A-Z #83: Gandhi

You can pick up hundreds of DVDs for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. It's never about quantity, it's about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and understanding why I own the films ... or you can tell me why I should sell 'em

#83 - Gandhi

Why did I buy it?

Twas a Best Picture I have not seen. In an attempt to watch all the Best Picture winners, I believed that Gandhi was the film that stalled me for its win in 1982. Turns out, this is inaccurate. I have all the winners from 2011 and all the way back to ... 1987 ... and The Last Emperor. At any rate, I bought Gandhi and I watched it and ... if I'm honest, it might be sold off...

Why do I still own it?

Because it is a good film with a strong moral centre-point... based on a true-story with an incredible performance from Ben Kingsley. My problem is whether I will watch it again. As good as it is, I will struggle to view it a second time because its over 3-hours long and, until I make my epic film with thousands of extras ... I doubt I will need to watch it. Having said that, I could argue the same point as Lawrence of Arabia. If I was to sell Gandhi ... then I should additionally sell Lawrence of Arabia ... 

Should it stay or should it go?

A-Z #72: Elizabeth

You can pick up hundreds of DVDs for a round-pound each - it doesn't matter. It's never about quantity, it's about quality. A-Z is my way of going through my collection, from A-Z, and understanding why I own the films ... or you can tell me why I should sell 'em

#72 - Elizabeth 

Why did I buy it?

I didn't. Sarah Did. The release of the sequel - Elizabeth: The Golden Age - was upon us and I think all the publicity and positive-press got to her. She bought it. We watched it. In fairness, I dig Cate Blanchett.

Why do I still own it?

Its not mine to sell, in the first instance, but I think you have some blistering performances. Interestingly, Joseph Fienne's appeared in this film and Shakespeare in Love, both of which were released in 1998 ...  I was hardly the middle-ages fan back in 1998, instead caring more about Deep Impact, A Bug's Life and Godzilla, but I would assume when people worry about actors being typecast, starring in Shakespeare in Love and Elizabeth in the same year is a risky move. Geoffrey Rush plays another royal role in the guise of Francis Walsingham. Interestingly, Rush was also in Shakespeare in Love with Joseph Fiennes. Sir John Gielgud, Christopher Eccleston and Richard Attenborough also starred in this film so you can see that, as someone interested in Drama, there is muchos acting talent to appreciate.

Simon and Jo Revealed: Attenborough, Phone Boxes and much more

This weeks podcast came that little bit early and, due to this, you will be forced to wait a little over a week until the next one!

But Jo and I managed to film some small videos on different aspects of cinema - stuff to keep you entertained on these cold and lonely Easter nights ...

Simon and Jo on Prince Charles Cinema...



Simon and Jo on Premieres in Leicester Square...


Simon and Jo on Phoneboxes ...



Simon and Jo on Richard Attenborough ...