Well, dear readers, I must write these here notes in a hurry because I have a dental appointment this very morning. I shall have my teeth cleaned and afterwards my teeth shall be lively and sparkling, not necessarily in that order. Yesterday, I had quite a relaxing day. I attended to some book business, and then, even though I hadn’t intended to, I wrote a couple of pages. I am in a critical place and I needed to just get something on the page (which I know will change a bit). I’m glad I did, because afterwards I took a shower and whilst in the shower the entire ending of the script came to me full-blown – how to tie everything up neatly, and I think the rest will now proceed apace, at least that is my hope. I do get some of my best ideas whilst in the shower, and also whilst in bed just before falling asleep. I also did a nice big shopping, and got lots of pasta, and other necessaries like cream cheese, sour cream, various and sundried soups, onions, cheese slices, ham chunks and Diet Cokes. My refrigerator is not fully-stocked. Isn’t that exciting? Isn’t that just too too?
Last night I watched the entirety of Angels in America. I’d never seen the play, so this was the first I’ve seen of any of it. I thought the film had moments of great power and beauty, and other parts of it left me cold. I’m sure it all worked on the stage, but some of the more theatrical things just didn’t work for me on film, as hard as Mr. Nichols tried to get them to do so. I thought most of the performances were really good. I’d heard criticism of Al Pacino, but I liked him as Roy Cohn. I have no idea what Ron Liebman did with the part, so I came to Pacino fresh. Meryl Streep was terrific in her various roles (her first appearance totally fooled me – I had no idea that was her until the credits rolled at the end – great makeup job), and Jeffrey Wright was wonderful, too. I had problems with both leading men – Justin Kirk and Ben Shenkmen. They’re both fine actors, but Shenkmen just annoyed me from first to last, and Kirk seemed too straight for his role – I just never believed him as the “queen” he keeps saying he is. I’ve never been a big fan of Emma Thompson, but she was all right here. Patrick Wilson was fine as well. But for me the film belonged to Mary Louise Parker, who, as always, was great, not a false note anywhere. I know that part was played by Marcia Gay Harden on stage, but she’s an actress I totally don’t cotton to, and I can’t even imagine her doing the role. I have yet to see Miss Mary Louise Parker do anything that was less than stellar. Mr. Nichols’ work is always interesting to watch, but I guess I didn’t find his work here as breathtaking as some have. All in all, a very long six hours, but again, much of it was powerful and beautifully written. The DVD looks fine, and there is not one single extra to be found.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Don’t I have to get my teeth cleaned so they can be lively and sparkling teeth? I do, and I shall. Therefore, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below?
Mark your calendars, for Tuesday we have a major celebration coming up and you won’t want to miss one single minute of it. We’re going to partay until the cows come home and it will be joyous and our spirits will be carefree and gay, like a winged bird on its way to Azusa. We will have cheese slices and ham chunks and I, personally, will have lively and sparkling teeth. Be there or be round.
Also, don’t forget to check out Donald’s new radio show.
Look at that sentence just sitting there like so much fish. It looks so forlorn and lonely, doesn’t it? Oh, well, these things happen occasionally, these orphaned sentences.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must get my teeth cleaned by my wonderful dentist, Dr. Chew, I must then come home and write a few pages, I must make some important phone calls and I must do a fistful of errands. Today’s topic of discussion: What musical, play, or movie (or all three) did you hate the first time you saw it, but have come to completely change your opinion – in other words, a musical, play, or film that you hated and now love. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and let’s all bare our lively and sparkling teeth all the livelong day.