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Here’s where the lists start to get a bit meatier. I think that each of these additions is really strong, and could easily top anyone’s list. We are through the tens and onto bigger and better fare. Without further ado:

Top Ten Movies
9. There Will Be Blood – So, ladies and gentlemen…if I say I’m an oil man you will agree.
This is the latest entry to this illustrious list, and I don’t often add new material, so you know this is some good stuff. Not like a child who chooses their favourite movie by what was last scene, i have spent weeks on this one weighing up it’s merits, and its validity in this list. And here it is. I walked out of the cinema after seeing this and felt like I had been a part of something special. Daniel Day-Lewis gives what I will call the greatest acting performance I have ever seen, easily. But there is so much more. Paul Thomas Anderson has written a true classic piece of cinema. The script is fantastic, as it follows Daniel Plainview for thirty years of oil drilling. We see that Plainview is an unbelievably competitive man, and that he knows how to talk his way into getting what he feels is rightfully his. In fact, whenever Plainview was speaking I found myself just glued to his every word. He commands respect, he commands attention, he commands! Watching him work those around him, and systematically take down his younger evangelical nemesis, is just a sight to behold. I thought that each and every scene just looked beautiful, like watching paintings come to life. This movie has given me faith that great things are still out there, waiting to be made.

Top Ten TV Shows
9. Ned and Stacey
This show will always hold a place in my heart, as it was the place I met and fell in love with Thomas Hayden-Church. He is clearly the carrying force of the show. He dominates every scene, capably supported by his Rico. Stacey was simply a plot device, though the best stuff Debra Messing would ever produce. I liked the first season, and even when it got weird with them buying a muffin shop I still loved it all to the end. Why? For my love of all things Ned! Ned pretends to go to Nepal, but he’s just hired a hotel room with a llama in it. Ned has dreams where he is everyone that he is hurting (“Prepare for these fleshy cannons to pound your village”), and then wakes to find that he is Stacey too, I have never seen a more sinewy bird in my life. Ned yells out “I said, Good day sir!” All rock solid gold hits. When he was cast in Spidey 3 I had no doubts he could pull it off, after this, Tales From The Crypt’s Demon Night, Sideways and Wings. That voice alone could carry a show. This was a lock for my list.

Top Ten Books
9. Rebel Without A Crew – Robert Rodriguez
You read this book and just want to go out with a camera and make something. This book inspires, informs and intimidates. Rodriguez’s journey to making feature debut ‘El Mariachi’ was quite the long one. Getting locked in editing suites all night so he could work in privacy, but also not be able to go to the toilet until morning. This guy was serious, he wanted this flick made. Seeing the determination, the brains and the balls he shows in doing everything that he does I just want to shake his hand. No wonder he will go down as one of the revolutionary directors of this generation, I’m calling it for sure. People may not like everything he has lent his name to, but Spy Kids was the best kid’s flick since The Goonies, Sin City showed a completely new way to adapt comics and Desperado is just purely great action. If ever I wanted to be a filmmaker this book would be my bible. Even if you just want to bake cakes, this book will teach you the grit and drive that you very well might need down the store to get the good flour. This would make a great double pack with King’s ‘On Writing’ as both are great eyes into the trade, and both inspirations to a new generation. Go out right now and get this book!

Top Ten Comic Books
9. Preacher
This book I had heard a lot about but never come across for years. People had told me to read it, but it just never happened. Then one day I had my chance, and by one day I mean over the space of a few weeks. I used this title as a treat. I would do some of my own writing and then be allowed to read an issue, or two. I slowly chewed through all 66 issues, plus 6 mini’s. From the very beginning I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. A preacher imbued with the power of an errant heavenly creation, a vampire from Ireland, a girl who has clearly fallen on hard times, a weird bald bastard and the Saint of Killers. Throughout the issues you come to know and care about a lot of different people. Characters earn your respect, lose it, piss you off and then give you moments where you just can’t believe what they are doing. It is one of the few comics where I will admit that I talked to it. I yelled, in frustration, anger and joy, and I questioned the characters on what was happening. I was completely involved. I couldn’t believe some of the things that Garth Ennis came up with. You never knew what to expect from this title and I loved it. It had character arcs of unbelievable interest and a core story that completely swallowed me. I should also brag that I own a Fuck Communism Zippo lighter, coolest nick-nack ever! Now I just sit and think that I cannot wait to go back to the trials of Jesse Custer in a few years and just read it all again over a few weeks. I really can’t wait for that at all.

Top Ten Songs
9. Rough Diamonds – End Of Fashion – Imagine me if you were not here
This song is just so beautifully written. It sounds wonderful, but then I listen to the words and it takes me away. I imagine that sea, I know what it is like to be on it. The acoustic version on the Lock Up Your Daughters EP is the best way to listen to it, in my ears. It is the perfect song to wake up to on a Sunday morning and realise that you don’t have a headache.

We are now one step closer to getting to know me, in all my mad hatter glory!

Posted on March 10th, 2008 by ryan
Filed under: books, comics, life, movies, music