Andrew Loog Oldham’s Top10
Andrew Loog Oldham was the manager of the Rolling Stones and Marianne Faithfull from 1963–1967. In 1965, he started Immediate Records, one of the first independent labels in the UK, where he worked with such artists as Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Nico, Jimmy Page, the Small Faces, Rod Stewart, and more. He is the author of four memoirs, Stoned (1998), 2Stoned (2001), Rolling Stoned (2011), and Stone Free (2013). He loves movies, and as you can see, he’s particularly fond of French neonoir.
Photo by Betina La Plante
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1
Alexander Mackendrick
Sweet Smell of Success
This film, along with Expresso Bongo, for good or bad, helped shape my life into what it became. At the time I had no idea of the significance of it being filmed in the Brill Building. Suddenly, thanks to Sidney Falco, it was okay to hustle, it was okay to try and find a way out.
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2
Jean-Pierre Melville
Army of Shadows
Our parents never explain the war. We are asked without words to pay lip service to their sacrifice. Army of Shadows puts a face on the story. Never mind the long tracking shots; Melville takes you there.
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3
Jean-Pierre Melville
Le samouraï
We should all be this alone. Alone as a way of life, a forecaster of how life finally works out. Delon is the practice run. Pay attention!
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4
Claude Chabrol
Les cousins
Another life changer. I first saw this at the Everyman Cinema in Hampstead, London, when I was sixteen. Jean-Claude Brialy had verve, and an English sports car. I wanted both!
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5
Jean-Luc Godard
Breathless
A great example of cinema-to-be. The nonchalance, the free form. So much cinema from so many decades owes a nod to the tricks in this one.
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6
Jacques Becker
Touchez pas au grisbi
I just like the night, the mood, Sami Frey, the cars, Gabin, the double-breasted suits, the quiet urgency and . . . the night.
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7
Jean-Pierre Melville
Le cercle rouge
Classic noir droll flick.
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8
Gillo Pontecorvo
The Battle of Algiers
I was watching a geezer on Charlie Rose last night. John something, lectures in universities on war, uprisings, terrorism, torture, how governments become the terrorists, the pendulum of life and death. John something still uses this film to explain all before they discuss waterboarding. This film is the guv’ner.
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9
Mathieu Kassovitz
La haine
A more realistic now Clockwork Orange.
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10
David Lean
Brief Encounter
The wonderful fragility of civility and feelings.
