Andrew Blair Nov 23, 2018
Alas, the geek idols of my youth have fallen...
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
"Hi Rob. You f**king asshole."
Rob Gordon is a great example of a character not having to be likeable to be interesting and entertaining (He made it to number 16 on our totally definitive list of the Top 50 assholes in cinema).
Yet you can’t help but root for Rob, because he’s played by John Cusack, and John Cusack can make hitmen sympathetic. Plus, as evidenced by the first article I linked to, I am in no position to criticize anyone for making endless lists. As you are reading a website called Den of Geek, there’s a chance you can also relate to Rob’s obsessive behaviour.
In both Nick Hornby’s novel and the adaptation, the characters are both funny and tragic. In the hands of less...
Alas, the geek idols of my youth have fallen...
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
"Hi Rob. You f**king asshole."
Rob Gordon is a great example of a character not having to be likeable to be interesting and entertaining (He made it to number 16 on our totally definitive list of the Top 50 assholes in cinema).
Yet you can’t help but root for Rob, because he’s played by John Cusack, and John Cusack can make hitmen sympathetic. Plus, as evidenced by the first article I linked to, I am in no position to criticize anyone for making endless lists. As you are reading a website called Den of Geek, there’s a chance you can also relate to Rob’s obsessive behaviour.
In both Nick Hornby’s novel and the adaptation, the characters are both funny and tragic. In the hands of less...
- 11/23/2018
- Den of Geek
It won't be long before The Orchard's action-comedy satire Espionage Tonight blasts onto screens in North America on October 24th. As a digital and on demand release, the bombastic and bloody escapade directed by Rob Gordon Bravler is aiming to entertain audiences while poking fun at both the United States government as well as the baffling craze that is reality... Read More...
- 10/11/2017
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
“What really matters is what you like, not what you are like,” John Cusack’s Rob Gordon declares midway through High Fidelity, an admission the obsessive, self-obsessed record collector preemptively defends with, “Call me shallow, but it’s the fucking truth.” In Stephen Frears’ film—as in Nick Hornby’s novel of laddish arrested development that inspired it—Rob already realizes that judging people based solely on their taste leads to superficial relationships, the kind steeped in a constant game of one-upsmanship of the sort he engages in with his Top 5 list-compiling, frenemy coworkers. They also keep him from forming deeper connections with people, like his ex-girlfriend, who could give a shit.
It’s meant to be a mark of Rob’s personal growth that, eventually, he’s able to set aside his arrogance to reunite with a woman who listens to Art Garfunkel’s solo albums. And yet ...
It’s meant to be a mark of Rob’s personal growth that, eventually, he’s able to set aside his arrogance to reunite with a woman who listens to Art Garfunkel’s solo albums. And yet ...
- 3/27/2017
- by Sean O'Neal
- avclub.com
Charlotte Harrison Dec 16, 2016
Why in unhappy times, the power of a good book shouldn't be underestimated...
Hello and welcome to Geeks Vs Loneliness, our spot on the site where we natter about things that may be affecting some of us, and try and offer some crumbs of help and support. Thank you for clicking, and taking a look at what we're up to. This week, we're handing things over to the wonderful Charlotte Harrison, and she's got some books to talk about...
See related Justice League: new behind the scenes pics Future DC films will be "hopeful and optimistic" DC Comics movies: upcoming UK release dates calendar The Crow reboot to finally shoot in January
“Books, records, films - these things matter” – Rob Gordon in ‘High Fidelity’ (2000)
When I first thought about writing this piece I thought about writing about my personal history – my struggle with high functioning anxiety...
Why in unhappy times, the power of a good book shouldn't be underestimated...
Hello and welcome to Geeks Vs Loneliness, our spot on the site where we natter about things that may be affecting some of us, and try and offer some crumbs of help and support. Thank you for clicking, and taking a look at what we're up to. This week, we're handing things over to the wonderful Charlotte Harrison, and she's got some books to talk about...
See related Justice League: new behind the scenes pics Future DC films will be "hopeful and optimistic" DC Comics movies: upcoming UK release dates calendar The Crow reboot to finally shoot in January
“Books, records, films - these things matter” – Rob Gordon in ‘High Fidelity’ (2000)
When I first thought about writing this piece I thought about writing about my personal history – my struggle with high functioning anxiety...
- 12/15/2016
- Den of Geek
We all have predisposed notions about the infamous “romantic comedy.” As with other genres, there’s a large subsection of offerings, giving it a bad name. But, for every tired, cliché-driven comedy, there is another impressive offering that redefines the genre, garners plenty of laughs, and tells an honest story about love and relationships, however warped they may be. In the coming weeks, we’ll take a look at the fifty romantic comedy films that should be seen. These may not all be classic films, but they certainly put a stamp on the industry and the genre we affectionately call “rom-coms.”
#50. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Most of Wes Anderson’s films could be described as romantic comedies, but his 2012 effort stands out, as its central story focuses on young love and the need to find acceptance. In Anderson’s world, while quirks abound, true connections between characters are commonplace. With Moonrise Kingdom,...
#50. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Most of Wes Anderson’s films could be described as romantic comedies, but his 2012 effort stands out, as its central story focuses on young love and the need to find acceptance. In Anderson’s world, while quirks abound, true connections between characters are commonplace. With Moonrise Kingdom,...
- 1/10/2016
- by Joshua Gaul
- SoundOnSight
What do we know about San Diego, California? SeaWorld & Shamu. But wait, that’s not all! The San Diego Latino Film Festival is back with its 22 nd edition and they went all kindsa crazy. New venue, new vibe and jam packed with the best Latino film has to offer. As one of the last Latino film festivals still standing they really made a point to accentuate the spectrum of filmmakers coming out of Latin America and the Us. San Diego Latino has always been a favorite festival of mine as they run on community love and deserve to be celebrated. So, what happens when you abandon Chilenos, Peruanos, Mexicanos, Domincanos, Argentinos y Venezolanos on a deserted island and only allow them one book, an album, a film and a companion from the movies? Read on.
