Thought I’d do a new update of some of the various Top 5s. I used to have many more categories but over time I’ve lost either the webpages or social media posts with them, so here are the ones I remember/can find.

• Apocalypse Now
  • Where the making of the film has as much if not more drama than the film itself. It is the true definition of epic. Each viewing reveals something new; the colours and photography are truly award-winning. The actors become their characters which is both amazing and scary: watching Captain Willard break down, knowing that Martin Sheen was not acting. From the iconic opening fan/helicopter scene, the misquoted napalm speech, ‘stay on the boat’, there is so much to appreciate each and every viewing.

• Blade Runner
  • I have watched this film at least 4 times every single year since 1985.. and I still can find something different to focus on each time. The wonderful cinematography is still as amazing all these years later. Each version has its pluses, even the voice over one -but the Final Version is my favourite.
    The follow up Blade Runner 2049 was pretty decent too. It doesn’t have the initial impact of the original, but the visuals have taken the original and stayed true. I would not hesitate to group the two together.

• Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
  • Even though it was (sadly) sanitised for 1950’s audiences, the language, the colours, the story are all so rich. Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor are perfect, and the supporting characters – who could ever forget ‘Gooper and the no neck monsters’. It’s one of my favourite plays, and if they’d stuck with the full text/subtext of Tennessee Williams’ original words it would be absolutely perfect. As it is, it’s forgivable enough.

• The Endless Summer
  • You probably don’t know this documentary film, but if you know me well, you know how much I like watching surfing. I love everything about this..surfing, history, travel… I mean, what a combination, how could I not love this. The surf world as seen in 1966.. fascinating.

• 2001: A Space Odyssey
  • The pinnacle of filmmaking that doesn’t treat its viewers like idiots. The soundtrack, visuals, everything is just amazing at each viewing. Every time it’s in a cinema I will try and see it, whether it’s at a Cemetery outdoor screening or in a local multiplex as it’s so great on the big screen.

• Blake’s 7
  • This is probably #1 on the list – the whole premise, writing, and characters are so deliciously flawed and human, that I don’t care the sets are dodgy, costumes are even dodgier It doesn’t matter when you have Avon’s cutting wit, Blake’s doomed cause, an enemy that may not be worse than the hero’s cause, and an ending where not only do the heroes lose, but they are annihilated in the most unhappy, pointless and final ending ever. Perfect.

• Brideshead Revisited
  • Could you get a better cast than this: Anthony Andrews as the fey troubled Sebastian Flyte and Jeremy Irons as the haunted Charles Ryder. The use of Castle Howard as the stately pile was inspired. The book is one of my favourites, and this limited series was 1980s perfection.

• Farscape
  • There are many, many series that are mainstream sci-fi, but it was this one that has stuck with me the most, and given the most episodes that I still enjoy watching. It takes a new approach to the space explorer thrust into a whole new universe of weird beings and peril. You have a hero who isn’t afraid to be vulnerable but strong, to cry and admit weaknesses. I still love watching it, and thankfully it does get a final ending.

• Hannibal
  • A recent entry by comparison, but even so, have seen each season at least 10 times and counting. The sheer visual artistry is breathtaking, the writing is elegant, and the actors inhabit their characters completely. At its core it’s standard fare – Hannibal is doing something bad, and Will Graham is trying to catch him, but it’s so much more. Bryan Fuller has created something amazing, visually stunning and downright luscious. I am resigned to never getting a season 4 or more… but Will/Hannibal can never be over just yet, can it?

• Yes Minister/Yes Prime Minister
  • Politics has changed a lot and not at all. The farscial situations, and wonderful wordplay make these series timeless. There is a bit of the 1980s sensibilities around it, but you can squint a little and ignore that. Between this and ‘The Good Life’, there was some wonderful comedy back in the day.

• On Bear Ridge – Royal Court (2019)
• Hamlet – Harold Pinter Theatre (2017)
• Thrill Me – Jermyn Street Theatre (2022)
• Girl on An Altar  – Kiln Theatre (2022)
• Coriolanus – Donmar Warehouse (2013)

To see more about the above – go to the Theatre section here

• Accidental Death of an Anarchist – Dario Fo (1970)
  • I first saw this in the Dylan Thomas Theatre in Swansea when I was 14. I don’t remember much but I can picture the stage, the theatre itself, and even vaguely the programme. So obviously I them had to read the actual play itself. The theme of dirty politics, the absurdity of people, the helplessness of circumstance, the total lack of punishment for malfeasance, and how when even good (ish) people are faced with certain circumstances they do evil deeds.. that absolutely resonated with the 14yr old me. The play is inspired by real events of a bombing and a death in police custody, and if you are even slightly interested, go down the rabbit hole as I did. The background to this play and the Italian politics at the time – it’s absolutely fascinating. It’s a hard play to get right, too much farce can negate the subject matter; too much reliance on the despair makes it boring and dry… it’s a fine balancing act. I’ve seen versions that just don’t work, but wow, the ones that do.. they last for decades.

• Cat on a Hot Tin Roof – Tennessee Williams (1955)
  • I came to the play via the film- as a big Paul Newman fan, and seeing the stunning looking Elizabeth Taylor I had to check it out. The film was from 1958 and is of its time.. as shown by the near absolute disappearance of the Skipper/Brick homosexual relationship which provides the catalyst for the events of the film.  I’ve since seen the ‘real’ version on stage a few times since, and you could see more reality, more truth in those versions. That there is more truth in a play about mendacity and lies and liars is in itself wonderful. So again, the richness of language to hide and distract is key. The film of the play although less truthful, is so visually stunning, and Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor never more electric, that it’s hard not to love. So my compromise is reading the words on the page with those visuals in my head… it works quite well.

