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The doggy bag will never catch on in Paris Life Mais non! The doggy bag will never catch on in Paris Cycling trip a great way to see Vietnam and Cambodia Life Cycling trip a great way to see Vietnam and Cambodia Sections * Film * Music * Books * Pipe Band Digest * Stage * Irish language Stories Tá bliain chorraitheach chinniúnach roimh Fhorbairt Feirste Irish language Tá bliain chorraitheach chinniúnach roimh Fhorbairt Feirste Raquel Pelzel has just the recipe for taking toast to the next level Arts Raquel Pelzel has just the recipe for taking toast to the next level Cult Movie: Day Of The Outlaw as much noir as Western Film Cult Movie: Day Of The Outlaw as much noir as Western Oscars 2016 - Ten great Irish Oscar moments Film Oscars 2016 - Ten great Irish Oscar moments Sections * Family Notices * Lives Remembered Stories Cocktail king Joe Gilmore, Belfast's barman to the stars Lives Remembered Cocktail king Joe Gilmore, Belfast's barman to the stars Lord Erne of Crom Castle was popular figure in Fermanagh Lives Remembered Lord Erne of Crom Castle was popular figure in Fermanagh ‘My brother loved to entertain with his music' Lives Remembered ‘My brother loved to entertain with his music' Falls Road artist was grand old man of sci-fi's golden age Notices Falls Road artist was grand old man of sci-fi's golden age Sections * Letters to the Editor * Leading article * Cartoons * Columnists Stories Arlene Foster right on Easter Rising and the Somme Columnists Arlene Foster right on Easter Rising and the Somme Election-mode Arlene Foster in old-school reshuffle Columnists Election-mode Arlene Foster in old-school reshuffle Cologne attacks highlight push to extremes Columnists Cologne attacks highlight push to extremes Time for a genuine Fresh Start at Stormont Leading article Time for a genuine Fresh Start at Stormont Sections * Photo of the Day * Graduation pictures * Picture galleries * Video diaries Stories Belfast Zoo animals enjoy the snow Picture Galleries Belfast Zoo animals enjoy the snow New Year celebrations from around the world Picture Galleries New Year celebrations from around the world Storm Frank lashes Ireland Picture Galleries Storm Frank lashes Ireland Harland & Wolff Welders win the Steel & Sons Cup 2015 Picture Galleries Harland & Wolff Welders win the Steel & Sons Cup 2015 (BUTTON) Irishnews Logo (BUTTON) * Login User / Logout * Subscriptions * Home * Today's paper * News Sections + Back + Northern Ireland news + UK News + Republic of Ireland news + World news + Political news + Education news + Healthcare news + Nama + Refugee Crisis * Sport Sections + Back + GAA Football + GAA Fixtures + Club Call + Hurling and camogie + Soccer + Boxing + Rugby + Golf + Athletics + Off The Fence + Racing + Opinion + Other Sports * Business Sections + Back + July Budget + Business news + Economics + Personal finance + Business columnists + Business Insight + Markets * Life Sections + Back + Family and Parenting + Property + Holidays & Travel + Fashion & Beauty + Motors/drive + Food & drink + Celebrity + Gardening + Environment + Health + Faith Matters + TV and Radio * Arts Sections + Back + Film + Music + Books + Pipe Band Digest + Stage + Irish language * Notices Sections + Back + Family Notices + Lives Remembered * Opinion Sections + Back + Letters to the Editor + Leading article + Cartoons + Columnists * Puzzles * Photos Sections + Back + Photo of the Day + Graduation pictures + Picture galleries + Video diaries * Our journalists * Horoscopes ____________________ (BUTTON) Search (BUTTON) Life Aprescient spin down memory lane Aprescient spin down memory lane * * * * * RALPH McLEAN 03 October, 2014 00:00 The Rise And Rise Of Michael Rimmer MADE in 1970 and rarely seen since, The Rise And Rise Of Michael Rimmer is both fascinating and oddly prescient. Providing a rare big-screen starring role for Peter Cook, it's a cold hearted but slickly entertaining satire on political spin and media manipulation of the public that could just as easily have been made today. As a surreal and anarchic spoof of Westminster and its wicked ways it deserves to be reclaimed as a true cult classic of the genre. Cook is the mysterious Michael Rimmer, who ghosts unannounced into the offices of a clueless advertising agency dressed in his finest Carnaby Street suit and armed only with a clipboard and stopwatch. The employees, led by the idiotic Ferret (Dad's Army stalwart Arthur