My All Time Favourite Film is Don’t Lie Now
When asked the question:
what is you favourite movie ?
Do you tell the truth ?
I have touched on what the Desert Island Discs phenomenon before in reference to books, so it is hardly a surprise to find out that research reveals the same issue with movies.
At least 10% lie about having seen a film or about what is supposedly their favourite, lest they appear uncool.
As with most things, men are worse than women 
17% more likely to lie about this than girls !
All of this sounds pretty shallow and innocuous but other research shows why some may do it.
Nearly a quarter of all people polled said:
They judge people by the films they watch !
Big statement but sensible to some extent. It provides an easy and instant barometer if you’ve both seen the same film you can gauge their response and taste against your own.
This accounts for films such as On the Waterfront, for example, always being cited as a top film despite the fact the very few actually buy the DVD.
Here are some of the top secret shame movies, ones that actually are people’s favorites but are kept quiet about
-
Dirty Dancing
Pretty Woman
Ghost
Sound of Music
Harry Potter
Note they are largely chick flicks !
So girls, when the fella on the sofa beside you groans about another film you want to watch, it could be just an act !
Not sure what my favourite film is - but a suggestive ‘off the top of the head’ selection
-
Pulp Fiction
Donny Darko
The Jason Bourne films
Ninth Gate
A Beautiful Mind
The Ipcress File & Funeral in Berlin
The 39 Steps
What I enjoyed but wouldn’t shout about
-
Blazing Saddles
What about you ? ………. And be honest now !
A Retired Bookdealer said,
April 13, 2007 @ 10:59 am
In No Particular Order …..
Kill Bill - 1
Friday the Thirteenth, all of them.
Straw Dogs.
Pulp Fiction.
Taxi Driver. etc ….
Rod said,
April 13, 2007 @ 11:10 am
ARB
Kill Bill 1 & 2 for me plus, predictably, The Godfather trilogy
A Retired Bookdealer said,
April 13, 2007 @ 11:38 am
The Godfather trilogy, absolutely, a classic, one of the first things I bought on Dvd.
Tell you one thing I do like, between you and me and that’s the Top Gun - soundtrack.
the dinosaur said,
April 13, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
I am amazed none of the Bond films feature in your favourites Rod, if they had which one would top the list? Personally I like flms based on a true story that evoke the atmosphere of another time such as: Doctor Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia, Out of Africa and Zulu. Although fiction such as Far from the Madding Crowd depicts the reality of ordinary people perfectly, it makes me homesick for Dorset too! That is my top film even if it’s not fashionable.
Rod said,
April 13, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
Dino
strange thing is, I’m not sure what this Bond business is all about, I read all the original books a while ago and didn’t think much of them, most of the films are dull as well !
The only connection I can see is my resemblance to Pierce Brosnan
The best are
Dr No
From Russia with Love - probably the best
Goldeneye
Casino Royale
Pleased to hear you’re going for some classics, and genuinely so, I know.
I also rather like Jamaica Inn, all the early Hitchcock and of course……….
Barb Wire featuring Pamela Anderson !
Here’s another cracker - A River Runs Through It. The book, by Norman Maclean, is an absolute literary delight as well
Little Brother said,
April 13, 2007 @ 10:40 pm
Rod,
A River Runs Through It-what a book.
The best film NEVER to be made has to be the Spike Milligan war memoirs.
Best film? Easy, ‘Everything Louder than Everything Else’ with Phil Taylor bemoaning the lack of ashtrays at concert venues-classic.
LB
Rod said,
April 14, 2007 @ 8:52 am
LB
The best film NEVER to be made has to be the Spike Milligan war memoirs
Have to disagree, they would have ruined a classic set of books. Those books are a sacred cow that should never be touched by anyone other than discerning readers.
What books should have been films ?
Virtually everything written by John Le Carre
Past Caring by Robert Goddard
The Arthurian trilogy by Bernard Cornwell - should have been done in 3 parts as per Lord of the Rings
Craig said,
April 17, 2007 @ 3:13 pm
1 - Highlander
2 - The Shawshank Redemption
3 - The Green Mile
4 - Billy Elliot
5 - Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers
6 - Star Wars
7 - Wargames
8 - Ferris Buellers Day Off
9 - Weird Science
10 - Risky Business
I used to really like Pretty Woman until I found out that the body at the start didn’t belong to Julia Roberts
Rod said,
April 17, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
Craig
love 1, 2 & 3 all great films, watched Highlander again last week in fact.
I believe te promo picture for PW is in fact 3 women, her head then top and bottom half from 2 other women !
Witches of Eastwick said,
April 17, 2007 @ 5:31 pm
Rod,
Strangely enough none of the boys voted for Women on the Verge or another classic, Bagdad Cafe …. can’t think why. Here are a few of our other favourite films:
Leon
Sexy Beast
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Alfie
Amelie
Volver
Polar Express
Out of Africa
Memoirs of a Geisha
Jean de Florette
Manon des Source
Babette’s Feast
LA Story
….. and at one time, anything with Harrison Ford in it.
Craig’s choices 2 and 4 also get the thumbs up.
WoE
Rod said,
April 17, 2007 @ 5:49 pm
WoE
Leon was good as was Lock Stock, though I preferred Snatch.
Here are some more
Heat
Ronin
All of Johnny Depp’s ‘grown up’ movies
LA Confidential
Brief Encounter
Interview with a Vampire
Goodbye Mr Chips
Emma S said,
January 27, 2010 @ 8:22 pm
Rod,
In no particular order
1) How green is my valley (& no im not welsh)
2) Blow
3) Meet joe Black
4) Hanibal rising
5) Taken
I went to see Legion last friday and it was terrible! The latest comedy I bought on DVD was The Hangover which has really made me look forward to Vegas in March.
Rod said,
January 28, 2010 @ 8:27 am
Emma,
that a list with a difference. I’ve got Blow and DVD and garee it’s a good film - hard to find Johnny Depp in anything that isn’t frankly. (Ninth Gate and Secret Window for example)
Further to that What’s Eating Gilbert Grape as well.
Joe Black is an interesting choice, generally panned by the critics but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it myself.
Not seen the last ones Emma
Best
Rod
Steve-Welwyn Garden City said,
January 11, 2012 @ 10:51 am
These are my favourites, no particular order except the first, just love it.
DOUBLE INDEMNITY
MARATHON MAN
THE DEERHUNTER
633 SQUADRON
SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
Steve.
Rod said,
January 11, 2012 @ 12:52 pm
Steve,
good list - I’ll add to mine . . .
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Girl Who Played with Fire
The Girl Who Kicked a Hornet’s Nest
All featuring Noomi Rapace as Salander - excellent films
Best,
Rod