Bernardo Quesney - "Desastres Naturales" (Chile)
Book: The Cement Garden (Ian McEwan). I don´t know if this is my favorite book but it was very important in my adolescence. I felt very close to the main character. Loved by my friends and hated by our parents.
Film: "El Angel Exterminador" by Luis Buñuel. Buñuel is the film director that I want to imitate. I think he is perfect - his sense of humor, his Mexican films. Nothing is "normal" in his cinema. When I read his memoirs I felt that I knew him.
Album: Love in C Minor – Cerrone. Uff! Cerrone is the soundtrack of my everyday walk. It´s simply marvelous. When I put Cerrone in my bedroom I start to dance like John Travolta as Tony Manero. Naked or with boxers.
Companion: Raul Peralta from "Tony Manero." This is a character I feel respects life. It’s so amazing that Raul knows every phrase of that movie. Being Chilean and imitating something from a distant culture is a representation of the Chilean culture. Our nation is an imitation. It’s like we need role models.
Guillermo Zouain - "On the Road, Somewhere" (Algún lugar) (Dominican Republic)
Film: When people ask me what my favorite film is I usually tend to go for "Jaws," "Seven Samurai"or "The Royal Tenenbaums." In this case however I would have to choose "The Breakfast Club," John Hughes is a genius and this movie in particular he guarantees to keep his audience feeling happy, young and rebellious no matter what.
Album: It would be Paul Simon’s Graceland. I think surviving is all about the mood and keeping it happy in my deserted island. Graceland always makes me smile. I’ve been listening to this album since I was a kid and have never grown tired of it. The whole album has a kinetic feel that exudes, transmits and inspires movement. Paul Simon, by Paul Simon, Nashville Skyline by Bob Dylan and Lola vs. Powerman and the Moneygoround part 1 by the Kinks would follow.
Book: Palomar: the Heartbreak Soup Stories, A Love and Rockets Book by Gilbert Hernandez. The good thing about this comic book is that it will give you an array of things: length, many characters, even more details and above all drama and gossip. Palomar’s community of characters will also keep me company while rescue comes. I spent a year reading this book just because I didn’t want it to end.
Companion: I would have to go with Dr. Who, come on the guy speaks all the languages in the universe, has centuries of experience, has been in all kinds of trouble and has a time machine. His sonic screwdriver doesn’t work on wood though.
Enrica Perez - "Climas" (Peru)
Film: If you twist my arm I'd have to pick Almodovar's "Talk to Her." It's not only one of my favorites but the film has also this fate "anything-can-happen" quality and I'm such a drama lover! It would be perfect to be stuck with it on a deserted island. I would never get sick of it.
Album: Without a doubt: The Very Best of Maria Callas. The voice of this woman and the arias of this album on an island… what can I say?… I would wake up in heaven every single day.
Book: I would pick Ernesto Sabato's On Heroes and Tombs. It turned my life upside down when I first read it as a teenager and every time I've read it again I understood something completely different. This book tends to transform and change with time. It's kind of frightening and fantastic at the same time.
Companion: I read in a past quiz someone picked Mary Poppins… damn! That was a good one!!! But to avoid repetition, I would pick Indiana Jones. I mean, c'mon… do I have to explain why?
Gilberto González Penilla - "Los Hamsters" (Mexico)
Film: There are many films I consider favorites but If I had to take just one film to a deserted Island it would be "Cinema Paradiso" for the simple reason it reminds me of the love for cinema and is a film that I can tire of easily.
Album: It would be a Pink Floyd album. That would make me happy and would be perfect for a deserted island to reminisce of my adolescence.
Book: I had it in my mind to choose between a novel or a book of stories, but for the occasion the ideal book would be Notes on Cinematography by Bresson. It’s a book of small notes and thoughts by Bresson. The more I read it I find different meanings of cinema and life itself.
Companion: It would certainly be without doubt Woody Allen. He’s a director whom I admire and surely on a island it would be fun and full of anecdotes.
Humberto Hinojosa – "I Hate Love" (Mexico)
Book: Count of Monte Cristo . It was my first book when I was a child and I have very good memories of it. I enjoy it every time I read it again.
Album: The Beatles Abbey Road. I've heard it my entire life and I have never gotten tired of it. I think it works on an island. I also listen to it with my wife and kids so it would give me hope of rescue.
Companion: Wall-e. I'm sure we would be best friends forever.
Film: If I'm going to be on an island with Wall-e, I'm sure we will have a great time watching "The Party" by Peter Sellers over and over again which would be my choice of a film.
Andrea Herrera Catalá - "Nena, Saludame Al Diego" (Venezuela)
Film: It is an established fact: I can watch "Streets of Fire" five hundred times, and I'll never get bored. Besides, with this film I would bring a little more music to the island!
Companion: Rob Gordon from "High Fidelity." He is quite talkative and he could tell me tons of stories about his life, his girlfriends, the concerts he's been to... He would bring lots of records inside his head, and anecdotes and fun facts about them. It would be like having a never ending music magazine. We would compose new songs, we would do vocal jam sessions and Air Band contests... Until I wanted to kill him, or maybe the other way round.
Book: Cosimo Piovasco, Italo Calvino's Baron in the Trees. I could find new advice from Cosimo every time I read it, on how to live in peace with myself. This book has love, ideology, adventure, battles, joy and sorrow. Everything mixed up in just one big story. I recall I enjoyed a lot when I first read it. I'll let you know how is it going in reading number 1743.
Album: Bocanada by Gustavo Cerati. It is a gem, an amazing record. It is a pleasure listening to it next to the sea, lying under the sun. Cerati deserves a thousand and one tributes.
Emiliano Romero – "Topos" (Argentina)
Book: I feel the need to mention that this list changes permanently, depending entirely on my metamorphosis as a human being. Tengo Miedo Torero (My Tender Matador) by Pedro Lemebel. I would choose this book because it merges social and political reality with fiction. It depicts sensitive characters that have to cope with desires and ideologies. The book makes me want to embrace every single detail of life. It also encourages everyone to defend their right to be whatever they want to be.
Film: "Les Amants du Pont-Neuf" (The Lovers on the Bridge) by Leos Carax. This film manages to transform ugliness and pathos into beauty. Each scene makes me feel the magic of cinema. It really blows people's minds. The actors play their parts in a grotesque-acting style, yet with profound truth.
