AFI…WTF?
The American Film Institute (AFI) has released their 10 Top 10, in which they’ve determined the Best 10 movies in the top 10 genres. I really have some issues with this list. It just seems a bit dated. Half of the Romantic Comedies are in black and white, and number 1 is, for the most part, a silent film. Yes, the movie has sound in the form of a soundtrack, but there is no dialogue. The lists that work best for me are the Sci-Fi and Gangster films, although I have no idea how they can put 2001: A Space Oddity ahead of the original Star Wars. I was considerably happier with their 100 Years…100 Movies list that came out ten years ago. They released an 10th anniversary edition, but I prefer the original.
At one time, I promised myself that I would see each of the top 100 movies. I doubt that’ll ever happen, but if there’s a movie on the list that you want to see, I’ll be happy to watch it with you and a bottle or two of wine. Since I’m not into wine/food pairings, I’m opening up a new pairing system–wine/movie. What wine goes best with a comedy? a thriller? Would you bring out Champagne for any wedding movie, or only a special one? Horror movies obviously require a red wine, but which one? These are all questions that need to be answered.
I’m going to start with the obvious, The Godfather =Sangiovese. I chose a varietal here because it is Italy’s most widely planted red, and the word means “blood of Jove.” Jove was another name for the Roman god Jupiter. Italy+Roman god+blood=The Godfather. I don’t think every movie will work out this nicely, but I’ll try to come up with some more. Feel free to pair your own favorite movies and wines.
June 18th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I drank an old Languedoc Red with Apocalypse Now. That was pretty cool. I’m trying to remember what I drank with Leaving Las Vegas (urp!). My friend and I took a flasque of bourbon to see Return of the King.
June 19th, 2008 at 4:14 am
Ah, but you should match up the alphabet with the movie title. So Z = Dr Zhivago = Zinfandel = Both awful.
Or, you could use English rhyming slang in which you use a word which normally accompanies a word which rhymes with the one you wish to use. Example: your boat = your face (because boat often goes with boat race). your trouble = your wife (because trouble often goes with trouble and strife.
So applying the Whino Rhyming algorithm makes me think you should drink Dom Perignon with The Godfather.
June 19th, 2008 at 8:41 am
I don’t understand. All I know is that Zinfandel is not awful. Its berries make me sing.
June 19th, 2008 at 10:05 am
I have this haunting visual of Josh singing to his berries in a tragic musical set in the future on a planet where grapes won’t grow.
June 19th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
@Johnny - Hah! What would you pair with that? A ‘61 Bordeaux is the only thing that I can think will go.
June 19th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
I’m surprised no one stated the obvious, Silence of the Lambs-Chianti. Glancing at the list, I came across The Grapes of Wrath. What wine says “broke Okies flee the Dust Bowl for a brighter future in lush California?”
June 19th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
I can’t stay awake during movies even without thinking about wine.
June 20th, 2008 at 12:00 am
@Chieftain - Well, that makes the pairing easier, then!
June 20th, 2008 at 12:52 am
Ah, yes. I meant to say that the wine to go with “Leaving Las Vegas” = Sin City = Zin. Right? I guess if you’re not familiar with English rhyming slang, the rhyming whino doesn’t work.
I’ve nothing against Zin - the great plonk of California. I come and go on that one. But you know, I’m not sure I could tell Pino, Cab, Zin, Merlot and Syrah in a blind test. Mind you, if I’d drunk a bottle of each, I’d probably be blind!