Well, dear readers, this week is already flying by, like a gazelle eating a hot dog. How can it be Tuesday already when it was just Monday but mere moments ago? Of course, this particular Tuesday promises to be a very special day because this very evening at six o’clock, we are having a West Coast hainsies/kimlets get-together at Musso and Frank. But more about that later. Actually, why do we need to know more about that later? I know enough about that later right now, and that later isn’t that interesting to begin with. Uh oh, I’ve gone off on one of my arch tangents, haven’t I? Where was I? Oh, yes, this week is already flying by, like a gazelle wearing a chemise. Speaking of a chemise, yesterday was a very nice day. I got up, I shipped some packages, I proofed some book pages, I picked up two packages, and then I toddled off to a work session with Miss Joan Ryan. We played through some new stuff, worked on a medley we’re doing, and plod on. After the session, I came home and ate some foodstuffs (I was a good boy, knowing that this evening I will be eating much food), and then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched two motion pictures on DVD. The first motion picture on DVD was entitled Love And Pain And The Whole Damn Thing, a film of Alan Pakula, written by Alvin Sargent, and starring Maggie Smith and Timothy Bottoms. The film was made in 1972 and was a box-office and critical failure. I had never managed to see it, but thanks to a huge package of DVDRs that arrived from a friend in far away Brazil, I was able to. I wish I could say it was an undiscovered gem from Mr. Pakula (naturally that is exactly what “they” say on the imdb), but it’s not. It probably would have been better had someone other than Mr. Bottoms done the leading role – he’s just so annoying and bad that the film can’t recover from it. I like Mr. Sargent’s work, and there are some nice things in his script, but Mr. Bottoms is on screen for the entire film, so the script never has a chance, really. Imagine Harold and Maude with Mr. Bottoms and I think you’ll get the idea. Maggie Smith is, as always, a treasure – she’s wonderful, but has nothing to play off, unfortunately. Mr. Pakula’s directorial career veered wildly from brilliant to mediocre and just plain odd. This falls in the just plain odd category. It came out after his great Klute, and just before his great The Parallax View and All The President’s Men. The film has nice photography, and a lovely Michael Small score. I just wish it were better. I don’t know how these DVDRs were sourced, but it looks very good – anamorphic, colorful, and I’m happy to have it. I then watched the second motion picture on DVD, which was entitled The Running Man, a 1963 film of Carol Reed. Mr. Reed’s career also veered wildly from brilliant to less-than-brilliant – this film falls into the latter category, although it’s not really his fault. It’s just a bad script and a bad story and no one could have done any better. Laurence Harvey is fun in the title role, but let me tell you, the sight of his skinny little body in Speedo’s is one of the more horrifying shots I’ve seen lately. Lee Remick is gorgeous and, as usual, excellent. Alan Bates is okay in a not interesting role, and there are a few good character actors on display. It’s all shot on location and looks fine. Again, whatever source this was taken from, it looks swell, is anamorphic scope, and again, can’t really be found anywhere. There are so many goodies in this batch that I’ll be in DVDR heaven for quite a few days. I’m currently watching another movie I’ve never seen – John Huston’s film of Freud. I’ll have a full report, but so far I’m really liking it a lot.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I really have nothing more to say in this section and we must have more about that later.
Today, I have nothing planned, other than shipping a couple of packages, and then proofing as much as I can. After that, I shall be joining a whole gaggle of hainsies/kimlets at Musso and Frank for what promises to be a lovelier than lovely supper. In attendance should be the likes of me, Mr. Cason Murphy, his lovelier than lovely mother, Miss Karen, Miss Adriana Patti, Mr. MusicGuy, Mr. MBarnum, and new dear reader Mr. BrettySpaghetti. I haven’t quite decided what I’ll be having, but it will be between the pounded steak with country gravy, the Combination Louis (shrimp, crab, and lobster), or the cracked crab. I will, of course, have to have at least two pieces of the deliciously delicious bread, and we’ll see how bad I feel like being in terms of topping the meal off with their yummilicious bread pudding and whipped cream. I’m making myself hungry. I will, of course, have a complete report, and I do believe actual photographs will be taken.
Tomorrow I have a work session with Miss Alet Taylor, which I always look forward to. But more about that later.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, jog, ship, proof, proof, proof, and then sup at Musso and Frank. Today’s topic of discussion: What was the first website you ever visited on the web? Do you still visit it? What was the first newsgroup and/or message board that you posted to? Do you still frequent it? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we? More about that later. Frankly, I think we’ve had enough about that later and I don’t want to hear about that later again. Now, if only I can post these here notes – the lovely Time Warner Cable has gone out twice in the last ten minutes.