Lowe) assume he's a time-and-motion man sent by the firm's owner Mr Fairburn (Dennis Price) and their collective guilt at sitting around all day practicing ballroom dancing, flirting with the secretaries or watching the cricket when they should be working allows Rimmer to swiftly take control. By introducing sex and endless opinion polls to their campaigns he soon turns the business into a huge success that sees both the ruling Labour party and the Tories come running to his door for help. A slimy spin doctor of the highest order, Rimmer sides with the Conservatives and plots their successful return to power, eventually landing himself the role of prime minister in the process. As his greed for power grows he pushes for full control of the country and runs to become Britain's first ever president. Cook is remarkable throughout this broadest of broad satires. Aloof and distant, he uses superficial charm to con the public and his sleazy political paymasters. Rimmer feels brilliantly new Labour even though we never get to understand just what motivates his devilish character. Cook co-wrote the script with director Kevin Billington and his old satirical running mates John Cleese and Graham Chapman and there's much of the classic sketch show vibe at play here. Frantic, Pythonesque skits are played out by a cast that is practically creaking at the seams with great British comedy talent. Ronnie Corbett pops up as an ineffectual pollster, Cleese dances his way through a brief turn as a bored adman and Denholm Elliott slimes his way through proceedings as Rimmer's intellectual henchman. Despite its A-list cast (Harold Pinter even turns up as a TV host) there are very few actual laughs. The film looks sublime, however, with great London locations, and is directed beautifully by Billington who adds a swish, almost Stanley Kubrick-style glamour to just about every shot. There's super-funky score from John Cameron and great cameos from the likes of supremely statuesque Valerie Leon but there's a coldness at the heart of proceedings that prevents you caring about Rimmer. As the final shot freeze frames on our new president's enigmatic and faintly diabolical half smile maybe that's the reaction Cook and co wanted us to have. * * * * * 03 October, 2014 00:00 Life More in Life Eating Out: The goodness is in the food at Goodness Rocks Eating Out: The goodness is in the food at Goodness Rocks TV Review: Cold War spy thriller Deutschland 83 TV Review: Cold War spy thriller Deutschland 83 Raquel Pelzel has just the recipe for taking toast to the next level Raquel Pelzel has just the recipe for taking toast to the next level Most Read * Beware of tax on gifting property to family members * Increase in babies born with 'tongue-tie' * Diagnosing Dyspraxia in your child * Irishman in breastfeeding London Underground row Today's horoscope Horoscope __________________________________________________________________ See a different horoscope: [Select sign] Stay connected Get the day's headlines delivered directly to your inbox ____________________ (BUTTON) Sign Up __________________________________________________________________ Sections News PSNI 'hasn't acted on Lisa Dorrian burial information' 1. PSNI 'hasn't acted on Lisa Dorrian burial information' 2. Families question delays in charging 'Stakeknife' Life Cycling trip a great way to see Vietnam and Cambodia 1. Cycling trip a great way to see Vietnam and Cambodia 2. Cairn Wood: Battle to save amenity from being sold off Business ‘The Jungle' named ‘thrilling' at Outdoor NI Awards 1. ‘The Jungle' named ‘thrilling' at Outdoor NI Awards 2. Northern Ireland's top buildings come under the spotlight Arts Raquel Pelzel has just the recipe for taking toast to the next level 1. Raquel Pelzel has just the recipe for taking toast to the next level 2. Catch up with: The X-Files on Amazon Prime Columnists Arlene Foster right on Easter Rising and the Somme 1. Arlene Foster right on Easter Rising and the Somme 2. Election-mode Arlene Foster in old-school reshuffle Sport Ross McGowan leads Joburg Open at the halfway point 1. Ross McGowan leads Joburg Open at the halfway point 2. Darren Clarke delighted as Europe claim three-point lead Tackle today's puzzles Crosswords From gentle to deadly - Crosswords, Suduko, Codewords, Wordwheels and quizzes Irishnews Logo * Supplements * Send us your story * Contact us * FAQ * About us * Our Journalists * Photo Sales * Careers * WEA * Memoriam Cards * Coaching Days