Barry Norman has died

The Black Oil

According to the BBC. http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-40468411

He was 83.

Probably the first critic I really became aware of. RIP

Harry Palmr

Ah now

Like you Barry Norman was the first film critic I was aware of (what a job I thought!).

His No 1 film was The Adventures of Robin Hood (1937) he did have exquisite middle class taste if I can put it like that.

http://www.imdb.com/list/ls055207230/

Imallrightjack

I used to record his show all the time( on video cassette!!!) because i had school the next day and wasn't allowed stay up late.my favorite part besides him was the top 10.i loved the way he presented his film (insert year) tv show.

R.i.p

johnny_ultimate

Was too young to really appreciate his work (I only recall his short-lived Sky show) but a Christmas present of one of his books was something that helped encourage me to start seeking out classic films as a teenager.

RobAMerc

RIP. He certainly didn't seem like an 83 year old but I guess I can't remember the last time I saw him. Seemed like a lovely man with a great job doing something he loved.

Imallrightjack

https://youtu.be/EPw_E-yRvTE

Nice blast from the past.

Beric Dondarrion

That's a shame. Used to really enjoy the Film series on BBC that he hosted for years. Always found his reviews to be very helpful.

JP Liz V1

RIP

neirbloom

I remember he really knew how to handle De Niro in an uncomfortable interview he did 30 odd years ago who came across as a really ass, nearly decked him out apparently.

Ursus Horribilis

I grew up watching his Film review show on the BBC and always enjoyed his wit, cynicism and woolly jumpers. It's a pity he seemed to vanish off the face of the earth after he left for Sky.

RedTie

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

he seemed to vanish off the face of the earth after he left for Sky.

I thought this was strange too when he could have had a nice earner as a film historian and reviewer in the new social media age. He'd have been at retirement age after Sky so maybe he wanted to leave it at that.

Good article here with some background to the near punchup with De Niro

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/barry-norman-i-drunk-richard-13267517

bodhrandude

My favourite film critic RIP Barry and the unforgettable soundtrack to his BBC Show.

Oafley Jones

Imallrightjack wrote: »

I used to record his show all the time( on video cassette!!!) because i had school the next day and wasn't allowed stay up late.my favorite part besides him was the top 10.i loved the way he presented his film (insert year) tv show.

R.i.p

Ha, I had to do the same thing. Really liked the guy, he also introduced me to online film culture with a piece on Harry knowles, which led to Garth at dark horizons then CHUD etc etc. Every time I hear "denouement" I think of him.

murpho999

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

I grew up watching his Film review show on the BBC and always enjoyed his wit, cynicism and woolly jumpers. It's a pity he seemed to vanish off the face of the earth after he left for Sky.

I really don't associate him with this at all? He was always in a suit and tie on the show.

Anyhow, he was a great presenter and critic and also a good interviewer.

Stopped wathcing the show after he left as Ross and Winkelman were very poor replacements.

xper

Still remains the best film reviewer I have ever come across. He could simultaneously both criticise a film that he didn't like while informing you as to whether you might enjoy it and did so coherently and with great dry wit. So many critics just do the former.

faceman

This was sad news. Norman whether you loved him or hated him was very articulate when talking movies and part of a dying breed. But I watched him every week as a young fella.

Tony EH

As a child of the 80's, Barry Norman was the guy who informed me of what films I should check out. I still remember his review of 'Return of the Living Dead' and while it was hardly shining, the clips he showed had me intrigued. He was pretty meh, but kid me was yaaaaay!!!. That was the film for me!!!

I'm old enough to also remember his special on 'Rambo' and violence in the cinema. Which, is all very quaint by todays standards.

As a kid I also remember thinkng that his job was possibly the greatest job anyone could have. He got to watch films and talk about them afterward!

"I always knew that nobody's right and nobody's wrong in criticism. The only thing I could do was to make sure that whatever I said was what I really believed." Barry Norman.

alan partridge aha

Tony EH wrote: »

As a child of the 80's, Barry Norman was the guy who informed me of what films I should check out. I still remember his review of 'Return of the Living Dead' and while it was hardly shining, the clips he showed had me intrigued. He was pretty meh, but kid me was yaaaaay!!!. That was the film for me!!!

I'm old enough to also remember his special on 'Rambo' and violence in the cinema. Which, is all very quaint by todays standards
As a kid I also remember thinkng that his job was possibly the greatest job anyone could have. He got to watch films and talk about them afterward!

"I always knew that nobody's right and nobody's wrong in criticism. The only thing I could do was to make sure that whatever I said was what I really believed." Barry Norman.

It wasn't that great of a job when Big John Wayne threatened to kick the sh1t out of ya for been a left-wing pinko.

Imallrightjack

alan partridge aha wrote: »

It wasn't that great of a job when Big John Wayne threatened to kick the sh1t out of ya for been a left-wing pinko.

barry would have taken him i reckon.

Tony EH

Marion was full of shite anyway.