Album: Transa by Caetano Veloso. This album makes me feel happy. While I listen to it, I realize that the mixture of the different world cultures is really enlightening. Jazz, Rock, Bossa Nova, Tango, lots of talent and Latin blood.
Companion: Cosmo Kramer from TV series "Seinfeld." I would choose him because he always does what he feels. He never censors himself, nor thinks twice about things. He loves what he does and does what he loves to do, always. Besides, I think that the physical work of the actor is absolutely brilliant.
Check out the roster: http://sdlatinofilm.com/2015/
Written by Juan Caceres . LatinoBuzz is a feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow [At]LatinoBuzz on Twitter and Facebook...
Bernardo Quesney - "Desastres Naturales" (Chile)
Book: The Cement Garden (Ian McEwan). I don´t know if this is my favorite book but it was very important in my adolescence. I felt very close to the main character. Loved by my friends and hated by our parents.
Film: "El Angel Exterminador" by Luis Buñuel. Buñuel is the film director that I want to imitate. I think he is perfect - his sense of humor, his Mexican films. Nothing is "normal" in his cinema. When I read his memoirs I felt that I knew him.
Album: Love in C Minor – Cerrone. Uff! Cerrone is the soundtrack of my everyday walk. It´s simply marvelous. When I put Cerrone in my bedroom I start to dance like John Travolta as Tony Manero. Naked or with boxers.
Companion: Raul Peralta from "Tony Manero." This is a character I feel respects life. It’s so amazing that Raul knows every phrase of that movie. Being Chilean and imitating something from a distant culture is a representation of the Chilean culture. Our nation is an imitation. It’s like we need role models.
Guillermo Zouain - "On the Road, Somewhere" (Algún lugar) (Dominican Republic)
Film: When people ask me what my favorite film is I usually tend to go for "Jaws," "Seven Samurai"or "The Royal Tenenbaums." In this case however I would have to choose "The Breakfast Club," John Hughes is a genius and this movie in particular he guarantees to keep his audience feeling happy, young and rebellious no matter what.
Album: It would be Paul Simon’s Graceland. I think surviving is all about the mood and keeping it happy in my deserted island. Graceland always makes me smile. I’ve been listening to this album since I was a kid and have never grown tired of it. The whole album has a kinetic feel that exudes, transmits and inspires movement. Paul Simon, by Paul Simon, Nashville Skyline by Bob Dylan and Lola vs. Powerman and the Moneygoround part 1 by the Kinks would follow.
Book: Palomar: the Heartbreak Soup Stories, A Love and Rockets Book by Gilbert Hernandez. The good thing about this comic book is that it will give you an array of things: length, many characters, even more details and above all drama and gossip. Palomar’s community of characters will also keep me company while rescue comes. I spent a year reading this book just because I didn’t want it to end.
Companion: I would have to go with Dr. Who, come on the guy speaks all the languages in the universe, has centuries of experience, has been in all kinds of trouble and has a time machine. His sonic screwdriver doesn’t work on wood though.
Enrica Perez - "Climas" (Peru)
Film: If you twist my arm I'd have to pick Almodovar's "Talk to Her." It's not only one of my favorites but the film has also this fate "anything-can-happen" quality and I'm such a drama lover! It would be perfect to be stuck with it on a deserted island. I would never get sick of it.
Album: Without a doubt: The Very Best of Maria Callas. The voice of this woman and the arias of this album on an island… what can I say?… I would wake up in heaven every single day.
Book: I would pick Ernesto Sabato's On Heroes and Tombs. It turned my life upside down when I first read it as a teenager and every time I've read it again I understood something completely different. This book tends to transform and change with time. It's kind of frightening and fantastic at the same time.
Companion: I read in a past quiz someone picked Mary Poppins… damn! That was a good one!!! But to avoid repetition, I would pick Indiana Jones. I mean, c'mon… do I have to explain why?
Gilberto González Penilla - "Los Hamsters" (Mexico)
Film: There are many films I consider favorites but If I had to take just one film to a deserted Island it would be "Cinema Paradiso" for the simple reason it reminds me of the love for cinema and is a film that I can tire of easily.
Album: It would be a Pink Floyd album. That would make me happy and would be perfect for a deserted island to reminisce of my adolescence.
Book: I had it in my mind to choose between a novel or a book of stories, but for the occasion the ideal book would be Notes on Cinematography by Bresson. It’s a book of small notes and thoughts by Bresson. The more I read it I find different meanings of cinema and life itself.
Companion: It would certainly be without doubt Woody Allen. He’s a director whom I admire and surely on a island it would be fun and full of anecdotes.
Humberto Hinojosa – "I Hate Love" (Mexico)
Book: Count of Monte Cristo . It was my first book when I was a child and I have very good memories of it. I enjoy it every time I read it again.
Album: The Beatles Abbey Road. I've heard it my entire life and I have never gotten tired of it. I think it works on an island. I also listen to it with my wife and kids so it would give me hope of rescue.
Companion: Wall-e. I'm sure we would be best friends forever.
Film: If I'm going to be on an island with Wall-e, I'm sure we will have a great time watching "The Party" by Peter Sellers over and over again which would be my choice of a film.
Andrea Herrera Catalá - "Nena, Saludame Al Diego" (Venezuela)
Film: It is an established fact: I can watch "Streets of Fire" five hundred times, and I'll never get bored. Besides, with this film I would bring a little more music to the island!
Companion: Rob Gordon from "High Fidelity." He is quite talkative and he could tell me tons of stories about his life, his girlfriends, the concerts he's been to... He would bring lots of records inside his head, and anecdotes and fun facts about them. It would be like having a never ending music magazine. We would compose new songs, we would do vocal jam sessions and Air Band contests... Until I wanted to kill him, or maybe the other way round.
Book: Cosimo Piovasco, Italo Calvino's Baron in the Trees. I could find new advice from Cosimo every time I read it, on how to live in peace with myself. This book has love, ideology, adventure, battles, joy and sorrow. Everything mixed up in just one big story. I recall I enjoyed a lot when I first read it. I'll let you know how is it going in reading number 1743.
