Donald Clarke

• Best-of lists
• December 31, 2010, 13:35

Your final end-of-year poll comes courtesy of the good people at the Dublin Film Critics Circle. The list is compiled from the votes of professional critics throughout the capital and reflects the influence of endless (good-natured) squabbles conducted while striding …

• Box Office Figures
• December 27, 2010, 21:16

Our good friends at IMDb have just published an interesting list detailing “the most popular films of 2011″. Some predictions make sense and some seem perfectly barmy. Given the peculiar nature of the list’s composition, this is not altogether surprising. …

• Hell
• December 26, 2010, 22:47

Over the last few days, you have probably read a few appalling reviews of the latest Meet the Parents film. Take heed. You may think you have some idea how ghastly Little Fockers is. You are, perhaps, holding thoughts of …

• Television
• December 24, 2010, 18:48

Children singing christ-i-an rhymes. You’d think that Cliff, as a tambourine waving, bible-thumper of eight centuries standing, would know were the stresses should lie in the word “christian”. Oh well. It’s just one more mystery to ponder while attempting to …

• Best-of lists
• December 21, 2010, 22:15

One guiding rule for anyone writing a “blog” is (or should be): don’t deliberately antagonise your readers. If your Perch and Perching “blog” is going smoothly, don’t suddenly start extolling the virtues of bream or pike. If the creator of …

• Golden Globes Hell Oscars
• December 19, 2010, 21:58

A few posts ago, using my most facetious tone, I somehow found time to address the Golden Globes nominations. Some mild controversy ensued. Well, in the following days, a greater than usual amount of outraged muttering has burbled around this …

• Deaths Rock 'n' pop.
• December 18, 2010, 19:13

“Bulbous also tapered.” “Yeah, but you’ve got to wait till I say: ‘Also a tinned teardrop’”. “Oh, Christ!” “Alright, again. Beginning.” “Fast and bulbous.” “That’s right, the Mascara Snake. Fast and bulbous. Also a tinned teardrop.” “Bulbous also tapered.” “That’s …

• Film Festivals Trailerspotting
• December 16, 2010, 21:04

It’s here! It’s here! It’s here! The first trailer for The Tree of Life has arrived. A few months ago, we speculated that, its release delayed more often than the last Guns ‘n’ Roses album, Terrence Malick‘s much anticipated saga …

• Golden Globes
• December 14, 2010, 15:45

Lord alone knows why people still pay so much attention to the Golden Globes. It has been demonstrated over and over again that these gongs offer only the loosest pointers to the Oscar nominations. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the …

• Best-of lists Moaning
• December 13, 2010, 22:56

The question is prompted by comments made by Billy Bob Thornton in a recent interview with The Daily Telegraph. The former Angelina-squeezer suggested that “In our current state of affairs, especially in the entertainment business, we’re living in a time when …

• Best-of lists
• December 10, 2010, 00:30

Yes. It’s the day you’ve all been waiting for (if you live a very sheltered life). This morning we publish our choices of the best films and music of the year. Please feel free to add your own suggestions here …

• Best-of lists
• December 6, 2010, 22:37

On Friday, you will all be up bright and early to grab The Ticket and — having set the day aside — begin perusing our choices of the best film and music of the year. (Because you all buy the …

• Best-of lists Rock 'n' pop.
• December 5, 2010, 22:12

Not that you care, here are my favourite albums of 2010. As ever, the list is a reflection of an elitist, pretentious and generally sod-you sensibility. Then again, there is some evidence of unreconstructed post-punk conservatism in here. What are …