Archives – Pete Baran  
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THE ADVENT CALENDAR OF CHRISTMAS FILMS 20: Home Alone
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aka Edvard Munch?s The Scream in film form. How much of a selling point was the cute moppet, head in hands, yelling. This is an idiosyncratic gesture considering the plot of the film. Certainly being left behind leaves Mac in a tough spot, but even w[…]

THE ADVENT CALENDAR OF CHRISTMAS FILMS 19: The Lion In Winter (And The Wardrobe)
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Ah, Tom really was boozing at this point. Forget the Narnia affectations of the comedy gag in the title. Anyway it would be funnier if it was the Lion In Winter And The Garderobe. Instead we have a really rather austere period piece which yet again h[…]

THE ADVENT CALENDAR OF CHRISTMAS FILMS 18: Digby The Biggest Fucking Dog In The World
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That’s what it says on the piece of paper. It must be said though that the scribe was mighty pissed at the time and, well, Digby is the biggest fucking dog in the world. No two ways around it. A cautionary tale perhaps for anyone who gets a pup[…]

THE ADVENT CALENDAR OF CHRISTMAS FILMS 17: The Hudsucker Proxy
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As far as I could work out, the main connection between Christmas and The Hudsucker Proxy is that it snows near the end. Why we still have this ridiculous link between snow and Christmas, at least in the UK, is beyond me. I think I have only ever see[…]

FT TOP 100 FILMS
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FT TOP 100 FILMS
So with one to go, to be posted tomorrow, here have a quick overview of the FreakyTrigger Top 100 films: 100-2:
100. Citizen Kane
99. Star Wars: A New Hope
98. Raiders Of The Lost Ark
97. Bringing Up Baby
96. Godfather II
95. Some Li[…]

THE ADVENT CALENDAR OF CHRISTMAS FILMS 16: Miracle On 34th Street
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1947 version. It really is no contest. Cute little Nathalie Wood versus that kid from Mathilda who looks like she is constantly sucking a thistle. No, we like our sugar coated sentimentality dished up firmly with a black and white spoon. Though perh[…]

According to Marketing last week
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According to Marketing last week, Weetabix is now Britain’s biggest cereal. What do they mean now? One Weetabix biscuit has always been almost twice the size of its nearest rival Shredded Wheat. But apparently Corn Flakes used to be bigger. Wha[…]

THE ADVENT CALENDAR OF CHRISTMAS FILMS 15: Elf
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Seeing the picture of Will Ferrell as an Elf mocked-up on so many boxes of Sainsbury’s Corn Flakes this year has been a cheery sight. An odd one though, own label products always used to be free from marketing hype and tie-ins. That was the pro[…]

FT TOP 100 FILMS 2: BILL AND TED’S BOGUS JOURNEY
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FT TOP 100 FILMS
2: BILL AND TED’S BOGUS JOURNEY
Originally known as Bill And Ted Go To Hell, a nicely literal title. Though hell is one of the shortest visits of the grand tour of more metaphysical realms than the previous excellent adventure.[…]

If you go to Bodean’s on Poland Street in Soho, London’s premiere BBQ restaurant*,
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If you go to Bodean’s on Poland Street in Soho, London’s premiere BBQ restaurant*, try to go on a Monday or Wednesday. Serendipity sent me there last night, a Monday, when the BBQ Burnt Ends are the special on the menu. Admittedly the nam[…]

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  1. Notes from me.... 11 Clarkson has shifted from full-on pop star to daytime chatshow host who is also a part-time…