Album: Bocanada by Gustavo Cerati. It is a gem, an amazing record. It is a pleasure listening to it next to the sea, lying under the sun. Cerati deserves a thousand and one tributes.
Emiliano Romero – "Topos" (Argentina)
Book: I feel the need to mention that this list changes permanently, depending entirely on my metamorphosis as a human being. Tengo Miedo Torero (My Tender Matador) by Pedro Lemebel. I would choose this book because it merges social and political reality with fiction. It depicts sensitive characters that have to cope with desires and ideologies. The book makes me want to embrace every single detail of life. It also encourages everyone to defend their right to be whatever they want to be.
Film: "Les Amants du Pont-Neuf" (The Lovers on the Bridge) by Leos Carax. This film manages to transform ugliness and pathos into beauty. Each scene makes me feel the magic of cinema. It really blows people's minds. The actors play their parts in a grotesque-acting style, yet with profound truth.
Album: Transa by Caetano Veloso. This album makes me feel happy. While I listen to it, I realize that the mixture of the different world cultures is really enlightening. Jazz, Rock, Bossa Nova, Tango, lots of talent and Latin blood.
Companion: Cosmo Kramer from TV series "Seinfeld." I would choose him because he always does what he feels. He never censors himself, nor thinks twice about things. He loves what he does and does what he loves to do, always. Besides, I think that the physical work of the actor is absolutely brilliant.
Check out the roster: http://sdlatinofilm.com/2015/
Written by Juan Caceres . LatinoBuzz is a feature on SydneysBuzz that highlights Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow [At]LatinoBuzz on Twitter and Facebook...
- 3/19/2015
- by Juan Caceres
- Sydney's Buzz
Odd List Andrew Blair 25 Apr 2014 - 06:29
They're despicable, smug and downright unpleasant. Andrew lines up his pick of 50 biggest unpleasant, sometimes heroic folk in cinema...
Nb: This article contains swearing and spoilers for numerous films. Bear in mind that it may be not safe for work, and if you haven't seen a film mentioned in a particular entry, do consider skipping to the next one.
Conflict drives drama. Unpleasant people create conflict. Thus, cinema is crammed with huge, provocative arseholes/assholes (we went with the latter on the headline, but now we're in the article, we're going more arse than ass). There are obviously too many to list, but we've provided you with a thought-provoking array of multi-faceted bell-endery. That said, feel free to copy and paste the phrase, "Nice list, but you forgot x" to save time when placing comments below! The 'nice' bit is not compulsory.
Incidentally,...
They're despicable, smug and downright unpleasant. Andrew lines up his pick of 50 biggest unpleasant, sometimes heroic folk in cinema...
Nb: This article contains swearing and spoilers for numerous films. Bear in mind that it may be not safe for work, and if you haven't seen a film mentioned in a particular entry, do consider skipping to the next one.
Conflict drives drama. Unpleasant people create conflict. Thus, cinema is crammed with huge, provocative arseholes/assholes (we went with the latter on the headline, but now we're in the article, we're going more arse than ass). There are obviously too many to list, but we've provided you with a thought-provoking array of multi-faceted bell-endery. That said, feel free to copy and paste the phrase, "Nice list, but you forgot x" to save time when placing comments below! The 'nice' bit is not compulsory.
Incidentally,...
- 4/24/2014
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
The Overlooked Hotel is a new column in which we throw the spotlight behind the front line, champion those unfairly lost in the shallow focus of fame and feed the hungry underdogs.
Our second guest in the Hotel is George Armitage’s 1997 none more black comedy comedy Grosse Pointe Blank.
John Cusack may occasionally slum it in by-the-numbers films (2012, Serendipity, America’s Sweethearts – discuss), but when he is really applying himself he is amongst the most accomplished actors working today. Endearing, personable, yet edgy enough to convincingly portray characters as diverse as Craig Schwartz, Roy Dillon and Robert Hansen, Cusack’s best work has perhaps tended to feature in the lesser-known, unheralded films on his CV, which is where we come in. More to the point, that is where Grosse Pointe Blank comes in.
Released in cinemas in 1997, Grosse Pointe Blank has Cusack’s fingerprints all over it. He starred in it,...
Our second guest in the Hotel is George Armitage’s 1997 none more black comedy comedy Grosse Pointe Blank.
John Cusack may occasionally slum it in by-the-numbers films (2012, Serendipity, America’s Sweethearts – discuss), but when he is really applying himself he is amongst the most accomplished actors working today. Endearing, personable, yet edgy enough to convincingly portray characters as diverse as Craig Schwartz, Roy Dillon and Robert Hansen, Cusack’s best work has perhaps tended to feature in the lesser-known, unheralded films on his CV, which is where we come in. More to the point, that is where Grosse Pointe Blank comes in.
Released in cinemas in 1997, Grosse Pointe Blank has Cusack’s fingerprints all over it. He starred in it,...
- 2/26/2014
- by Dave Roper
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
We all have predisposed notions about the infamous “romantic comedy.” As with other genres, there’s a large subsection of offerings, giving it a bad name. But, for every tired, cliché-driven comedy, there is another impressive offering that redefines the genre, garners plenty of laughs, and tells an honest story about love and relationships, however warped they may be. In the coming weeks, we’ll take a look at the fifty romantic comedy films that should be seen. These may not all be classic films, but they certainly put a stamp on the industry and the genre we affectionately call “rom-coms.”
#50. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Most of Wes Anderson’s films could be described as romantic comedies, but his 2012 effort stands out, as its central story focuses on young love and the need to find acceptance. In Anderson’s world, while quirks abound, true connections between characters are commonplace. With Moonrise Kingdom,...
#50. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Most of Wes Anderson’s films could be described as romantic comedies, but his 2012 effort stands out, as its central story focuses on young love and the need to find acceptance. In Anderson’s world, while quirks abound, true connections between characters are commonplace. With Moonrise Kingdom,...
- 1/13/2014
- by Joshua Gaul
- SoundOnSight
Odd List Den Of Geek 20 Dec 2013 - 07:00
As nominated by Den of Geek writers, here are our favourite individual TV episodes of 2013…
Contains mild spoilers for some episodes.
