Well, dear readers, once again it’s Sunday, the start of a brand spanking new week. I’m sure it will be another jam-packed and jelly-filled week. Or should that be a jelly-packed and jam-filled week? Or, if you don’t favor jam or jelly should it be another peanut butter-packed and ham-and-swiss filled week? How did I suddenly get off on a food tangent? There I was, sitting and writing these here notes, and suddenly everything became food oriented. Does that mean I have to keep up with the food jargon for the entire length and width and breadth of the notes? “Breadth” of the notes – see, there I’ve done it again. I wonder what kind of breadth these notes will have – rye, whole wheat, sourdough? Frankly, I’d like some sweetdough and plenty of it. What the world needs now is dough, sweet, dough. Yes, there is a whole food vibe to these here notes, isn’t there? I’m hungry just writing them. Where was I? Oh, yes, it’s the start of a brand spanking new week. On the final day of the brand spanking old week, I had a late breakfast with Miss Tammy Minoff and her mum, and we discussed at length the theater situation, both pros can cons, and we’ve made our decision and as soon as the “i’s” are dotted and the “t’s” are crossed, you will be the first to know. In fact, you will be the first to know even if the “i’s” are crossed and the “t’s” are dotted. I then did some errands whilst driving about in my motor car, did some grocery shopping, and then came home and sat on my couch like so much fish. I didn’t deal with any business whatsoever, save for a bit of interesting turmoil with the pressing plant, which I’ll have to deal with extensively tomorrow. Isn’t that exciting? Isn’t that just too too?
Yesterday, I watched three count them three motion pictures on DVD. The first motion picture on DVD was entitled Little Miss Broadway, which stars Little Miss Shirley Temple. Actually, Shirley is not quite as “little” as before – she was nine when she shot this film and no amount of them dressing her like a four-year-old changes the fact that she looks nine. I had never seen one frame of Little Miss Broadway, and I must say I found it thoroughly enchanting from start to finish. Yes, it’s corny (food again), yes, the story doesn’t have a lot of meat on it (food again), but it’s a fun soufflé (food again), and is now right up there with my favorite Shirley Temple films. The movie runs a brisk seventy-two minutes (I gather a lot was cut – including several musical numbers). I absolutely loved Shirley’s first number with George Murphy, We Should Be Together. The staging by Nick Castle is just terrific, and they dance divoonly together. And I will admit here and now that I have always had a crush on Miss Phyllis Brooks, who has never looked lovelier than in this film (I also adore her in the very different The Shanghai Gesture). Edna Mae Oliver is a suitable meanie, and Jimmy Durante has some very funny bits (much of his stuff, including a number with Shirley, hit the cutting room floor). I’m also happy to report that this transfer is miles better than Curly Top. I may have to watch this again soon. I then watched Mr. John Wayne in Island in the Sky – I spoke of it in the notes a few weeks ago, but I never got around to finishing the DVD until now. It’s a bit slow-going for the first thirty minutes, but then I sort of got with it. It’s not a great movie, and it’s blend of stark drama with comedy relief doesn’t really work. But, the cast is strong, with Duke very good, and able support from Lloyd Nolan, Andy Devine, and a host of others. The third motion picture I watched on DVD was entitled Read My Lips (Sur Mes Levres), a film from France by Jacques Audiard, a director who is new to me. It’s yet again another excellent French thriller, and just shows you that the French are now doing what the US seems not able to do anymore – make stylish, coherent, and interesting films, with interesting stories, and interesting characters, with terrific actors. I didn’t like it quite as much as L’Appartement, but it is a film I’ll return to very soon. L’Appartement’s Vincent Cassel stars as a recent parolee. But, the film belongs to its leading lady, an actress I’ve never seen before named Emmanuelle Devos. She plays a mostly-deaf secretary (she can hear with amplified “aids” in both ears, who is more than adept at reading lips. Needless to say, the latter becomes a very important device as the film kicks into thriller mode. There are no twists (despite what the idiots who find it necessary to post their inane thoughts on the imdb – they see “thriller” they have to post that there are surprises and twists – there aren’t), but the film is hypnotic, and I just enjoyed it immensely. Miss Devos was awarded the French equivalent of a Best Actress Oscar for her performance, in the same year that Audrey Tatou was up for Amelie, Charlotte Rampling was up for Sur La Sable, and Isabelle Huppert in L’Pianiste. She should have been up for an Oscar, too, but that would have required Academy members to have some brainpower. The DVD I watched was region 2, but I’m happy to report it’s available in the US, as well.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I’m sure there will be more food allusions in the next section, and we must have our allusions.
I’m happy to announce that there will be a very special kritzerland.com website exclusive CD single upcoming in about three weeks – more I cannot say at this time, but you will all be the first to know about it.
Has anyone seen any food allusions in this section? I certainly haven’t. Food allusions are noticeably in absentia in this section. I may just have to stew about that for a while. Finally, a food allusion, even though I am not a fan of stew.
Don’t forget, Donald should have a new radio show up for your listening pleasure, so do be sure to check it out. Donald’s radio shows are the berries, you know. Ah, another food allusion.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must write, I must relax and smell the roses or the coffee or the brioche, I must do a few errands, and I must watch a DVD or three, in addition to eating various and sundried foodstuffs. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s breakfast day here at haineshisway.com (I have been on a breakfast kick all week – every day I awaken, make some breakfast, and then kick it – it’s lots of fun) – what are your favorite big breakfasts to eat and where, other than your very own home, have you had the most spectacular breakfast ever, and what was it. Loving detail, please. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, as we begin another jam-packed and jelly-filled week.