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John Liu Enjoys Watching Brad Pitt Waste $175 Million For Three Hours
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Mar 31, 2013
Modified Mar 31, 2013
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Mar 31, 2013
Modified Mar 31, 2013
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New York's next mayor will face a litany of pressing problems to tackle—failing schools, aging infrastructure, a shrinking middle class—which is why it is vitally important to learn what the candidates' favorite movies are. Today the Daily News published one of those cutesy surveys that finally reveals which candidate prefers to watch Brad Pitt and Eric Bana waste $175 million above all other works of cinema.
But first, let's look at the state of mind each one of these candidates (or their assistants) were in when they filled this thing out.
What was the scariest moment of your life?
Christine Quinn: 9/11 and assassination of Council Member James Davis
Bill Thompson: 9/11
John Liu: Toddler son Joey had strong allergic reaction, had to rush to hospital
Bill De Blasio: Traveling through a war zone on the road to Nuevo Leon in Nicaragua, 1988
Sal Albanese: Waiting to find out if I passed the bar exam, talk about anxiety!
Joe Lhota: The day my doctor told me I had cancer
Adolfo Carrion: When I pulled my daughter out of violent riptide on Long Beach Island
John Catsimatidis: Landing a plane with one dead engine
George McDonald: First time I heard the 2nd Ave. subway explosion and every day since
Talk about not being a Patriot or a serious public servant, Sal! Clearly, Albanese and George McDonald are unfit for office, and their flippant answers deserve the most unyielding scorn.
Favorite book?
Quinn: Book of Mychal (by Mike Daly)
Thompson: The Godfather (by Mario Puzo)
Liu: Brown Bear (by Bill Martin)
De Blasio: Nothing to Fear (by Adam Cohen)
Albanese: It's How Children Succeed (Paul Tough)
Lhota: My favorite is always book I'm currently reading. Today's favorite is Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power (by Jon Meacham)
Carrion: Atlas Shrugged (by Ayn Rand)
Catsimatidis: Mainly read newspapers and business publications
McDonald: Team of Rivals (by Doris Kearns Goodwin)
These are all wrong answers (the correct response: How To Be A Mayor For The Children Who Is Tough On Crime And Pleasantly Vague On Specific Policies, by Fiorello Roosevelt Lincoln Wagner Rockefeller La Guardia) but Brown Bear! We'll just assume that by "newspapers and business publications," Catsimatidis means all of them.
What's the most played song on your iPod?
Quinn: Land of Hopes and Dreams, Bruce Springsteen
Thompson: My Girl by the Temptations
Liu: Empire State of Mind, Jay-Z
De Blasio: Don't use it much, but Bob Marley
Albanese: Ring of Fire, Johnny Cash
Lhota: Do not own an iPod (but favorite song is "Jessica" by the Allman Brothers)
Carrion: Celia Cruz radio
Catsimatidis: Bobby Vinton's How old do you get?
McDonald: Leonard Cohen’s Coming home
Yeah, Bob Marley is pretty great, but did you hear that other cool song, Sublime? Also, can you tell me where the party is tonight and will I be able to meet a youth named Molly there?
Favorite movie?
Quinn: Dirty Dancing
Thompson: Casablanca
Liu: Troy
DeBlasio: The Candidate
Albanese: Braveheart
Lhota: The Godfather
Carrion: The Deer Hunter
Catsimatidis: Casablanca
McDonald: Meet John Doe
We hereby invite all the candidates to an exclusive screening of Immortals followed by a panel discussion about how Mickey Rourke's character represents teacher contracts.
[UPDATE] In a shocking breach of public trust, it appears that Liu either lied or is extremely fickle about the most grave designation of "Favorite Movie." From a 2011 Sunday Routine profile in the Times:
Sunday night, I go over what’s coming up during the week. I don’t do bubble baths. I like to watch a film to relax. My favorite is “The Matrix.” Lots to look at, not much to think about.
We'd have more to say about this if we had actually seen The Matrix.
Tagged
2013 election
2013 mayoral campaign
bill de blasio
christine quinn
City hall
important surveys
john liu
troy
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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