A fortnight ago, Den of Geek's writers were asked to channel their inner Rob Gordon and select their top five favourite TV episodes of 2013 so far (anything airing in the second half of December wouldn't be eligible). Now, after much arduous mathematics and tallying up, the results are in.
So broad was the range of nominations, we've bumped up the top ten to a top fifteen this year, and included a bonus extra list at the end of every programme that appeared on the writers' lists of personal favourites.
Here we are then, the Den of Geek writers' favourite fifteen TV episodes of 2013...
15. Arrow – Sacrifice
What our reviewer said:
"But this was as entertaining and satisfying a finale as Arrow could ever have delivered,...
As nominated by Den of Geek writers, here are our favourite individual TV episodes of 2013…
Contains mild spoilers for some episodes.
A fortnight ago, Den of Geek's writers were asked to channel their inner Rob Gordon and select their top five favourite TV episodes of 2013 so far (anything airing in the second half of December wouldn't be eligible). Now, after much arduous mathematics and tallying up, the results are in.
So broad was the range of nominations, we've bumped up the top ten to a top fifteen this year, and included a bonus extra list at the end of every programme that appeared on the writers' lists of personal favourites.
Here we are then, the Den of Geek writers' favourite fifteen TV episodes of 2013...
15. Arrow – Sacrifice
What our reviewer said:
"But this was as entertaining and satisfying a finale as Arrow could ever have delivered,...
- 12/19/2013
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
Few actors draw us back like John Cusack – we can't get enough of that humble, sincere, over-articulate character he plays so well. So, Carole Cadwalladr asks the star of Say Anything and High Fidelity, why all the psychopaths?
Yesterday he was in Australia. Or was it tomorrow? John Cusack is confused. He's just returned from the Gold Coast, where he was filming his latest movie – Hard Drive, a heist thriller – and there's a brief interlude before he heads off again. Somewhere in between he saw the so-called "super moon", last week's fuller-than-normal full moon, but where?
"I was flying all day, so I saw it the second day," he says. "I was in the future, then I had to fly back to the past because I was a day ahead. It was day in Australia and then I flew all the way back, and it was daylight the entire time...
Yesterday he was in Australia. Or was it tomorrow? John Cusack is confused. He's just returned from the Gold Coast, where he was filming his latest movie – Hard Drive, a heist thriller – and there's a brief interlude before he heads off again. Somewhere in between he saw the so-called "super moon", last week's fuller-than-normal full moon, but where?
"I was flying all day, so I saw it the second day," he says. "I was in the future, then I had to fly back to the past because I was a day ahead. It was day in Australia and then I flew all the way back, and it was daylight the entire time...
- 7/8/2013
- by Carole Cadwalladr
- The Guardian - Film News
Start talking about a Top Five list for anything, and I’m instantly thinking Hi-Fidelity starring John Cusack as a music store owner with exceptionally good taste who is most likely the godfather of aspiring hipsters around the turn of the century. That is not to say that I do not find common ground with Cusack in his role as Rob Gordon. His emotional outbursts and socially driven commentary concerning relationships is flowery, fun and, at times, very honest. Throughout the movie Gordon recites various Top Five lists or asks his coworkers or friends to do the same. He even creates a record label called Top Five Records. So today I’m giving you my Top Five of all time (along with my Liberal Dead brothers in arms)…
Top Five Movies To Watch During Halloween (in no particular order):
1. The Funhouse – You guys Love the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I love the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Top Five Movies To Watch During Halloween (in no particular order):
1. The Funhouse – You guys Love the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I love the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
- 10/30/2012
- by Jimmy Terror
- The Liberal Dead
Everywhere we go music follows us. We should never overlook music’s role in our lives, and even more so in film. Listen and you’ll learn and experience a great deal more. Sunday Soundtrack takes a look at movies that feature memorable sounds that could be heard on the original soundtrack release or in the film itself.
Rob, top five musical crimes perpetuated by Stevie Wonder in the ’80s and ’90s. Go. Sub-question: is it in fact unfair to criticize a formerly great artist for his latter day sins, is it better to burn out or fade away? – Barry
High Fidelity plays like a great mix tape; the soundtrack was clearly assembled by great ears for music and could not have been an easy task because the film itself features well over 50 tracks. That would be too costly for a true soundtrack obviously, but still carefully managed within the...
Rob, top five musical crimes perpetuated by Stevie Wonder in the ’80s and ’90s. Go. Sub-question: is it in fact unfair to criticize a formerly great artist for his latter day sins, is it better to burn out or fade away? – Barry
High Fidelity plays like a great mix tape; the soundtrack was clearly assembled by great ears for music and could not have been an easy task because the film itself features well over 50 tracks. That would be too costly for a true soundtrack obviously, but still carefully managed within the...
- 9/9/2012
- by Graham McMorrow
- City of Films
Chicago – Through their ownership of Touchstone and Hollywood Pictures, Disney has released a stellar wave of catalog titles this week, including at least three comedies that I would call great, two of John Cusack’s best performances, and an ’80s comedy that many people point to as one of the faves of their childhood. Pick your favorite.
Sadly, none of the films come with new special features although the ones that had bonus material on DVD editions have been imported. Personally, I highly recommend the top three films, especially the two Cusack gems, a pair of movies that have held up remarkably well in the decade-plus since they were released. Ranked in order of quality (and click the title for a chance to buy each one of these releases) and all five titles were released on August 7, 2012:
High Fidelity
Photo credit: Disney
“High Fidelity”
Blu-ray Rating: 5.0/5.0
Synopsis:
Join John Cusack...
Sadly, none of the films come with new special features although the ones that had bonus material on DVD editions have been imported. Personally, I highly recommend the top three films, especially the two Cusack gems, a pair of movies that have held up remarkably well in the decade-plus since they were released. Ranked in order of quality (and click the title for a chance to buy each one of these releases) and all five titles were released on August 7, 2012:
High Fidelity
Photo credit: Disney
“High Fidelity”
Blu-ray Rating: 5.0/5.0
Synopsis:
Join John Cusack...
