Those that know me, know I don’t often use superlatives seriously. I don’t have a favourite restaurant. I have a list of restaurants I like. I don’t have a favourite movie. I have a list of movies I like. So it is no small thing that I am making the following statements.

Wall-e is the best Pixar film that they have made. This is no small thing. The reason why Pixar is so amazing is not because their films look amazing- which they do. . . but because those images are connected to stellar stories and fully drawn characters.

Wall-e is the best film of the year. Ok. I know we’re only six months in, but I haven’t seen anything yet that has knocked my socks off. Have you? And whatever comes along in the next six months will have to do some serious tap dancing to be in the same league.

So yeah. I loved Wall-e. There are many, many reasons.

1. I love a good spork joke.
2. The statements it is saying about our over consumption and our lives being run by the bigger is better Wal-Martishy Corporations.
3. I’m a sucker for a love story.
4. Hello Dolly.
5. Proof that a story is not about clever, snappy dialogue.
6. Proof that a funny and sad sci-fi cartoon about humans destructive (and creative) urge and a love story between robots can work.
7. Hello Dolly.
8. Curious characters.
9. Good old fashioned Buster Keaton comedy.
10. Proof that cockroaches and Twinkies are indeed able to survive anything.

A.O. Scott’s NY Times review is fantastic and there are no spoilers.

1. Pulp Fiction (1994)
2. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-03)
3. Titanic (1997)
4. Blue Velvet (1986)
5. Toy Story (1995)
6. Saving Private Ryan (1998 )
7. Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
8. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
9. Die Hard (1988 )
10. Moulin Rouge (2001)
11. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
12. The Matrix (1999)
13. GoodFellas (1990)
14. Crumb (1995)
15. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
16. Boogie Nights (1997)
17. Jerry Maguire (1996)
18. Do the Right Thing (1989)
19. Casino Royale (2006)
20. The Lion King (1994)
21. Schindler’s List (1993)
22. Rushmore (1998 )
23. Memento (2001)
24. A Room With a View (1986)
25. Shrek (2001)
26. Hoop Dreams (1994)
27. Aliens (1986)
28. Wings of Desire (1988 )
29. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
30. When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
31. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
32. Fight Club (1999)
33. The Breakfast Club (1985)
34. Fargo (1996)
35. The Incredibles (2004)
36. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
37. Pretty Woman (1990)
38. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
39. The Sixth Sense (1999)
40. Speed (1994)
41. Dazed and Confused (1993)
42. Clueless (1995)
43. Gladiator (2000)
44. The Player (1992)
45. Rain Man (1988 )
46. Children of Men (2006)
47. Men in Black (1997)
48. Scarface (1983)
49. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
50. The Piano (1993)
51. There Will Be Blood (2007)
52. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad (1988 )
53. The Truman Show (1998 )
54. Fatal Attraction (1987)
55. Risky Business (1983)
56. The Lives of Others (2006)
57. There’s Something About Mary (1998)
58. Ghostbusters (1984)
59. L.A. Confidential (1997)
60. Scream (1996)
61. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
62. sex, lies and videotape (1989)
63. Big (1988)
64. No Country For Old Men (2007)
65. Dirty Dancing (1987)
66. Natural Born Killers (1994)
67. Donnie Brasco (1997)
68. Witness (1985)
69. All About My Mother (1999)
70. Broadcast News (1987)
71. Unforgiven (1992)
72. Thelma & Louise (1991)
73. Office Space (1999)
74. Drugstore Cowboy (1989)
75. Out of Africa (1985)
76. The Departed (2006)
77. Sid and Nancy (1986)
78. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
79. Waiting for Guffman (1996)
80. Michael Clayton (2007)
81. Moonstruck (1987)
82. Lost in Translation (2003)
83. Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987)
84. Sideways (2004)
85. The 40 Year-Old Virgin (2005)
86. Y Tu Mamá También (2002)
87. Swingers (1996)
88. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
89. Breaking the Waves (1996)
90. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
91. Back to the Future (1985)
92. Menace II Society (1993)
93. Ed Wood (1994)
94. Full Metal Jacket (1987)
95. In the Mood for Love (2001)
96. Far From Heaven (2002)
97. Glory (1989)
98. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
99. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
100. South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut (1999)

Of the 100 I haven’t seen 15. Of the 15, there are 8 that I want to see. I ought to put an asterisk by Napoleon Dynamite as I paid to see it, went to see it and walked out on it after 20 minutes because I thought it was complete rubbish.

This list is definitive proof that I am a complete nerd.

After 45 minutes of there trying to fix the fuel leak they turned on the in entertainment system which was a bad sign. I had been upgraded to business class so at least I was comfortable.

I watched My Boys, a sitcom that one of my friends is in. The only time I get to watch it is when I am on a plane. I need to buy the DVDs. Then I watched The Other Boleyn Girl, which is so trashily terrible, I found it engaging. I must admit that I enjoyed the book in one of those “I must read this at home as fast as possible so no one sees me with it in public” kind of ways but the movie doesn’t even have that to commend it. If you didn’t understand what a big deal it was for Henry to break with Rome, you certainly wouldn’t gain any insight here. It’s pure soap opera costume bodice ripping drivel.

At least it was free.

We kept getting updates that they didn’t have any updates.

Four hours in, the Captain came back to talk to us. Never a good sign. They were going to take us off the plane as the folks in cattle class were really uncomfortable.

I could see my planned dinner at Mama’s Mexican Kitchen slipping away.