• Julius Caesar – William Shakespeare
  • After my mother, my English teacher was a huge influence in my love of reading. The first play I saw was Julius Caesar while in school. It reinforced my love of the words of Shakespeare and a lot of the time I prefer reading the words to some of the ‘reinterpretations’ of his works. The whole premise of words being able to move the masses for good though usually bad is brought to life so deeply with the ‘Friends Romans..’ speech. It resonated with me at 13, and all these years later that hasn’t changed.

• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead– Tom Stoppard (1966)
  • Shakespeare adjacent – what a wild idea that is brought to life so brilliantly. The tennis game of questions, chefs kiss. This one is hard to separate from the wonderful film with Gary Oldman and Tim Roth, but what a wonderful thing to have both the written words and a brilliant production.

• Waiting for Godot – Samuel Beckett (1953)
  • and finally we come to Godot. I’ve seen this a few times on the stage, but my absolute favourite was Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart’s version in the Kings Theatre Edinburgh 2009. I was living in Amsterdam at the time, but made trips back home every now and again, and this was the sole reason for one of those trips. As far as the written play, the Author apparently said “Why people have to complicate a thing so simple I can’t make out.” I think that’s the beauty of the play, it’s simple but complicated at the same time. ?You can look at one layer and be happy or look at 20 layers and still enjoy it. I liken it to how I view baseball: you can look at it as one guy trying to hit a ball thrown by another guy and score more runs; or it’s about why a righty pitcher throws a low inside 3-2 changeup because the lefty hitter tends to hit fastballs out of the park and there is a guy at 1st who steals bases…This play to me is the same… it’s about 2 guys passing the time, or it’s about philosophy, religion, love, politics…or none of those things.
    The beauty of language…a single word is simple, put a whole set together and you have a world of imagination

• Joy Division – “Permanent”
  • From the first time I heard “Love Will Tear Us Apart” on John Peel’s show back in 1980, Joy Division became a fixture in my life. They truly became my ultimate favourites in college thanks to my ex, who played me “She’s Lost Control” to woo me (haha) and wrote me love letters on exam papers using lyrics from “Atmosphere.” He lived and breathed these songs, and every time I hear Joy Division now, I remember those six years we were together.

• New Order – “Substance”
  • Following on from Joy Division, New Order was a staple of the dance floor from my student days until I was probably too old to be there. The sound was different, but the quality of the lyrics was still there.

• Simon and Garfunkel –  “Old Friends”
  • Growing up, my house was filled with music—mostly opera, some C&W, and lots of Simon and Garfunkel, all thanks to my mother. So, while I don’t mind opera and I’m okay with some newer country, I fell in love with S&G when I was seven or eight. Their lyrics were artful, but it was the harmonies—that glorious sound—that caught me and has never let go.

• The Amazing Devil – “Love Run”
  • A newer (2016) entry, but has settled into the list with repeated listens still holds up. Each song invokes so many visuals and situations, and there’s not a skip amongst them.

• Underworld – “Dubnobassiwthmyheadman”
  • Underworld were a big part of my early 20s – from seeing them live a few times, to throwing myself around a dance floor (or whatever field), they were different lyrically and the driving beats so good. This album just wont let go of my internal rhythm.

• Joy Division – “Love Will Tear Us Apart
  • So many intrinsic life memories around and of this song that it will always be in my Top 5

• New Order – “Vanishing Point“
  • I could say it’s the lyrics, the imagery, but in reality it’s the tune…every single time I hear it I want to dance – and I do in my head, every time. Just hearing the opening chords makes my feet twitch.

• Samuel Barber – “Adagio for Strings“
  • A piece of music most people have heard even if they don’t realise. It’s haunting, it’s evocative and it brings me to near tears each time I hear it. This is what music should be.

•  Simon and Garfunkel  – “For Emily Wherever I May Find Her“
  • Speaking of how music should feel—this is the vocal equivalent. The beauty of Art Garfunkel’s voice is sublime. I still love “The Only Living Boy in New York” because of its history and sound, but “For Emily…” wins out for its angelically evocative quality.

• The Amazing Devil – “Shower Day“
  • There are a couple of TAD songs that stand out lyrically, such as “Drinking Song for the Socially Anxious,” but “Shower Day” just edges them out. I mean, how can you describe a shit day better than: “You’re the one who asked me if I’m feeling okay / I said I’m fine / It’s just a sitting down in the shower day.”
    • “You’re the one who asked me if I’m feeling okay
      I said I’m fine
      It’s just a sitting down in the shower day”

• Underworld – ReadingFestival (August 1996)
  • I’d seen them at other gigs, but here they were at the height of their popularity. The whole crowd in a crammed-full tent was absolutely bouncing. I was mostly sober but I came out on the biggest high ever. It knocked my whole being into a different dimension. I’ve never experienced such a feeling since.
  • Longer write up here

• Faith No More – Brixton Academy (November 1997)
  • Mike Patton is completely nuts – that is a fact, and this concert was no exception. I went with my great friend Tim (who I went with to hundreds of gigs) and we moshed, bounced and generally got lost in the madness that was FNM.

• Queens of the Stone Age – Garage (November 1998)
  • Tim and I saw QotSA every time they played London between 1998 and 2003, but this one was my favourite. That night they were totally at their peak, the crowd were into it, and all in all a perfect set.

• Jesse Macht – my house (April 2015)
  • What can I say – a musician that I found, loved his work, contributed to his crowdfunding for his album ‘Suitcase Heart’ and have seen multiple times on Stageit – announced he was doing ‘House Concerts’ how could I not. To have an artist you love playing in your living room is a once in a lifetime opportunity – and it was as awesome as you can only hope. And that once in a lifetime became twice – what a treat.

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