- 8/10/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Few genres of film inspire more personal responses than the romantic comedy. Given how much of our lives is spent on love and romance (falling into it, falling out of it, chasing it, giving up on it), it's no surprise that the rom-com has remained one of the most popular formulas since the dawn of cinema, and while the genre has undisputed classics, you can end up cherishing certain films purely because of their connection to your own life. They can help pull you out of a post break-up tailspin, they can comfort you through unrequited love, and, if a film hits you at the height of your passion for someone, they can end up associated forever, even blinding you to the movie's flaws -- seeing "Elizabethtown" in the midst of first love left this writer swooning after exiting the theater (thankfully, a subsequent rewatch put me straight as to how terrible it is.
- 4/27/2012
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
“What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?”
In my later teenage years, High Fidelity is probably the film I watched more than any other. Stephen Frears’ comedy drama is a funny and poignant adaptation of Nick Hornby’s immensely popular book which deals with typically male neuroses surrounding commitment, women and the future, combined with a lifelong obsession with music.
The main character Rob Gordon (John Cusack) acts as our narrator and guide through the movie as the downfall of his relationship with Laura (Iben Hjejle) sparks off a...
In my later teenage years, High Fidelity is probably the film I watched more than any other. Stephen Frears’ comedy drama is a funny and poignant adaptation of Nick Hornby’s immensely popular book which deals with typically male neuroses surrounding commitment, women and the future, combined with a lifelong obsession with music.
The main character Rob Gordon (John Cusack) acts as our narrator and guide through the movie as the downfall of his relationship with Laura (Iben Hjejle) sparks off a...
- 4/11/2012
- by Rob Keeling
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
It took a lot of begging and pleading from both producers and the public, but for whatever reason Johnny Depp saw it in his heart to return in one knockout scene in the new film version of "21 Jump Street," based on the hit Fox TV show that made him a star.
To put him in the ranks of some of the greatest movie cameos ever, we're counting down 35 surprise appearances in movies that pleased and shocked us -- and left us wanting more.
35. Jim Parsons, 'The Muppets' (2011)
Walter (Peter Linz) has to decide if he's "Man or Muppet," but during this solemn ballad he sees his human form in the mirror courtesy of the "Big Bang Theory" star. Although it was tunesmith Bret McKenzie who wrote the song, we think that a small chunk of that Academy Award for Best Song should go to Parsons for embodying the...
To put him in the ranks of some of the greatest movie cameos ever, we're counting down 35 surprise appearances in movies that pleased and shocked us -- and left us wanting more.
35. Jim Parsons, 'The Muppets' (2011)
Walter (Peter Linz) has to decide if he's "Man or Muppet," but during this solemn ballad he sees his human form in the mirror courtesy of the "Big Bang Theory" star. Although it was tunesmith Bret McKenzie who wrote the song, we think that a small chunk of that Academy Award for Best Song should go to Parsons for embodying the...
- 3/14/2012
- by Max Evry
- NextMovie
Forgive the quips, but we're tired and Comic-Con hasn't even started yet. With San Diego--a whale's vagina--set to become nerd heaven for next few days, there will posters, pics and more. So pour some Red Bull into your eyeballs, because the first batch starts here with Relativity dropping some visual bombs to kick things off. We start with The Wachowskis’ pal James McTeigue's "The Raven," in which Rob Gordon steps out from behind his record collection, puts on some old timey clothes and stops a murderer. A blend of (some) fact and (mostly) fiction, the film stars John Cusack as…...
- 7/21/2011
- The Playlist
The Social Network: A great movie? Absolutely. My favorite of 2010. But it's basically about white-privileged Ivy League douchebags trying to become filthy-rich douchebags, from Mark Zuckerberg (smug douchebag) to Sean Parker (the Napster douchebag) to the Winkelvoss Twins, who were trying to out douchebag that douchebag Zuckerberg.
The Expendables: I think we can all agree that Steven Seagall and Jean Claude Van Damme movies are douchebag movies, whether enjoyed ironically (hipster douchebag) or straight up (meathead douchebag). The Expendables was just a higher class of douchebag movie with more stars. And if you're ever wondering what the one surefire marker for a douchebag movie is, ask yourself this: Does it feature an Mma star?
The Hangover: It's difficult to really place my finger on why The Hangover is such a douchebag movie, although it probably has a lot to do with Bradley Cooper, who has a certain popped-collar quality about him.
The Expendables: I think we can all agree that Steven Seagall and Jean Claude Van Damme movies are douchebag movies, whether enjoyed ironically (hipster douchebag) or straight up (meathead douchebag). The Expendables was just a higher class of douchebag movie with more stars. And if you're ever wondering what the one surefire marker for a douchebag movie is, ask yourself this: Does it feature an Mma star?
The Hangover: It's difficult to really place my finger on why The Hangover is such a douchebag movie, although it probably has a lot to do with Bradley Cooper, who has a certain popped-collar quality about him.
- 4/26/2011
- by Dustin Rowles
Matt here… Introducing a feature from Alex Lawson who pitched this article to me last week. Hopefully he is gonna stick around and write some more…
It’s not an unfamiliar concept. You’ve probably heard it from a friend. Or a friend of a friend of roommate’s cousin or some such thing. It’s an all-too-common phenomenon, wherein the formerly pristine image of a famous or prominent individual is summarily demolished when it becomes apparent that this celebrity is, in fact, a total douche. You may have heard something like this in the past.
For instance, during a trip to Las Vegas, I started chatting with a blackjack dealer who said he dealt several games for George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon et al when they were shooting “Ocean’s Eleven.” He attested that all of them could not have been nicer, more down to earth guys….save for Andy Garcia.
It’s not an unfamiliar concept. You’ve probably heard it from a friend. Or a friend of a friend of roommate’s cousin or some such thing. It’s an all-too-common phenomenon, wherein the formerly pristine image of a famous or prominent individual is summarily demolished when it becomes apparent that this celebrity is, in fact, a total douche. You may have heard something like this in the past.
For instance, during a trip to Las Vegas, I started chatting with a blackjack dealer who said he dealt several games for George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon et al when they were shooting “Ocean’s Eleven.” He attested that all of them could not have been nicer, more down to earth guys….save for Andy Garcia.
