature teacher Howard Brackett (Kevin Kline) being outed by an old pupil at the Oscars, much to the teacher's surprise. Why? Only because he is about to get married, and says that he is a heterosexual.
Howard does then start to question his tastes and lifestyle choices, and gradually, with the help of a kiss by a gay news reporter (Tom Selleck), realises he may indeed, bat for the other side.
There's more to it than that, such as how pupils, family, and the community react to the news, but it is mainly about Kline's performance, which was brilliant.
Now l wish l hadn't left it so long to watch, and l am also a bit dubious about the FPO's comments that she can see some similarities between Howard's mannerisms and my own.
How very dare she - and she bleeding well meant it.
Fetch my divorce papers!

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