70) Chow Yun Fat

 

It was probably around college  that the name John Woo entered my consciousness.  I think I might have seen some of these at the revival theater back in the 90's not sure. But Chow Yun Fat was charismatic and a leading man in bloody over the top shootem up action movies of Hong Kong. To this day I watch these films with my dad. I think me and my dad prefer Hard Boiled to start and A Better Tomorrow 1-3 for advanced. 

American movies never did him justice as an actor. 

71) Details Magazine (1990-1999)

So whats a teenager to do? Some Generations had their GQ Magazine, I discovered Details by accident, that accident was named Uma Thurman.

The issue had the Pet Shop Boys in it. This magazine had photography by David Lachapelle or whatever that were trashy art.  In the end the magazine changed. But the style and articles were a new world for a teenager who didn't know anything. I credit any fashion sense to this magazine. 

72) Into the Woods (Steven Sondhiem)

This Musical is one of the most perfect works of art I've ever encountered. On the surface it is easily dismissed as a highschool staple, but to really examine the work it is the manifestation of Freudian desire and Jungian archetypes. Subtext, lust, betrayal, maternal relationships and the failures of the father. This is deeper than just the Fairy tale, Disneyification of tradgey and loss.

73) Peep Show

Everyone has a favorite British Comedy, I think. This is one of the smartest shows I've ever seen. The ego and the inner voice of truth. I can relate to this, this is what the Big Bang Theory should be, smart but dark.

72) Richard the III

There is this thing about Shakespeare and high art. Much Ado is the play I've seen the most but Richard the Third is the belle of the ball. There is a schemer, a plotter. He is a villain.


“And therefore, — since I cannot prove a lover,
To entertain these fair well-spoken days, —
I am determined to prove a villain,
And hate the idle pleasures of these days.”




Note I've never seen Sir Olivier's version of Richard the III, as the Richard III in my imagination while reading the play is perhaps better than anyone else performance.  On a side note, Johnny Rotten says that part of act in the Pistols, was taken form Oliviers Richard III.

73) the crying of lot 49

“She couldn’t stop watching his eyes. They were bright black, surrounded by an incredible network of lines, like a laboratory maze for studying intelligence in tears. They seemed to know what she wanted, even if she didn’t.”
― Thomas Pynchon, The Crying of Lot 49


This is one of those books, you read and suddenly realize, books can be cool, not in that reading is cool but holy fuck i want to hang out with book and go see rock shows. What is this book about, well, read it.

74) Easy E

Here is the thing about Easy E, he is not my favorite hip hop artist musically, but as an Idea, I love the concept of him. The music he made is offensive and depending on your sensitivity to political correctness, just plain wrong. Yes, that freedom to be loud, that is what was required then.