- 2/16/2011
- by Alex Lawson
- Obsessed with Film
Hey all you caustic cynics and indifferent eye-rollers, blech to Valentine's Day, right? Who needs it? Manufactured by greeting card companies, responsible for the worst sweet this side of candy corn (message hearts, double blech), just the stupidest holiday ever. That's why I have made something just for you. An anti-love Pajiba Love. Let's eschew with the cupids and the doilies, and roll around in the Hate Spackle until we get all sticky. Oh and don't tell those lovesick mooncalves, but I have a treat for you. All the links now open in a new tab when you click. That's right, I just made your interneting lazier, because I love you.
In Hate news this morning, there's an entire tumblr (whyyyy is there no "e" in that word?) dedicated to people who are outraged that Arcade Fire won a Grammy last night. These are people who've never heard of the band.
In Hate news this morning, there's an entire tumblr (whyyyy is there no "e" in that word?) dedicated to people who are outraged that Arcade Fire won a Grammy last night. These are people who've never heard of the band.
- 2/14/2011
- by Joanna Robinson
In one of the key scenes in the 2000 film "High Fidelity" (based on the beloved Nick Hornby novel of the same name), main character Rob Gordon (played with sad-sack aplomb by John Cusack) reveals that after his girlfriend moved out, he re-arranged his beloved vinyl collection according to his own personal autobiography. "If I want to find the song 'Landslide' by Fleetwood Mac," explains Gordon, "I have to remember that I bought it for someone in the fall of 1983 pile, but didn't give it to them for personal reasons."
Comedian, writer and actor Patton Oswalt's obsession with music isn't nearly as maniacal and anti-social, but he still feels very strongly about the albums of his life. In his new book "Zombie Spaceship Wasteland" (a collection of autobiographical essays), he spends a great deal of time discussing how much R.E.M.'s Fables of the Reconstruction meant to him...
Comedian, writer and actor Patton Oswalt's obsession with music isn't nearly as maniacal and anti-social, but he still feels very strongly about the albums of his life. In his new book "Zombie Spaceship Wasteland" (a collection of autobiographical essays), he spends a great deal of time discussing how much R.E.M.'s Fables of the Reconstruction meant to him...
- 1/12/2011
- by Kyle Anderson
- MTV Newsroom
Much like John Cusack's character, Rob Gordon, in High Fidelity, director Danny Boyle appears to be at a point in his career where he's looking back at all of the thing's he's done. Just a couple months back the director talked about revisiting the universe he created in 28 Days Later with 28 Months Later, and now he's venturing back even further with Trainspotting. Moviefone recently spoke with the director that confirmed that a sequel to Trainspotting will happen, but that he's simply waiting for the proper time. According to the director, the sequel will be an adaptation of Porno by Irvine Welsh, who wrote the book that the first film is based on, but even admits that the material isn't as strong as the original, which he rightly calls "a masterpiece." He does say, however, that they've done considerable work with the material and that "when the moment's right" they'll...
- 12/6/2010
- cinemablend.com
Remember the John Cusack of the late '90s? He had been one of the beloved teens from the '80s, from Sixteen Candles to Say Anything... He continued to work steadily through the years, but it wasn't until 1997 that he found his resurgence with the double-tough whammy of Grosse Point Blank and Con Air. By the end of the decade, Cusack was Being John Malkovich, and as we turned to the double-zero, he became Rob Gordon in High Fidelity.
It was the role that seemed like it was made just for him, one that so easily could have failed in anyone else's hands. Here we have the story of a slacker striving to not reach his potential. He's prone to childish bursts of rage intermingled with pitiful weeping and desperation, and in fact, much of the film just outlines exactly how crappy he is. But Cusack commands it in a way that we follow.
It was the role that seemed like it was made just for him, one that so easily could have failed in anyone else's hands. Here we have the story of a slacker striving to not reach his potential. He's prone to childish bursts of rage intermingled with pitiful weeping and desperation, and in fact, much of the film just outlines exactly how crappy he is. But Cusack commands it in a way that we follow.
- 6/24/2010
- by Monika Bartyzel
- Cinematical
Glen shares his appreciation for the 2000 movie High Fidelity, and lists his favourite songs from its eclectic soundtrack…
There aren't many finer examples of films that marry together music and movies as perfectly as High Fidelity. In many ways it's the ultimate movie for music geeks.
For my celebration of this excellent film, I thought I would keep with the spirit of High Fidelity and provide a couple of top five lists to show why I love it, and my top five tracks that feature in it...
Top five reasons why I love High Fidelity
5. Breaking the fourth wall
Characters in films addressing the audience can be a tricky one to get right. Sure, there are notable examples of where this works brilliantly, but get it wrong and it can come across as both cheesy and distracting.
Happily, High Fidelity is an example of where this works brilliantly, as Rob...
There aren't many finer examples of films that marry together music and movies as perfectly as High Fidelity. In many ways it's the ultimate movie for music geeks.
For my celebration of this excellent film, I thought I would keep with the spirit of High Fidelity and provide a couple of top five lists to show why I love it, and my top five tracks that feature in it...
Top five reasons why I love High Fidelity
5. Breaking the fourth wall
Characters in films addressing the audience can be a tricky one to get right. Sure, there are notable examples of where this works brilliantly, but get it wrong and it can come across as both cheesy and distracting.
Happily, High Fidelity is an example of where this works brilliantly, as Rob...
- 6/15/2010
- Den of Geek
Essential Sounds (2010/05/15)
Hello and welcome once again to Essential Sounds, it is I your real life Rob Gordon with another top 5 records to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Upon this week’s silver platter we have a spot of Oxford prog rock, a slab of jazzy rap, some Canadian ambience, dirty basslines and a bearded fellow having a stab at reggae. So for maximum pleausre insert headphones and keep your hands inside the cart at all times.
1. “Air Born” by The Kid Daytona
It seems these days if you’re not a member of the cash money familia or an alumni from the new school of hipsters it’s quite hard to get yourself out into the mainstream of hip-hop society. Granted there’s the odd exception, but overall there’s a lot of great hip-hop artists flying under the radar and this week’s first essential...