While we were waiting to de-plane, they told us the flight was cancelled and would now be leaving at 11am the next day.

Sigh.

A long day of travel without going anywhere. I found it amusing that I had to go through passport control without actually leaving the country.

I must say however, that British Airways was fantastic in how they handled everything. They let us know what was going on, kept us as comfortable as they could and were very professional.

So here I am waiting to board again. I’m on my third coffee trying to estimate when it would be not too unseemly to have a cheeky airport cocktail.

It must be 5PM somewhere. . .

A.O. Scott has been one of my favourite film critics for a while. His style is clear, he doesn’t get all uppity and snobby and sometimes he makes me laugh. His review for The Love Guru has a couple of inspired paragraphs.

Which might sum up “The Love Guru” in its entirety but only at the risk of grievously understating the movie’s awfulness. A whole new vocabulary seems to be required. To say that the movie is not funny is merely to affirm the obvious. The word “unfunny” surely applies to Mr. Myers’s obnoxious attempts to find mirth in physical and cultural differences but does not quite capture the strenuous unpleasantness of his performance. No, “The Love Guru” is downright antifunny, an experience that makes you wonder if you will ever laugh again.

And this is, come to think of it, something of an achievement. What is the opposite of a belly laugh? An interesting question, in a way, and to hear lines like “I think I just made a happy wee-wee” or “I’m making diarrhea noises in my cup” or to watch apprentice gurus attack one another with urine-soaked mops is to grasp the answer. Please don’t misunderstand: I’m not opposed to infantile, regressive, scatological humor. Indeed, I consider myself something of a connoisseur. Or maybe a glutton. So it’s not that I object to the idea of, say, witnessing elephants copulate on the ice in the middle of a Stanley Cup hockey match, or seeing a dwarf sent flying over the same ice by the shock of defibrillator paddles. But it will never be enough simply to do such things. They must be done well.

I have a feeling they won’t be using his quotes for the poster. . .

Brilliant. . .

“Because you want to know where the triggers are, you know?. . .If you’re at all interested in what I do, then check out Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, check out Louis Armstrong—they are the essentials. I’m only a mish-mash of what I’ve heard, you know? And I’ve taken it my own way, but listening doesn’t hurt.” –Keith Richards 

I’ve always loved The Stones. I think it may be because of the blues. I dig the blues more than any other kind of music and The Stones at their heart and soul are all about the blues.

Back in 1993 I was driving with the guy I was seeing at the time (Kevin, if you’re reading this, hope you don’t mind my telling this story.) and I had a copy of Hot Rocks in my car. He picked it up and looked it over.

“I like The Stones.” I said.

He tossed the cassette aside. “They’re not the Beatles.”

I didn’t say anything, but I thought, Well. No. That’s because They’re The Rolling Stones.

When we saw the preview for Shine a Light, the documentary concert flick about The Stones directed by Scorsese, I thought, I wanna see that.

Stuart got us tickets for tonight. They had 100 theatres across the UK that screened it in tandem with the Leicester Square premier. Before they film they showed the band arriving on the red carpet and were each quickly interviewed by some bird. Was moderately entertaining, but the best bit was when she was talking to Keith Richards, he was rather flirty, kept touching her arm and before he walked away said, “Take a card.” He had given her his card. Was fantastic. I don’t think he realised he was on camera. I hope his wife wasn’t watching.

There was a part of me that was worried about the film because I really don’t dig watching filmed concerts. They lack the gravitas and energy of an actual live show. While Shine a Light isn’t as good as seeing a live show, it’s pretty damn good.

There’s a ton of energy and the old clips are hysterical. There is also something sweet and almost shocking in seeing their baby-faces against the miles of life on their face now.

The best part of the concert is the song with Buddy Guy. That alone is worth the price of admission.

Mick Jagger’s unrelenting energy is nothing short of amazing.

It looks fantastic which is no big surprise not only because of Scorsese, but it was shot by Robert Richardson (The Aviator). A quick bit of research online also shows the camera operators aren’t slouches either. They include John Toll (”Legends of the Fall”), Robert Elswit (”There Will Be Blood”), Andrew Lesnie (”The Lord of the Rings”), Emmanuel Lubezki (”Children of Men”), Stuart Dryburgh (”The Piano”) and Declan Quinn (”Leaving Las Vegas”). The coverage that they get is kick ass. They’re able to tell a story. You see Richard’s eyes flick and connect — the give and take and listening as they work together.

The sound is also nothing short of remarkable.

So, go. If you like The Stones, check it out. You’ll have a good time.

Actor Leading: Daniel Day-Lewis
Actor Supporting: Javier Bardem
Actress Leading: Julie Christie
Actress Supporting: Amy Ryan
Animated Feature: Ratatouille
Art Direction: Sweeney Todd
Cinematography: There Will Be Blood
Costume Design: Sweeney Todd
Directing: No Country For Old Men
Documentary Feature: No End In Sight
Documentary Short:Freeheld
Film Editing: The Bourne Ultimatum
Foreign Lang Film:The Counterfeiters
Makeup: La Vie En Rose
Original Score: Atonement
Original Song: Falling Slowly- Once
Best Picture: No Country For Old Men
Short Film Animated: I Met The Walrus
Short Film - Live Action: The Tonto Woman
Sound Editing: Transformers
Sound Mixing: Transformers
Visual Effects: Transformers
Adapted Screenplay:No Country for Old Men
Original Screenplay: Juno