Hello and welcome once again to Essential Sounds, it is I your real life Rob Gordon with another top 5 records to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Upon this week’s silver platter we have a spot of Oxford prog rock, a slab of jazzy rap, some Canadian ambience, dirty basslines and a bearded fellow having a stab at reggae. So for maximum pleausre insert headphones and keep your hands inside the cart at all times.
1. “Air Born” by The Kid Daytona
It seems these days if you’re not a member of the cash money familia or an alumni from the new school of hipsters it’s quite hard to get yourself out into the mainstream of hip-hop society. Granted there’s the odd exception, but overall there’s a lot of great hip-hop artists flying under the radar and this week’s first essential...
- 5/15/2010
- by Aaron
Some people work at a desk, pushing paper… some people do manual labor, working outdoors, or in factories… some manage others and some are managed… but, a select few highly-skilled folks kill for a living. These professional killers are a lonesome breed, focused and cold, fully committed to their trade. If you were ever meet one,well… it probably means you’re not going to have a good day. However, at least in Hollywood, these mysterious assassins are not all bad guys. These movies tell us some of these skilled takers of lives actually have hearts, can love another or put their training to use for a better good. This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is all about the movies that feature Professional Killers – The Good Guys.
10. La Femme Nikita
Ah, Luc Besson with your love for professional killer movies. Where would we be without you? But, some of you...
10. La Femme Nikita
Ah, Luc Besson with your love for professional killer movies. Where would we be without you? But, some of you...
- 3/9/2010
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
John Cusack has been a certain kind of hero for decades now-- every guy wants the guts to serenade his crush like Lloyd Dobler in Say Anything, or the limitless pop culture knowledge of Rob Gordon in High Fidelity. But only in 2012 is he really taking charge as a hero, helping his ex-wife and their children escape the mayhem and destruction that occurs when, well, the world begins to end. In a roundtable interview last week, Cusack said it was fun to have the chance to play the everyman turned hero, but maybe even more fun to drink near-beers with Woody Harrelson and marvel at how director Roland Emmerich pulled off the whole spectacle. Read below for our conversation with him. 2012 opens this Friday. Did you get sick of acting in front of all the green screen in this movie? The green screen is not as bad as it looks...
- 11/11/2009
- cinemablend.com
Romantic Comedies promise love through impossible and inspiring circumstances; the first person you kiss always seems to be your soul mate, and the person you are supposed to marry is always left at the alter when you realize who you really wanted was the casual friend who has been there all along. Modern romances seemed to have shifted, offering plausible situations that seem to tell the audience love is something you find yourself. For example, in Must Love Dogs we watch a heartbroken Diane Lane put herself out there on multiple dating websites until she finds someone new to spend the rest of her life with. In 500 Days of Summer, Tom Hansen learns that your true love is not someone you have to convince yourself is your soul mate. I spent a good portion of my life boasting about how High Fidelity was the most realistic romantic comedy and fairest portrayal of monogamy.
- 10/11/2009
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Wusses, pussies and wankers are listed in the latest Details magazine. Details takes a hard look at the complete cinematic wastes of life and lay-downs that have dotted celluloid over the ages. According to the magazine, "lots of big-screen characters lack cojones (we're looking at you, Joseph Gordon-Levitt in (500) Days of Summer and Michael Cera in, well, everything), but which big-screen icons are most in need of a pair?" Here is a taste of the Details film "Pussy" list: 20. Paris (Orlando Bloom) in Troy 19. Rob Gordon (John Cusack) in High Fidelity 18. Harold (John Cho) in Harold & Kumar Go to White CastleHarold 17. Holden McNeil (Ben Affleck) in Chasing Amy 16. Wall-e in Wall-E15.
- 8/5/2009
- by April MacIntyre
- Monsters and Critics
High Fidelity (2000) What fucking Ian guy?! Synopsis A hipper-than-thou misanthrope named Rob Gordon (John Cusack) reevaluates his life after being dumped by his girlfriend Laura (Iben Hjejle). Between running his own vinyl store, dealing with the idiocy of the Musical Moron Twins (Todd Louiso as Dick and Jack Black as Barry), and shepherding along the musical sounds of two shoplifting skater punks, he tracks down his All-Time Top Five breakups to figure out why he'll always be doomed to be rejected. Why We Love It I'm not too proud to admit that I let the scenarios and emotional responses in this movie inform every opinion I have about dating and romance. It's sweet and sad, yet the humor is dead on - mostly displaying what almost every human has gone through during a breakup. Those moments. The tossing and turning at imagining your ex, the person you've just been cut off from having that comfortable, intimate...
- 5/6/2009
- by Cole Abaius
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
(In anticipation of Quantum of Solace, we're rerunning some of our favorite Bond posts alongside a few new ones. Enjoy!)
By: James Rocchi
Now that there's been a matter of, you know, 24 hours since the release of Quantum of Solace, enough time has passed for an assessment of the canon -- out of the James Bond films, which are the best? Well, it's easy to name the best seven -- and in doing so, draw our week of Bond pop-culture coverage here at Cinematical to an end. Bear in mind that this list is only worth noting as a source of minor-scale arguments -- which is exactly why it's fun. And now that my inner Rob Gordon is ready, let's talk about the best Bond films of all time ... In no particular order, except for number one.
7. Casino Royale
Yeah. It's in there. In the top third, most definitely. There's more in my review,...
By: James Rocchi
Now that there's been a matter of, you know, 24 hours since the release of Quantum of Solace, enough time has passed for an assessment of the canon -- out of the James Bond films, which are the best? Well, it's easy to name the best seven -- and in doing so, draw our week of Bond pop-culture coverage here at Cinematical to an end. Bear in mind that this list is only worth noting as a source of minor-scale arguments -- which is exactly why it's fun. And now that my inner Rob Gordon is ready, let's talk about the best Bond films of all time ... In no particular order, except for number one.
7. Casino Royale
Yeah. It's in there. In the top third, most definitely. There's more in my review,...
- 11/15/2008
- by Cinematical staff
- Cinematical
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